Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-03-23
An EnglIah Farm.

In hollow of the Downs lies Mr.. Thomp-
sons house. Here he has in care over 800
acres. He also rents farm in the lowland,
holding altogether 1900 acres This great
charge he is now resigning to his sons.
The two great industries of Mr.. Thomp-
sons hill farm seem to be the raising of
sheep and keeping COWS for milk. A lamb
fair has been held lately, at which he sold
800 lambs between four and five months DID,
averaging in price 80 shillings, or about 81.
Such are sold to farmers who are not breed
ers, to be fattened for market. Sheep fairs
are frequent in Sussex. l hear of one re-
cent lamb fair to which were brought II, 600
lambs.
The girls take me to the granary to show
mo where are stored 1000 heeces-a fact
which indicates that their father is not
obliged to force his produce into the market.
On both farms he works about II bullocks
and 10 horses. On the South Downs work
ing oxen are shod-two shoes on each foot,
of course. They are thrown down on their
backs, and possession is taken of their feet.
There are blacksmiths' and wheelwrights
shops on the place to save the trouble and
expense of running to and fro.
On this farm are kept 80 cows in beautiful
order not only fed but groomed. They new
er come out of the stable except when dry,
when they are turned into the yard or into
rough pasture. MI. luOllB5Ou WulltHhAuts
the slated roof of the cow-sheds to keep
the COWS cool. He says it makes wonderful
difference as to the heat absorbed. 1t was
in early August that visited Mr.. Thompson.
They were then feeding the cows with green
vetches, among which enough oats had been
sowed to hold up these climbing leguminous
plants. Besides this green fodder each COW
receives daily about bushel of brewers
grains, or matted barley, sent to this region
from London, about 40 miles by rail, and
brought by wagon several more. The cows
average two and a half gallons of milk daily,
which is carted several miles, and sold at
about % cents the gallon. Mangel-wurzel is
the principal root crop raised ON the farm
and is fed to the COWS in winter. A COW gets
daily one bushel of sliced mangel, one bush
ell of the grains, and as much oat straw as
she wants, and not unfrequently they give "a
quarts day. They keep Durhams, which
they consider the best mixers. The mangel-
wurzel does not make rich milk, but it comes
up to the legal standard, SO that they are not
fined.
In August, am just in wheat harvest
Mr. Thompson says that % bushels of wheat
to the acre is here considered moderate
crop, and not unfrequently 40 bushels are
grown. He says that Richard Redford, close
to the sea, on rich tertiary land, the wash
ings of these chalk hills, raised 80 bushels to
| the acre over his whole 10 acres, and for sew
eral years in succession. Mr.. Thompson
can not understand how farming pays in
America, where the average of wheat is only
| II or 10 bushels We have not however,
the expenses that find in newspaper esti-
mate which see for an adjoining county to
| this English one, some of which, turned into
dollars and cents, run about thus "a shilling
| being put at - cents) Rent, per acre, over
! 81; tithes, 81 rates or taxes over ST.
| Other items are ploughing, pressing, drill
ing, four harrowings, spring rolling, hoeing
wedding, and rocking, or employing a boy
| to drive away the rocks. This last is put
down at only eight cents per acre.
Farming has recently been in a very de-
pressed condition in many parts of England.
Mr.. Thompson attributes this circumstance
to increased wages, rise in expense of me-
chanical work, unfavorable weather for sew
eral years, and foreign competition But he
does not appear to desire the reGstablshment
of the corn laws or duties on foreign grain.
On the contrary, he thinks that my own
country would be infinitely benefited by the
introduction of free trade. During the late
wet and bad seasons Mr.. Thompson's home
farm has not suffered as SO many others have,
as it lies high.
OF the Southdown sheep l have before
spoken. Merino sheep like ours in America
| are not kept herei the CARCASS being TO them
OF more importance than the wool. The
celebrated Southdown mutton does not owe
its flavor to wild thyme, as the sheep are fat.
tened on cultivated plants but when rabbits
are killed their kidneys are often quite thymy,
This hill farm of Mr.. Thompson's, which il
not inclosed, feeds about 900 sheep, in three
hocks, each flock having a shepherd and g
dog. At night the sheep are folded, the fold
being made of wattles or hurdles of wood
which can be moved from spot TO spot "a
fresh bedroom every night, says Mr.. Thomp
son, and thus one spot after another is ma
nured. As to food, the plan on the South
Downs is to try to have some green food
started by lambing- time, which begins abou
March 10. The ewes are brought into the
yard, and kept until they have foaled, bu
are often sent out almost Immediately on t
rye grass, OF young rye. All this is the car,