Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 1.djvu/354

Rh 328 A G R I C II L T IT H E [DRAINING ment-makers are unanimous in declaring that, even when most successful, the prizes they receive do not reimburse them for their expenses and loss of time. How, then, are the increased exertions of the machine-makers to be ac counted for 1 Simply by the fact that the trials of imple ments have gradually won the confidence of the farmer, so that, when selecting implements for purchase, he gives the preference to those which have received the Society s mark of approval. This inference is corroborated by the makers themselves, who readily admit that the winner of a prize, for any implement of general utility, is sure to receive an ample amount of orders, and that the award of a medal is worth on an average 50.&quot; In reporting upon the agricultural implement department of the Great Exhibition, Mr Pusey says &quot; The yearly shows and trials of the Royal Agricultural Society have certainly done more in England for agricultural machines within the last ten years, than had been attempted anywhere in all former time It seems proved that since annual country shows were established by Lord Spencer, Mr tlandley, and others yet living, old implements have been improved, and new ones devised, whose performances stand the necessary inquiry as to the amount of saving they can effect. To ascertain that amount precisely is difficult ; but, looking through the successive stages of management, and seeing that the owner of a stock-farm is enabled, in the preparation of his land, by using lighter ploughs, to cast off one horse in three, and by adopting other simple tools to dispense altogether with a great part of his ploughing, that in the culture of crops by the various drills, horse labour can be partly reduced, the seed otherwise wanted partly saved, or the use of manures greatly economised, while the horse-hoe replaces the hoe at one-half the expense, that in harvest the American reapers can effect thirty men s work, whilst the Scotch cart replaces the old English waggon with exactly half the number of horses, that in preparing corn for man s food, the steam thrashing-machine saves two-thirds of our former expense, and in preparing food for stock, the turnip-cutter, at an outlay of Is., adds 8s. a-head in one winter to the value of sheep ; lastly, that in the indispensable but costly operation of draining, the materials have been reduced from 80s. to 15s. to one-fifth, namely, of their former cost, it seems to be proved that the efforts of agri cultural mechanists have been so far successful, as in all these main branches of farming labour, taken together, to effect a saving, on outgoings, of little less than one-half.&quot; Since these reports were made, the demand for improved agricultural implements and machinery has increased enormously, so much so that the manufacture of them is now a most important and a rapidly increasing branch of our national industry, and we quite anticipate that in a short time there will be such a general appreciation of the benefits of cultivation by steam power, and such a demand for engines and tackle to carry it out, as the makers and manufacturers will find it difficult to satisfy. Scottish agriculturists, in reading these reports, will pro bably note with self-gratulation, that some of the improve ments referred to as of recent introduction in England, viz., two-horse ploughs and one-horse carts, have long been estab lished among themselves. Indeed, they will find graceful acknowledgment of the fact in these reports. Unless alto gether blinded by prejudice, they will, however, see that our brethren south of the Tweed have already outstripped us in many particulars, and that unless our national Society, our mechanists, and farmers, exert themselves with correspond ing judgment and zeal, we must henceforth be fain to follow, where we at least fancy that we have hitherto been leading. But we have more important motives and encouragements to exertion than mere national emulation. The extent to which the cost of production of farm produce has been lessened by recent improvements in the implements of husbandry, and in the details of farm management, is greater than many are aware of. It seems to be in this direction mainly that the farmer must look for a set-off against the steadily increasing cost of land and labour. If by further improvements in his machinery and implements he is enabled to keep fewer horses, to get his deep tillage performed by j steam power, and his mowing and reaping accomplished by I the ordinary forces which he requires throughout the year, the reduction upon the prime cost of his produce will be really important. A hopeful element in this anticipated progress is that it tends directly to elevate the condition of the rural labourer. Every addition to the steam power and labour-saving machines used upon the farm implies an increased demand for cultured minds to guide them, a lessening of the drudgery heretofore imposed upon human thews and sinews, an equalising of employment throughout the year, and a better and steadier rate of wages. Believing, as we do, that on every farm enormous waste of motive power mechanical, animal, and manual is continuously going on through the imperfection of the implements and machines now in use, we would urge upon all concerned to look well to this ; for, with all our improvements, there is undoubtedly yet a large margin for retrenchment here. Besides the bulky and costly implements now enumerated, every farm must be provided with a considerable assortment of hand-implements and tools, all of which it is of conse quence to have good of their kind. Although not individu ally costly, they absorb a considerable capital in the aggre gate. When not in use, they require to be kept under lock, and at all times need to be well looked after. Without waiting to describe these in detail, let us now see how the work of the farm is conducted. CHAPTER VII. PREPARATION OF THE LAND FOR TILLAGE OPERATIONS. Section 1. When Required. Before those simple tillage operations which are necessary in every instance of committing seeds to the earth can bo gone about, there are more costly and elaborate processes of preparation which must be encountered in certain circum stances, in order to fit the soil for bearing cultivated crops. It is now only in exceptional cases that the British agri culturist has to reclaim land from a state of nature. The low-country farmer does occasionally meet with a patch of woodland, or a bank covered with gorse or brushwood, which he sets about converting into arable land. It is in the higher districts that, from the facilities now afforded for readily enriching poor soils by portable manures, the plough still frequently invades new portions of muir and bog, and transforms them into fields. The occupiers of land in these upland districts are accordingly still familiar with the processes of paring and burning, trenching, removing earth- fast stones, and levelling inequalities of surface. In break ing up land that has been for a course of years under pasturage, paring and burning are also frequently resorted to in all parts of the country. The grand improvement of all, thorough underground drainage, is common to every district and class of soils. Section 2. Draining. From the moist climate of Britain, draining is undoubtedly the all-important preliminary operation in setting about the improvement of the soil. To drain land is to rid it of its superfluous moisture. The rivers of a country with their tributary brooks and rills are the natxiral provision for removing the rain water which either flows directly from its surface, or which, after percolating through porous strata to an indefinite depth, is again discharged at the surface by springs. The latter mny