is grown, the great advantage, if not the absolute necessity of a calcareous soil for this plant, is thoroughly and univer sally acknowledged."

In the calcareous districts in which this valuable crop has been long in cultivation, the necessity of a calcareous subsoil, to make it florish and endure, must have been known for ages past. But not so in the kingdom at large; where an impenetrable base, alone, was believed to be wanting, to secure its successful culture. I claim the credit, if any attach to it, of introducing the essential quality of sainfoin land, to written agriculture. See my YORKSHIRE.

On sowing Trefoil Seed with that of Sainfoin.-P. 314. "There is considerable difference of opinion respecting the propriety and advantage of sowing trefoil with sainfoin this used formerly to be the general practice, but some of the most successful growers of sainfoin are decidedly averse to it."

In evidence of this assertion, however, the Reporter brings forward the subjoined incident.-P. 315. "The following circumstance decidedly proves the impropriety, or at least the inutility of sowing trefoil along with sainfoin. Mr. Birkbeck, of Wanborough, who cultivates sainfoin on a very extensive scale, had been always in the habit of sowing a certain proportion of trefoil along with it; but one year his servant, by mistake, omitted to sow the trefoil on a certain part of a field. The sainfoin on this part flourished much better, and reached to a greater perfection of growth and greater fulness of crop, than the sainfoin that was sown along with trefoil: hence Mr. Birkbeck justly concluded, that the latter might at least be considered as useless, if not as absolutely prejudicial, and therefore for the future he resolved to sow his sainfoin by itself."

But this single incident, unaccompanied by its attendant circumstances, cannot be allowed to be sufficient to set aside the established practice of an extent of country. I have observed the same practice in Hampshire.

That young sainfoin requires some assistance, to keep down noxious weeds, the first year of its growth and the spring of the second year, or to be clean hoed, as turneps, during the same time,-is to me evident, and indispensable to its accurate culture. But I do not think that trefoil is its best helpmate. I prefer the Kentish practice, of sowing red clover with it; especially within a farmer's day's journey from London; for a reason which will presently

appear.

Semination of Sainfoin.-P. 316. "Sainfoin has been sown both in autumn and in spring: the result of the experiments

periments is, that when sown rather early in spring, it is found to answer best. The latter end of the month of March, or the beginning of April."" It is sown with barley much in the same manner as clover is; i. e. after the barley has been harrowed once or twice, the sainfoin is sown, and the ground again lightly harrowed and rolled. As the seeds penetrate through the ground with some difficulty, it is of consequence not to bury it deep, and at the same time to make the ground fine and even.

"Drilling. This is scarcely ever, if at all, practised in Surrey, though there are some advocates for it."

This conveys to me a new idea in the culture of sainfoin. I cannot, however, conceive it to be right to sow it "in rows at the distance of two or three feet"-as the Reporter suggests (p. 317);-but rather at fifteen inchesmore or less, according to the depth of the field of pastarage, and its intended application. If it be right, under any circumstances, to cultivate sainfoin, alore, it certainly might be kept clean, the first and second year, at less expence, in rows, than at random.

Making Sainfoin Hay.-P. 319. As soon as ever the sainfoin is in full bloom, it is the proper season to cut it for hay this is in general done with scythes, with cradles or bows on them. It is suffered to lie in the swaths till it is nearly dried through, when it is carefully and regularly turned over with the handles of the rakes, or with large wooden forks*. If the weather prove favourable, it may then be put up in cocks, and carried the day after the swaths were turned. Great care must be taken not to over-make it. The perfection of sainfoin-hay is, when the blossom retains its natural bloom and figure, and when the stalks and leaves are of a clear and healthy green. It is easily spoilt by wet weather."

Application of Sainfoin.-P. 319. "It may be used from the stack, in three or four days after it is put up, if the crop is not very bulky. The best time for carrying it to market is before Christmas; both the quality and the price are then above what they will in general be, if it be kept till after the new year.

"Very few of the Surrey farmers, who are within 18 or 20 miles of London, consume their sainfoin-hay at home: those at a greater distance give it to their horses princiIt is in a very pally, and to their milch-cows and cattle. high degree grateful and nourishing to all kinds of stock.

In

A long slender pole, somewhat crooked at the thicker or handle end, is the most convenient tool for that purpose.

In London, the hay always brings a better price than clovers i hay.”

P. 317." The price of sainfoin hay depends in a great degree upon its being fine."-That is to say-slender stalked; not "coarse" or thick-stemmed. Hence, the closer the stems stand on the ground, the more saleable will be the hay. See the above remarks on drilling the crop. Also, those on sowing clover with sainfoin, instead of trefoil; which is less valuable as forage for horses.

Sainfoin Seed.-P. 320. The management of sainfoin, when the seed is the principal object, is rather difficult. In the first place, the pods, as has been already remarked, fill, and the seeds ripen, at different times, according as they are placed at the bottom or top of the stalks; of course, it is almost impossible to hit the season when all the seeds are in a proper state of ripeness: and in the second place, the seed very easily falls out, if it meet with rain, or if it be. 1 roughly handlel during the making.

"When the husks are of a brownish colour, and the seeds feel plump and firm, it is then time to mow it: this is done by the most careful Surrey farmers, only when the dew is on the plants, or at least, not when the weather is, either very windy or very dry, since the seeds are very apt to fall out, if the pod is parched by the sun, or the stalk shaken by the wind. The swaths are not turned, for the same reason, if they can be got sufficiently dry without it: when it is necessary to turn them, it is done as gently and, carefully as possible, by putting the handle of the fork or rake below that part which contains least seed, while the bottom of the stalk, where the greatest quantity of seed is, rests on the ground, and is turned without being lifted from it. In a good year, and when proper care is taken to prevent the seed from falling out, four quarters per acre may be looked for."

Duration of Sainfoin, on the Surrey Hills.-P. 321.., "This seldom exceeds eight or ten years; at least, when it has stood so long, the broad or oat grass begins to smother it; and of course, not only does the crop become of comparatively little value, but if it is suffered to continue much longer, the ground gets very foul."

Renewal of the Sainfoin Crop.-P. 322. "The common opinion is, that sainfoin will not bear to be repeated on the same ground, till at least 15 or 20 years have elapsed,"

FROM this copious detail of valuable information, it appears that the practice of Surrey is peculiarly adapted to the raising of sainfoin hay, for the London market. Under this impression, the growers of it wish to fill their ground

શત્ર

as full of plants as may be, in order to produce" fine hay." This may serve to account for the short duration of their crops. The roots, I conceive, are proportionate to the stems; and are of course unable to penetrate to so great a depth, in search of their favorite pasturage, as are larger, stronger-rooted plants.

See my GLOCESTERSHIRE-district, Cotswold Hills; and SOUTHERN COUNTIES,-district of Maidstone;-for further information, concerning this profitable crop,-on calcareous lands, whose subsoils and bases are of an open penetrable

pature.

KITCHEN GARDEN GROUNDS.-P. 418. "It is reckoned, that the whole quantity of garden-ground in Surrey, em. ployed in raising vegetables for the London market, amounts to about 3500 acres."

HOPS.-P. 325. "It is impossible to ascertain with exacte ness and certainty, the time when the culture of hops was first introduced into the parish of Farnham and its neigh bourhood, or the circumstances that gave rise to its intro duction."

P. 327. From every inquiry I made, I found that the extent of ground cultivated with hops was annually in creasing in Farnham and the neighbouring parishes. Within these last 100 years, the number of acres is nearly trebled: at the beginning of the last century, there were not more than 300 acres in the parish of Farnham; now there are between 800 and 900 acres; and this year (1807), there is a greater demand for plants than there was last year. This is a pretty decisive proof that the Farnham hops, notwith standing the great expense attending their cultivation, and the enormous rent of the ground on which they grow, pay the growers very well.

"Hops are grown in many different parts of the county of Surrey besides Farnham, and its immediate neighbourhood; but every where else, 1 believe, they are grown by farmers at Farnham, in general, the hop culture is either the sole, or the principal object and dependence of the grower.

P. 325. "Farnham was formerly remarkable for its cloth manufactory; and while it continued, it is known that the culture of hops, though it may have been introduced, was not carried on to any considerable extent. As the manufacture of cloth declined, and receded from Farnham to some of the neigbouring towns, the culture of hops advanced and took its place.

"It is not easy to determine, when this change in the occupation of the people of Farnham took place: if we may oredit tradition, confirmed by several corroborating

Dd

circumstances,

circumstances, it was about the middle, or rather towards the end, of the seventeenth century."

Mr. Stevenson enters on the cultivation and after-management of hops, in detail, and at great length; having appropriated nearly fifty pages to the subject. His account has evidently been written, after much previous enquiry and personal examination had taken place. I have perused it with attention. I have not, however, discovered any thing, in Mr. S.'s Report, that materially differs from my own register, of the FARNHAM PRACTICE; which does not appear to have received any essential improvement, during a lapse of twentyfive years. I have only to add, that, if a prior systematized register of it had not been before the public, Mr. Stevenson's would have been the more valuable. It appears to have been done with much consideration. I jugue ORCHARDS. The subjoined account of the orchards of Surrey, I think, is overcharged. If we except walnuts, Surrey is not a fruit County.

P. 419. Most of the farms in the county have orchards attached to them, sufficiently large to supply, in a favourable year, from four to twelve hogsheads of cider; but as they do not form the principal part of the farm, and the main dependence of the farmer, they are not much taken care of."

Walnuts.-P. 443. "This tree also answers best on a chalky subsoil, though it requires a greater depth of upper soil than the beech. It is found in many parts of Surrey of a large size, and very productive, though no where in any great numbers. When the great value of the timber of this tree, and the high price which its fruit bears, are considered, it is rather surprising that it is not cultivated * more extensively on the chalk districts of Surrey.

"A good sized tree, upon a kind soil, will, in a favourable year, such as the present (1807), produce 20 bushels of walnuts; or, reckoning the bushel to contain 700 walnuts, 14,000 walnuts. I was informed of two trees s near Buckland, from which nearly 50 bushels had been got."ab

PROPORTIONATE EXTENT of Grass to Arable.-P. 385. "It has already been remarked, that the county of Surrey has a much smaller proportion of grass land than Middlesex, and, indeed, than most other counties in England. It is however thought by many of the farmers, that grass land is rather on the increase: this, at least, is certain, 91750 913 to 90. eús augu ebueqy Sthat