enormous increase of population; as some have undertaken to prove.

It is remarked that wheat delights in a strong soil; that it is the most hardy of all grain; that it is observed to be in general most prolific after a frosty winter, and a hot dry summer; that there are two different species of wheat, the smooth or polled, and the rough or bearded; that the former, as producing the finest flour, (Mr. B. spells it flower,) is most generally cultivated, and is subdivided into white and red wheats; though, on certain strong wet lands, farmers find their account in sowing the bearded species called rivets and cone wheat;-and that the quantity of seed on rich land should not exceed 2 bushels. The author, however, does not decide on the quantity requisite for all soils; which, he says, experience must determine; and here he takes occasion to digress into an abuse of systems of agriculture, and of Mr. Tull, whose schemes he pronounces idle and romantic, and whose drill and horse-hoeing husbandry he condemns. Mr. B. recommends the change of seed, and the feeding of wheat in the spring on strong and fertile lands. On the puzzling subject of smut in wheat, he inclines to the opinion that this disease arises from a defect in the seed; which his experiments seem to justify. His remarks on natural fertility, or on what some farmers term yielding land, in opposition to that which obtains a forced fertility, manifest practical knowlege, and convey useful information.

There is this difference between land by nature fertile, and that which has, from a state of poverty, been brought to bear large burthens of straw for whereas the straw growing on the first mentioned soil, is intrinsically firm and compact, and therefore not often lodged so early as to endanger the crop, and the ears are usually well set and of a considerable length, so that on this land (a rich loam) it is no uncommon eircumstance to grow five quarters of wheat per acre without the application of manure, or intervention of a fallow: a chalky or gravelly soil on the contrary, though from good management and by a liberal application of manure, it may be brought to produce a large proportion of straw, so as to exhibit an appearance of a crop of wheat equal to that on the rich land; and though this luxuriancy in the growth of the straw may continue throughout the summer, and the land having been treated in a husbandlike manner, may be free from the incumbrance of poppy and other weeds (the usual produce of a wet summer on these soils); yet will the can be generally lodged so long before harvest, that the crop will by no means be adequate to the flattering appearance which it made throughout the winter; nor, although it should not be lodged, and the burthen of straw be very large, perhaps nearly equal to that on the loamy soil, yet will the produce be proportionable to the intrinsic nature of the land, and not nearly equal to that on the rich soil; for the dung and tillage which caused the straw to be so very luxuriant, will fail of

producing

producing a length of ear and an increase in the berry; so that if the straw should yield abundantly well, three quarters or three quarters and a half on this land may be accounted a good crop; a plain indication, that although poor land in the hands of a judicious and intelligent husbandman, may be made to produce double the quantity of grain it would have brought if badly managed; yet it can never be rendered equal to the natural fertility of a rich soil.'

Mr. Banister then enumerates the kinds of weeds with which wheat crops are infested; remarks on the effects of weather in harvest; and points out the method of ascertaining the value of samples at market.

Barley, and the other species of grain mentioned in the head title of Book II. are also separately discussed in this judí. cious Synopsis.

Mr. B. does not encourage the farmer to be very liberal in the cultivation of potatoes; because he conceives that the frequent planting of them is injurious to the fertility of the soil.

The book on Grasses contains many valuable hints respecting their culture: but we must pass it with this slight notice, and refer those who are desirous of cultivating woold, or hops *, to the mass of information here offered to them.

In the last book, whith is subdivided into twenty-two chapters, the author treats of upland and lowland meadows;-of marshes for mowing;-of orchard hay and orchard ground; -of pastures;-of marsh land of horses-of their diseases, the cholic or gripes, colds, farcy, fevers, grease, staggers, strains, strangles, strangury, vivers or ivers, broken wind, wind galls, worms, and yellows;-of oxen, of cows for butter and for suckling-of weaning calves;-of cows kept for the immediate profit of their milk;-of the diseases of cows and oxen, as lax or scouring, loss of the cud, yellows, loore or foul, and staling blood;-of sheep ;-of suckling house lamb-of grass lambs ;-of marsh sheep ;-of swine;-of fences live and dead, and ditches.

From the preceding account, it will be seen that this Synopsis is a manual of husbandry, which every one who is entering on the business of farming should be solicitous of consulting. Impressed with a conviction of the importance. of economy in country business, Mr. Banister concludes with some particular directions respecting yearly servants and labourers-the stable-the barn-the farming implements-and

They were first planted in England in 1511; and they were once prohibited by act of parliament as a destructive and noxious weed. The distich says,

the seasons of seed-time and harvest. He writes indeed as an experienced man, and we can recommend his book as a safe and useful publication.

ART. VII. General View of the Agriculture of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Surveyed by Messrs. Rennie, Brown, and Shirreff, 1793. With Observations on the Means of its Improvement, and additional Information since received. Drawn up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and internal Improvement. By Robert Brown, Farmer at Markle, near Haddington, Scotland. 8vo. pp. 430. 6s. Boards. Nicol. 1799.

ΤΗ

HE survey of this fertile and populous district was executed by the gentlemen named in the title, in the course of five weeks. They were all strangers, and unacquainted with a single individual: but they tell us that, by the recommendation of Sir John Sinclair, they not only obtained ample information, but met with that attention and kindness which manifested the hospitality and liberality of the inhabitants. Why all strangers were employed by the Board we are not told *. Though in some respects this circumstance may have its advantages, yet, without the greatest assiduity, a survey so performed is likely to be materially imperfect. It may be observed, however, that the practice of the Board, in circulating copies of the original Reports in the respective counties, to invite the remarks and corrections of intelligent men, previously to their being given to the public at large, must tend in some measure (though not completely) to remove the imperfections incident even to the most careful survey, made by professional men appointed for the purpose. Indeed, it may be fairly presumed that all the General Views, compiled from the returned corrected Reports, still contain a variety of errors and omissions: but we respect them as including a great mass of valuable information; as so many advances towards correct knowlege and general improvement.

*When these gentlemen proceed to mention the State of Property, and the Tenures on which it is held, they confess their inability as strangers to discuss these points with accuracy. Though this may be a matter of no great importance, we are of opinion that they ought to have acquainted the Board with it; and, as it was possible that their insufficiency might manifest itself (which it has done) in other respects *, to have requested that a gentleman or two belonging to the Riding should be associated with them in making the survey. Why not take the necessary steps, in the first instance, to make the report as perfect as possible? Why appoint only strangers to such a work? We ask these questions without doubting the professional ability of the gentle. men employed.

* They could not push the Farmer, they say, on the subject of rent.

The

The West Riding of Yorkshire is stated to be 95 miles in length from east to west, 48 miles in breadth from south to north, and to contain 2450 square miles, or 1,568,000 statute acres. It is divided into nine wapentakes; its climate is on the whole moderate and healthy; and the average gauge of. rain, at Sheffield, is 3 inches in a year. Its surface is very irregular, exhibiting every variety of soil; and underneath are found abundance of coal, lime, ironstone, and lead, with some copper. It is rich also in navigable rivers. Its population (according to the best accounts which these reporters could obtain,) is calculated at upwards of 400,000; and the annual expence of the poor is equal to one fifth of the rental. he greatest part of the Riding is freehold; it contains a considerable proportion of small proprietors: but some possess very extensive estates, the incomes from which, we here read with astonishment, it is unnecessary and improper to state.' The absurd timidity of such a declaration, if not absolutely condemned by the Board, ought never to have appeared in a work of this kind. Can the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Fitzwilliam, &c. be afraid of having the size and rent-rolls of their Yorkshire estates known to the public? If such statements were improper, the idea of county surveys ought to be abandoned. What is their utility, if knowlege be unnecessary and improper?

The Farm Houses are stated to be in most cases inconveniently situated, and the husbandmen and labourers are said to be indifferently accommodated: but Lord Hawke, we are informed, has lately erected (the place is not specified) a suite of farm offices, which may serve as a pattern to his neighbours. Small farms prevail, which is considered here as an obstacle to the improvement of the Riding. Supposing them to exist to a great extent, it may have this effect: but it ought to be remembered that, were there no small farms, no small agricul tural capitals could be employed, and markets could not be so well supplied with the smaller produce of farms. A great agriculturist may deem the profit arising from 50 acres beneath his notice; but it may satisfy a man of more moderate ambition, who may be content to furnish the market with small quantities for small buyers.

No information is conveyed on the subject of Rent (the cunning Yorkshire farmers would not let these strangers into that secret; and as to tithes, in consequence of a letter from Sir John Sinclair, the reporters professedly avoid all discussion: dismissing the subject with merely giving it as their opinion, that the interest of the country is concerned in having them regulated as soon as possible *.-A small proportion of the In other places, the same idea is suggested.

T4

land

land in the Riding is let on leases: but three fourths of the farmers are only yearly tenants; a circumstance obviously inimical to agricultural improvement.

In the construction of Agricultural Instruments, the West Riding of Yorkshire is very deficient; if we except the threshing machine, which prevails in this district, and of which a very full account is given. These gentlemen strongly recom mend the general adoption of it, on the ground of dispatch, and saving of corn and money. Speaking from their own experience, they assert that, by Mr. Meikle's machine, under favourable circumstances, from 40 to 60 bushels of wheat may be threshed and cleaned in one hour; leaving no corn in the straw, which is a very material circumstance.

The chapter on Gardens and Orchards is very short but it judiciously recommends that every cottager should have onesixteenth of an acre for a garden; and it informs us that there is a species of plumb, called the win our, raised in this district, which sells, when sound, for 215. per peck; that is, four guineas per bushel!

The Waste Lands in this district, capable of cultivation, are calculated to amount to 265,oco acres; and a correspondent, who signs himself W. P. strongly urges their improvement, lest we fight, and weave, and hammer, till we have not bread to eat.'

Under the head of Improvements, draining, irrigation, and warping, (particularly the latter, where circumstances will allow it,) are recommended.

The chapter on Live Stock consists mostly of extracts from the letters of correspondents: but the reporters intersperse their opinions; and they conclude the section on Horses with thus maintaining that they are preferable in agriculture to

oxen:

The very strongest ox will not do the same work as a horse. He cannot be drove at the same step, nor will he work in like manner from day to day. He not only does less labour when employed, but must be refreshed with more rest, or else he would soon turn unfit for work altogether. This of course requires two pair of oxen, to do the work which will be performed by one pair of horses, and nearly the same capital stock will be necessary in both cases. Instead of maintaining two horses, you have four oxen to support, which certainly turns the scale. Oh," but says the theorist," a little straw will serve for the ox, whereas your horse cannot live without hay."-Straw for a working ox! very good indeed. hay.” If you work him like a horse, he must be maintained like a horse. He must have his hay and his turnips, and possibly his coin also, if he is kept at

In addition to these, 140,000 are stated to be incapable of improvement, unless by planting.

hard