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The Clifton Park System of Farming

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The Clifton Park System of Farming The Clifton Park System of Farming and laying down land to grass a guide to landlords, tenants and land legislators by Robert H. Elliot with an introduction by Sir R. George Stapledon 1 2 1 Robert H. Elliot of Clifton Park Faber and Faber Limited 24 Russell Square London First published under the title 'Agricultural Changes' in October Mdcccxcviii Second edition November Mcm Third edition October Mcmiv Fourth edition (under the present title) January Mcmviii Fifth edition May Mcmxliii published by Faber and Faber Limited 24 Russell Square London W.C. 1 Printed in Great Britain by Latimer Trend & Co Ltd Plymouth All rights reserved 2 3 2 Contents Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction by Sir R. George Stapledon ....................................................................................... 9 Author's Prefaces ......................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 1: Introductory ................................................................................................................... 21 Author's opportunities for forming sound conclusions as to the changes required by the times Remodelling our agricultural system The writings of Arthur Young The importance of local experience New system of farming suitable to the habits of gentlemen New system of farming provides deeply tilled, humus-fed soil, ensuring good crops British agriculture will revive if suitable changes of system are made Proposed changes are to the mutual advantage of landlords and tenants Similar principles laid down by M. Porcius Cato 2,000 years ago Why farmers oppose agricultural changes Falsity of the old saw as to 'making a pasture breaking a man' Agricultural changes adopted in La Manche Agricultural schools and experimental farms aid the Normandy farmers Great Britain requires Government agricultural schools and experimental farms Chapter 2: General Principles ......................................................................................................... 25 The dominating principle as regards the change of system The cheap production of a good turf-the solution of all our agricultural difficulties Worthlessness of Bi-metallism and Protection as remedies for agricultural depression Land legislation no cure for our agricultural difficulties Farming was more profitable when rents were higher Turf is the best manurial agent A mixture of deep-rooting plants will at once till, manure, and clean the land Crops less liable to disease, and weeds abolished Locke's Conduct of the Understanding Lord Leicester's system of farming light lands Seed mixture used by Lord Leicester Author's mixture will provide a better turf in less time A green crop should follow pasture Chapter 3: On Disintegrating the Soil and Permeating it with Vegetable Matter ........................... 31 Sir John Lawes' opinion on the importance of good Physical condition. of soil Mr. Faunce de Laune's opinion on the same point The physical condition of the soil is of even more importance than the, strictly speaking, chemical condition Laying down land to permanent grass Deep-rooting plants are the best cultivating and fertilizing agents Illustrations of soil disintegration by the agency of roots 3 4 3 Laying down two high, poor land, exhausted fields The Inner and Outer Kaimrig field experiments Remarkable results obtained after relaying one of the fields Taking turnips after grass Practical illustrations of the value of drought-resisting plants, such as Chicory, Burnet, Kidney Vetch, and Yarrow The value of Burnet and Yarrow for keeping sheep in good health, and especially in diminishing diarrhoea Deep and strong-rooting plants extinguish couch grasses, and lessen moss Turnips grown without manure The Clifton Park system of farming explained Farmers are not aided by Government schools and farms as are agriculturists abroad Losses resulting from want of proper means of instruction Efforts of County Councils of little practical value to farmers Chapter 4: Arthur Young and Some of his Agricultural Experiences with Reference to Chicory and Burnet, and the Preservation of Grass for Winter and Spring Use ............................... 40 Brief account of Arthur Young's life and works His great unpublished work -- The Elements and Practice of Agriculture Chicory introduced into England by Arthur Young in 1798 The great value of Chicory Advantages and disadvantages of Chicory Burnet, its uses and value The excessive use of turnips undesirable Rouen, or aftermath preserved for spring use The use of fog, or the growth of the whole year preserved for winter and spring use Arthur Young on laying down land to grass Browsing Arthur Young's remarkable personality Chapter 5: Laying Down Land to Grass and the Treatment of the Pasture ..................................... 48 Dr. Keith's Agriculture of Aberdeenshire Dr. Anderson's remarks on Ryegrass 'Observations of British Grasses' Various methods of laying down land to grass The after-management of permanent pasture Importance of rolling the land after grasses have come up Pastures should not be overstocked the first year Clifton Park Seed Mixtures may be grazed throughout the first year, and hayed the second or subsequent years Importance of re-seeding vacant patches in pastures Moss in pastures Treatment of the pasture in the third and fourth years How to obtain greatest amount of winter and spring keep from pastures Rouen, or preserved aftermath 'Fogging the land' in South Wales Shutting-up a pasture at Sharsted Court Fine pastures may be formed from the largest grasses 4 5 4 Advantages from letting up a pasture as regards re-seeding and prevention of moss Hill pastures might be improved if treated on the Welsh fogging system Chapter 6: Forage Plants ................................................................................................................. 57 Danger of regulating present practices by previous customs which may not be founded on a sound experience Cause of the preference for Ryegrass Mr. James Hunter's note thereon The Ryegrass controversy Sinclair's opinion as to Cocksfoot being superior to Ryegrass The effect of plant roots on the soil The grass mixtures usually sown not founded on sound principles New grass mixtures used by author The value of deep-rooting plants for breaking up hard pans Chicory, Burnet, and Kidney Vetch as subsoilers Chicory superior to Parsnip as a deep-rooter Opinions of a well-known farmer as regards two poor land fields Probable results had sheep been fed with oilcake Importance of careful tillage and seeding Liberal seeding essential to success The number of germinating seeds required to sow an acre Quality of seed of great importance The Lake field laid down with seeds from two different sources, and the results Differences in plants grown from seed produced in various climates should be further investigated Remarks on Cocksfoot, the most valuable of grasses The management of Cocksfoot Tall Fescue grass Tall Oat grass The three most important grasses Grass mixture of hardy, drought-resisting, health-preserving, and deep-rooting plants Timothy grass Italian Ryegrass Perennial Ryegrass, Meadow Fescue, and Meadow Foxtail grasses Fertile, or Late-flowering Meadow grass Rough-stalked Meadow grass Golden Oat, Smooth-stalked Meadow, Hard Fescue, and Sweet Vernal grasses Crested Dogstail, Wood Meadow, Fine-leaved Fescue, and Nerved Meadow grasses Late-flowering Red, White, and Alsike Clovers Kidney Vetch and Yarrow Lucerne, Sainfoin, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Sheep's Parsley, and Cotton grass Chapter 7: Why Government Experimental Farms Are So Specially Needed, and the Lines on which They Should Be Laid ............................................................................................................. 74 Aversion of agriculturists to intellectual exertion The mental condition of landlords, tenant farmers, and factors in regard to agricultural matters Need for experimental farms for the instruction of those connected with land Visitors to Clifton-on-Bowmont farm 5 6 5 The Board of Agriculture and its policy 'Can the blind lead the blind?' Experiments at Cockle Park, Morpeth Exhaustion of humus not remedied by use of artificial manures Manurial experiments with hay and potatoes at Cockle Park Experiments with potatoes at Clifton-on-Bowmont Experiments with sheep at Cockle Park Two sets of experiments required on experimental farms The Government asked to take lease of Clifton-on-Bowmont experimental farm Central seed-testing station not yet established Chapter 8: The Principles on which a Landlord Should Farm, Both for Himself and His Successors ......................................................................................................................................... 81 Indian proverb -- the three great desires of man The American Constitution Landlord's rights in Ireland The landlord should farm with a view to least risk Clifton-on-Bowmont farm yields rent, interest on capital, and shows a steady increase in fertility Landlords should themselves farm the inferior portions of their property System of farming at Clifton-on-Bowmont described Sheep stock at Clifton-on-Bowmont Cattle at Clifton-on-Bowmont Poultry Landed Improvements Agriculture our biggest industry Foreign. Competition The stock of this country might be greatly increased What is a true rotation of crops? Nitrogen
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