Agriculture, we observed in our last, began to assume a somewhat better appearance about Manchester. The culture of the potato there, and throughout Lancashire, is carried to a degree of perfection nearly equal to that of East Lothian. In some places two rows are grown together, at the distance of 14 in., and the space between is 33 in., in Mr. Curwen's manner; in others, and for the greater part, they are grown in single rows, at the distance of 27 in.: the advantage of the former mode is, that coarser implements and deeper stirring may be used in the intervals. In the north of Lancashire, and in Cumberland and Westmoreland, turnips are grown on raised ridgelets, as in the Berwickshire system; and this crop, and that of potatoes, seem to be employed, in most places in those counties, and in Dumfriesshire, as a substitute for naked fallow. Iron swing ploughs, drawn by two horses, are in general use throughout the same tract; but in only one place, the Rig of Gretna, did we meet with a cultivator of an improved constraction. Here we saw one founded on Kirkwood's, in the possession of Mr. Carruthers, considerably improved by him, which, he assured us, did with four horses the work of four ploughs, and in a much more efficient manner, because, at the same time, it did the work of harrows and couch rakes. Since he began to use this implement, he never ploughs for his green crops or fallows above twice; once in breaking up from stubble, and once in giving the seed furrow, or making up the drills for receiving the manure for potatoes or turnips. An extensive arable farmer, with this description of implement, can dispense with three fourths of the usual number of ploughs and ploughmen that are requisite when ploughs only are used.
