A very long-winded exposition on the benefits of Mr. Fowler's exertions in making a success out of the former wastelands of Dartmoor. With a detailed explanation of his unique system of manure handling.
Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal May 10 1849
AGRICULTURE.
CULTIVATION OF DARTMOOR.
A VISIT TO PRINCE HALL. Most of our readers are aware that a few miles from Tavistock, stretching from east-north-east to west-south-west is a wild tract of uncultivated country, known by the name of Dartmoor. It is twenty miles in length, and its average breadth about eleven miles, and according to a report lately presented to the House of Commons, it contains 180,000 acres. This large extent of country presents one vast expanse of hill and glen - heath and rock - torrent and morass - the aspect which it has most probably worn ever since the deluge. During the winter the hills are generally enveloped in mist, but in fine weather their hue is continually changing with the state of the atmosphere, from a somber grey to a deep azure. It is visited frequently by sudden and violent tempests, and on some occasions these are so fearful it seems as if it were the hereditory and undisputed stronghold of the angry spirits of the storm for the time. Of course it is needless to say, that for ages, nothing in the shape of cultivation was attempted upon it; nay, we suppose that the man who would have ventured to speak of such a thing in days gone by, would have been regarded as a down right natural, if he had not actually been sent to the asylum under the warrant of a commission de lunitico inquirendo. In this enlightened and speculating age, however, the belief in impossibilities, if not entirely exploded, appears to be greatly lessened, and we are happy to say that men have been found, bold enough, and enterprising enough, to brave agricultural opinion, and risk the chance of a failure in their attempt to cultivate a portion of the moor, not to speak of the pecuniary loss which such a result would necessarily entail upon them. Messrs. Frean, Bennett, and Adams were the parties who first attempted to cultivate Dartmoor, and their efforts have proved eminently successful. They have enclosed ground to the extent of nearly 5,000 acres, the greater part of which is in a state of cultivation, and built upon it a little colony of houses for the residences of their servants. To their efforts, we shall at another time refer ; out visit in the meantime being confined to Prince Hall. If there ever was an agriculturist who concentrated in his minds the gifts of skill, talent, perseverance, and industry, we believe Mr. George Fowler, of Prince Hall, is that man. Born and bred in another part of the country, and having we understand spent most of his life in mercantile pursuits, his success in which enabled him to amass early a handsome fortune - how he could ever have embarked in such a doubtful speculation, or incurred such an apparently profitless expenditure of money, we cannot imagine. Carrington said, speaking of Dartmoor - "Though the spirit of the Spring Breathes on thee, to the charmers whisper kind Thou listenest not, nor ever puttest on A robe of beauty, as the fields that bud And blossom near thee." And declared that though from the thousand brooks that roll over its rugged slopes, Devonias rivers flow, "Thou, The source of half their beauty, wearest still Through centuries, upon thy blasted brow The curse of barrenness." Mr. Fowler it appears did not quite coincide with the poet, and has since proved to demonstration, that if but with industry and application, knowledge and care is combined, even "the curse of barrenness" might be removed, and the rock crowned desert be made to blossom like the rose. A few more introductory words, and we will to our visit. We had heard that rather more than three years since, Mr. Fowler had built a residence in the very heart of the moor, had enclosed and cultivated nearly 400 acres of land, previously barren and unproductive. At one agricultural meeting, the prize for Swedish turnips was awarded to him, and the chairman in a highly complimentary speech referred to his attempt, and the eminent success it had met with, while agriculturists vied with each other in their eulogies of the system pursued by Mr. Fowler in everything connected with his farm. All this made us desirous personally to visit the farm, and being in Tavistock for a few days last week, we started on Saturday for Prince Hall. The ride was cold enough, but the beauty and sublimity of the surrounding scenery made up for any discomfort we thereby sustained, while a select party who accompanied us, and whom we got together to explore the moor, whiled away the time with wit and fun, and made us comfortable and happy as could be. By the way, we advise our readers who may be tempted to cross the moor and view its grandeur and beauty, to take "company" with them. After driving for about six miles we arrived at Two Bridges, a secluded little hamlet on the banks of the West Dart. Here we enquired our way, and having proceeded about a mile and a half farther we reached the lodge gate, drove down a fine avenue, and at last came to the hall. We were most hospitably received by the proprietor, and having seen our horse h(?) and fed, along with Mr. Fowler we walked around the farm. The friends who were with us having had a bird's eye view of the estate, returned to Two Bridges to spend the afternoon. By way of a preface to our observations, we may as well state that we are ignorant of the principles and practice of farming, and that with the exception of what a little knowledge of chemistry and physiology has taught us - for the facts and inferences we have to lay before our readers, we are indebted to the scientific and practical details with which Mr. Fowler furnished us in the description of his system and plans. The extent of the farm is 373 acres, and it lies in the very heart of Dartmoor. The only building on the ground at the time when Mr. Fowler purchased it was part of an old stable now built into his residence, and a few stunted trees on an eminence above the lawn. Now, besides the hall, which is a large and elegant structure, and the outhouses, which we shall presently describe, there have been five cottages built on different portions of the ground - at distances suitable for the protection of the crops - and which are inhabited by the servants of the proprietor. The hall, and outhouses form a sort of quadrangle ; in the midst of the yard is an immensely large stone reservoir which serves to supply all the necessary water. The first of the farm buildings we visited was the Root House, built to contain from 3000 to 4000 tons of turnips. From the field above, these are carted and dropped into the house through four apertures, which also serve as windows in the wall. Precisely opposite to this house is a large stable for bullocks and a line of rail runs from one house to the other. The latter is a fine, lofty, and well ventilated stone building, the light to which is admitted from four windows in the roof ; the stalls were clean and comfortable, and the animals domiciled in them appeared to be really well taken care of. To each stall and within reach of each tenant, was apportioned a stone tank, capable we should think of containing a gallon of water, which is conveyed by pipes running along the wall. The turnips or other food given to the animals is conveyed from the root house by means of the rail, and deposited in trucks with which each stall is provided. This house and three others in the same range, was entirely intended for bullocks, but Mr. Fowler informed us, that of these he had but a small number at present. He was obliged to adapt his stock to his means, and as he could not grow enough clover or grass to feed many bullocks, he kept in their stead a large number of pigs - turnips being very plentiful. Among the tenants of this building was an exceedingly well grown young Durham bull only 16 months old; and a remarkably fine North Devon which had been bought at Lord Selbourne's sale. The line of rail we have spoken of answers a double purpose. Not only does it serve to convey food to the animals in the stalls, but it is also used for conveying the soil from the stalls into a large dung pit at the end of the bullocks house. Now there is, perhaps, nothing of so much importance in the management of a farm as the preservation of an abundant supply of manure. This, it must evident to every reflecting person, is the only means which English farmers possess of neutralizing the advantage of a soil naturally more productive for a climate more favourable to vegetation. The farm yard, ought to be a complete manufactory of manure. Artificial manures may be all very good in their way, but if it is possible to make the refuse of the farm yard do, so much the better. And the fact is, in a little while it will only be thus that a sufficient supply of manure will be available; the guano beds are nearly exhausted, and the time will come when the spoils of the sea bird may fail us altogether. Then, if not sooner, the farmer will have to begin and appropriate his own perennial guano streams, and devise the best means of turning them to account. Mr. Fowler appears to view this in its proper light, and has taken his measures accordingly. Not a particle of the soil is wasted; it is scraped cleanly into the wagon, and deposited in the pit; it is spread about perfectly level, then put together in heaps; the pigs are then admitted to tread it out thoroughly, and decompose the matter; it is then spread again along the ground, and after this it is ready to use. The proper application of the refuse of the farm is a most important point to be regarded, both by agriculturists and the people, for it is an essential step towards that abundance and cheapness of food upon which the prosperity of the country is so closely dependant. In the houses in the same range we observed some fine specimens of stock, which deserves mention. Among others there was a fine cheviot ram brought all the way from Northumberland, considered of great beauty, and the stock derived from which, Mr. Fowler informed us, was remarkably fine. It had been crossed with the Dartmoor breed, and the sheep thus produced were very fine indeed. There was also a very fine Cotteswold ram of immense size, estimated now to weigh 50lb. a quarter. His stock this year was taken from Cheviot ewes and were exceedingly fine. His value may be guessed when we state that it was purchased at �32, and that its wool the first year was worth �16. Then there was a Berkshire sow of great beauty, which was suckling nine young pigs. It is of the Tamworth breed, and gained 40lb. in two weeks. We also saw a splendid boar of the Devon breed nine months old. The next place we visited was the threshing room. The machine which is a large and splendid one, was built for Mr. Fowler, by Mr. Uggins of Jedburgh, and is admirably adapted to lessen labour, and perform the work properly and with expedition. The grain is thrashed in a loft above, it then falls into the winnowing machine below, next it passes into what are termed elevators - small tin boxes affixed to a belt, which keeps revolving - then it finally passes through a spout, into a receiving box. Mr. Fowler informed us that one day lately, in four hours he thrashed and winnowed 164 Imperial bushels of white potato oats - a very large quantity in so short a time. The machine also entirely separates the oats from the straw; not a particle of grain remains when the operation is finished, a matter of great consequence to the farmer. The engine by which it is driven is a very strong one of four horse power, built at the Haigh foundry, Wigan. It is worked most satisfactorily by peat, in fact, the engineer states he decidedly prefers peat when well dried to coal, which they had latterly compelled to resort to from the extreme wetness of last summer. Mr. Fowler informed us that when he used to thresh with a flail, the time it occupied, and the quantity of seed left in the straw was anything but agreeable. Now the result was quite different. The straw was perfectly clean, and though his harvest was a little later than that of his neighbours last year. He had been very fortunate. His straw was now bright as silver, and smelt quite fragrant. The cooking house stood next to the threshing room, and contained three large coppers where the food was prepared. A hackney stable and saddle house was at the back of the mansion, and several other stables at the back of the outhouses. We have now given a sketch of one or two of the buildings which, under Mr. Fowler's management have sprung up in the heart of Dartmoor within the last three years. We think we hear our readers say - it is easy to build anywhere when one has money to throw away, but what about the cultivation, and where are the crops? The moorland gale. "Bears not on its wing Hybbean sweets, nor cheers the grateful brow With the warm, fragrant and luxurious kiss Of the soft zephyr of the vale." And we must confess to holding similar opinions - certainly we could not have believed what we describe, had we not visited the scene personally, and been compelled by ocular demonstration to acknowledge its truth. We could not conceive how the immense masses of rock which lie on the moor in magnificent confusion, as if the genius of earthquake had stalked in wrath along the plain, and these were the traces of his mighty footsteps, were to be got rid of - how the numerous torrent streams, which make the moor in places a complete bog or swampy morass were to be altered in their course, or stopped up - how the struggle between barrenness and fertility which the most careless observer will perceive is a distinguishing feature of the surface of the moor was to be completed, and the latter to take the place of and vanquish the former. We could well appreciate the admirable language of the poet. "How great The toil, if Labour from the tor crowned hills, 'Collbet(?) within his nervous grasp the rock That baffled the eternal winds, and bid The cheerful sward up spring, and some awake, And Ceres reign, where silence, deep as death, And stern sterility from age to age Held unrelenting sway." The toil has indeed been great, but through the indomitable perseverance of Mr. Fowler, the victory has been obtained and desolation has been conquered. He set to work with a will; his time, his toil, his means, have been fervently and unremittingly devoted to the task which he had in hand and he has so far succeeded. He first set about removing the stones, and clearing away the rocks we have just referred to. The rocks were carried down to the brink of the river Dart, which bounds the estate on one side, and there formed into a breakwater to preserve the meadows in case of an inundation, which the heavy rains sometimes cause on ground beside the rivers. With the stones he has built about eight miles of wall, enclosing his property, and which is five feet high, five feet broad at the base, and three feet at the top. His reason for having such immense walls built was, that from their thickness the men would be obliged to clear the moor of such a great quantity of stones. That done, from the hills in the vicinity, he carried earth and filled up the openings in the ground, thus made. All the pits on his estate he filled up in a like manner and the greater part of the ground was then submitted to manual labour, and dug to the depth of eighteen inches. He experienced great difficulty in getting rid of rush and indigenous plants with which the soil abounded; where these would not rot, they were collected together and burned, or otherwise disposed of. Then he opened drains in every part of the ground, making them to unite in one particular spot, and disgorge their contents into one stream. These drains are generally four feet deep - some more, some less, and are nearly all formed with stone. Each possesses an aperture of nine square inches, and is filled about 18 inches with small stones over the cover. And now for the results. The first place we visited was the kitchen garden, which, though it had only been made about three months since, was in a capital state of vegetation, and gave evidence of a very good crop. It was enclosed on one side with a high wall, at the side of which was plated several fruit trees, while at the bottom, from the earth taken from the foundation of the farm buildings a bank had been raised 12 feet high to break the cold wind which so often blows from the moor. Mr. Fowler informed us that the spot we are talking of, was a fair specimen of the result of turning wet land into dry. When he entered upon the estate there was a large and ugly pit leaking all down the field. That he filled up, and the ground was now as dry as a cork. The field in front of his house was little better than a common bog, and it is now perfectly dry. There is a stream of water issuing from the main drain, into which the contributory drains are emptied, that would gladden the heart of any man who had not a great partiality for wet ground. It is drained in every direction. The next field we visited was one which Mr. Fowler said, when he took the farm, he would not have given 2s. 6d. an acre for. It was one mass of rocks and mud, and full of indigenous grasses. Now the stones had been picked up, the inequalities levelled; it had been soiled and seeded, and gives a prospect of as nice a bit of turf as anyone could wish to see. We walked to the bottom of this field to see the stream that runs into the river from the drains. We had expected to see a small dripping rivulet, but instead of that it was a rushing stream, we were informed and, we believe, truly enough, was sufficient to spoil 10,000 acres of ground. Mr. Fowler next showed us what he done in regard to hedging. He had been told that hawthorn would not grow on Dartmoor, and he found this to be partly true - it would not grow unless it was planted. In the year 1847 he planted several hundred yards across a field, and it is now looking quite healthy - and as well as any similar hedge cold look in the country. Another field we went over, Mr. Fowler informed us when he first had it, was as filthy as possible. He had bestowed great pains upon it, and it had cost him much labour and expense to bring it into the state in which we saw it. But for this he had been so far rewarded. It was looking as clean, and seemed as good ground as garden in Devonshire, and the gay tint given it by the young oats was most gratifying to the eye. The regularity of the crop, and the absence of all weeds and stones, surprised us not a little, and we should think that we saw 63 acres in a similar state. We mentioned before that Mr. Fowler had obtained the prize given by the South Devon Association for the best crop of Swede turnips. He is now getting ready a field of about 10 acres for competition during the present year. On this field were two heaps of farm manure, which seemed to laugh to scorn all artificial aid. Mr. Fowler informed us that in the production of root crops he would not use one ounce of any, save the manure he had extracted from the soil of his farm. The next field we visited, was that which Mr. Fowler called his "experimental field." The ground had been subsoiled ploughed two feet deep, and in it, besides about 14,000 flatpole cabbages, were carrots, parsnips, swede, turnips, mangel wurzels, and store turnips. These had taken great pains with, and from that he expected a corresponding return. Another field we saw, had two years since, been much worse than the moor we rode over. It now presents as fine a promise of an excellent crop of oats as can be wished. Having removed the rocks and stones from it, Mr. Fowler had it dug 18 inches deep ; then it was well limed, and with a little Peruvian guano, it last year produced a good crop of white turnips. Now it is in oats and seeded down. In reference to hedging, we should state, that though Mr. Fowler has done a little in that way for the sake of experiment, the use to which he applied the stones o the moor, has almost entirely done away with the need of it - and the item of hedging and ditching generally forms a serious one in the farmers annual accounts. There can be no mistake about it, that when a good durable, substantial wall is once built, every purpose will (?) the expense attendant upon planting, repairing, cleaning, and cutting the hedges are got rid of, and a very important saving to the farmer is effected. Another field we saw, contained for about a quarter of an acre, a pretty fair crop of potatoes. These had been planted in lazy beds, which the proprietor told us he had perfect faith would do well, as the sets repose upon charcoal, and not upon any manure. On different parts of the estate, Mr. Fowler has planted about 50,000 trees - formed into small plantations at the most eligible spots. Such is a brief description of some of the things most worthy of notice in this model farm. The great aim of the proprietor appears to have been made to make everything answer the specific purpose for which it was designed, and to arrange all his materials so as to save labour, and work cleanly, properly, and expeditiously. As regards one point to which we have already alluded, Mr. Fowler has discovered what we are afraid many of his class, have not. He sees that the great secret in the management of manure, is to get every particle of it, both substance and liquid, preserved and put to use. At the present time especially this matter ought to be looked to, for, as the farmers are crying out on all sides, and complaining of the high rents, heavy local burdens, high wages, and the cost of manure, a saving on the latter item must be of great importance. Were every agriculturist to be but half as careful, and as industrious as Mr. Fowler, they would have no cause, we think, to complain of the competition to which they are exposed. Though we have lived almost all our lives in the busy town, and have no pretensions to agricultural knowledge, we think we could advance good reasons for our confidence in the agricultural resources of England. But the only means, we believe, by which the agricultural independence of England can be secured, is by a vast permanent reduction in the price of corn; in other words by bringing the soil into such a state of fertility, that what has happened now and then, in seasons of rare abundance, when the nation has been supplied with corn by its own resources, may become the general and natural state of things. We must have home grown corn so cheap that the foreigner may not be able to undersell us in our own markets. In one respect we shall always have an advantage - that of finding a ready market on the spot, without the payment of agents, freight, or brokerage. This is of itself, and must ever be, to the home grower, a very great protection. Whether Mr. Fowler's attempt to cultivate Dartmoor will prove successful or not, we cannot take upon ourselves to determine. We trust it may be, we cannot see why it should not. At all extents, he has set an example which other people would do well to imitate. Dartmoor is part of the crown lands, and we think that it should not be permitted to lie waste, when Mr. Frean and Mr. Fowler have shown, on the moor, to what good purpose it may be turned; and hundreds of other agriculturists have cultivated its borders with great success. While on Dartmoor we were reminded of the question of prison discipline which has of late been so much the subject of discussion. At Princetown, a short distance from Prince Hall, is Dartmoor prison, a large edifice specially constructed for the incarceration of man, and capable of containing 100,000 prisoners. The situation is a most favourable one, and the returns to parliament at the time when it was occupied show a less mortality than in any town with the same population in the same time. At the present day this prison is empty. In the year 1820 it was intended to occupy it with convicts for improving the moor, and subsequently a school of industry was projected, King George IV offering to grant part of the waste for this purpose, besides a donation of �1,000. The children wee to be orphans, rescued from the vice, infamy, and ruin of the metropolis. But this scheme, from some reason unknown to us was never carried into effect, and the prison is now aptly designated by Carrington as a "silent pile." Now, if instead of sending our convicts to Norfolk Island, the Government would send them to Princetown, and employ them in cultivating the moor, a great good might be effected. At present prisoners are a dead weight upon the country, when they could easily by manual labour be made to maintain themselves, and be sufficiently punished at the same time. The subject of cultivation of waste lands is of too great importance to be soon lost sight of, and if the crown will not undertake it, there are others who will. Mr. Fowler will have the honour of being one of the leaders in this march of cultivation - of showing what is possible for a man alone, and unassisted to accomplish, when spurred on by talent, perseverance, and the desire of success. Now that the sum of Science is beginning to shine so brightly upon our earth, - that wealth is diffusing, and the many are no longer toiling for the few, - that industry in every art, is working such mighty miracles, - even the day when Dartmoor shall be fertilized may not be far off. " Yet the happy hour May come - not distant - when the conquering swain Shall furrow the long slumb'ring soil, and where Frowns desolation, bid the cheerful grass Wave in the upland gale, and harvests bless The renovated wastes. Achievements these, O nobler far than gloriously to win A blood stain'd realm, though ravish'd inch by inch From a stern sullen foe. We were obliged to refuse Mr. Fowler's kind invitation to remain to tea with him, for we were afraid our party at Two Bridges might have got tired of waiting. With a hearty shake of the hand, and after returning him many thanks for his kindness and courtesy, we parted. When we reached Two Bridges we found that tea had been waiting for us several hours, and sulky faces and surly greetings were bestowed on us in abundance. As a matter of course we apologised, and explained the reason of our prolonged absence, and the gratification we had experienced in our inspection of the farm. After spending about an hour at the inn, and admiring the beauty and quietude of the little spot, we had our horses put to and started for Tavistock. Our drive across the moor was a beautiful one, the sun had set, but " The cold round Moon shone sweetly down," and the firmament was bespangled with myriad to stars. We shall not very quickly forget that drive home. When we reached Tavistock, all our regret was, that a day so happily spent was so soon over.
AGRICULTURE.
CULTIVATION OF DARTMOOR.
A VISIT TO PRINCE HALL. Most of our readers are aware that a few miles from Tavistock, stretching from east-north-east to west-south-west is a wild tract of uncultivated country, known by the name of Dartmoor. It is twenty miles in length, and its average breadth about eleven miles, and according to a report lately presented to the House of Commons, it contains 180,000 acres. This large extent of country presents one vast expanse of hill and glen - heath and rock - torrent and morass - the aspect which it has most probably worn ever since the deluge. During the winter the hills are generally enveloped in mist, but in fine weather their hue is continually changing with the state of the atmosphere, from a somber grey to a deep azure. It is visited frequently by sudden and violent tempests, and on some occasions these are so fearful it seems as if it were the hereditory and undisputed stronghold of the angry spirits of the storm for the time. Of course it is needless to say, that for ages, nothing in the shape of cultivation was attempted upon it; nay, we suppose that the man who would have ventured to speak of such a thing in days gone by, would have been regarded as a down right natural, if he had not actually been sent to the asylum under the warrant of a commission de lunitico inquirendo. In this enlightened and speculating age, however, the belief in impossibilities, if not entirely exploded, appears to be greatly lessened, and we are happy to say that men have been found, bold enough, and enterprising enough, to brave agricultural opinion, and risk the chance of a failure in their attempt to cultivate a portion of the moor, not to speak of the pecuniary loss which such a result would necessarily entail upon them. Messrs. Frean, Bennett, and Adams were the parties who first attempted to cultivate Dartmoor, and their efforts have proved eminently successful. They have enclosed ground to the extent of nearly 5,000 acres, the greater part of which is in a state of cultivation, and built upon it a little colony of houses for the residences of their servants. To their efforts, we shall at another time refer ; out visit in the meantime being confined to Prince Hall. If there ever was an agriculturist who concentrated in his minds the gifts of skill, talent, perseverance, and industry, we believe Mr. George Fowler, of Prince Hall, is that man. Born and bred in another part of the country, and having we understand spent most of his life in mercantile pursuits, his success in which enabled him to amass early a handsome fortune - how he could ever have embarked in such a doubtful speculation, or incurred such an apparently profitless expenditure of money, we cannot imagine. Carrington said, speaking of Dartmoor - "Though the spirit of the Spring Breathes on thee, to the charmers whisper kind Thou listenest not, nor ever puttest on A robe of beauty, as the fields that bud And blossom near thee." And declared that though from the thousand brooks that roll over its rugged slopes, Devonias rivers flow, "Thou, The source of half their beauty, wearest still Through centuries, upon thy blasted brow The curse of barrenness." Mr. Fowler it appears did not quite coincide with the poet, and has since proved to demonstration, that if but with industry and application, knowledge and care is combined, even "the curse of barrenness" might be removed, and the rock crowned desert be made to blossom like the rose. A few more introductory words, and we will to our visit. We had heard that rather more than three years since, Mr. Fowler had built a residence in the very heart of the moor, had enclosed and cultivated nearly 400 acres of land, previously barren and unproductive. At one agricultural meeting, the prize for Swedish turnips was awarded to him, and the chairman in a highly complimentary speech referred to his attempt, and the eminent success it had met with, while agriculturists vied with each other in their eulogies of the system pursued by Mr. Fowler in everything connected with his farm. All this made us desirous personally to visit the farm, and being in Tavistock for a few days last week, we started on Saturday for Prince Hall. The ride was cold enough, but the beauty and sublimity of the surrounding scenery made up for any discomfort we thereby sustained, while a select party who accompanied us, and whom we got together to explore the moor, whiled away the time with wit and fun, and made us comfortable and happy as could be. By the way, we advise our readers who may be tempted to cross the moor and view its grandeur and beauty, to take "company" with them. After driving for about six miles we arrived at Two Bridges, a secluded little hamlet on the banks of the West Dart. Here we enquired our way, and having proceeded about a mile and a half farther we reached the lodge gate, drove down a fine avenue, and at last came to the hall. We were most hospitably received by the proprietor, and having seen our horse h(?) and fed, along with Mr. Fowler we walked around the farm. The friends who were with us having had a bird's eye view of the estate, returned to Two Bridges to spend the afternoon. By way of a preface to our observations, we may as well state that we are ignorant of the principles and practice of farming, and that with the exception of what a little knowledge of chemistry and physiology has taught us - for the facts and inferences we have to lay before our readers, we are indebted to the scientific and practical details with which Mr. Fowler furnished us in the description of his system and plans. The extent of the farm is 373 acres, and it lies in the very heart of Dartmoor. The only building on the ground at the time when Mr. Fowler purchased it was part of an old stable now built into his residence, and a few stunted trees on an eminence above the lawn. Now, besides the hall, which is a large and elegant structure, and the outhouses, which we shall presently describe, there have been five cottages built on different portions of the ground - at distances suitable for the protection of the crops - and which are inhabited by the servants of the proprietor. The hall, and outhouses form a sort of quadrangle ; in the midst of the yard is an immensely large stone reservoir which serves to supply all the necessary water. The first of the farm buildings we visited was the Root House, built to contain from 3000 to 4000 tons of turnips. From the field above, these are carted and dropped into the house through four apertures, which also serve as windows in the wall. Precisely opposite to this house is a large stable for bullocks and a line of rail runs from one house to the other. The latter is a fine, lofty, and well ventilated stone building, the light to which is admitted from four windows in the roof ; the stalls were clean and comfortable, and the animals domiciled in them appeared to be really well taken care of. To each stall and within reach of each tenant, was apportioned a stone tank, capable we should think of containing a gallon of water, which is conveyed by pipes running along the wall. The turnips or other food given to the animals is conveyed from the root house by means of the rail, and deposited in trucks with which each stall is provided. This house and three others in the same range, was entirely intended for bullocks, but Mr. Fowler informed us, that of these he had but a small number at present. He was obliged to adapt his stock to his means, and as he could not grow enough clover or grass to feed many bullocks, he kept in their stead a large number of pigs - turnips being very plentiful. Among the tenants of this building was an exceedingly well grown young Durham bull only 16 months old; and a remarkably fine North Devon which had been bought at Lord Selbourne's sale. The line of rail we have spoken of answers a double purpose. Not only does it serve to convey food to the animals in the stalls, but it is also used for conveying the soil from the stalls into a large dung pit at the end of the bullocks house. Now there is, perhaps, nothing of so much importance in the management of a farm as the preservation of an abundant supply of manure. This, it must evident to every reflecting person, is the only means which English farmers possess of neutralizing the advantage of a soil naturally more productive for a climate more favourable to vegetation. The farm yard, ought to be a complete manufactory of manure. Artificial manures may be all very good in their way, but if it is possible to make the refuse of the farm yard do, so much the better. And the fact is, in a little while it will only be thus that a sufficient supply of manure will be available; the guano beds are nearly exhausted, and the time will come when the spoils of the sea bird may fail us altogether. Then, if not sooner, the farmer will have to begin and appropriate his own perennial guano streams, and devise the best means of turning them to account. Mr. Fowler appears to view this in its proper light, and has taken his measures accordingly. Not a particle of the soil is wasted; it is scraped cleanly into the wagon, and deposited in the pit; it is spread about perfectly level, then put together in heaps; the pigs are then admitted to tread it out thoroughly, and decompose the matter; it is then spread again along the ground, and after this it is ready to use. The proper application of the refuse of the farm is a most important point to be regarded, both by agriculturists and the people, for it is an essential step towards that abundance and cheapness of food upon which the prosperity of the country is so closely dependant. In the houses in the same range we observed some fine specimens of stock, which deserves mention. Among others there was a fine cheviot ram brought all the way from Northumberland, considered of great beauty, and the stock derived from which, Mr. Fowler informed us, was remarkably fine. It had been crossed with the Dartmoor breed, and the sheep thus produced were very fine indeed. There was also a very fine Cotteswold ram of immense size, estimated now to weigh 50lb. a quarter. His stock this year was taken from Cheviot ewes and were exceedingly fine. His value may be guessed when we state that it was purchased at �32, and that its wool the first year was worth �16. Then there was a Berkshire sow of great beauty, which was suckling nine young pigs. It is of the Tamworth breed, and gained 40lb. in two weeks. We also saw a splendid boar of the Devon breed nine months old. The next place we visited was the threshing room. The machine which is a large and splendid one, was built for Mr. Fowler, by Mr. Uggins of Jedburgh, and is admirably adapted to lessen labour, and perform the work properly and with expedition. The grain is thrashed in a loft above, it then falls into the winnowing machine below, next it passes into what are termed elevators - small tin boxes affixed to a belt, which keeps revolving - then it finally passes through a spout, into a receiving box. Mr. Fowler informed us that one day lately, in four hours he thrashed and winnowed 164 Imperial bushels of white potato oats - a very large quantity in so short a time. The machine also entirely separates the oats from the straw; not a particle of grain remains when the operation is finished, a matter of great consequence to the farmer. The engine by which it is driven is a very strong one of four horse power, built at the Haigh foundry, Wigan. It is worked most satisfactorily by peat, in fact, the engineer states he decidedly prefers peat when well dried to coal, which they had latterly compelled to resort to from the extreme wetness of last summer. Mr. Fowler informed us that when he used to thresh with a flail, the time it occupied, and the quantity of seed left in the straw was anything but agreeable. Now the result was quite different. The straw was perfectly clean, and though his harvest was a little later than that of his neighbours last year. He had been very fortunate. His straw was now bright as silver, and smelt quite fragrant. The cooking house stood next to the threshing room, and contained three large coppers where the food was prepared. A hackney stable and saddle house was at the back of the mansion, and several other stables at the back of the outhouses. We have now given a sketch of one or two of the buildings which, under Mr. Fowler's management have sprung up in the heart of Dartmoor within the last three years. We think we hear our readers say - it is easy to build anywhere when one has money to throw away, but what about the cultivation, and where are the crops? The moorland gale. "Bears not on its wing Hybbean sweets, nor cheers the grateful brow With the warm, fragrant and luxurious kiss Of the soft zephyr of the vale." And we must confess to holding similar opinions - certainly we could not have believed what we describe, had we not visited the scene personally, and been compelled by ocular demonstration to acknowledge its truth. We could not conceive how the immense masses of rock which lie on the moor in magnificent confusion, as if the genius of earthquake had stalked in wrath along the plain, and these were the traces of his mighty footsteps, were to be got rid of - how the numerous torrent streams, which make the moor in places a complete bog or swampy morass were to be altered in their course, or stopped up - how the struggle between barrenness and fertility which the most careless observer will perceive is a distinguishing feature of the surface of the moor was to be completed, and the latter to take the place of and vanquish the former. We could well appreciate the admirable language of the poet. "How great The toil, if Labour from the tor crowned hills, 'Collbet(?) within his nervous grasp the rock That baffled the eternal winds, and bid The cheerful sward up spring, and some awake, And Ceres reign, where silence, deep as death, And stern sterility from age to age Held unrelenting sway." The toil has indeed been great, but through the indomitable perseverance of Mr. Fowler, the victory has been obtained and desolation has been conquered. He set to work with a will; his time, his toil, his means, have been fervently and unremittingly devoted to the task which he had in hand and he has so far succeeded. He first set about removing the stones, and clearing away the rocks we have just referred to. The rocks were carried down to the brink of the river Dart, which bounds the estate on one side, and there formed into a breakwater to preserve the meadows in case of an inundation, which the heavy rains sometimes cause on ground beside the rivers. With the stones he has built about eight miles of wall, enclosing his property, and which is five feet high, five feet broad at the base, and three feet at the top. His reason for having such immense walls built was, that from their thickness the men would be obliged to clear the moor of such a great quantity of stones. That done, from the hills in the vicinity, he carried earth and filled up the openings in the ground, thus made. All the pits on his estate he filled up in a like manner and the greater part of the ground was then submitted to manual labour, and dug to the depth of eighteen inches. He experienced great difficulty in getting rid of rush and indigenous plants with which the soil abounded; where these would not rot, they were collected together and burned, or otherwise disposed of. Then he opened drains in every part of the ground, making them to unite in one particular spot, and disgorge their contents into one stream. These drains are generally four feet deep - some more, some less, and are nearly all formed with stone. Each possesses an aperture of nine square inches, and is filled about 18 inches with small stones over the cover. And now for the results. The first place we visited was the kitchen garden, which, though it had only been made about three months since, was in a capital state of vegetation, and gave evidence of a very good crop. It was enclosed on one side with a high wall, at the side of which was plated several fruit trees, while at the bottom, from the earth taken from the foundation of the farm buildings a bank had been raised 12 feet high to break the cold wind which so often blows from the moor. Mr. Fowler informed us that the spot we are talking of, was a fair specimen of the result of turning wet land into dry. When he entered upon the estate there was a large and ugly pit leaking all down the field. That he filled up, and the ground was now as dry as a cork. The field in front of his house was little better than a common bog, and it is now perfectly dry. There is a stream of water issuing from the main drain, into which the contributory drains are emptied, that would gladden the heart of any man who had not a great partiality for wet ground. It is drained in every direction. The next field we visited was one which Mr. Fowler said, when he took the farm, he would not have given 2s. 6d. an acre for. It was one mass of rocks and mud, and full of indigenous grasses. Now the stones had been picked up, the inequalities levelled; it had been soiled and seeded, and gives a prospect of as nice a bit of turf as anyone could wish to see. We walked to the bottom of this field to see the stream that runs into the river from the drains. We had expected to see a small dripping rivulet, but instead of that it was a rushing stream, we were informed and, we believe, truly enough, was sufficient to spoil 10,000 acres of ground. Mr. Fowler next showed us what he done in regard to hedging. He had been told that hawthorn would not grow on Dartmoor, and he found this to be partly true - it would not grow unless it was planted. In the year 1847 he planted several hundred yards across a field, and it is now looking quite healthy - and as well as any similar hedge cold look in the country. Another field we went over, Mr. Fowler informed us when he first had it, was as filthy as possible. He had bestowed great pains upon it, and it had cost him much labour and expense to bring it into the state in which we saw it. But for this he had been so far rewarded. It was looking as clean, and seemed as good ground as garden in Devonshire, and the gay tint given it by the young oats was most gratifying to the eye. The regularity of the crop, and the absence of all weeds and stones, surprised us not a little, and we should think that we saw 63 acres in a similar state. We mentioned before that Mr. Fowler had obtained the prize given by the South Devon Association for the best crop of Swede turnips. He is now getting ready a field of about 10 acres for competition during the present year. On this field were two heaps of farm manure, which seemed to laugh to scorn all artificial aid. Mr. Fowler informed us that in the production of root crops he would not use one ounce of any, save the manure he had extracted from the soil of his farm. The next field we visited, was that which Mr. Fowler called his "experimental field." The ground had been subsoiled ploughed two feet deep, and in it, besides about 14,000 flatpole cabbages, were carrots, parsnips, swede, turnips, mangel wurzels, and store turnips. These had taken great pains with, and from that he expected a corresponding return. Another field we saw, had two years since, been much worse than the moor we rode over. It now presents as fine a promise of an excellent crop of oats as can be wished. Having removed the rocks and stones from it, Mr. Fowler had it dug 18 inches deep ; then it was well limed, and with a little Peruvian guano, it last year produced a good crop of white turnips. Now it is in oats and seeded down. In reference to hedging, we should state, that though Mr. Fowler has done a little in that way for the sake of experiment, the use to which he applied the stones o the moor, has almost entirely done away with the need of it - and the item of hedging and ditching generally forms a serious one in the farmers annual accounts. There can be no mistake about it, that when a good durable, substantial wall is once built, every purpose will (?) the expense attendant upon planting, repairing, cleaning, and cutting the hedges are got rid of, and a very important saving to the farmer is effected. Another field we saw, contained for about a quarter of an acre, a pretty fair crop of potatoes. These had been planted in lazy beds, which the proprietor told us he had perfect faith would do well, as the sets repose upon charcoal, and not upon any manure. On different parts of the estate, Mr. Fowler has planted about 50,000 trees - formed into small plantations at the most eligible spots. Such is a brief description of some of the things most worthy of notice in this model farm. The great aim of the proprietor appears to have been made to make everything answer the specific purpose for which it was designed, and to arrange all his materials so as to save labour, and work cleanly, properly, and expeditiously. As regards one point to which we have already alluded, Mr. Fowler has discovered what we are afraid many of his class, have not. He sees that the great secret in the management of manure, is to get every particle of it, both substance and liquid, preserved and put to use. At the present time especially this matter ought to be looked to, for, as the farmers are crying out on all sides, and complaining of the high rents, heavy local burdens, high wages, and the cost of manure, a saving on the latter item must be of great importance. Were every agriculturist to be but half as careful, and as industrious as Mr. Fowler, they would have no cause, we think, to complain of the competition to which they are exposed. Though we have lived almost all our lives in the busy town, and have no pretensions to agricultural knowledge, we think we could advance good reasons for our confidence in the agricultural resources of England. But the only means, we believe, by which the agricultural independence of England can be secured, is by a vast permanent reduction in the price of corn; in other words by bringing the soil into such a state of fertility, that what has happened now and then, in seasons of rare abundance, when the nation has been supplied with corn by its own resources, may become the general and natural state of things. We must have home grown corn so cheap that the foreigner may not be able to undersell us in our own markets. In one respect we shall always have an advantage - that of finding a ready market on the spot, without the payment of agents, freight, or brokerage. This is of itself, and must ever be, to the home grower, a very great protection. Whether Mr. Fowler's attempt to cultivate Dartmoor will prove successful or not, we cannot take upon ourselves to determine. We trust it may be, we cannot see why it should not. At all extents, he has set an example which other people would do well to imitate. Dartmoor is part of the crown lands, and we think that it should not be permitted to lie waste, when Mr. Frean and Mr. Fowler have shown, on the moor, to what good purpose it may be turned; and hundreds of other agriculturists have cultivated its borders with great success. While on Dartmoor we were reminded of the question of prison discipline which has of late been so much the subject of discussion. At Princetown, a short distance from Prince Hall, is Dartmoor prison, a large edifice specially constructed for the incarceration of man, and capable of containing 100,000 prisoners. The situation is a most favourable one, and the returns to parliament at the time when it was occupied show a less mortality than in any town with the same population in the same time. At the present day this prison is empty. In the year 1820 it was intended to occupy it with convicts for improving the moor, and subsequently a school of industry was projected, King George IV offering to grant part of the waste for this purpose, besides a donation of �1,000. The children wee to be orphans, rescued from the vice, infamy, and ruin of the metropolis. But this scheme, from some reason unknown to us was never carried into effect, and the prison is now aptly designated by Carrington as a "silent pile." Now, if instead of sending our convicts to Norfolk Island, the Government would send them to Princetown, and employ them in cultivating the moor, a great good might be effected. At present prisoners are a dead weight upon the country, when they could easily by manual labour be made to maintain themselves, and be sufficiently punished at the same time. The subject of cultivation of waste lands is of too great importance to be soon lost sight of, and if the crown will not undertake it, there are others who will. Mr. Fowler will have the honour of being one of the leaders in this march of cultivation - of showing what is possible for a man alone, and unassisted to accomplish, when spurred on by talent, perseverance, and the desire of success. Now that the sum of Science is beginning to shine so brightly upon our earth, - that wealth is diffusing, and the many are no longer toiling for the few, - that industry in every art, is working such mighty miracles, - even the day when Dartmoor shall be fertilized may not be far off. " Yet the happy hour May come - not distant - when the conquering swain Shall furrow the long slumb'ring soil, and where Frowns desolation, bid the cheerful grass Wave in the upland gale, and harvests bless The renovated wastes. Achievements these, O nobler far than gloriously to win A blood stain'd realm, though ravish'd inch by inch From a stern sullen foe. We were obliged to refuse Mr. Fowler's kind invitation to remain to tea with him, for we were afraid our party at Two Bridges might have got tired of waiting. With a hearty shake of the hand, and after returning him many thanks for his kindness and courtesy, we parted. When we reached Two Bridges we found that tea had been waiting for us several hours, and sulky faces and surly greetings were bestowed on us in abundance. As a matter of course we apologised, and explained the reason of our prolonged absence, and the gratification we had experienced in our inspection of the farm. After spending about an hour at the inn, and admiring the beauty and quietude of the little spot, we had our horses put to and started for Tavistock. Our drive across the moor was a beautiful one, the sun had set, but " The cold round Moon shone sweetly down," and the firmament was bespangled with myriad to stars. We shall not very quickly forget that drive home. When we reached Tavistock, all our regret was, that a day so happily spent was so soon over.