SCHOMBERG (Henry C., Landowner near Chippenham, Wiltshire)

Autograph letter signed to Thomas Grimston Bucknall Estcourt, M.P., about linseed, saying "I must beg you to draw the Bowden labourer's attention to all the necessary & requisite handling, spreading, turning during the time of beetling and shaking, and lyeing up again the sheaves, after the seed has been beetled, as if not properly done, it had better be left alone ... the whole process when once known & acquired is as simple as any other farm operation ... I find that even the best of our labourers are slovenly & awkward" unless made "to follow out their work ... I have a crusher from Stratton at Bristol cost £6 10" which takes three operations to make fine meal, and talks of other possibly better makes, "no crusher can do the work so well as a corn-mill - but the millers are averse to Linseed from its oily nature", any of these hand implements can be made to work by horse-power, he goes on to specify proportions of crushed linseed and chaff for an economical feed, "I am still at your service if you do not get on with Mr Sotheron's man and feel obliged by your wish to see me at Estcourt", 4 sides 8vo, Wans House, Chippenham, 15th November

Mr Bucknall Estcourt, of Estcourt in Gloucestershire, also owned Bowden Park, 3½ miles south of Chippenham.

Item Date:  1847

Stock No:  52958      £75

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