From Lord Braybrooke   25 September 1843

My dear Sir

I was very much interested by the accounts which you were so good as to send me of the opening of the Ringham tumulus & I should like to see the articles brought to light in the event of their being sent to London. I have thought how truly poor Ripewode would have enjoyed the Crosse in his native county, had his valuable life been longer spared.

You have however done ample justice to the subject, & described every thing so minutely that the most cogent antiquary ought to feel satisfied

The exact position of all these remains being now fully ascertained, I hope in future no explorers will think it necessary to disturb the cone of a barrow which spoils the appearance & reduces it to the form of an extinct Crater, without any advantage being gained

I have not met with the Cuscuta here, but I recollect many years ago observing patches that had the appearance of having been scorched in some Berkshire Clover fields & I think it might be caused by that plant. Now however it is the fashion to attribute its introduction to the new Tariffe

The Wheat is less good than last year but was not mildewed— in 1842 my crop on 75 acres averaged 5 quarters 1 bushel which would not have been credited some time ago— I sowed last Autumn a good many sorts of Wheats in my garden, the most promising of which was raised from one ear produced from seed found in a Mummy Case. This corn ripened one week sooner than all the others, & seems to be a variety of Wheat we call Talavera but with longer ears. The comparative produce was not ascertained, because the net which kept out the birds formed a ladder for rats & they revelled on the tops & ate the ears downwards— pushing the net one foot from the bottom, defeated the Enemy, but sufficient snicking was done to defeat the experiment also— I shall go to work next year in the field, which is after all the best criterion.

M ^r Warne’s flax growing scheme is of great importance & worthy of consideration, but I know nothing of it practically, nor could I find any one here who could direct me how to trial it when grown. I hear a Man of Thaxted has succeeded in raising a large quantity on a single acre, & I fancy I have land more suitable to the purpose than the Clays south of Walden. M ^r Warne has also a theory of feeding oxen in boxes, which I am disposed to listen to, having been concerned that Cattle when turned out trample down & contaminate much more grass than they consume; besides the torment which they endure from flies like Io in Prometheus vinctus, which must be tantamount to a Jockey’s working off his superfluous weight when preparing for a great race.

I fear I shall have but few guests because every body has now a Let agree: Meeting of his own, & those who have seen these festivities once plead the course of having served, like Members of an Election Committee. M ^r Everett is however coming & I am delighted to hear that we are to benefit by your presence & that you will advocate the plan of cooperative Experiments.

I observed on Saturday a field of Mustard on one of my farms which I mistook for Charlock, but the Keeper said it is counted excellent food for Cattle Sheep, & that partridges always are found in it, & certainly we saw 3 Cases of those (this season comparatively rarae aves) near the spot.

Believe me | My dear Sir | Yrs sincerely| Braybrooke