v^ "--** ;% mf^ '"^■-v,/ '=^^.., •^:-. T ^> *-^ .•^'A '•^>».»' yr*^^^i. ■tN V i- ^•Si^_i, TX^i ^^: /ryy. ^/: ix /'/tt/c4y\. '-^^ (tt^c^tC/^ /?/ /o/} LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE SOURCE __riaich__Taj3-d ia47:2 P^b ^nAF iiL ( FwbUshM by Joseph B/jyerson.24: Norfolk Street. 3tran^J847: THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. VOLUME THE SIXTEENTH. (second series.) JULY TO DECEMBER, MDCCCXLVII. LONDON: OFFICE, 2 4, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND MAY BE HAD BY ORDER THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS. LONDON: j O ^ / Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand. INDEX TO THE SIXTEENTH VOLUME. (second series.) Agricultural Chemistry Associa- tion, report of, 46 Agricultural Chemistry Associa- tion, proposal for establishing, 253 Agricultural education for farmers in Ireland, 67, 128 Agricultural insurance, 5l Agricultural intelligence, 480, 579 Agricultural letter to Catholics, 135 Agricultural queries, 80, 292, 479 Agricultural reports, 83, 188, 286, 384, 473, 575 Agricultural Societies — Bramham Park, 249 Hereford, 361, Highland and Agricultural, 256, 340 Liverpool, 430 North Lincolnshire, 251 Stewponey, 453 Yorkshire, 234, 516 Agricultural Statistics BiU con- sidered, 358 Agricultural suggestions. By J. Towers, 136, 227, 300, 403 ^Agricultural toiu: through Not- tinghamshire, 537 Ahwal, an Arabian, the property of Sir Harry Smith, description of, 403 Allotments, small, in Rutland, 255 Alston cattle show, 511 Answers to agricultural queries, 292, 480, 571 Averages, imperial, 91, 199, 296, 392, 487, 583 B. Bark, prices of, 200, 296, 488, 584 Barley, black skinned, 546 Beans and potatoes, 57 Bran, its use and abuse as food for cattle, 4Q5 Bread, on its nutritive quality, 65 Botany, lectures on, in reference to agriculture. By Charles Johnson, Esq., 24, 345 Bull, description of "Protection," a pure North Devon, 31 Bull, description of " Walton," a short-horned, 201 Bull, description of " Sj-^mmetry," a Hereford, 297 Butter, &c., the prices of, 199, 296, 487, 584 Calves, on rearing them, 551 Carbon, its importance, 32 Carline, Rd., Esq., presentation of plate to, 501 Carrots in reclaimed bog, 535 Carts, one-horse, their use in hay- han^esting, 139 Cattle, administering medicine to, 131 Cattle, advantage of steeping their food in water, 264 Cattle, disease amongst, 360, 364 Cattle, experiments on fattening with salt in their food, 265 Cattle insurance, 472 Cattle, sales of, 306, 377, 387, 482, 483 Cattle, the hove in, 505 Cattle trade, review of the, 84, 189, 291, 385,474, 575 Cheese press, description of a patent self-acting, 280 Chickens, the gapes in, 187 Colonization, emigration, the al- lotment-system, &c., 14 Coppice-wood, its management, 503 Com trade, re\'iew of the, 88, 196, 293, 388, 484, 580 Correspondents, notices to, 392 Cow, description of " Necklace," a short-horned, 93 Currency, per imperial measure, 91, 199, 487 D. Davies, Thomas Wilham, Esq,, presentation of plate to, 519 Disinfecting fluid, 125, Draining, deep, 356 Draining on Sir Robert Peel's estates, 516 Draining, Phny on, 519 Draining tiles, description of kiln for, 276 Draining tiles, the clay adapted for them. By C. W. Johnson, Esq., 102 E. Employment, reproductive, in Ireland, 116 Estate, sale of Earl Spencer's, in Nottingkamshire, 53 INDEX F. Farmers' Clubs— Bromley, 252 Burton-on-Trent, 58, 332, 421 Darlington, 132 Halesworth, 69 Kingston Bagpuise, 16 London, 126,409,461,526 Martock, 52 Newcastle, 326, 437 Peterborough, 282, 446 Wakefield, 40 Weald of Kent, 54, 547 York, 277 Flax cultivation, 351, 570 Flax-seed boiled v. Linseed-meal, 471 Fire-arms, security of, 200 Foley, J. H. H., Esq., award of prizes to his tenantry, 436 Fruit trees, new bottoming, 335 G. Game, excessive quantities of, 324 Game reform, voluntary, 571 Gold of pleasure, its cultivation. By Wm. Taylor, Esq., 470 Grafting corn and grasses, 541 Guano, British, 124 Guano, rules for examination of, 377 H. Harkness, Thos. E., Esq., testi- monial to, 518 Hedge rows, or beauty and utility in unison, 520 Hide and skin markets, 200, 296, 488, 584 ■ Hop duty, 357 Hop trade, 472 Hops, prices of, 91, 199, 296, 392, 487, 584 Horse, description of "Mendi- cant," the winner of the Oaks, 93 Horses and hounds, on their feeding, 109 Horses; on feeding them with bruised corn, 502 Horticulture, calendar of, 81, 185, 284, 382, 476, 573 Hudson, John, Esq., memoir of, 1 Hyde, Mr. John, testimonial to, 519 Irish landlords and peasants, 378 L-rigation in China, 1 1 8 Irrigation, report on (prize essay), 113 Land, and how to farm it, 343 Land steward, 553 Landlord and tenant, law of, 562 Landlords and tenants, a lesson for, 23] M. Manures, experiments on, 369, 549 Manures, lecture on, 542 Manures : Liebig v. Boussingault and Kuhlman, 511 Manures of the farm. By Thomas SulUvan, 313 Manures, prices of, 92, 200, 488 Manurial resources of the farm, 462 Manuring, the economy of. By C. W. Johnson, Esq., 10, 220 Meteorological Diary, 87, 184, 283, 381, 478, 572 o. Oakley Park annual fete, 380 Ox, observations on the age of the, 120 P. Pig-ringing, 134 Plants : on their economy, 70 Ploughing matches, Mr. Baker's, 441 Pleuro Pnuemonia, 93 Poor Price to Fred Farmer, 550 Potato crop, interesting informa- tion on the, 119 Potato disease, 229 Potatoes : on their preservation, 223 Potatoes, prices of, 487, 584 Potatoes ; their culture in Prussia, 339 Provisions and wages, contrasted with seventy-six years ago, 232 R. Ram and sheep sales, 380, 387, 388 Rats, vast damage caused by, 319 Review.— Coates's Herd Book, 79 Regal splendour from royal waste, 376 Royal Agricultural Society of England, 71, 140, 233, 525 Royal Agricultural Society of England's meeting at North- ampton, 157 Royal Agricultural Society of England ; names of persons to whom prizes have been awarded from 1839 to 1847, 194 Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Scotland, 281 S. Seeds, prices of, 91, 199, 296, 392,487, 584 Seeds, reduced amounts of. By C. W. Johnson, Esq., 298 Sheep, description of two Cheviot, 297 Sheep, disease in, 471 Sheep, on the management of (prize essay). By Robert Smith, of Burley, 142 Sheep, on the management of (commended essay). By J. E. Pawlett, Esq., 201 Sheep, small-pox in, 524 SUde i-ule and cattle gauge, 517 Smith, Sir Harry George Wake- lyn, Bart., record of the services of, 394 Soils : rules for their analysis, 305 Song : Plough deep to find the gold, 440 Southdown tups, Jonas Webb's show of, 104 TO THE SIXTEENTH VOLUME. Sow of the improved Essex breed, description of, 201 Sow of small breed, description of, 489 Sowing, thick v. thin. By Henry Woods, 448 Stallion : pedigree of " Cossack," the winner of the Derby, 489 Stallion : death of " Emilius," 323 Stock, artificial food for. By G. and H. Raynbird, 490 Stock: their food. By C. W. Johnson, Esq., 406 Stock : on their management in Scotland. By T. Sullivan, 17, 94 Stock : report on feeding them with prepared food, 33 Stove, agricultural cottage, 30 T. Tenant-right, 63, 508, .512, 517, 523 Tenant-right, committee of the law of property on, 563 Thompson, George, Esq., of Prestwood, testimonial to, 429 Timber, prices of, 200, 488 Turnip and its varieties, 497 Turnip crop, conditions of growth, 365 Turnips, culture of, with. peas. By Charles Hannan, 303 Turnips : on their growth with artificial manures, 336, 408 Vegetable Life, 552 W. Wheat, on the management of (prize essay). By Edward Ro- berts, jun., 267 Wheat sowng. By C. W. John- son, Esq., 499 Wool Fairs : — Abingdon, 193 Croydon, 192 Epping, 191 Hemel Hempstead, 193 Kettering, 193 Leicester, 193 Leighton Buzzard, 193 Wool-growers in Leicestershire, letter to the, 138 Wool markets, 91, 199, 296, 392, 488, 584 Wool, the growth of, 408 Wool trade, 355, 479 THE EMBELLISHMENTS. Portrait of John Hudson, Esq. North Devon Bull " Protection Agricultural Imijlements Sheep-hurdles Wheat Stocks in Norfolk Botanical Illustrations Agricultural Cottage Stove Apparatus for Preparing Food for Stock Short-horned Cow " Necklace" " Mendicant," the Winner of the Oak; Short-horned Bull . An Essex Sow . Self-acting Cheese Press Hereford Bull Two Che\aot Tups . Portrait of Sir Harry Smith . Portrait of " Aliwal," an Arabian, the property of Sir Harry Sow of Small Breed " Cossack," the winner of the Derby Plan of Boiler House 24, 2 5, 27, 28, Smith Page to face 1 31 4 7 8 345, 346, 347 30 40 94 94 201 201 280 297 297 394 403 489 489 492 THE FAKMEK'S MAGAZIJ^E. JULY, 1847. No. 1.— Vol. XVI.] [Secomd Series. PLATE I. PORTRAIT OF JOHN HUDSON, ESQ. PLATE II. PROTECTION; A Pure North Devon Bull. (For description see page 31J MEMOIR OF JOHN HUDSON, ESQ., of castleacre, in the county of norfolk, Member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, &c., &c. Is not the field, \vith lively culture green, A joyous sight more than the dull morass ? Do not the skies, with active ether clean, And fanned by sprightly zephyrs, far surpass The foul November-fogs and slumberous mass With which sad nature veils her drooping face ? ***** Had unambitious mortals minded nought But in loose joy their time to wear away ; Had they alone the lap of dalliance sought, Pleased on her pillow their dull heads to lay ; Rude nature's state had been our state to-day. Thomson. It is exceedingly pleasing, amidst the glare and glitter of a London season, the excitement of an expiring parliament, the hurryings to and fro of candidates for a new one, the revolutions of minis- tries and almost of dynasties, and all the other stirring topics that occupy the journals of the day, to turn to "green pastures and to stiU waters," to mark the peaceful and the permanent triumphs of agri- cultural science and industry, to point to those friends of their country and their species who are making two blades of grass to grow where one alone grew before, converting sterile lands into wavy and golden harvest-fields, and where the frog croaked and the bittern shrieked in the days of their fathers, to behold the fat and sleek cattle OLD SERIES.'] graze and ruminate in the glorious green of the most fertile pastures. With these feelings we commence a hurried sketch of the subject of our memoir; but before we do so, we may remark on some antecedent and collateral circum- stances connected with his useful, peaceful, va- luable, and most successful career. It is well known to many an octogenarian, if not sexagenarian, that a great part of the eastern dis- trict of England was partly swamp and partly a blowing sand, with here and there patches of culti- vation, like Oases in a desert, where little was heard biit the wild sea-bird's cries, or felt save the oft-re- turning alternations of the ague, burning or freezing its unfortunate victims. What are those parts of Norfolk, the Isle of Ely, the " Washes," and the fens of Lincolnshire, now ? Whence the wondrous change ? One man stood forth, not of brilliant genius, not a lynx-eyed discoverer of the secrets of nature or art, not supported and assisted by the power or the fashion of the world, not "Hungroundwithribands,orstuck o'erwith stars;" but alone; simple, unassisted, yet earnest; deter- mined, benevolent, and, above all, just ; who, having for his motto the golden maxim of landlord and tenant, " Live, and let hve," led the farmers, A [No. I.— VOL. XXVII. 2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. whom God had given him as his natural fol- lowers and allies, to make Norfolk the garden of England and the admiration of Em'ope. That man was Thomas WUliam Coke — a name honoured by tenant-farmers aboA^e all other names long before a patent of peerage was annexed to it. Under the precepts and the protection of this excellent man, who united in himself the justice of Aristides, the courage of Cato, and the tastes and pursuits of Cincinnatus ; and of whom it was once triumphantly asked, in reference to Walpole's libel upon all public representatives, "What is his price?" under this man John Hudson commenced, and for many years carried on ; his practical and improving farming, until it has reached that point of excellence which commands the respect and admiration of the whole agricultural community, Mr, Hudson was born at the village of Grinston, near Lynn Regis, in the county of Norfolk, on the 1-lth of June, 1794 ; and is accordingly just entered upon his fifty-fourth year. After finishing his edu- cation at Lynn in 1809, he began to acquire some knowledge of farming by going through the prac- tical part of it under the tuition of his father, who, the previous year, had taken a farm of light land, called " Walton field," at East Walton, near West Acre, belonging to the late Anthony Hammond, Esq., which farm he continued to occupy for four- teen years. As illustrative of our previous obser- vations on the then unfertile state of Norfolk, it may be remarked that for the first two years Mr, Hudson senior, cultivated this farm, so poor and barren was the land that the produce of wheat sold from it did not in either of those years exceed fifty quarters. Such was the ordinary state of a great part of Norfolk when the truly noble Coke began to shed the light of his countenance and give the force of his example to a better system of cultivation. The annual meetings at Holkham called " The Holk- ham Sheep shearings," had commenced, when a princely mansion had its hospitable doors opened to all comers, both British and foreign, interested in agriculture, for three days in succession, Mr. Coke had commenced his encouragement to tenant farmers by granting leases of twenty-one years, building for them good houses, out-houses, and other appropriate premises, and oflfering them rewards for agricultural improvements, both in the breeding of stock and the better cultivation of their farms. In fact, alone and unassisted, this prince of landlords commenced and carried out in Norfolk what the Royal Agricultural Society is attempting to do throughout the whole kingdom— the improve- ment of practical agriculture. Another good landlord, the late Christian Curwen, M.P., a warm friend and pupil of Mr. Coke, fol- lowed his footsteps — sed longo intervallo — in the county of Cumberland; and instituted the Holm Cultram Agricultural Meeting, in imitation of that of Holkham, but greatly inferior in extent and magnificence. Let it be hoped that many more in- dividual landlords, stimulated by the great success of the system, if not by higher and worthier motives, will "go and do likewise ;" and thus prove that they understand the true principles of " protection to agriculture," by being fathers to their tenants, and the best friends, because the greatest producers, to their country ! Mr. Hudson and his father constantly attended the Holkham reunions, and profited well and largely by what they saw and heard. They zea- lously and perseveringly put in practice all those improvements they considei'ed adapted for the farm they then cultivated ; and in a few years " Walton- field," which had been little better than a rabbit warren, produced a large and rapidly increasing quantity of wheat ; so that the original fifty quar- ters in the first two years of the lease were suc- ceeded in the last four by an average of 600 quar- ters, with a proportionate increase in the number of stock kept upon the farm. In the year ] 820 Mr. Hudson married the only daughter of Mr. Thomas Moore, of Warhara, near Holkham — a highly esteemed tenant of Mr. Coke. In 1822, when many farms changed occupiers, Mr. Coke offered to Mr. Hudson the farm of Castle Acre, which he stiU occupies ; and the same year Mr. Hudson, sen., hired the one^ adjoining, called "The Village Farm." In 1834 advancing years incapacitated the old gentleman from those active exertions in which he had long delighted, and in- duced him to surrender " The Village Farm" to his son, since which both farms have been united ; and to give our readers some idea, though a very inadequate one, of the mode and success of Mr. Hudson's system of cultivation and carr)dng on farming business, we shall present them with the following extract from a Treatise " On the Agricul- ture of Norfolk," by Baruch Almack, Esq., pub- lished in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural So- ciety, vol. V. part ii. Mr. Almack says : " The farmer whom I shall select is Mr. John Hudson, of Castle Acre, one of the principal te- nants of the Earl of Leicester. Mr. Hudson names as his model or " tutor" in agriculture the justly- celebrated Mr. Blakie, late agent at Holkham ; and I could not avoid observing that m.any others of the best farmers of the district are doing precisely as that gentleman recommends in his publications. The two farms at Castle Acre occupied by Mr. Hudson contain about 1,500 acres, the soil being a " sandy loam on clay or chalk." He also has a farm of low land, at Seech, near Lynn, about 200 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, acres. When he first took the land at Castle Acre, in 1822, he only kept about 30 head of cattle and 800 sheep : he now grazes " about 200 beasts, and from 2,500 to 3,000 sheep annuaUy." He has doubled the produce of barley, and nearly doubled the produce of wheat. To account for this change, he uses yearly about 100 tons of rapecake and bones for manure, and about 200 tons of linseed- cake for fattening cattle and sheep ; the whole of the land has been clayed or marled, and, where ne- cessary, drained. Here, as on most other large farms in West Norfolk, a bailiff is engaged for each farm, to superintend the different operations. Now, let us suppose that these have received Mr. Hud- son's instructions, and commence operations, and that the fai'mers of Norfolk generally are aware of what is going on, and give their opinions occasion- ally (neighbours and others sometimes vAW) as to the policy of the modes adopted in the particular situation ; also how and when they ought to be va- ried under different circumstances. These latter I shall insert as seems convenient and necessary. Mr. Hudson's Course at Castle Acre (or the Com- mon Four-course Shift). 1. Turnips J 2. Barley; 3. Clover; 4, Wheat. Preparing Land for Turnips, Mangold, &fc. FIRST YEAR. Immediately after harvest, if the weather is too dry to plough clover layers for wheat, it will be par- ticularly well adapted for the work of clearing and preparing part of the land for turnips next season ; thus — By skeleton-ploughing the wheat stubbles about three to four inches deep, all the soil is cut, but not turned over; therefore, the stubble, &c., will be left on the surface. This is done by Ransome's Suffolk plough, without its "plat," or mould- board. Scarifying across with Blakie's grubber, or some similar instrument, usually drawn by two or by three horses ; well harrowing with heavy har- rows, two of them being fastened together when at work, and drawn by three horses. They are con- sidered at least twice as eflfectual at this stage as those which could be drawn by one horse each, and therefore the work progresses more rapidly by the use of them. Harrowing afterwards with lighter harrows, two horses drawing a gang of three. In performing this operation it is usual to drive the horses much more rapidly, by which each harrow- ing becomes more effectual than it otherwise would be. The stubble, &c., raked into rows, carted into a heap, and afterwards carted into the yards, as opportunity oflPers, that it may be used for litter in winter : it is never burnt. These operations only apply to that part of the shift which there is time to get through during such a period of dry weather as prevents any more valuable work being attended to, and are in that case done during September or the first half of Oc- tober. If no such opportunity offers, these will not be performed ; but the whole of the land will be prepared for turnips in the following manner : — Ploughing five inches deep (or as deep as may be without turning up dead soil) with Ransome's wheel-plough, drawn by two horses or oxen. And, as there is no instance of more being used at one time for common ploughing in any part of Norfolk, I shall not think it necessary to state the number used in any other ploughing herein de- scribed. Mr. Hudson objects to cross ploughing each time, because it cuts the land into diamonds, and renders it unlevel ; he therefore always ploughs it twice in succession in the same direction — that is, if he has turned it out from a furrow, he turns it in the next time. In districts where fallows are ploughed in very wide pieces this objection to cross ploughing each time does not apply so strongly; but, as Mr. Hudson's are only 20 yards wide, it is in his case well founded. Ploughing the same depth as before, and in the same direction or otherwise, as may be consistent with the above rule. This may probably be done in February if the first ploughing was performed early ; but that ploughed for the first time in De- cember will not be ready before the end of March or beginning of April. Scarifying with Blakie's grubber or Biddle's scarifier. He considers some scarifiers* to be good har- rows, but bad ploughs, and therefore ploughs oftener than some of his neighbours. Well harrowing with h.e&.\y harrows (two drawn by three horses). Ditto, occasionally afterwards, to destroy the annual weeds, &c. Rolled as occa- sion may lequire. Any rubbish which the land contains may now be supposed to have come to the surface, and is picked off by hand for 6d. per acre; it formerly cost 20s. A " clean earth" (the third ploughing), called the " stirring earth." Harrowed with the three-horse harrows, followed by the light ones as before, and rolled if necessary. This sup- posed to be about the end of April or beginning of May. Mr. Hudson prefers ridging to flat work on such soil as that at Castle Acre. He thinks the land more certain of bearing a crop if ploughed about ten days before sowing, in doing which his aim is to leave the soil light, and as finely pul- verized as possible.f * During the last spring and summer I have used Biddle's improved scarifiers to great advan- tage, and certainly saved a ploughing by using them for barley, as well as for turnips. — J. Hud- son. t The strong land on Mr. Overman's farm at Weasenham is thus prepared for turnips : In No- vember ploughed deeply, the ploughs having " short plats" (or mould-boards), that the land may be more exposed to frost ; in the spring scarifiea A 2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The land is marked for ridging by an implement for the purpose, drawn by one horse, the markers being somewhat similar to the coulters of a drill. It makes five marks at a time, the rows 27 inches ajjart, and one of the coulters returning on the mark last made by itself, whilst the others go on fresh ground. The land being thus all marked for ridging, that operation may be commenced at any part of the field. Two of Ransome's, or similar double-breasted Northumberland ploughs, will set out eight acres per day. The land being measured, so as to know exactly how many ridges make an acre, tumbrils with muck immediately follow the ridging-ploughs, each load being made to go the whole length; so that they take any number of rows, according to the length of them, &c. Two men un- load— one in the cart with a fork, the other behind it with a crome. This last !s the team-man. Six women, or strong youths of fifteen or sixteen years old, spread the manure \vith light three-pronged forks, the rows being divided into three equal lengths ; they work in pairs, w 2 WOMEN 2 WOM EN 2 WOMEN and the ground being equally divided, they know the part they have to do. Other two similar ploughs follow imme- diately after the spreading of the manure, and plough it in before the gases escape, 'i'he drilling of the seed immediately fol- lows that, not roUiiu/ first ; but, to prevent the ne - cessity for that, a flat mould-board is attached to the shafts of the drill, and therefore precedes the coulters, taking off the tops of the ridges, and moving the clods, if any, into the furrows. Besides the usual quantity of about ten three-horse tum- brels of muck, from ten to fourteen bushels per acre of bones (or bones and rapedust in equal quantities, mixed) are drilled with the seed. Care is taken to put the bones, &c., as near the farm- yard muck as possible. A small fork A , attached behind the drill manure-coulters, slightly covers the bones, &c., before the seed is deposited by the other coulters of the same drill. The seed is depo- sited not more than an inch deep, and is covered by a loose chain attached to a cross-bar of wood. Mr. Hudson has sown mangold 22 3fears, out of with Biddle's scarifier, and afterwards ploughed and drilled, being generally sown the last week in May or the first in June. Mr. Overman has this land in twelve-furrow, or three yards, " stetches" (and there are few good farmers in the county who have wet land in much wider pieces, or " stetches," than four yards). He is of opinion that the less such land is ])loughed the better, so long as it is kept clean. which he drilled 20, and dibbled two. The latter were the only failures : therefore his mode of sow- ing it is precisely the same as when sowing Swedes or white turni])s, in all the particulars I ha^'e de- scribed ; and the only variation is in the time of sowing and the quantity of seed.* His practice at Castle Acre is to sow mangold the last week of April or the first week in May, swedes from the 1st to 20th of June, decanter or bell-turnips about the 15th of June (being for early consumption by cattle or sheep), and he would sow white turnips, intended for the lambing season, about the Cth of July. Quantities of seed per acre — white turnips, 3lbs. ; Swedes, 4lbs. ; mangold, 7lbs. Mr. Aylmer was surprised to find 18 inches flat heavier, as a crop, than 27 inches ridge, by IJ- tons per acre; the latter looking much the best. He describes the soil as loam, and subsoil chalk. Notwithstanding this, Mr. Aylmer is inclined to ridging; so that the evi- dence of his actual experiment is of the more im- portance. Many of the best farmers of the thin soil chalk districts drill their tunnps on level at about 18 or 20 inches apart, exactly in the same manner as those of the Wolds of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Mr. Overman, of Burnham, is an instance of this ; and he is said to be one of the best farmers of the county. Those of other districts, who have a geo- logical map to refer to, will find that Burnham is on the chalk. This only confirms the opinions of others in different districts, who are cultivating si- milarly thin soil resting on chalk; and whoever happens to occupy such, in whatever part of the kingdom it may be, should bear such evidence as this in mind, in order that he may try the experi- ment, if he has not already done so. I found the same soil at Massingham, where the drilling is on the flat. It is the same also at Quidenham, where I could have thought myself in a Lincolnshire or a Yorkshire turnip-field, Mr. Coulson's management of his eighteen-inch flat-drilled turnips is so similar to the common practice of those counties. Where the soil is deeper, and yet not wet, I found the turnips more generally ridged ; but Mr. Hudson, of Castle Acre, and Mr. Overman, of Weasenham, both say they should not ridge on wet land. Mr. Tingey, of Scoulton, says, " I object to ridging turnips on heavy land, because I cannot prevent the clods from rolling to the top of the ridge. Therefore the seed gets deposited in the clods ; and unless there comes a heavy rain soon after the seed is sown, the turnips come up very patchy; for if the seed is not covered with loose mould, it cannot grow." " I also find that, when turnips are sown on ridges, the land becomes flat from hoeing," so that it is often difficult to find a season in which the carts can be taken upon the land without be- coming a means of injuring the barley crop by compressing the soil so as to turn up, after plough- * Mr. Milnes had as good mangold as any I saw in the county, his manner of gromng it being very nearly the same as Mr. Hudson's at Castle Acre ; the rows being only one inch wider, and the seed steeped thirty-six hours, and afterwards placed in a moderately warm sun, and dried with sand and a small proportion of lime, that it may work easily in the drill. fkE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ing, " whole and livery." " Again, I can grow more weight of turnips per acre on the flat-work, ]7 inches apart, than I can on the 27-inch ridges." Mr. Tingey adds, " My system of growing turnips on heavy land is this : I spread seven loads per acre of yard manure, plough it on twelve-furrow ridges (three yards), drill six rows on a ridge, with ten bushels per acre of hone-dust, taking three drills up one side, and three down on the other, the horses walking in the furrows. By this method I am most certain of plant, and can grow the greatest weight per acre ; and the land lies in a much better form for keeping itself dry at Michaelmas, or when you want to get the turnips off, than when it is hoed flat from the ridge system. It ploughs lighter and in a better state for barley, and will work much better and more like hght land in the spring, if you can plough it up soon enough to have the benefit of the frost. By this plan I can get two or three coombs more barley per acre than when my land has been ridged." On Mr. Hudson's Farms' a few days after the ])lants appear the land is horse-hoed by an imple- ment which takes one I'ow and two half-rows at a time ; a little buck-wheat is now sown at wide in- tervals (about 60 yards) for the game, which is covered by the horse-hoe. The young turnips are hand-hoed with 9-inch hoes for 2s. per acre, at which work the men earn from 2s. 6d. to 3s. per day. After a few days the turnips are singled, and the weeds picked from around the plants for Is. 6d. per acre, many persons only giving Is. per acre. Horse-hoed a few days after that, and as soon as possible hoed a second time, breaking up the soil and drawing it round each turnij), for 3s. per acre. Horse-hoed again, with a triangular hoe, three rows at a time, drawing or " crowding" soil to the plants. Sometimes another horse-hoeing, I met with several extraordinary instances of difference in opinion on important points, but none more remarkable than this, as to the distance at which turnips should be set from each other in the rows. Mr. Marsham of Stratton Strawless, Mr. Hudson of Castle Acre, and Mr. Blomfield of AYarhara, are supposed to be as good authorities on agricultural matters generally as any other persons in the whole county, yet Mr. Marsham hoes his turnips with a 4-inch hoe, Mr. Hudson one of 9 inches, and Mr. Blomfield leaves his 18 inches apart in the rows, or two in a yard. All three sow them on 27-inch ridges ; but Mr. Blom- field sows only Swede turnips, Mr. Hudson nearly all Swedes, and Mr. Marsham rather a large pro- portion of white turnips. This in some degree accounts for their difference in opinion. My own opinions on this subject are already known to the Society.* In September Mr. Hudson begins to draw off white turnips for lambs on second crop clover or wheat stubble, in order to gradually accustom them * "Prize Essav on the Drill Husbandry of Turnips."— R. A. S. J. Vol. iv. Part 1. to food of so opposite a nature to what they have had before. This is continued about six weeks, the quantity of turnips being increased, as the sheep become accustomed to, and acquire a liking for them. In doing this Mr. H. takes six rows and leaves 12 to be fed off on the land. In October, puts the lambs on turnips, cutting them all with Gardiner's turnip-cutter. The sheep are kept in by hurdles and nets. Mr. Hudson prefers hurdles jjetween the flocks, nets before and behind, also on the sides of the folds. Where there is little game, nets become proportionably more suital)le. Each sheep is allowed half a pound of linseed-cake, and two or three pints of cut clover-hay per day, in addition to all the turnips he will then eat. Cut turnips are given to the sheep in troughs. One- third of the turnips intended for cattle, &c., is drawn topped, tailed, and loaded on carts ; the remaining two-thirds "placed" for 4s. j)er acre on the whole quantity ; the turnip-tops are thrown on wheat stubbles for store cattle. Three sheep-feeders (a man and two boys working together) top, tail, and cut the turnips, move the troughs, nets, &c., for about Is. a score per week; thus, if the sheep are fed on turniijs twenty weeks, each sheep will cost about Is. for attendance. Mr. H. gives his sheep salt, either common or rock being always by them. Turnips are all drawn out of the ground by hand before frost sets in; as evidence of which, there were none left on the land in the state they had grown, when I rode over Mr. Hudson's fai'ms about Christmas Day, 1843. Turnips are taken to the yards in light carts drawn by two horses. If intended for use in November or December, they are put in turnip-houses ; and for Januaiy and February they are laid on hea])s, the tops being cut off, but the roots left on, as they are found to keep better so ; that is, they are not so liable to liecome musty. Those for March and April are placed in beds on wheat stubbles or other convenient situa- tions which seem suitable for the purpose. Mr. Overman, of Weasenham, draws off about half the early-sown white turnips for cattle in the yards, or throws them upon the wheat stubble for them, previously to their being put into sheds or yards to fatten ; the remainder he eats ofl' with sheep where they are grown. The Swedes are pulled, topped, tailed and put into heaps (about eight heaps per acre), which are covered with a small ciuantity of straw and mould to preserve them from the frost, and to have them ready for use in any weather. This system of pyeing turnips is a very common one in Norfolk, and it is difficult to decide whether the majority of good opinions is in favour of it, or rather of the other method, which is, " placing" the turnips from several rows side by side, so as to leave at least nine-tenths of the land vacant. Mr. Overman has a practice which seems almost pecu- liar to himself at present, but not unlikely to extend in that district. After part of the Swedish turnips have been carted off and the remainder put in "pies," the tui'nip-tops, and "offal" are consumed on the land by his flock of etves. Mr. Hudson cuts them for cattle, with Gardiner's, Wedlake's, or Man's sheers. The cattle have each about 3 bushels of turnips per day, and from 71bs. gradually increasing up to 10 lbs. per day of oil- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. cake, besides hay. Mr. Hudson does not approve of cut hay for cattle ; he thinks they do not ruminate so well with it. He also thinks that long hay is a means of cleaning the mouths of the animals, other- wise clogged by eating oil-cake. Sheep finish the turnips by the second week in April. Mangold is pulled, topped, put in carts, and packed on heaps, for 5s. i^er acre ; and it is considered very important to have this done before the frosts. Mr. Milnes's plan of packing mangold--wiu'zel is, to throw up the main body of the pile roughly (so as to be laid open), but to pile , or j!>7«ce straight by hand, the outside. The heaps are covered with straw first, then with soil to the thickness of four inches, except the top, which for about a month is left open, for the heat, &c. to evaporate. Mr. Hudson observes, that mangold is not in season before February ; it is better in March, still better in April ; and that all cattle eating mangold should be kept warm, and have hay with it. Cattle should be gradually accustomed to mangold, the allowance of it being increased from day to day, thus : one peck the first day, two pecks the second, three the third, and four the fourth; then increasing more largely, to six pecks the ninth day, &c. Mangold suits best in warm weather, and as it is more relaxing than turnips, it requires a more liberal supply of hay to correct the bowels of the animals. They eat less cake with it, and fatten more rapidly upon it. Mangold is very useful to carry on wheat for hoggets in March. By consum- ing about five tons of it per acre, and a little linseed- cake, the wheat is greatly improved. It is made more free from poppy and other weeds, the straw stifFer, and the grain heavier and better. This, it must be remembered, applies to dry land, Mr. Hudson first covers the bottoms of all his yards with sand or mould, to absorb all the hquid manure. The cattle are fed in yards with open sheds fronting the south, and aftbrding shelter from the cold north winds ; these are spouted round to carry off water from the manure, Mr. Hudson (like many other Norfolk farmers) takes out his manure from horses and cattle alternately, to mix them in the hill about half a day's work of each before changing. Second Year, Barley. After the turnips are off, the land is ploughed "fleet," or about 83 inches deep across the ridges, with a skeleton plough ; in February, scarified, if the weather is favourable ; harrowed, and if cloddy, rolled, ploughed again, but not across, for reasons before stated ; harrowed, and rolled with light rollers, &c,. drilled, with from 3 to 3;\ bushels of barley per acre, according to the state of the land ; rows 7 inches apart. Mr. H. sows none but Chevalier barley. It is harrowed in with light harrows (three for two horses). Sows clover and other small seeds with a horse-machine, that it may be more equally spread over the land than is possible by hand, espe- cially in windy weather.* Mr. Nurse, junior, states * I could not find that the plan of drilling clover- seed in rows had been tried in Norfolk. A gentle- man of great experience in Lincolnshire recommends it on the following grounds : that sainfoin has been sown by many first-rate agri- culturists for one year only; the wheat is much better after it (scarcely a case known where wheat has failed after itl ; a friend of his has grown it thus many years, and intends this year to lay down fifty acres with it, for one year only; he had the same quan- tity last year, and grew three good loads per acre of hay ; the after-grass was a foot and a half high ; upon this he turned his lambs, and they became the best in the neighbourhood. Some say, plough in the "eddish" for wheat; he thinks it better to buy other manure, as the value of the crop for sheep- feed is more than equal to that cost. As in Norfolk generally, Mr. Hudson's seeds are varied in each course, so as to have red clover only once in eight years, thus : first course — 161bs. of red clover, 4lbs. of white, and half a peck of rye- grass, per acre; second course-— r2lbs. of trefoil, 8lbs. of white clover, and a peck of rye-grass, per acre. This last is intended for feeding on the land. The clover, (in the first course) is for mowing once, and after- wards to be fed by sheep. Seeds covered by light harrows, and the land rolled, to make it level. Barley is weeded for 5d. per acre. In preparing for barley, iMr. Brown, of Thrigby, always keeps from the land in wet weather ; sows, a few days after the barley, small seeds with machinery, covering them with very light harrows, Mr. Blyth (S. F.) says, "The turnip-land is generally ploughed twice to- wards the end of the season, scarified once or tmce, and then once ploughed ; drilled about six inches, beginning about the 25th of March, and sowing three bushels per acre." Mr. Coulson, " when the tur- nips are fed off early in wintei', first skeleton ploughs l;y taking off the plough-breast), then hari'owing in spring, and ploughing clean. Where later fed, ploughing once, and harrowing ; drilling at 7 inches, from two and a half to three bushels." The barley is mowed by a set of harvest-men, paid for the harvest, not by the week ; therefore they receive the same, whether it is of longr or short du- 1st. "That one-fourth of the seed is saved." '2nd, " That, by all the seed l)eing deposited at an equal depth, the plants retain a much firmer root in the soil during the winter," 3rd, " That the grass-seeds may be drilled across the rows of barley some time after the corn is up, and not only be better covered by the soil then they would be if no coulters were used, but the barley itself may be improved, at the same time, by this slight breaking of the surface soil," In addition to the saving of seed, as before named, this gentleman's clover was better last spring than he ever had it^ before, and he believes that, if the fol- lowing season had been an average one, his seeds would have carried at least one-third more stock than usual. This improvement he attributed solely to the drilling. The drill he uses for this purpose is 6^ feet wide, having twenty-four coulters, and re- sembling a corn-drill, except that it is much lighter. It is drawn by one horse. Knowing the high estimation in which this plan is held by some farmers in Lincolnshire and York- shire, I take this opportunity of alluding to it as a general answer to those of my Norfolk friends who made inquiries respecting it. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ration. After two or three days, turned with a hay- fork or fork-shaft. Last harvest Mr. Hudson sheafed part of his barley/o?- the first time ; there- fore the old method of treating it will here be de- scribed. When dry enough for carting, it is gathered six swathes in a double row, thus : — (b One row being turned to each side, from the cen- tre to the swathe adjoining, and one from each out- side towards it. One raker follows each gathering- fork, Nvith a rake five feet long. Two women gather for two pitchers. There are two rakers after each pitcher ; two to load the waggons, one of them being the team-man; there are also two pitchers, or one for each man on the waggon. The land is afterwards horse-raked. The waggon commonly used through- out Norfolk is rather too substantial ; it is a shafted one, drawn in hai-vest v.'hen loaded by thi'ee horses, one before another, and driven without reins. ^Vhen unloading there is only one horse standing with the waggon, the others having gone to assist in bringing a fresh load. The stack-staddles of straw are about 5^ to 6 yai'ds wide for barley, the length varying according to circiunstances. Mr. Hudson's stack-stage is peculiai-, and readily formed, a cart being the foundation for it. There are usually five men at the stack for two pitchers. As is usual in Norfolk, nearly all the corn is stacked in the fields, and as near to where it was grown as may be, with- out injury to the clover, or waste of labour ; thvis the barley is generally put on the first wheat stubble in the way to the barn. After harvest the outsides of the ricks are threshed with poles to save the corn (and prevent the staining of part of it), which falls on a rick-cloth or waggon-sheet. Barley is threshed by machinefg, the men not liking to use fiails. Horse-machines are almost uni- versal in Norfolk, but Mr. Hudson has recently had one erected to go by steam. A winnowing-machme takes the chaff out of the barley. It is hummelled by machinery ; winnowed again with smaller rid- dles ; blown, to take out the small corn. To make the parcel more uniform, the corn is not measured as dressed, but after the whole is clean. The bushel is not filled by a scuttle, or " scoop, "but with the hands, the measurer having it between his knees at the time. A coomb (four bushels) is put in each sack. Barley is delivered in a waggon drawn by four horses, which usually takes twenty-five coombs for a load, but occasionally thirty. Third Year, Clover. Thistles are cut on new layer before they are closed for mowing, at the rate of 2d. per acre. Clover is mowed for 2s. 6d. to 3s. per acre. Some get it done for Is. 6d. per acre., but, the stubble being of no value, Mr. H. pays more to have it cut close to the ground. The weakest land is manured for wheat, and the earher the manure is put on after the clover is carried, the more beneficial it appears. Mr. Hudson's breeding-flock being comparatively small in number (200), he does not practise /oWin^ extensively, but only when the lambs are not with them. Mr. Aylmer's boy, "Abraham Fisher," aged twelve the previous April, was removing the fold when I saw him in August, 1843, but this he had then done for about two years. Those who at first think the hurdles expensive may not do so, perhaps, after calculating the difference there is between the wages of men and those of boys like this. I annex a sketch of Mr. Aylmer's sheep hurdles : — They are 21 feet long, and cost 30s. each, but I was informed they may be made for considerably less. Sixteen of these (four on each side) constituted Mr. Alymer's fold for 400 Southdown ewes ; and this valuable flock was attended to by the boy " Abraham Fisher," above alluded to. Preparing for Wheat. Mr. Hudson's layers are ploughed by Ransome's wheel Olland-ploughs. Drill-rolled wth a 12-roll presser, covering six feet, and drawn l)y three or four horses, as the land is level or otherwise. Harrowed with heavy harrows, to raise mould. Mr. Hudson thinks it very im])ortant to select the finest ears for seed. Mr. Neavehad the " Britannia" and " Clovers" last year, both of which surpassed any other in his possession. He thinks " Spalding" is the mos general favourite, but he prefers those named, as being superior in quahty. Mr. Neave's wheat at- tracted my observation so much that I inquired to whom it belonged, when I found this was one of the gentlemen on my list ; and, but for his good crops, I should have gone considerably out of my way. This case was an exception ; but nearly all the best crops of wheat I saw in the county were of the sort called " Spalding," the straw of which is bright and stifiT. The seed is drilled. In Norfolk, generally, the drill is so constructed that the man following it may, to a great extent, guide it. This partly accounts for the straight drilling almost everywhere seen there. In other districts, where all this depends on the horses and their leaders, it cannot be expected that the work should be so ge- nerally well done. But I hope this hint \rill be 8 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. sufficient to introduce the improvement (now very old in Norfolk) to more general notice. The farm- ers, I suppose, ma)' send for tliem, if their neigh- bouring agricultural implement makers do not. The wheat is drilled eight inches from row to row, about thi'ee bushels to the acre — the quantity varying according to the season and state of the land ; but generally beginning with a smaller quan- tity, and increasing it as the season advances. Would dibble part, if he could get the dropping done well. To prevent smut,* the wheat is pre- pared for sowing, thus : — To three gallons of boil- ing water a quarter of a peck of quickhme is added, and, after boiling, when effervescing, three pints of strong salt-brine are added, the whole being then stirred up and mixed together. This is poured over three bushels of wheat, which is then turned four times, sweeping the corn up quite clean after each turning. The growing wheat is hand-hoed for 1 s. 6d or 2s. per- acre. To mow 300 acres of wheat, Mr, Hudson has thirty-four men as mowers. Each mower is followed by two women, or strong boys or girls in lieu of them : one gathers with the hand and the other prepares the band and ties it up ; but they take the work alternately. This company is followed by eight team-men, who set up ten sheaves in a shock — not as suits their convenience, but, commencing with the two sheaves intended for the centre, they place two more, first on one side of them, then on the other, that the shock may be equally balanced, and therefore more likely to stand ; as is shown by the numbers over each pair of the sheaves in the accompanying sketch. The ground is raked with a horse-rake: horse drag raked. Old men tie up rakings as closely to the mowers as possible; as that work is more easily done when the corn has been recently cut. In carting wheat (as with barley) there are two ]3itch- ers, and two persons to load each waggon. There are always two waggons, at least, loading, and two unloading, at the same time, by which means ihe work progresses more cheerfully, and much more is done than would be by each party working sepa- rately. Mr. Hudson does not use carts for carry- ing his corn, and there are few persons in his im- mediate neighbourhood who do. The Mdieat is put together in round stacks, because these have a smaller proportion of outside, and wheat is not likely to heat from the weight of grain in the cen- * Mr. Coulson, of Qnidenham, states — he has for several years used ])lue vitriol, and finds it " a perfect preventive of smut in wheat," which was not the case with salt and Ihne when he used them. "The vitriol should be put into a tub and dis- solved with boiling water, then adding cold water at the rate of (hot and cold) three pailfuls to one pound of vitriol. The wheat should be steeped in the solution and then turned out on the floor. It soon dries, and is ready for use. It drills freely in any weather, which is not the case with salt and water ; as we fi-equently could not get it to drill at all in very damp weather." tre.* The stacks are made of one uniform size, in order that the two companies may keep pace with. each other ; the advantage of which has been be- fore stated. They are placed sufficiently far from each other to prevent any two of them being burnt by one original fire. The round staddles are made 9 yards in diameter, by sticking a fork in the ground as the centre, and then, with a rope 4J yards long, having a ring at one end (to pass over the shaft of that in the centre) and a fork at the other, drawing the e.xact circle at once, and making them all of one size. Each of these stacks holds about 28 or 30 loads — about 18 or 20 shocks to a load, and 10 sheaves to a shock. Twelve waggons (eight going and four imloading) will make eight such stacks a day. All the wheat is stacked in the field where grown : thatched in the same manner as the barley, at 5d. per yard, measuring round the eaves. The sides of these wheat-stacks cut round, immediately after harvest, with scythes having straight handles, for 2s. per stack. Shavings car- * There are many who object to round stacks. For instance, Mr. Overman, of Weasenham, says — " Long ones are better, because there is not so much time lost in beginning and finishing them. You can make tiiem any length you like (m parts) ; and if you do not choose to get the same lengths into the barns, you can cut them." Mr. Overman's ricks are 7 yards wide and 20 long. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. lied to the machine and threshed, from which Mr. H. got about 40 bushels last harvest — a larger quantity than usual, arising from the corn l)eing difficult to mow, &c. Mr. H. hangs old worn-out sheep nets round the eaves of his wheat-stacks, to keep the crows off. Does not jjlaster round the bottoms of his stacks, as rats are not so numerous with him as in some other parts of the county.* All wheat is threshed by machines — winnowed twice, then blown, and measured in the same man- ner as the barley, and delivered by a waggon and four horses, taking 22 to 24 sacks at each load." One leading cause of Mr. Hudson's great suc- cess as a farmer, is attributable to his adoption, in the year- 1824, of the system of feeding young sheep upon cut Swedes and linseed cake, by which means he not only sent them to market at one year old instead of two, but got his land into high condition. This system he pursued almost ex- clusively for some years, but its successful results have now caused it to be general throughout the whole of Norfolk. The tenant is not the only party benefited by it, as it is evident that where- ever it has been carried into practice, the landlord's property has considerably increased in value. Mr. Hudson was one of the first members of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. He was elected member of the Council of this great and most valuable institution, on the demise of the Rev. Mr. Rham; he was re-elected in May 1845, and again in May last. Mr. Hudson united with Mr. Shaw in establish- ing the London Farmers' Club — an institution, the value of which to the British farmer is becoming daily more manifest. He was also unanimously elected a director of the Royal Farmers' Fire and Life Insurance Company, the establishment of which was originally suggested by Mr. W. S. Northouse, of the London Farmers' Club. Many tenant-farmers owe to the Hail Storm department of this office not only alleviation from heavy losses, but in some cases preservation from absolute ruin. Mr, Hudson, with that feeling of affectionate * At Stratton Strawless I first observed ricks plastered round, for about a yard from the bottom, with mortar, to keep the rats out. The cost of doing a round stack, thus (Mr. Bowman thought), had been about 12s., and the old plaster would be worth (as manure) nearly half the money. I ob- served several instances of this in the neighbour- hood of Blofield ; some of the parties having also dug a trench, about a yard deep, round the stacks. In some parts of the county the stacks are on iron stands (or frames), for the same reasons. Mr. Blyth, of Burnham, has displayed great ingenuity in constructing a cheap one from loose bars of iron and posts. The number of rats now infesting the country is little short of a plague. gratitude and profound admiration which he has ever expressed, originated the proposal to erect a monument to his late beloved landlord and bene- factor— his " guide, philosopher, and friend" — the venerable Earl of Leicester. He convened a meeting at Norwich for that purpose, and a sub- scription was immediately commenced. The sub- scribers have determined that on one side of the monument there shall be a representation of Mr. Hudson receiving, on the part of his son, a lease from the good old Earl, of the very farm which was formerly occupied by his grandfather ; thus showing that on this princely estate farms are not only transferred from father to son, but from grandfather to grandson. In the year 1838, the noble landlord renewed the lease of the farm on which Mr. Hudson resides, for years before the ex- piration of the old lease, " for the purpose," said the Earl, " of encouraging good farming, and en- abling such a good tenant to reap the benefit of the great outlay he had made upon the estate." Would that such jn-inciples were prevalent, and such examples catching ! A few years since, Mr, Hudson purchased an estate in Gloucestershire, which he has greatly im- proved by adopting the Norfolk system of hus- bandry, and by breaking up all the inferior grass land, and converting it into tillage, whereby he has grown a very large quantity of corn, and employed a much greater number of labourers. The estate in consequence is already worth double the amount of its original value when Mr. Hudson entered upon it, who having introduced the system of ap- plying a large quantity of artificial manure for the cultivation of Swedes and turnips, has done great good to that locality, and induced many farmers of the district to request him to send them the same manure which has procured for him such im- mense crops of Swedes. In person Mr. Hudson is about the middle height, firmly and compactly built, with a counte- nance expressive of firmness, intelligence, and be- nevolence combined. Simple in tastes and man- ners, he is profound in observation and reflection, and no higher compliment can be paid to him by his fellow-farmers than the fact that his experiment on the feeding of neat cattle with malted and raw barley, was of greater authority with them than similar experiments by the most eminent chemists and scwans of the age. In fact, it may be said of him, in the language of the poet — " In manners gentle, in affections mild ; In wit a man, simplicity a child," The following is a list of the prizes which Mr. Hudson has obtained ; — ■ 10 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. At the West Norfolk Agricultural Society's Show. July, 1838, — For the best pair of Devon heifers £2 0 0 Steers highly commended. 1 840. — Best pen of 20 Down shearling ewes, out of their wool; Hon. H. Wilson's ])remium of 5 0 0 Two-shear sheep highly commended. 1842. — Best bull; the SwafFham cup, value 5 0 0 Best Devon cow j Mr. Hamond's pre- mium of 5 0 0 Best Milch cow of any other breed (Hereford) ; Society's prize of ... . 5 0 0 1843. — Best pen of 20 best bred Down wether lambs, exhibited by the breeder ; Sir W. B. Folkes' pre- mium of 5 0 0 Best bull, not inider 12 months old, of any breed, open to all competi- tors ; the SwafFham cup, value .... 5 0 0 Best Devon cow; Mr. Hamond's premium of 5 0 0 Best milch cow of any other breed; the Society's premium of 5 0 0 Best heifer, in-calf, of any breed, not under one year old ; Society's pre- mium of 5 0 0 Best Hereford cow, in profit; pre- mium of 5 0 0 1844. — Best Hereford bull ; ])remiumof 5 0 0 Best bull in the yard, open to all com- petitors ; Swaffham cup, value .... 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Best Devon cow, in-calf or in pro- fit ; Mr. Hamond's premium of . ... £5 0 0 Best milch cow of any breed ; So- ciety's prize of 5 0 0 East Norfolk Show, at Norwich. 1844. — Best Hereford bull 10 Second best ditto 5 Best Hereford cow; Society's prize . . G Second best ditto ; ditto . . 3 1845. — Best pen of 20 Down wether lambs ; Sir W. B. Folkes' premium 5 0 0 Best milch cow of any other breed, not open to Devon, shorthorn, or Ayr- shire (Hereford) ; Society's pre- mium 5 At Smithfield Show, 1844. Second best fat ox (Hereford); prize 15 At West Norfolk Show, 184G. Swafham. — Best pen of 3 Down ewe hoggets, shown in their wool ; Lord Leicester's premium 5 Best pen of 20 Down wether lambs ; Sir W. B. Folkes' premium 5 Best bull in the yard, open to all com- petitors ; the Sv/aff ham cup 5 Best Hereford bull ; premium 5 Best Devon bull; Society's prize. ... 5 At Norwich. — Best Hereford bull; pre- mium 10 Best Devon bull ; premium 5 Best Hereford cow; pi-emium 6 Best Hereford heifer ; premium .... 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 THE ECONOMY OF MANURING. BY CUTHBERT W. JOHNSON, ESQ., F.R.S. It would certainly tend to the increase of the English farmer's profits if he paid more attention to the real economy of the application of manures — that is, if he examined more closely the re«Z return from his outlay upon the various descriptions of manures he may be induced to employ. Tliis neglect of close calculation is much less apparent in the northern portions of our island, and in Con- sequence the Scotch farmers, generally speaking, are much better informed as to the true economy of manures than those of most other portions of the island. I have recently had occasion, in another place, to remark upon this when speaking of the fertilizers adapted for root crops ; and some of these observations I will repeat and enlarge upon in this valuable magazine. The same correct principles, however, which apply to the manuring of turnips may be successfully directed to other crops. This conviction of the advantages to be derived from a closer calculation of pi'ofit and loss is not con- fined to this country : there is evidently now a considerable and an increasing desire, on the part of the great continental farmers, to investigate in the true commercial spirit of inquiry, this and other equally important agricultural operations. In the last number of the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, p. 613, there is a report (translated by Mr. D. F. Jones), by M. M. F. Kuhlmann, on the theoi-y of manures, which has evidently been conducted in this spirit. The fertilizing substances emjiloyed v/ere applied, in April, 1844, to some grass land at Loos. The following table gives the I'esult of not only the exact produce of i\\e first crop of hay, but of the second, or aftermath. These trials thus serve to promote one very important portion of such inquiries — the duration of the ijood effect of various applications. In the following little table the quantity of the manure apphed, and the pro- duce, are given in kilogrammes (a kilogramme being equal to 2 lbs. 3^ oz. English), the extent of land in each trial being an hectare (or 2 acres 1 rood 35.4 perches Englisli) : — THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 11 1 Quantity Total 1 of Hay. Aftermath. Produce Manure. of Grass. Soil simple. 2427 1393 3820 Sulphate of Ammonia 250 3947 1617 5564 Nitrate of Soda.... 250 3864 1823 5690 Nitrate of Lime . . . 250 3367 2030 5397 Muriate of Lime . . . 250 2417 1413 3830 Phosphate of Soda. 300 2693 1633 4326 Gelatine of Bones . . 500 4180 2203 6383 Peruvian Guano . . 600 4090 2270 6360 Do. do. . . 300 3437 1966 5403 Linseed oil- cake .... 800 2647 1773 4420 Colza seed- oil 600 2393 1000 3393 Do. do. . . 300 2687 1356 4043 In these trials the gelatine of bones and the Peruvian guano appear to have produced the most beneficial effects upon both the first and second crops of grass, the increase in the two crops in both cases from their appUcation being equal to about a ton per English acre; but then if v/e estimate the cost of the Peruvian guano to be equal to about £3 12s., we see that there was, in fact, little profit derived to the fanner from dressing the grass with guano. I instance the guano in these series of carefully-conducted trials because it is a valuable fertilizer, whose commercial value is known to most of my readers ; but the same conclusion pretty correctly apphes to the other manures which Mr. Kuhlmann employed. Before we proceed to the economy of manures as aj^phed to various root crops, let us see how this economical calculation corrects and modifies the apjDarent success of some experiments with the cereal grasses. To this end let us examine the result of some experiments upon wheat, made by Mr. Pemberton Leigh {Farmers' Almanac, vol. iii., p. 31) : in these £ s. d. The soil simple produced Rape-dust 5 cwt., costing 1 Urate, 6 cwt 1 Dung, 30 loads 4 Guano, 3^ cwt 2 Super-phosphate of lime, 6 cwt 2 We have here one instance, amongst many, of the superior economy, in the case of the wheat crop, of various artificial manures to farm-yard dung : for the manure cost of the wheat per bushel was about 9s. with the dung, about 4s. with the guano, about 3s. 6d. with the rape-dust and the urate, and . 29 bush 12 6 . . 38 „ 12 6 . . 38 „ 10 0 . ■ 40 „ 4 0 . . 40 „ 4 9 53 less than 2s. per bushel with the super-phosphate of lime. In their effect then upon the frst crop, after their application, the other manures were decidedly more economical than common farm-yard dung; and this is a result, I believe, which is far more frequently obtained than is generally understood. Let us then pursue this inquiry, and direct our principal attention to the economy of manures as applied to root crops ; and in so doing, let us not confine our observations exclusively to the action of the manure upon the first crop, but let us en- deavour to consider the general result, and to thus include the various other considerations which, in such an important practical research, should be carefully and anxiously regarded. In such an in- quiry, as was observed not long since {Bell's Messenger, No. 2,653), we must not confine our attention to the primary effect ])roduced upon the root crop by the application of maniire, but en- deavour to find the most beneficial irroportion in which it should be applied, either by itself or in conjunction xvith other manures; its ejfect upon after crops ; and abo\'e all, the entire profit or loss from the outlay. These questions not long since engaged the attention of several excellent farmers, all of whose experiments have tended to more or less add to our knowledge on the subject. The best proportion in which manure should be applied to a root crop attracted, in 1845, the attention of Mr. Pusey. His experiments were made in Berk- shire upon mangold-wurtzel, and in these he carefully adopted precautions to acquire correct resTilts, which we commend to the careful attention of our brother farmers. He observes {Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vol. vi,, p. 529), " Having found that when manures are tried by being spread upon distinct portions of the same field, some uncertainty attends the result by dif- ferences in the crop, which evidently do not arise from the action of the respective manures, but from variation in the depth or quality of the soil, from previous manurings, from the depredations of insects, or some cause that cannot be detected, I apportioned the manures to be tried in a new method, which increased the trouble indeed, but which I thought would make the result trustworthy. The rows were opened three feet apart upon the whole piece. In three rows I put the heavy dressing of dung ; in the next two rows, the lighter dressing : in the two following rows we added ra])e-dust to the dung, and so on until in nineteen ridges all the trials had been prepared. We then began again as before with the heavy dressing of dung, and completed another set of nineteen ridges like the first. The extent of five acres allowed six sets thus to be made, which might be regarded as six repetitions of the same 12 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. experiment, and as therefore deserving greater con- fidence. Thus the rows which received artificial manure only, of whatever kind, were of a darker green than the rest, until some hot weather came in August. Their leaves then blistered, and many of the leaves withered suddenly oflT. If this had oc- curred upon one patch of ground only, it might have been imputed to accident ; but no one who saw it repeated on these particular rows, in six different stripes across the field, could doubt that it was caused by the absence of dung, which on such sandy land thus appears necessary for carrying a crop through to harvest. The land was very light, being in part a shifting sand, so that in one part the seed was blown out of the ground ; but the dripping summer was favour- able, and the crop was a very good one. The manure was applied in the first week in April ; at the end of October the roots were taken up, and the produce ascertained, by weighing the yield of half an acre, measured across the six sets of rows at one end. The following little table gives the quantity of manure applied, and the weight, in tons, of the cleansed roots per acre : — Dung. Artificial Manure. Roots. Soil, simple 1 5 ^ 26 loads 28i 13 — 271 13 — .. 7 cwt. of rape dust 27 13 — 14 bushels of bone dust 26 13 — . . 7 cwt. of rags .... 36 13 — .. 3 cwt. of guano .. 36 In these trials it is evident that the apphcation of 26 tons per acre of farm-yard dung was not attended by any corresponding benefits, and that if we value the 13 tons of dung at 3s. 6d. per load, then the cost for manure of the increased produce of roots (beyond that which the soil simple afforded) was about 3s. 6s. per ton, and that if we value Peruvian guano at 8s. per cwt., then the cost of the guanoed roots per ton was about 3s. But by using the dung in conjunction with the guano (or with rags), the cost of production (so far as the manure is concerned) was reduced to about 2s. for each ton of roots. In the concluding remark of Mr. Pusey every one of our many agricultural readers we are sure will agree when he says, " I am not insensible to the risk in drawing general rules from single expe- riments, however carefully made ; but as this ex- periment was a careful one, I state what appears to me to be the legitimate inferences from it, in the hope that they may be confirmed or refuted by other observers, so that at last the truth may be known." Such were the results of a careful examination of the effect produced by various manures upon mangold-wurtzel. In the examination of another valuable root, let us examine some experiments by the Rev. V. L. Harcourt, of Chichester, upon car- rots {Agricultural Gazette, June 1, 1844). The fol- lowing were the results per acre obtained by him: — Cost. Produce. £ s. d. Tns.Cwt. 3 cwt. Guano 1 16 0 .. 12 13 2.|„ Guano ., 1 10 0 .. 11 1 7 „ Bone-dust 1 6 3 . . 12 4 1 „ Nitrate of soda 1 0 0 .. 11 12 3 ,. Urate 0 15 0 .. 17 3 21 gal. ofPoittevin's (170).. 0 9 10 . . 12 18 21 „ Poittevins (36) 0 5 5 .. 11 18 21 „ Clarke's compost 0 4 10 . . 13 13 It will here be perceived that while the manure cost of the carrots fertilized with guano was about 3s. per ton, those dressed with bone-dust and nitrate of soda cost about 2s., those with the urate about lOd., and those with the composts of Poittevin and Clark, in three trials, in one case about 8d., and in two trials only about 4d. per ton of roots. In some briefly reported experiments made in 184.'), by his Grace the Duke of Richmond, at Gor- don Castle, in Scotland, the (manure) cost per ton of the I'oots was more considerable than of those of Mr. Pusey, even if we suppose that the soil would have been totally unproductive without any manure whatever. The soil employed is a light sandy loam, and this was sown on the 12th of June, with Dale's hybrid turnips. The bulbs were weighed on the 25th of December, when the follow- ing results per acre were obtained {Jour. R. A. S., vol. vii., p. 297) : — Manures. £, s. d. Tons. Cwt. 14 Yards of farm-yard dung \„ r n 19 loa 8 Bushels of bones .... J ' * " ^ 2 12 3 2 10 0 12 1{ 12 14 Yards of dung "1 1 T Cwt. African guano . . j 14 Yards of dung "1 2 Bushels of bones I 50 lb. sulphuric acid . . . . f 25 Bushels of coal ashes. . J 4 Bushels of bones .... .I 100 lb. sulphuric acid V 1 6 7 . . 10 18^ 25 Bushels of coal ashes . . J ] 6 Bushels of bones 2 8 0.. 8 11 3 Cwt. African guano. .. . 1 2 6.. lOj 13^ 1 4 Yards of dung "I 14 Cwt. Cornwall patent 1 4 5 9 . . 6 6 manure J 26 Cwt. Cornwall patent"! manure J 2 14 In these experiments the turnips were the most cheaply produced by the use of the mixed bones and sulphuric acid ; l)ut from the omission in the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 13 report of the amount of produce of the unmanured soil, we cannot so well conclude upon the exact manure cost per ton of the turnips. The same re- mark a])plies to some valuable trials also made in the year 1S45, by Mr. A. J. Main, of Lasswade, on a farm " rising 450 feet above the level of the sea, situated from five to ten miles respectively from the Pentland range of hills on the one side, the Moor- foot range on another, and the Roman camp on the third, and occupying the extreme point of an extensive coal district." The field employed in these experiments is composed of a hght soil, ap- proximating to a sandy, resting upon a sand and gravel subsoil. The following are the results : — The manures were mixed with ashes, and spread on the land, previous to ridging ; on the 26th of June, the white globe turnips were lifted, and the bulbs weighed on the 8th of November, the tur- nips being valued at 18s. per ton {Trans. High. Soc, 1846, p. 428). Manures. Cost of ^fanure. Turnips. £. 8. d. Tous.Cwt. lb. 6 0 0. .15 i3 64 5 0 8.. 14 8 64 Farm-yard manure, 25 tons Bones, 32 bush "1 Sulphuric acid, 2 cwt .... J Bones, 12 bush ^ Sulphuric acid, 1 cwt. 561b. I African guano, 2 cwt [ Animal charcoal, 2 cwt. . . J Bones, 12 bush "\ Sulphuric acid, 1 cwt. 561b. ( Prepared night soil, 2 cwt. t Animal charcoal, 2 cwt. . . ' Bones, 8 bush Sulphuric African Prepared night 3 2 6.. 15 14 72 8 bush. . ^ ric acid, 1 cwt f guano, 2 cwt i id night soil, 2 cwt. 3 2 19 0..15 16 48 2 12 10.. 18 1 48 In these trials, the manure cost of the turnips was much the most considerable when the farm-yard manure was employed, being then about 7s. 6d. per ton ; but in the last trial with bones, sulphuric acid, guano, and prepared night soil, only about 3s. per each ton of roots. The Gairioch Farmers' Club have lately awarded a prize to Mr. Porter for a paper, which is published in a recent number of the Aberdeen " Scottish Farmer." Some experi- ments which are described in that essay were made at a farm in Aberdeenshire, belonging to Sir R. D. Elphinstone, situated about 250 feet above the level of the sea ; the result of these trials is entirely in accordance mth those we have already given. Swedish and hybrid turnips were the crops to which the manures were applied. The following is the result of the trials with the hybrid, the weight of the manure, its value, and the produce, being given per imperial acre — the dung employed being that of the farm, and given in cubic yards. 16 0 18 0 11 0 16 6 Produce. Tns.Ct. .. 15 3 .. 12 7 . . 12 7 .. 12 2 15 3 10 0 . . 11 8 2 0 . . 11 6 14 8 , . 10 I Manure. Cost. £ s. d. 32 Yards of dung at 3s. 6d 5 12 0 16 Yards of dung "^ 1 Cwt. sulphate of ammonia, > 3 at 20s J 16 Yards of dung I ^ 1 Cwt. nitrate of soda at 22s. ji 16 Yards of dung "^ 3 Cwt of the urate of the Lon- > 3 don Manure Comjiany.... j 16 Yards of dung I 6 Bushels of bone dust >3 74 lb. of sulphuric acid J 6 Cwt. of the urate at 5s 1 3 Cwt. of Peruvian guano at \ , 14s r 16 Bushels of bone dust 2 We have in these trials another instance of the superior economy of employing for the turnip crop artificial manures. For in these carefully conducted experiments the manure cost of the turnips' per ton with dung alone was about 6s. 9d. per ton; ^^'ith half the quantity of dung mixed with cubic petre, super-phosphate of lime, or the urate of the London Manure Company, about 5s. per ton. But a still greater advantage was derived from omitting the dung entirely ; for the turnips raised with the guano cost about 4s. per ton, and with the urate of the London Manure Company only about 2s. 9d. per ton. So that with the urate the turnips cost (for manure) only about one-half of those grown with dung ; and from what I have experienced with these dressings, I believe the effect of the urate to be fully as lasting and as powerful as that of farm yard dung. This very important question of the comparative durable effect of various manures applied to the turnip crop has been examined by Mr. A. F. Gardener, of Barrochan, Renfrewshire (Trans. High. Soc, 1846. p. 369). The soil employed in his experi- ments is a stiff loam of great depth, lying level, and thoroughly drained ; and in giving the following results, the turnips were valued by Mr. Fleming at 15s. per ton, the barley at 3s. 4d. per bushel, the straw at Is. 6d. per cwt., the hay at Zl. per ton. Value of three following Crops. £ s. d. A Town dung, 30 tons . . 1 Bone dust, 14 bush. . . J B Farm-yard dung, 2 5 tons 1 Bone-dust, 10 bush. . . J C Artificial guano, 2 cwt. Humus, 40 bush. ... Peat ash 5 bush D Peruvian guano, 1 cwt. 1 Humus, 40 bush / Cost £ s. d. 10 15 0 10 0 0 3 2 6 2 11 0 40 18 5 35 10 6 37 15 10 32 4 0 14 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. These three crops being turnips, barley, and hay, | The tendency of all these valuable examinations the following was the respective produce of each ^ is to the same very important conclusions ; and I cannot but feel rejoiced that these trial — 1842. Turnips. D Tons. 24 19 20 18 1843— Barley. Qrs. Bush. 6 2 Straw. Cwts. lb. 35 80 6 0 33 0 6 4 35 0 5 5 28 95 1844. Hay and Aftermath. are so well established, since, as the supply of even the most carefully-collected and well-prepared manure of the farm-yard is ever far less than can be well and profitably applied to the land, from whence it is chiefly procured ; so it must be regarded as a well- established and most cheering fact, that when the dung-heap is exhausted, the farmers of our country have still access to an almost inexhaustible supply of artificial manures, possessing, in more than one instance, greater power and durability than the far larger portion of the manure usually prepared in our farm-yards. COLONIZATION, EMIGRATION, THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM, &c. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK-LANE EXPRESS. Sir, — I am always delighted to see the subject of allotments to the poor advocated in your columns; I would thank you, therefore, for the pleasure you have afforded me by inserting from the Readinff Mercury the excellent letter of "Humanitas." Although I had intended to confine myself to a few remarks upon the subject of emigration, I can- not resist the opportunity which offers for making some observations on two or three parts of the letter of " Humanitas," which I trust he will not only take in good part, but make use of for the benefit of those in favour of whom his benevolent sympathies are evidently enlisted. And first, I notice his strong representation of the state of "orphan boys and girls" in certain "pest-houses" to which he refers. This may be quite true, and I am bound to believe that it is ; but permit me to ask "Humanitas" who is in fault if it be so ? Is it not the duty of the guardians of every union to exercise an unceasing 'supervision over the parties under whose care these poor children are placed ; If "Humanitas" happen to be — as I trust he is — one of these responsible persons, let him instantly set about the correction of any abuses that may have crept into the administration of the law. For his encouragement, I can point him to a case, where I have often looked upon a very long string of children, male and female, whose appearance and conduct were such as to raise in my bosom feelings of thankfulness for the institution which sheltered them. I refer to the union at Lincoln. There I have seen probably 100 children — taking their three or four miles' walk into the beautiful lanes of the country, inhaling the balmy breeze, and evidently enjoying vigorous health, their countenances at the same time affording speaking evidence of their contented and happy condition. And I happen to know that, instead of being in a "pest-house," they were well fed, comfortably lodged, regularly taught in the school-room, and trained to habits of order and cleanliness. Let "Humanitas" contrast the state of these children with that of the children of many of our working-men in our towns and villages, with whom, doubtless, he would wish to assimilate those in the "pest-houses" to which he refers, and then let him apply his censures where they are deserved. If union workhouses have become "pest- houses" it is because those who are often misnamed guardians have not done their duty either in the houses or out of them. As to the Poor-Law Amendment Act itself, about which even good men have been carrying on such a crusade, glad as I should have been to have seen in it other provisions which I thought necessary, my opinion of it is, that it was the means of arresting the progress of evils which threatened the entire disruption of every bond which held society together. And I further believe, that its enactment has tended, in a most happy measure, to render poor men self-dependent — a feeling which was, at the time to v/hich I refer, fast being expelled from their bosoms. But I am sorry to say that I must agree with "Humanitas" in his lament on the too general comparative disre- gard which has been shown to the condition of the poorer classes. Had this not been the case, there would probably have been neither workhouses nor "pest-houses." And yet, if this assertion be tioie, it involves a serious charge against somebody. Who, then, will take the blame ? Upon whom shall the responsibility be fixed ? or is the charge groundless ? It is a large question, and the discussion of it might well occupy, and I hope it ^vill occupy, a large THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 15 share of your paper for years to come. For the present, let an answer he given to every honest inquh'er, by saying. Look closely and thoughtfully at the physical, moral, and religious condition of the poor immediately around you. The Times newspaper of Monday last had an article, which strongly shows the impossibility of the state coming forward to render adequate aid to those who are calling out for assistance ; but look- ing at the revenue now derived and derivable from land, either by the landord or tenant^ who, let me ask, shall assign a limit to the private resources of those who have it in possession ? Before I pass to another subject, permit me to say to " Humanitas," " Go on, through good and evil report ; and use increasing exertions, in seeking to provide a patch of land for every poor man in your neighbourhood until there is not one family left without a portion." In my judgment this is, in the present day, one of the highest efforts of patriotism. I cannot but express my surprise that your paper of last Monday should have contained no reference whatever to the question of colonization or emigra- tion, which was brought so ably before Parliament by the Earl of Lincoln. The ability, moderation, kindness of heart, and general benevolence of view manifested by that noble lord on that occasion, are above all praise ; and the manner in which he haa applied himself to this most interesting question, is one among many proofs which every day affords, that the jiossessors of property and influence are beginning to understand much better than they for- merly did the excellent motto which you prefix to the head of your leading article. I presume not to offer an opinion on the subject of emigration as a means of relieving the miseries of Ireland. The results of a long period of misgovern- ment in that unhappy country are at last showing themselves. It is now producing its natural fruits. So httle attention has been paid to the moral and physical necessities of her teeming population, that the wonder is— not that Ireland is at this time in such a state of social disease as appals the most stout-hearted — but that wide scattering ruin has not long ago overwhelmed every class of the com- munity. But the heart sickens at the bare contem- plation of her wretchedness, and gladly seeks ano- ther subject on which to dwell- You, Mr. Editor, have long laboured in the cause of the labouring poor, and many others have done so too with great variety of effort, and yet I fear that even in England their "rights " and true interests are but imperfectly imdevstood. An eminent philan- thropist has lately been endeavouring to enlighten the people of this country on " the philosophy of human labour ;" and he has, in my judgment, satisfacto- rily proved that a condition involving continuous la- bour is not necessarily a condition unfavourable to human Iiappiness, but, on the contrary, a means of increasing it. And such, I repeat, is my own opinion, an ojjinion confirmed by many years of actual daily in- tercourse with the labouring classes ; among whom, when well employed, and suitably considered with re- ference to their habitations, S^-c, I have seen an amount of peace, comfort, and contentment, wliich would place them in most advantageous comparison with any other class of society. But, unfortunately for all classes, there have been but few periods — and those of short duration, and the product of un- healthy causes — during which the poor man, who was not only perfectly willing, but anxious to work for his family, could find work to do. I well re- member that, a short time before the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act, so far from employment being found for the agricultural labourers by the holders of the land, the returns on their occupations were so inadequate that their capital was dwindling away to nothing, while their poor dependents were receiving, for doing little or nothing, a pittance which was twice cursed — thus reversing the beau- tiful idea of the bard, and impoverishing those who received as well as those who gave. Those who have not felt the difficulty of finding employment and suffered from it, are the exce])tion, and not the rule. Instead of meeting the unques- tionable right of the poor man to the conveniences and comforts of life, if he would vjork for them and earn them, men have wearied themselves with making calculations as to how many hours of continuous labour he was capable of enduring, and how little he could subsist upon without more or less of physical prostration. To give him an ever- operating personal interest in doing well by holding up before him some small prize in the lottery of human life, appears not to have entered, as it ought to ha^^e done, into the calculating pohcy of those whose duty it has ever been, and ever will be, to adjust the balance of the great social machine; while any attempt to raise the men who live by their labour, the aggregate value of which consti- tutes the wealth of this great country, by moral and intellectual culture, to a position commensurate wth the high destinies of their immortal being, has been till lately deemed only the dream of visionary philanthropists. Education, by which I mean early physical, moral, and religious training, has been al- most wholly neglected; for, generally speaking, those who ought to have supplied it have them- selves but ill understood its demands. That the poor man was thro^vn into existence for higher and nobler purposes than merely to "labour, and eat and drink, and die," to quote the never-to-be-for- gotten words of the illustrious premier, is a truth of comparatively recent discovery ; but who does 16 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. not see in the tardy recognition of this great truth the fact that cm immense debt is owiny to the most valuable and influential class of our fellowmen ? Who, then, will refuse his assistance to put in mo- tion the machinery that shall, as soon as possible, redress this great social wrong ? And what shall th;it machinery be ? Is it to be a contemporaneous effort in behalf of the young, by the Government educational scheme ; and for their degraded fathers and mothers a general sys- tem of colonization ? To the former I dare not in- cur the responsibility of oflering the slightest ob- struction, for it is at least a step in the right di- rection ; but to the latter I cannot but see many grave objections. I could easily understand the conduct of a sensible poor man, who, feeUng that his interests were not duly cared for here, should determine to expatriate himself, and seek a " bet- ter land;" but I confess that I am utterly at a loss to comprehend the policy which would transport to a foreign country the capital which the bones and sinews of every able-bodied man furnish to the common stock at home. I could without difficulty understand an Irish land- lord, or the proprietor of waste land in England, if I heard him sa)% with laudable pride, " I am a rich man : I have 5,000 or 10,000 acres of land; and I have, within the last thirty years, by a well- regu- lated system of management, reclaimed it from a state of absolute waste to a state of extraordinary productiveness. At the time the inheritance des- cended to me the land was not worth, nor did it yield, a shilling an acre as rent; and now I am ac- tually receiving an average of 30s. Then, there was vipon it no population ; now, I have scat- tered over it men, women, and children to the num- ber of 1,500 : and it is a remarkable fact that, as the population has increased exactly in proportion to my advances in the march of improvement, there have been no idle, and very few vicious, men upon my estate. I set out with a well considered plan, of which the followingwere the principal features : — Having a small capital at command, I determined to let no farm until I had made it fully ready for profitable occupation, and I resolved to make the maximum size of the farms 300 acres. I also de- termined to commence by assigning a small portion to every working man who was at the head of a family, as an encouragement to him to continue in an industrious course ; and by dividing the land into allotments varying from one rood to 300 acres, I placed before the most needy man upon my estate a series of prizes, one of which, if his conduct were good, he could not fail to obtain, and any one of which he might, by a concurrence of favourable circumstances, become possessed of. I have stated that I began with a small capital, and this was really the case ; but yet I have employed no other capital than that which the vigorous prosecution of my enterprise has created. Thus you see me in possession of 5,000 acres of land, which now yields me a net income of £7,500 a year, and from which I fully expect to derive a much larger revenue. This I calculate upon accomplishing by the application of science, and of new and improved modes of cul- tivation, which will enable me to greatly increase the number of productive workmen upon my pro- perty. You will not fail to observe, too, that at least £15,000 a-year is distributed amongst other parties who are benefited by bringing what was once an unprofitable moor into cultivation ; and if these two sums are put together, there will be an amount . which, at three per cent., represents a capital equal to the sum of £750,000, created out of nothing !" I repeat, Mr. Editor, that all this would be jjerfectly intelligible to me ; but that able- bodied men should either be sent out of the coun- try or condemned to the miseries of non-employ- ment appears to me to be a great political and social crime. I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. West. 4, Great Queen-street, Westminster, June 25. KINGSTON BAGPUIZE FARMERS' CLUB.— The quarterly meeting of this club took place at the Hind's Head, on Thursday the 6th ult. ; Wm. Aid- worth, Esq., chairman, and Mr. John Harris, vice. The business of the evening commenced by the hono- rary secretary reading the questions on the books, the first of which was on the breaking 'up of grass "lands, and to what extent it can be carried with benefit. It is generally considered by the club to be of great advan- tage to the public to break up all kinds of mferior grass lands ; but good pasture and grazing lands are as pro- ductive in their present state as in tillage, and some very inferior kinds of grass lands, such as very poor clays with very retentive clay subsoils, are considered not profitable to bring into cultivation. The next ques- tion that was laid before the club was on the Bill for the Collection of Agricultural Statistics in England and Wales. Mr. Aldworth addressed the meeting at some length on the subject, and several other members also gave their opinions. It was at last unanimously agreed upon by the club that such a measure would be of no benefit to the tenant farmer, and that it would be gene- rally disliked by the farmers of England. The club then unanimously [signed a petition to the House of Commons in favour of the Tenant-right Bill, after which the meeting separated. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF LIVE STOCK IN SCOTLAND. BY THOMAS SULLIVAN. It is admitted that in no department of the business of the agriculturist who practises the mixed system of husbandry, is he, generally speak- ing, less accurately informed, more liable to err, and more frequently at a loss how to proceed, than in the rearing and management of live stock. E.\-j)eriments innumerable have been instituted of late years to ascertain the comparative effects of certain manures in promoting the growth of crops ; and the extension of chemical knowledge among the more intelligent ])ortion of the agricultural community, has enabled them in most cases to draw correct conclusions from the results of such experiments ; but the principles of animal physiology are not so well nor so generally understood by our farmers and graziers. Experiments have indeed been conducted at different periods, and by several individuals, with a view of setting at rest some particulars in the breeding and management of stock, respecting which considerable diversity of opinion continues to exist ; but the circumstances affecting animal nutrition, either in promoting or retarding the accumulation of fat and muscle, are so various, and their individual influence so im- perfectly understood, that it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible in the present state of science, to arrive at any thing approaching a correct decision : the constitution of animals too, even of the same species, breed, and stock, differs so much that it is hardly possible to conduct experiments in the feed- ing of cattle under precisely similar circumstances. We have also a great many breeds of each species of stock, distinguished from one another not only by peculiarities in their shape or configuration, but also by different degrees of hardiness, and adapta- tion to particular circumstances of situation, food, and climate; hence different modes of management are expedient and justifiable; and almost every county i)ossesses some peculiarity in the rearing and treatment of live stock. There are, however, certain general principles of breeding, rearing, and feeding the animals of the farm, which are every- where applicable ; and undoubtedly there are some districts in which those principles are better under- stood, and more closely adhered to in practice than in others. There is hardly any district in which some useful peculiarity of practice does not exist, and which may beneficially be introduced to other locaUties ; and hence the utility of correct and de- tailed reports of the existing husbandry of different counties. It is from a belief that there are some par- ticulars connected with the management of stock north of the Tweed which might be usefully adopted in the southern counties of the island (as there are imdoubtedly many practices in England which could be most beneficially introduced into Scot- land), that I have undertaken the present subject. I shall first advert to the most general treatment of work-horses. In one of the best conducted farm establishments in the north of Scotland, when the sowing of the turnip crop is completed (which is commonly done by the 10th of June), the horses are turned afield to graze both day and night. There being no land to summer fallow, there is scarcely any work for the farm-horses after turnip sowing, until the carrying of the corn crops in harvest, except the necessary hoeings of the turnip and other drill crops, and the carting of hme. During the carrying of the grain crops, they (the horses) get a limited allowance of oats and cut vetches, but are turned out to graze overnight. After the beginning of October, all the horses on the farm are stabled at night, and generally about the 10th of that month (the labours of the harvest being then over ) the ploughing of the stubble land intended for green crops the ensuing season is commenced, their being rarely any wheat to prepare. The horses are then put on their regular winter's feeding, namely, hay and oats : the former is given ad libitum, and is considered to be ulti- mately as economical as oat straw, which is the kind of provender most generally given in Scotland to farm horses during winter, the hay being reserved for the period of active labour in spring and early summer. Each horse gets two feeds of oats (weigh- ing about 38llj per bushel) in the day, with an even- ing feed consisting of a boiled mixture of weak oats and Swedish turnips, which is highly relished by the animals. The raw oats are usually crushed by an apparatus for the purpose attached to the thresh- ing machine, whereby a considerable saving of grain is effected, four bushels of housed corn being considered to go as far, in the feeding of farm horses, as five bushels uncrushed. This mode of treatment is continued with but little deviation, until the cutting of clover is commenced, when the hay is withdra\vn. On the majority of farms, how- evei-, in the north of Scotland, hay is given only for about a month after harvest, in order to allow the oat straw to acquire a sufficient degree of dryness. 18 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. In the Lothians, where, on almost every farm, some extent of bare fallow has to be tilled during the period intervening between the completion of turnip sowing and the commencement of harvest operations, the work horses are now generally sup- plied with green clover and ryegrass in the stables or court yards, which is decidedly a better practice than that of turning the animals afield to graze during the midday rest. When we consider the many advantages accruing from this practice, we feel rather astonished that it is still but partially adopted throughout the kingdom. It is not difficult to conceive the fatigue endured by horses, from being compelled after a forenoon's hard work, to undergo the additional labour necessary in a pasture field, and that probably a bare one two : to satisfy their hunger, not to speak of the annoyance to which they are at the same time subjected from a host of insects ; the most troublesome of which are the horse-flij or cleg, and the botfly ; whereas when supplied in a cool airy stable or court yard \vith clover and rye grass or vetches, they soon and easily fill themselves, and having thus more time for rest, are fresh and vigorous for the remaining labours of the day. Another important advantage arising from the soiling of farm horses is, that their excrements are thereby preserved, by which a very considerable addition is made to the quantity of home manu- factured manure. The dung made in this way is also of the very best quality, the solid and liquid excre- ments of horses being quickly decomposed m the open air, their most valuable constituents are soon dissipated, and consequently the field droppings produce comparatively little benefit. This objection to grazing does not, however, apply with equal force to black cattle, their excrements being of a colder and less decomposable nature than those of horses ; still the value of cattle droppings is greatly dimin- ished by exposure to the sun and wind. But the soiling system is preferable to grazing, not only as aflfording the animals more time for rest and pro- ducing an increased quantity of excellent manure ; it also effects a considerable saving of grass or green forage. It is admitted that the cutting and cartage of the forage required by a large number of horses necessarily occasions some la- bour which would be avoided by grazing; but this is amply compensated by the improved condition of the horses, and the other advan- tages above referred as arising from soiling. When a sufficiency of litter is available on the farm, the work horses may with much advantage be kept in the stables over night, in which cases the evening feed of oats may properly be withheld even though the animals be at hard labour. It has been found in practice that a statute acre of a fair crop of clover and rye-grass suffices for twenty horses during a period of fifteen days, each horse getting as much as he can consume over night and during the midday rest. It is customary to give farm horses a boiled mix- ture of beans and light barley, at least two nights in the week : a few Swedish turnips, cooked or un- cooked, are also given every evening during win- ter. And it appears, as the result of experiments, that mixed food is highly beneficial and economi- cal in maintaining famn horses in good working condition. While on this subject, it may not be amiss to introduce here the results of an interest- ing experiment on the feeding of farm horses on steamed, or boiled, and raw food, which was con- ducted a few years ago by Mr. Charles Stevenson, Redside, East Lothian. Mr. Stevenson obtained the extra premium often guineas for instituting this experiment from the East Lothian Agricultural So- ciety, from whose Transactions the following results are compiled. Mr. Stevenson is of opinion that, in order to to maintain a work horse in proper condition, un- der ordinary farm labour, he will require each day about 15 lbs. of oats. This, for eleven months' feed- ing, amounts to about 5,010 lbs. of grain; and as it requires in each Lothian the whole labour of one horse for the due cultivation of about 25 Scotch acres (31 2 statute acres), he will thus consume an- nually about 200 lbs. of grain for every acre he works, with the addition of grass, straw, &c. The mode of feeding adopted in Mr. Stevenson's ex- periment was as follows : — Lot No. 1. — Three horses fed on bruised oats and Swedish turnips. Oats, 15 lbs.; turnips, 42 lbs. daily. 2. — Two horses fed on a mixture of bruised grain ; two parts oats, one part barley, and one part beans. Grain, 15 lbs. ; turnips, 42 lbs. daily. 3. — Three horses fed on the same mixture as the last ; two feeds given raw and one feed boiled; the boiled portion unbruised. The weight of grain and of turnips was the same as above. 4. — Two horses fed on the same mixture, wth 42 lbs. of turnips, and all boiled. Grain, 15 lbs., as before. 5. — Two horses fed on boiled Swedish turnips, with one feed of the bruised mixture. It was found that each horse consumed daily about 150 lbs. of tui'nips ; grain, 5 lbs. The experiment commenced in November, 1842, and was continued till the 3rd of August, 1843. The horses at the former period were all in low condition from having been previously employed in ploughing very stiff bean land. The following THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 19 taljle conlaiiiH tlie age, girth, and weii^ht of the animals, as ascertained at different periods — gene- rally on the Saturday evenings after unyoking. In the two columns dated 24th April are shown their weights before and after being fed and watered in the morning. Kinds of Food. 1. Oats, 1.5 lbs., with 42 lbs. of Swedes daily. . 2. Mixture of grain, all/ raw \ 3. Mixture of grain ; two r feeds raw, one feed J boiled [ 4. Mixture, as above, all f boiled \ 5. Boiled turnips, with one J feed of raw mixture \ No. 3^ 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 5 11 6 8 7 16 6 4 11th Nov. Girth nth Mar. GrthlWgt ft. I in. ft in sins, 1 6 4 U 3 11 5 10^ 511i 6 9 6 2 6 1 6 5 6 4 6 5 1 6 0 6 2 6 5 6 4 120 96 81 105 101 92 80 86 15th April. 22nd April, Girth. Wgt Girth. Wgt ft. in. 6 8 6 U 6 0 6 5h 6 3^ 6 5 5 11 6 1 5 101 6 1 lOU 6 3^ 98 6 2 stns. 116 95 L 76^ 1054 97^ 92 844 90 76 84 ft. in. 6 7 6 Oi 5 10^ 6 4| 6 3i 6 4 5 11 6 Oi 5 10^ 6 0^ 100 6 95J 6 stns. 115 9U 724 102 Weight on the morn- ing of the 24thApril stns.l stns. 116 93* 75 1034 95 914 84^ 874 89 754 81 93 92 774 83 99\ 99^ 1174 94 764 104 96 90 79 84 101 100^ 29th April. Grth. Wgt ft. in, 6 6 6 1 5 11 6 3f 6 32 6 3 6 0 5 114 5 10 6 01 stns. 115 93 74 100 97 914 874 874 73 824 97 92 The reason why the weight of the horses is not given in the column dated 11th November, in the above table, is, that at the commencement of the experiment Mr. Stevenson's weighing machine was not ready for use. The horses were, however, very care'uUy measured by girthing. The turnips being wholly consumed by the 1st of May, each of the horses got 4 lbs. of linseed cake as a substitute for roots. Professor Johnston, in his Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, states that 3 stones of oil- cake will nourish an animal as much as 10 stones of hay, or 5 stones of oats. To the hard-worked and high-fed horse, Mr. Stevenson found the use of oilcake to be very beneficial, it having a powerful effect in improving the state of the skin, which is generally a correct criterion of the state of the health. The following table shows the girth and weight of the horses at different periods, from the 6th of May to the 3rd of August, on the altered food: — Additional Food from 1st May. 1. Extra 5 lbs. of oats, with 4 lbs. of oU- cake as a substitute for turnips 2. Extra 5 lbs. of mixture; 4 lbs. of cakes/ in Ueu of turnips \ 3. Extra 5 lbs. of mixture ; 4 lbs. of cak ake .... "I 4. Extra 5 lbs. of raw mixture, with 4 lbs. of/ cakes \ 5. The turnips being consumed at this date, / the horses were fed as Nos. 6, 7, and 8 . . \ No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ]2 6th May. Grth. Wgt ft. in 6 6 6 1 5 104 6 2l 6 0 5 lOJ 6 0 6 1^ 6 2 stns. 1154 92 75 104 95 904 91 77 80 95 13th May. Grth. Wgt ft. in. 6 6 6 1 5 104 stns. 115 94 76 6 4 6 3^ 1034 96 6 3 93 6 0 884 5 101 6 04 75 84 6 14 6 2 96 97 20th May. [3rd August. On grass alone. Grth. ft. in. 6 6 6 U 5 11 6 34 6 3^ 6 04 5 104 6 04 6 14 6 1 Wgt stns. 114 954 77 101 96 90 75^ 85J Grth. ft. in, 6 7^ 6 2 6 4 5 6 2 5 9 6 2 Wgt. stns. 124 954 106 103i 98 76 84 96 6 3 104 954 6 4 103 Mr. Stevenson found that the horses fed on bruised oats were less energetic than the others; two of them performed less work ; they were dull in the yoke, and their coats looked unhealthy. This re- sult is, however, opposed to the general opinion anii, experience of Scottish farmers. It is consi- B 2 20 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. deved by many that no inconsiderable proportion of unbruised grain passes undigested through the intestines of the animals, and that this waste is pre- vented by crushing. There can be no doubt that the practice of crushing the oats for horses greatly facilitates its conversion into nourishment, and pre- pares it better for mixing with other feeding sub- stances. It is the opinion of some farmers that an annual saving of two quarters of corn per horse may be effected by this means. But to return to Mr. Stevenson's experiment. Those on raw mixed grain were the most energetic, and a variety in the food of the horses seemed to have a beneficial effect. Those on boiled food, whether turnips or otherwise, had a healthy, glossy coat ; their perspiration did not seem more abun- dant than usual, with the exception, perhaps, of those fed on boiled turnips. Those on the latter food consumed more straw, but scarcely ever tasted water. With regard to the health of the animals, there was little to indicate which mode of feeding was best in this respect, with the exception that two (Nos. 8 and 10) had twice an attack of spasmo- dic colic, the cause of which was traced to their boiled food having become sour before being used ; but they were constitutionally liable to this com- plaint. In estimating the comparative expense of the different modes of feeding adopted in this experi- ment, the Swedish turnips are calculated at eiglit shillings per ton, and the different grains at the following prices ; — Oats, 42 lbs. per bushel, at 17s. 6d. per qr. Barley, 54 lbs. per do., at 19s. 6d. „ Beans, 64 lbs. per do., at 28s. Od. „ Expense of bruising ...., 6d. „ Ditto of boiUng, ^d. per feed of 5 lbs. We have, therefore — Lotl. — Nine months' keep on bruised £ s. d. oats, at 1 5 lbs. per day 10 19 3f Turnips, 42 lbs. per day 2 11 OJ £13 10 4 Lot 2. — Nine months keep on the mix- ture (also bruised), composed of two parts of oats, one part barley, and one beans, amounting to 15 lbs. per day 8 17 5} Turnips, 42 lbs. per day , 2 11 Oj £11 8 54 Lot 3. — Nine months' keep on the above mixture, two feeds being raw and one feed boiled 9 7 6i Turnips, 42 lbs. per day 2 11 0\ Lot 4. — Nine months' keep on the above mixture, all boiled ; the tur- nips (42 lbs. daily) being boiled along with the grain £12 18 9 Lot 5. — Nine months' keep on boiled turnips, 150 lbs. per day 8 9 0 One feed, 5 lbs. of the bruised mix- ture 2 19 1| £11 8 If! £11 18 6^ With reference to the comparative expense of keep, it will be seen that the results of this experi- ment are in favour of boiled turnips, with one feed of bruised grain. Having thus given a brief description of the usual modes of feeding farm horses throughout the year, I proceed in the next place to advert to the rearing and management of black cattle, and shall begin by giving an accovmt of the system pursued on a well conducted farm in Aberdeen- shire, where the rearing and feeding of stock con- stitute a principal part of the business of the agri- culturist. The farm referred to contains about 375 acres, cultivated in accordance with the six-course rota- tion of cropping ; and, as the first j'ear's grass is most generally depastured instead of being con- verted into hay, about 1872 acres are annually in pasturage. About 60 acres are every year under turnip crop. About 40 milch cows are constantly kept on the farm, and about an equal number of calves are annually reared. Between thirty and forty head of oxen (according to the bulk of the turnip crop) are every year fattened off for the butcher ; besides from ten to fifteen half-fat beasts which are usually bought in to consume part of the summer's grass, and are again disposed of early in autumn. Sheep constitute no part of the regular stocking of this farm ; a considerable num- ber of the black-faced breed are, however, annually brought down from the hilly districts to eat up the old grass or " foggage," as it is called, at a small charge a-head per week. These commonly remain on the farm from the middle of November to the middle or end of March. Those hardy natives of the hills thrive remarkably during wnter on the old grass of the lowland farms, where they] are sheltered from the stormy blasts and drifting snow which are so frequently experienced in that part of the country ; and though getting no turnips, many of them are sold off in early spring in high condi- tion and at good prices, their mutton being, as is well known, of superior quality. Several farmers get a portion of their turnip crop consumed on the ground by sheep purchased for the purpose by dealers and town butchers. Commonly one-half THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 21 of the turnips are pulled, and removed to the steadinfif, for the use of the cattle, previous to put- ting on the sheep, and the farmer furnishes hay or straw, according to agreement. Turnips to be eaten off by sheep are sold at from ^"4 to £6 per acre. This is the most general practice in the low j)arts of the county of Aberdeen, few or no sheep being kept by the farmers themselves. The native cattle are of two kinds : the polled (or hornless), and the horned. The former is greatly superior to the other in size, symmetry, and almost every other good quality, and is there- fore preferred in the low parts of the county. The prevaihng and, as some contend, the only genuine colour of the pure improved polled Aberdeenshire cattle is black ; while the horned are usually red or brindled. The latter being much the hardier are met with chiefly in the upland districts. Since the introduction of turnip husbandry vast improve- ment has taken place in the character of the stock of this locality ; and the utmost attention has for some years past been devoted to their rearing, with the view of producing the desirable tendency of arriving early at maturity. This object has, to a great extent, been accomplished. The polled Aber- deenshire breed is now much esteemed in aU parts of Scotland, and is pecuharly adapted to the climate and pasturage of the northern counties. The im- proved stock are small in the bone, long in the body, straight in the back, and deep and heavy in the fore quarters : they have a soft glossy skin, with short hair ; are easily fed ; arrive early at ma- turity ; and attain a large size. The cows yield a considerable quantity of milk, which is of rich quality. The fattened bullocks very generally fetch the top price in Smithfield market. The establishment of steam communication be- tween Aberdeen and London has imparted a won- derful impetus to the rearing and feeding of live stock, and, indeed, to all other branches of agri- culture in the former locality. The exports of cattle have been steadily on the increase for some years past, as will be seen by the subjoined state- ment of the numbei's that were shipped at the port of Aberdeen during each of the six years from 1840 to 1845 inclusive : — 6,422 6,608 9,543 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 8,642 10,591 11,000 The short-horn breed has recently been intro- duced, and is, upon the whole, gaining ground in the low and well-cultivated grounds ; but the cli- mate and pasturage of Aberdeenshire are not con- sidered to be generally well adapted for the profit- able rearing of this comparatively delicate descrip- tion of stock ; and in the opinion of many intelligent and unprejudiced agriculturists, the improved native cattle are more likely in the majority of seasons to remunerate the breeder. Several farmers, however, possess fine specimens of that admirable breed. The first cross between an Aberdeenshire cow and a short-horn bull is commonly accounted the most valuable animal either for the home or the London market. As already mentioned, about forty calves are annually reared on the farm to which I have ad- verted ; thirty of these are commonly fed from the pail, the remainder being allowed to suck their dams. The most desirable period for calving is during the months of February and March : if cows calve earlier than the 1st of February, they may become almost dry before the grass affords a good pasturage ; and calves dropped after the 1 st of April are always inferior to the rest of the lot. Calves from superior parents of the shorthorn breed are usually allowed to suck their dams : the calves intended to be fed from the pail are placed, shortly after being dropped, amongst straw, in an apartment appropriated to the purpose adjoining the cows' byre. The calves' house, it may be proper to observe, is thirty-one feet in length by eighteen inches in width, and is open to the roof, with a view to ensure its adequate ventilation. The side walls are twelve feet in height, and the roof is furnished with " ventilators" to permit the escape of vitiated air from the interior. Along the middle of the floor in the longitudinal direction is placed a row of six cribs, each four feet square, in which the calves are deposited amongst clean straw on being removed from their respective dams. These cribs are formed of wooden posts and rails, and are four feet in height. The floor of this apartment is paved with small round stones imbedded in sand, and provided with gratings and underground drains for conveying the urine to the liquid manure-tank. Along the front and back side-walls are arranged a number of small stalls, in which the calves are tied up by the neck, on being removed from the cribs, after they are three or four weeks old. They are three-and-a-half feet in width, and are furnished with a low rack for hay and grass, and a manger for sliced turnips. An apartment thus fitted up with cribs and small stalls, and sufficiently lighted and ventilated, obviously possesses a great advan- tage over the loose boxes and outhouses in which calves are too frequently placed before weaning. During the first week after birth the calves that get their milk from the pail are allowed a Scotch pint-and-a-half (about 5| pints English) of milk fresh from the cow, each per day, given at three meals. During the second week they get from two to three Scotch pints a-day, after which age they generally are allowed as much as they are willing to take, there being then little risk of their drink- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ing to an injurious excess; and it is deemed a mistaken economy to stint young calves in their food. The quaulity they are able to take at this jjeriod cannot be jirecisely stated, as calves difter much in this respect : when about a month or five weeks old, they get a little linseed, oil-cake, or oat - meal porridge, as an auxihary to their milk. Lin- seed is found to be highly beneficial in the feeding and rearing of calves ; but it is not used for this purpose nearly to the extent which its well known nutritive properties would warrant. When used it is boiled into jelly and well commingled with milk just before giving it to the calves. Oil-cake is more extensively employed for this purpose : imme- diately before using this substance it is reduced to a powdery state like meal : the proper proportion is put into the vessel containing the milk, and both are frequently stirred while the calf is occupied in consuming the mixture. The porridge given to calves consists of oatmeal and water, thoroughly boiled together and liberally salted. After attain- ing the age of five or six weeks, the calves are sup- plied with a little hay and sliced Swedish turnips, which they soon learn to make use of. The male calves are generally castrated when between three and four weeks old. The heifer or quey calves, as they are designated in Scotland, are but rarely spayed in this part of the country, though the practice is deemed commendable in some other stock districts. So soon as the weather becomes siifliiciently mild, and the grass affords a good hiie, the calves are turned into a pasture field contiguous to the farm buildings, for a few hours every day. They require to be watched for some time after being first put out, as they are apt to over-exert them- selves in running and frisking about, and when fatigued with the exercise, to lie down upon the grass, which not unfrequently proves injurious to their health. After weaning (which commonly takes place when they are between four and five months old, the Aberdeenshire calves being weaned at an earlier age than the shorthorn), they are not allowed to remain in the field over night, but are driven into a shed provided with litter. The calves that have been permitted to suck their dams are seldom weaned until the cows are brought in from the fields in autumn. It has been already mentioned that the calves, some time previous to being weaned, are put out during the day to a small field of good grass ad- jacent to the steading, until the herbage begins to fail and the weather to become chilly towards the middle or end of October, when they are brought in for the winter, and put into court-yards with attached covered t^heds, to which they may retire I for shelter. The yards and sheds are kept always I well bedded with straw, and each yard is furnished with one or two racks for containing the oat straw used as fodder. The sheds have racks attached to walls in the interior for holding straw, and low troughs for sliced turnips. There is also a water- trough, to which the young animals have free access, and which is supplied by means of a pipe leading from a copious spring in the vicinity of the steading. The calves get daily, at three meals, as much turnips as they are willing to consume, which, with abundance of good oat straw and chaff con- stitute their food during the winter months. The proper treatment of young stock is justly regarded as a matter of primary importance, it being well known from experience that large and easily fat- tened cattle can be had only by bestowing adequate attention to their rearing, and supplying them at all times with abundance of nourishing food, par- ticularly during the first winter. No greater error can, in fact, be committed in the management of live stock than to stint them in their food while young and growing. Generally about the beginning, but often not until the middle of May, the growth of gi'ass is so far advanced as to afford sufficient food for the young stock, which are then removed from the yards to the fields, where they remain vintil the pasture begins to fail and the weather to become cold towards the end of October. The shorthorn cattle possessing, in a greater degree than any other breed, the invaluable property of arriving early at maturity, are generally put up to fatten the second mnter, so as to be ready for the butcher by the ensuing spring, being then two- year-olds ; but in most cases the native stock, as well as the crosses, require and get another winter's feeding before being disposed of. Accordingly, when the young cattle are taken from the grass in October, the former are tied uj) in the feeding-houses, and the latter are put into the yards as before, in which they are supphed with abundance of good oat straw, and as much turnips three times a day as they can consume. When the herbage in the pasture fields is suflfii- ciently advanced by the month of May, the stock, now designated two-year-old slots or steers, are again turned out to graze, and are kept at grass until the usual period in autumn for putting them up to feed. They are then tied up by the neck in the feeding-houses, and fattened oflf as quickly as possible for the butcher. Turnips, of course, form the staple article of food for fattening cattle ; and they are given three times a-day in the largest quantity in which the animals can consume them. The white varieties of turnips are used first, both because they come earliest to maturity, and are ill- fitted to withstand the severity of the winter. The THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 23 ycllou' Aberiicen and its allies come next into use ; and these are the sorts on which the chief depen- dence is placed. Tiie fc>v S.vedes that are culti- vated are reserved lor s[)ring use, on account of their valualjle property of retaining;- much of their nutritive juices till au advanced i)eriod. Tiiuse farmers who adopt the useful practice of storing their Swedish turnips about the beginning of the year, have them in good condition up to the begin- ning or middle of June ; but generally oil-cake and potatoes are given to fattening stock at this period as auxiliaries to turnips. It is proper to add that the turnip-bulbs are seldom deprived of their leaves before giving them to the cattle ; nei- ther are they often sliced or cut, except for calves. Oat-straw is given, ad libitum, as provender, and the utmost care is taken to keep the animals clean and comfortable, both by supplpng them at all times with plenty of dry litter, and employing the currycomb, when necessary. Cleanliness and a pure atmosphere are as essential as food for main- taining animals in a healthy condition, though the former requisites are too frequently disregarded in practice. One man is allowed for pulling and cleaning turnips for, and feeding and otherwise attending to, from twenty to thirty head of cattle, stall-fed in the manner just described. Throughout the north of Scotland generally, house or stall feeding is almost exclusively prac- tised. This, however, is a part of the management of hve stock, in reference to which there exists much diversity of opinion ; it being maintained by many inteUigent agriculturists and stockowners that cattle fatten quicker, or at least return more for the food consumed, and are more comfortable and healthy, in small court-yards with attached sheds, than if tied up by the neck in houses, which in very many instances are but ill-ventilated and inadequate in size to the number of animals con- fined in them. The practice of fattening cattle in yards, or hammels, as they are sometimes desig- nated, has been for some years past established in the Lothians, Berwickshire, and others of the southern Scotch counties ; stall-feeding being now almost entirely abandoned. ¥/e shall hereafter have occasion to show that the results of some ex- periments which were conducted expressly with the view of testing the comparative merits of house and shed-feeding, have been favourable to the hitter practice. It is, however, to be observed that conclusions must be very cautioasly diawn fio:u even the most carefully-conducted experiments in fattening live stock, inasmuch as the results are more or less liable to be affected by a variety of circumstances, the precipe influence of which it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to estimate, or make due allowance for. There thus exists mucb difference of opinion and practice, in refer- ence to the feeding of stock, between the farmers of the northern and those of the southern Scotch counties, and to which I consider it of some im- portance to direct attention. The farmers, gene- rally speaking, south of the Forth, maintain that when the yards and sheds are of small size, capable of accommodating only two or, at the most, three animals, open to the south, so as to have the ad- vantage of the solar rays in winter, and separated by partition-walls of such height as to prevent the inmates of adjoining courts seeing or disturbing each other, this method is more conducive to the health and comfort of the cattle, and ultimately more profitable to the farmer, than house-feeding, particularly in localities where straw is plentiful. As the hammels require a considerable quantity of litter to keep them always dry and clean, this method is well adapted for converting that sub- stance into dung. It is also found that animals fattened in yards are, from the exercise they are at liberty to take, more capable of travelling to a distance than those that had been tied up in stalls during the feeding season. This difference of opinion and practice may, however, in a great degree be accounted for by the dissimilarity of chm^.t^ to which the northern and southern districts are respectively exposed. A certain degree of warmth is essential to the speedy accumulation of fat and muscle with ordinary feeding; heat being to some extent an equivalent for food. The winters are miich colder in the north than in the south, and hence the necessity of more shelter in the former than in the latter quarter : besides, straw is not so plentiful north as it is south of the Forth, owing to a less extent of land being appropriated to the production of grain ; consequently a smaller quantity of that substance is available for the purpose of litter. (To he continued.) 34 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. COURSE OF LECTURES ON BOTANY IN REFERENCE TO AGRICULTURE. BY CHARLES JOHNSON, ESQ., rROFESSOR OF BOTANY AT GUY's HOSPITAL, &C. &C. AT MESSRS. NESBITS' AGRICULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC TRAINING SCHOOL, KENNINGTON LANE, LAMBETH, NEAR LONDON. Lecture III. The operations l)y which vegetable life and deve- lopment or growth are maintained, however plau- sibly set forth by physiologists, and perhaps cor- rectly SO in the aggregate, are still, in our present state of knowledge, for the most part incapable of positive demonstration. Their combined effects are seen in the enlargement of parts previously formed and the production of new ones. The leaf opens from the bud, attains its destined size, changes its hue, and falls ; the fruit ripens and dis- charges its seed ; the seed grows into a plant, and the same processes ai'e renewed from year to year ; but the organs that minister to them are so minute, their mutual action so complicated, that, although the external and grosser machinery of life are suffi- ciently evident, the springs that work it are in- volved in mystery. The microscope is too limited in its application to effect much towards the eluci- dation of the phenomena of life. The child breaks his toy to find out the source of the music which his act annihilates ; and in like manner the philo- sopher tears up the organic tissue, or at best deranges its functions, that he may apply his glasses in the vain effort to detect the origin of that which is no longer there : still something is gained by both. The child has perhaps discovered a string that produces a sound when struck, and a little wheel with spokes that might have struck it ; while the philosopher has discerned a few facts of which he was previously ignorant; and, in the end, each of them " garring odds and evens meet," and " lay- ing that and that th'gither," find themselves a degree wiser than before. The important fact of the circulation of the blood was discovered and established by a similar series of deductions ; and although its passage from the arteries into the veins would be perhaps vainly sought by inspection of the minute extremities of those of the higher animals, in the translucent tail of a stickleback, or the membranous foot of the frog, the diverging and returning currents are beautifully and obviously displayed. So in plants, although the movements of the sap and other juices cannot be traced in the woody tubes of the higher and more elaborately constructed orders, yet the microscope discovers in tlie cells of the minute and delicate hairs that grow from their surface, and in those of the leaves and stems of certain aquatic vegetables, comparatively very low in the scale of being, fluids in constant motion, which, with their accompanying phenomena, throw much light upon the process of increase in the tissue to which they belong. Fig. 1. In figure 1 is represented the termination of one of the slender hair-like aquatic plants, called " con- fervas;" which consist of little transparent cells, more or less elongated, and joined end to end like a string of beads. In each of these cells the micro- scope discovers currents of fluid, containing minute particles, moving in the direction of the dotted lines, and apparently circulating from one extremity of the cell to the other, and returning on the opposite side. In the centre, or sometimes toward one of the ends of the cell, is a small cluster of particles, from and towards which currents pass in a radiating manner, rendering the combined movements very complicated. The little central mass, however, evidently greatly influences the rotation of the fluid, and the result is a gradual thickening of the mem- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. brane composing the wall of the cell, and likewise an eventual separation of the mass itself, either laterally or lonofitudinally, into two ; each becoming a sei)arate centre of motion. The currents thus disturbed, the inner coat of the cell begins to con- tract between them, as exhibited in the left hand figure ; dividing it into two cavities, which are afterwards more or less extended by the force of their respective currents. Although no apparent connection exists be- tween the cavities of the contiguous cells, careful and repeated observation shews that the move- ments of the fluids in each influence those of their neighbours ; and that a reciprocal action is maintained throughout the whole living fabric. The uniformity of direction preserved by the cur- rents m difterent cells is in accordance with this latter circumstance, and is beautifully exemplified in the stems and whorled branchlets of the " cha- racea^" another tribe of aquatic plants, a grade or two higher in the scale of vegetable organization than the " confervae." Fig. 2. Figure 2 represents a portion of " nitella flexilis," greatly magnified, the arrows marking tlie course of the internal currents (more distinctly shown in the further magnified view on the right) of the two terminating cells of one of the branchlets ; from in- spection of which it will be understood how a com- plete rotation of the fluid takes place in each cell, passing upwards on one side and returning on the other, and that a similarity of movement obtains throughout each whorl of branchlets ; the ascend- ing current being towards the outside of the plant, the descending towards the inner or axial side of the whorl. These motions are more or less rapid, according to the season or the temperature under which the examination is made. In the v/inter time they are scarcely observable. In what degree the flow of the sap in the higher orders may resemble these curious phenomena, we have not at present the means of ascertaining. The difterent condition of the woody tubes which con- tain and conduct it, as compared with that of the cells we have examined, may involve considerable diversity of organic action ; and it would be absurd to endeavour to deduce any general conclusions from so very partial an acquaintance with a few isolated facts : the more important and ultimate phenomena of vegetable physiology are yet as much a mystery to human speculation as is the source of life itself. The relative distribution of the minute elemen- tary organs described in our last lecture varies in different plants, and, as we shall see hereafter, occasions organic distinctions of high importance to the practical as well as to the merely theoretical student. But under whatever arrangement of the vital channels and recesses the existence and deve- lopment of the vegetable are maintained, the general process is probably not very dissimilar between the highest and the lowest ; the most complicated and the simplest of their structures being rather modi- fied than changed for the required adajjiation. The diflferences between the foodful and the ])oison- ous, in all their degrees of quantity and intensity, are produced by causes which are only secondary or subsidiary to those that regulate the action of the main-springs of vegetable life. In all the higher orders of plants the absorption of nutriment by the root is but a small, however necessary, portion of a complicated process, involving a vast amount of vital and chemical action ; whose conjoined effects are witnessed in the production of those secretions that give them character or property and value in the domestic economy of man. The first elabora- tion of the absorbed nutriment changes it into sap— a fluid possessing nearly the same general characters in all plants, though unquestionably the medium from which their most diversified products are secreted by subsequent modification of its ori- ginal component principles and (as it would appear in some instances at least) the addition of others. Leaving, however, these latter, and the sources of their derivation, to be discussed at a future period, we will now examine the structure through which the sap is conveyed, and the adaptation of the external organs traversed by its channels to the fulfilment of the changes which it is destined to undergo. The popular notion respecting the functions of the root arc very incorrect, it being generally re- garded as the sole medium through which nourish- ment is conveyed to the plant; while, so far from such being the case, almost every other part pre- sents more or less of an absorbing surface : not perhaps in constant or uniform action, but capable 20 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. of £0 adapting itself under peculiar circunistances. Some plants, especially those of slow growth and succulent habit, will live and increase for long and indefinite periods when deprived of root, and apart from the earth in which they naturally vegetate. A socotrine aloe has been suspended in a chamber of my dwelling-house for upwards of seven years, and during that time has increased greatly in size, weight, and number of leaves ; of which latter organs three or four are developed every year. It is still growing, and as healthy as one of the same kind planted in a ]iot and kept in a greenhouse, although its sole source of nutriment must be absorption from the surrounding air through the medium of its leaves. This is no isolated case, but one among many, of a plant growing without roots or percep- tible cause of development, simply cited because it has been constantly under my own observation. From it we may imderstand how possible it is that a vegetable rooted in the soil may still derive much of its subsistence from a different source ; nay, that the root may rather even be necessary to secure it a fixed habitat than for its support. The mode in which the root acts where its assi- milating functions are required, and the laws of its development, are circumstances in general little ap- preciated by those whose daily pursuits are inti- mately connected v/ith this part of the vegetable economy. The capability of imbibing from the soil seems to be chiefly confined to the extreme ends of the fibres, and hence arises the drooping of plants when they are shifted from one spot to another. How carefully soever the transplantation may be made, the absorbing extremities are broken off in consequence of their adhesion to the soil; or, otherwise, exposure to the dry atmosphere contracts their tender tissue, and renders it for a time, even when replaced in the moist earth, incapable of drawing the necessary supplies. A section or slice of one of the fibres above alluded to, viev/ed under the microscope, shows it to consist of a coating of very lax and distended cellular tissue, including a central column of woody tubes and ducts, the outer portion of the tissue having its cells generally much more compressed than those of the interior, somewhat in the man- ner represented in one of the figures of cellular tissue pourtrayed in the last lecture ; but the ex- treme points of the root-fibres never exhibit such contraction of the external vesicles, which appears to take place gradually, as the result of age and the occasional defalcation of moisture in the soil; to compensate for which change the fibres are con- tinually extending in length during the growth of the plant, and thus perpetually present a newly- formed surface of cellular tissue for the absorption of the stimulating and necessary moisture. These extremities are generally thicker tlian the i>alt of the fiijre immediately^ above them; and, being of a soft, sponge-like texture on the outside, have re- ceived the name of " spongioles." It is by not attending to the preservation of the spongioles, or rather from the total ignorance of ma.ny practical gardeners and foresters in regard to their existence, that so many trees and shrubs are killed by being transplanted. The spongiole is the growing point as weU as the organ of absorption ; and, owing to the little care taken in removing the plant, or rather in consequence of the utter carelessness with which it is wrenched from the imperfectly-loosened soil, by far the greater number of these little, but important, parts are broken off and left in the ground. Hence probably, nay, we might say cer- tainly, the reason why large trees cannot be success- fully transplanted. Growing vigorously, such a tree quickly absorbs all the nutritive matter from the soil in its immediate vicinity, and extends its roots from time to time deeper or more widely dis- tant to seek the required supply elsewhere, until the growing points of their intricate ramifications are too far removed from the site of its trunk to be preserved during the process of shifting. Ob- vious, however, as are the absorbent functions of the root, as exemplified by these phenomena, no one who has cl<)sely studied the varied structure and physiology of vegetables, and marked the di- versified habits and modes of growth that often characterize individuals belonging even to the same natural family, will maintain the popular opinion of its being the universal source of aliment. Among those plants whose vital action cannot be sup- ported without it, even but for a short period, there are various grades in the essentiality of its action as an absorbent organ. This is especially evinced by the difl'erent situations in which they vegetate, or are capable of vegetating. It is not intended by any of the foregoing re- marks to deny the important agency of the organ under consideration, but only to direct attention to the fact that such agency may be suspended under pecuhar circumstances in certain plants; which, still continuing to live and grow, prove that other organs of assimilation exist, and, existing, are more or less concerned in the maintenance of vegetable life. The most essential of these latter are the leaves, of which only a very small number among the higher orders of plants are destitute ; and even these tend by their peculiarity of habit to throw a valuable light on their physiological influence. In regard to the actual functions of the leaves, opinion has been much divided, but they are now very generally considered to be the lungs or breath- ing organs of the plant ; at the same time it is pro- bable that this function is associated with some THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 27 others, either uniformly acting or dejiendent on the influence of externrd circumstances, as the presence or absence of solar light, the condition or changes of the atmosphere, &c. ; and, likewise, that in many instances no inconsiderable proportion of substance is conveyed into the growing plant through their medium. The anatomical structure of a leaf, and the con- nection which exists between it and the vessels or veins of the wood and inner surface of the bark, are all calculated to maintain the important function of respiration ; a function upon which seem immarily to depend those modifications of the sap that are essential to the production of the secretions that give so great a diversity of character to different vegetables, and render them available to the various purposes of human economy. Considerable analogy^ too, unquestionably exists between the breathing apparatus of plants and animals. In the higher orders of the latter the lungs are almost wholly composed of the ramifications of the bronchial tubes or branchings of the wind-pipe, and two sets of blood vessels, called the pulmonary veins and arteries, the ultimate divisions of the three being so minute and intricately blended as almost to baflle the researches of the anatomist, even though assisted by the highest powers of the microsco])e. The delicate extremities of the air-tubes terminate each in a httle rounded cell, over the walls of which branch the almost inconceivably minute extremities of the arteries and veins ; the blood circulating in which is thus brought into close contact with the air drawn into the lungs at each inspiration. It would be foreign to our subject to enter into description or discussion of the physiological phe- nomena connected with this function in the animal; but it is one apparently essential to all organic beings, however it may be modified in their several grades to accord with their greater or lesser com- plexity of structure and their diversified habits and modes of existence. Let us now examine the leaves, and endeavour to ascertain how far the re- ceived opinions concerning their respiratory func- tions are capable of being substantiated by fact. Viewed apart from the plant on which it grows, the leaf is a very curious and complex structure. A frame of fibre branching from the top of its 8talk, or, where the stalk is wanting, from the base of the leaf itself, forming a kind of net-work, the interstices of which are fitted up with a green, soft substance, the whole enclosed within a thin skin or membrane, is all perhaps that the unassisted eye is capable of detecting ; but the fibrous frame-work, when magnified, is discovered to consist of the woody and spiral tubes already described, com- pactly bound together at the lower part, and gra- dually separating from each other in the fonn of veins as they extend towards the margins and ex- tremity. The green, pulpy matter occupying the intervals between their ramifications consists of cellular tissue, filled with green particles, its little cells not contiguous throughout, but leaving small ojien spaces here and there ; while the skin-like covering of the leaf (epidermis) consists of a layer of small compressed cells, apparently empty or only filled wth air, colourless and transparent, so as to admit of the coloured veins and green tissue of the interior being visible through them. Tlie skin or epidermis varies in texture in the leaves of different plants ; as does, likewise, frequently that of the upper and under surfaces of the same leaf. The size and arrangement of the cellules of which it is composed are often very irregular. It possesses considerable rigidity and toughness in some plants, and in all serves to protect the more delicate tissue beneath from external injury. In the greater num- ber of vegetables its continuity is interrupted by pores or openings, technically denominated " sto- mata;" which occur in some cases only on the under surface of the leaf, in others on both sides, and are more or less numerous. Thus, in the leaf of the common lilac, which has none on the upper face, 160,000 have been counted on one square inch of the lower ; while in that of the carnation, within the same space, there are 38,500 on each side. The stomates are not mere perforations in the epidermis, but spaces, generally of an oval form, in the middle of which is a slit that opens or closes according to the condition of the atmosphere, or other circumstances affecting the state of the grow- ing plant. The oval border consists, in most in- stances, of two oblong parallel cells, capable of con- ti'acting, so as to become somewhat kidney-shaped, thus opening the stomata ; which, so long as they remain straight, are closed. Fig. 3 28 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Figure 3 represents a portion of the cuticle of the elk's-horn fern {acrostichum alcicorne) highly mag- nified, with several of its stomata; and at 6 is a vertical section of one of them, shewing the vacant spaces into which it opens in the substance of the leaf. Between these stomates and the spiracles or breathing-pores of some of the lower orders of animals considerable resemblance unquestionably exists ; and numerous experiments (of which our space will not admit any detail) have confirmed the opinions entertained by physiologists concerning their corresponding functions. It m:iy be difficult for one who has no further acquaintance with the act of respiration than that derived from his own experience, or from the casual observation of the mode in which it is per- formed in the few animals of the higher grade with which he is accustomed to associate more or less in the ordinary occupations of his existence, to con- ceive that such an act can take place otherwise than through the medium of mouth and nostrils ; but internal structure is as variable as external form, and involves conditions of life far more diversified than is generally understood. The earth-worm, the spider, the bee, and the butterfly are equally dependent upon an alternate inhalation and expira- tion of the air they move in, as are the man, the quadruped, and the bird ; but the process is main- tained in a very different manner. The mouth in the f(irmer is the vehicle through which food is conveyed into the stomach ; but they have no nostrils, and bi'eathing takes place through channels in distant parts of the body. Thus, in the insect, a line of pores is observable on each side of the body, varying in numbei-, but frequently as many as eighteen or twenty, and in certain kinds even many more. They are very evident to the naked eye in many of the larger caterpillars, but in the smaller insects require the assistance of a good magnifying glass or microscope to discover them. Their position is shown on one of the common cabbage-catterpillars in figure 4. A feather, or a camel's-hair pencil, dipped in oil, and drawn over these two lines of spiracles or pores, kills the insect by suffocation ; and if a leaf be rubbed over with oil or varnish, so as to close its stomates, it dies. Hence, indeed, one principal cause why certain plants will not flourish under the shade of trees, while others are not affected by it. In almost all of the latter class that I have examined, the stomates are either wholly wanting on the upper surface of the leaf, or they are comparatively very few in number. Where the stomates are numerous on the upper side, they may become choked by the heavy dripping from the leaves of the tree in wet weather ; and, evaporation being checked by its shade, a similar effect is liable to be produced to that arising from the coat of oil or varnish ; and I am inclined to believe that this operates as injuriously, or even more so than the obstruction of light, and other causes to which the evil is more generally attri- buted. To enable you to appreciate to the desired ex- tent the analogy existing between the respiration of vegetables and animals, a further examination of the structure of the leaf will be necessary. By maceration, or soaking in water for a few weeks, the decomposition of the softer, cellular portion of the leaf is effected, the skin readily separates, and the pulpy portion occupying the interstices of the veins may be removed by careful washing, leaving the latter entire ; they being, in consequence of the greater strength and rigidity of their texture, less liable to decay than the other parts. In this man- ner the beautiful preparations commonly called the skeletons of leaves are obtained; and if the macera- tion be continued a little longer, the net-work of veins (at first sight apparently simple or consisting of a single series only) divides into two, precisely corresponding with each other, as shown in figure 5. Fig. 5. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 29 This curious structure is perhaps more readily ascertainable in the leaf of the common holly than in any other well-known plant, the two sets of veins heing less firmly attached than in leaves of thinner substance ; but examples of their partial separation may be met with in most damp woods in the spring, among the strata of dead and decaying leaves that then cover the ground. Now, by cutting the stalk of any leaf transversely and examining the section with a magnifying glass, you may discern the origin of these veins in two or more masses of fibre ; and by carefully cutting through the leaf- stalk, and the stem or branch on which it grows, lengthwise, you may, with the assistance of your glass, trace the connection of one portion of the fibre, namely, that which branches out into the upper net-work of veins, with the woody sheath that encompasses the pith : the other portion, the origin of the lower net- work, passes downward into the " liber" or inner substance of the bark. This disposition is precisely accordant with the supposed functions of the leaf as an organ of respi- ration, llie sap rises through the woody tubes that surround the pith, forming what is technically called the medullary sheath ; and these tubes, branching out into the delicate veins of the ujjper surface of the leaf, expose it to the action of the air admitted through the medium of the stomates into the in- ternal cavities before described. Whatever may be the nature of this action, which is probably che- mical, the properties of the sap are altogether changed by it. From a fluid of comparatively simple character it becomes the depositary, in dif- ferent vegetables, of various proximate principles, of the most complex combinations and energetic qualities ; all, indeed, that is hurtful as poison, use- ful as medicine, valuable in the arts, applicable as food, or otherwise capable of being rendered sub- servient to human economy, is more or less depen- dent upon this elaboration of the sap. There are differences of opinion, as previously stated, as to the mode of vital action and the ultimate organization by which these results are effected. Even the theory of vegetable respiration, once con- _ sidered to be established beyond the possibiUty of doubt, and supported by numberless experiments apparently the most conclusive, is no longer a settled point in physiology. Some very nice dis- tinctions have been made between the process in question and that of digestion, to which the leaves are likewise subsen'ient; but neither of these opera- tions are sufficiently obvious in the experiments hitherto performed on growing plants to enable us to separate them. By whatever name we designate the source of these modifications of the vegetable juices, and whether we regard it as a simple or a binary process, it is accompanied by a large amount of exhalation. A common sunflower, three feet high, is found to exhale one pound and a quarter of fluid, chiefly water, every day ; and the common cabbage nearly as much. This exhalation is ascer- tained to be chiefly through the mediun\ of the leaves; and, considering their corresponding func- tions, is analogous to the watery exhalation that accompanies the action of the lungs in animals. That the stomata are concerned in the disposal of this superfluous moisture seems to be very evident, as in succulent plants, and others growing in situa- tions subject to long-continued drovight, these openings are generally very sparingly distributed ; while they are most numerous in those that derive large supplies of water from the soil in which they naturally vegetate. Led away by this fact, and contemplating the vast quantity of water exhaled by plants possessing numerous stomata, some physio- logists of the present day seem inclined to deny the instrumentality of the latter in the admission of air to the interior substance of the leaf ; regarding them only as organs of excretion, like the pores of the animal skin. The reciprocal action of the spiral vessels is no less a subject of dispute than that of the stomata, and on a similar one-sided view of their struiture and situation ; although no authenticated instances can be adduced of their containing, at any period after their first development in the tissue of the plant, anything but air ; and they are for the nost part only traceable in those portions upon which these curiously adapted openings exist — so uncertain is our actual knowledge of the phenomena of vegetable growth, and of the vital functions which they indi- cate ! In fact, there is scarcely any branch of phy- sical science so little understood as that of vegetable physiology. By examining the interior of the hun'an body after death, and comparing the relative situations of its various organs with the functions ai id sensa- tions of the living, we are enabled to decii le with a tolerable degree of certainty upon their re:\l agency in the system ; and, on dissecting other animals and finding organs in similar situations and bearing similar relations to each other with those of the human body, we are justified in drawing our infer- ences accordingly. And in this manner, descending from one to another through the various grades of the animal kingdom, we have arrived at a compa- ratively correct estimation of the grosser elements of their existence ; but the organization of vege- tables is so perfectly distinct from our own and that of all the higher classes of animals, that it is im- possible to draw any correct conclusions by mere comparison. We can, indeed, trace the gradual growth and development of their parts, and observe the loss of vigour and the debility which precedes 30 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. decay, and from other concomitant circumstances consider them as exceptions to the inertia of matter; in other words, as beings endowed with that hitherto incom.prehensible principle, life. We can proceed a few steps farther by dissection, and, discovering a system of vessels traversing the plant throughout its whole substance, are led to conclude that hfe here, as in animals, is dependant upon a continually repeated elaboration and modification of the fluids they contain ; n-Aj, the microscope shows us those fluids in motion, and almost in the act of depositing the petty molecules that contribute to the growth of the tissue. There we stop. Comparison fails to assist our researches any farther ; and experiment, often founded on the uncertain basis of bare con- jecture, is our only guide beyond. AGRICULTURAL COTTAGE STOVE. FIG. 2. rie.i FIG. 3. TO( THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir, — It maybe supposed from the obseiTations in your last (page 556) that my stove was made of sheet iron. It is nothing of the kind ; but cast iron. The expense of my plan is about twenty shiUings ; and it is so constructed that it will boil, bake, and cook by steam at the same time, while the expense of the fuel will not ex- ceed fourpence-halfpenny per week for all cottage purposes: for after the first fire is made in the morning, it then requires but little fuel to keep u]' the heat ; and this stove will keep anything warn for four or five hours, so that the family may go t work or to church and on their return may have ; i warm dinner to partake of. Bread may also b baked without any extra fuel ; because if there i any fire in the stove the oven is hot. By this plan too, the cottage will be far better warmed in winte; than by the open fire-grate. Perhaps you will allov my plan a place in " The Farmer's Magazine," s . ^"^ ^ ^ - 1 ;^ 1^ li ,K.N THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 31 that your leaders may get them made in their own neighbourhoods at small expense- The plan is not a mere imagination, but has been fairly tested, and is now in regular use ; and, l)y a slight inspection of the engraving, 1 presiune it will be easily understood. Fig. 1 represents the upright section, showing the oven, which is 9 inches square, and at the lower part 6 inches ; from the grate to the under side of the oven is 12 inches. The flue is 2 inches by 9 inches ; and where it enters the chimney in the wall it is of the same size. By this means the heat is confined to the very place where it is wanted. This is the reason why this stove takes so httle fuel to what the com- mon fire-place does. The pan shown on the top of fig. 1 is made in two pieces ; the upper part being suitable for cooking by the steam from the pan below. Supposing a piece of meat to be boiling for dinner in the lower pan (in doing which there is no difficulty), the vegetables may be done in the upper part by the steam ; and at the same time a piece of meat may be roasted, or a pudding baked in the oven. The pan can be used for general purposes without the steamei-, and one Ud answers either on the tojj of the steamer or on the pan. In the bottom of this pan there is a loose bottom, full of small aper- tures ; the object of which is to prevent the vege- tables going into the lower tube of the pan. By means of these tubes the water is soon got to the boihng point, on the same principle as the steam is obtained in the railway engine, which is by means of small tubes inserted in the fire. Fig. 2, tlie stove, as jilaced in the corner of the cottage, and showing the cofFee-kettle ]jlaced there- on. The cofFee-kettle, porridge-pan, and saucepan have not a lower tube to them, only the part A to the dotted line, because the coffee-grounds and the substance would be difficult to get out of the lower part of the tube (B) ; but the tea-kettle has got the lower part (B) to it, as it soon makes the water boil. The aperture on the top of the stove is about 5 inches in diameter-, and the bottom of the pans, &c., project over the aperture about one inch, as sho^vn by fig. 1 ; so that no smoke can enter the cottage : and there is a cast-iron lid, which fits on in the same manner as when the pans are on ; and when there are no pans wanted, the lid is placed thereon, so that no smoke enters into the cottage. ! The two doors of the stove open on the same principle as the common door-latch, and when they * are opened they rest upon two small blocks, as } shown on the right ; so that the stove requires little ; fitting up after it is cast, which is done in two pieces— the lower part (6), and the upper part (c). A drawer is made to fit in {d), to prevent the stove, when necessary, from drawing too hard, and for keeping the stove longer hot ; and also for receiving the ashes, and making the fire more secure when the family lea^-e the house. If the air is prevented from entering under the grate, the fire then will not consume or heat so much ; but the heat will be re- tained in the stove. Fig. 3, the cross section : merely to show the tube in the lower part of the flue. Fig. 4, the tea-kettle, which holds about two quarts ; and one quart may be made to boil in ten minutes by putting into the stove a few carpenter's shavings and turf broken in pieces, and a handful of coals ; then set the shavings on fire and close the door, and the whole contents will then soon be in a blaze. Tliis is found a great convenience for making an early breakfast. The construction of the kettle is very simple. A rim merely goes round the outside, which supports the kettle upon the top of the stove, similar to the pan-bottom. Tlie sec- tion is made from a scale of one inch to the foot. The stove stands upon a stone plinth about six inches thick, to raise it to a convenient height. Having said thus much, I leave you to judge whether you think it of sufficient interest for your magazine or not; my only object is that the jniblic may have an oportunity of obtaining them at the least expense for their cottagers. I am, yours, &c., M, Saul. Nateby Cottage, Garstang, June 17. Plate II. PROTECTION; A Pure North Devon Bull. The subject of our second Plate — a bull of the North Devon breed — was bred by Mr. George Tur- ner, of Barton, near Exeter, and exhibited by him at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at New- castle, in July last; when he obtained the first prize of £40, being then two years and nine months old. He was got by May-boy; dam, Countess, by Forrester. May boy's sire was bred by Mr. J. Quartley, of Molland, Devon, and took the first prize of £30 at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Bristol, in 1842, in the same class, being then the property of Messrs. S. Bult and John Bond, of Kingston and Heathfield, near Taunton. " The true North Devons," says Professor Low, in his Illustrations of British Animals, " are to be classed with the breeds of the higher country. They exceed a little in weight the hardier and more muscular Pembroke and West Highland cattle ; but they fall short of the long-horned Hereford and other varie- 32 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ties of the lower plain. Their general form is light and graceful; their skin is of an orange-yellow colour ; and they are distinguished by having their hair of a bright red, and by their eyes being sur- rounded by a ring of the colour of the skin. Tlie nose is likewise of the same colour, and the inside of the cars is orange-red. Their horns are of medium length, very fine, and bending u])wards in the manner of the wild cattle of the parks. Their skin is unctuous and soft to the touch, and the hair is fine and tending to curl, like that of other cattle inhabiting a humid climate. The neck is long, and tlie chest with little dewlap. The shoulders are ol>lique, the hoofs and bones of the extremities are suikH, the limbs are slender and long, the chest is only of moderate width, the back is long, and the distance large between the last asternal rib and the pelvis." This breed has been held in great repute for very many years, and have been preserved with great care and attention by Mr. Turner, Mr. Quart- ley, and others. They possess great aptitude to fatten on a short pasture, or a comparatively small quantity of food. Their constitution is very hardy, bearing the cold storms of a North Devon winter often without a shed. It is stated that they have less bone and coarse meat than any other breed. In the butchers' ])hraseology, they have more 9d. than 3d. beef in their carcasses. The animal represented in our plate was universally admired. It would be a work of supererogation to speak of Mr. Turner's fame as a breeder of North Devon cattle. The prize lists of the Royal Agricultural Society of England's will furnish the best and most conclusive evidence. THE IMPORTANCE OF CARBON. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS. Sir, — I think it is worthy of mature consideration, how far the agriculturist ought to depend on the atmo- sphere for the due supply of the organic ingredients for the growth of our usually cultivated plants. When we consider what an immense supply of carbon is required for the nourishment of the innumerable number of trees, shrubs, and blades of grass, that beautify and cover the surface of the earth, and how small a portion of carbonic acid (only 1 gallon in every 2,500 gallons of air) there is in the atmosphere, it may be justly questioned whether sufficient attention is paid to the supply of car- bonaceous matter to the soil, for its absorption by the roots. For if, in any case, the supply from the atmo- sphere is insufficient, and that insufficiency is not then made'upfrom the contents of the soil, tlie plant must be veryjmperfectly" developed. On the other hand, if there should be too much carbon in the soil at one time, no in- jurious effects will follow from the surplus. The expe- riment on the use of charcoal as a manure, in the case of turnips, by the Earl of Esfeex, in vol. 5th, part 1, of the Journal of tlie Royal Agricultural Societtj of Eng- land, is very striking. And Mr Karkeek has, in the Mark Lane Express of March 22, clearly shown, I think, that the failure of Liebig's turnip manure, in two instances therein stated, was the consequence of the want of a sufficient quantity of carbonaceous and azo- tized substances in the soil. His opinion, therefore, ap- pears to be well-founded, that " the inorganic elements are of veiy little value as manure for plants, without a corresponding supply of the organic." This letter of Mr. Karkeek is, I think, worthy of partictilar attention from every farmer. In an interesting work recently published by Jasper W. Rogtrs, entitled " An Appeal for the Irish Pea- santry," the value of carbon in the soil is clearly shown. " In proportion to its proper supply to the culture of all plants^, either by the atmosphere or otherwi.se, depends the luxuriance and vigour of their growth." " Sir Robert Kane gives the following highly valuable table, showing the amount of carbon in each plant, which he names, viz., Wheat Carbon 46.1 per cent. Wheat-straw ,, 48.4 ,, Oats ,, 50.7 Oat-straw ,, 50.1 ,, Potatoes ,, 44.0 ,, Turnips ,, 42.9 „ Red clover hay ,, 47.4 ,, This, in itself, is sufficient to prove the indispensabiliti of carbon to vegetation. "It is an absorbent of the highest order, and used a a fertilizer, it yields to the roots of the i)lant carbon ii its purest state, in such quantum as nature demands." And if it absorbs moisture, it must also absorb th carbonic acid and ammonia that rain brings with it There are many other very important facts stated in th same work, which should be read by every farmei And the question is, whether a sufficient quantity is, i all cases, supplied to the soil, and that in the mos available state for the benefit of the growing plant ? And this question stands connected with anothc question of considerable importance, viz., how far it i desirable to ferment our dung-heaps ? But these questions must be left for consideration at future time. Your's, &c.. April 29, 1347. G. F, THE FARMER'S MAGA551NE. 33 A REPORT ON THE FEEDING OF STOCK WITH PREPARED FOOD, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED. BY JOSEPH MARSHALL. Prize Essay. {From the proceedings of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.) The author of the following observations does not pretend to have discovered any way to feed cattle ; nor can the objection of novelty, the cur- rent and groundless objection of every foe to im- provement, be justly urged against the system which he has adopted, and which he thinks others may adopt, if they will, with advantage. The principles here laid down have been long, though perhaps not generally, known. All the merit which he claims is, that of having persevered in spite of friendly remonstrances, ridicule, commiseration and the like, in a course which his own reflections and calculations recommended, and which his own ex- perience, and the larger experience of more able and scientific farmers have since proved to be suc- cessful. That success has arisen, not from the discovery of any new principles, but from the proper carrying out of principles already knoion. It has been long known that the use of prepared food is more wholesome and more economical than the use of raw food. Frequent attempts have been made to prepare food for stock, but either from the imperfect description of the apparatus employed, from the improper mixture of materials, from the unwholesome state in which the food has been given, or from some other cause, these attempts have often proved failures. Why they have proved so, he is not called upon to show. One tenant thrives on the same farm on which another has starved. One man feeds, and another cannot feed, cattle. Probably the same reason may have in- fluence in both cases. But that cattle and other stock may, with ordi- nary care, be fed upon food artificially prepared in the method here described ; that the saving in con- sumption will more than repay the attendant labour and expense ; that an opportunity will be thus given for consuming inferior corn of un- marketable quahty at home with advantage, as the cattle thrive well upon it, and the sample taken to market is rendered better; these are facts beyond doubt. We now proceed to stale, as Ijriefly and clearly as we can, how the operation has been conducted ; to speak of the food, its preparation and eflfects, and make such remarks as may from time to time suggest themselves. On the author's farm the food is prepared, and all other work connected with the system performed, by one man, except the grinding of the corn into meal, which the foreman takes and superintends, being done at a corn- mill. Dean's linseed mill is used for crushing the linseed, and Clawdray's chop- per to cut the straw. The best artificially prepared food which we have hitherto found is boiled linseed, ground corn, and cut straw, along v/ith some raw turnips, given at intervals. A heifer weighing from forty to fifty stones will consume, daily, two pounds of crushed hnseed, boiled in three and a half gallons of water for two or three hours, five pounds of ground corn, ten pounds of chopped straw, and about eighty or ninety pounds of yellow bullock-turnips, with a little straw, not cut, placed in their racks at night. The cost of food thus prepared from the following statement, in which no charge is made for straw and turnips, and in which ample allowance is made for coal, labour, and outlay of capital, appears to be 4s. 4d. for each head per week. Cost of prepared food for twenty-two head of cattle and three draught-horses for eight weeks in 1844 and 1845: — £ 6. d. 2688 lbs. of linseed, or 48 lbs. per day 192 lbs. do. not used on Sundays, de- ducted 2496 lbs., or 46Jbush. of 54 lbs. at 6s. per bush 13 is 0 458 stone ground oats, at ll^d. per st. 21 18 11 8 weeks' wages, at ]3s 5 4 0 1 cwt. of coal per day, at 15s. per ton 1 1 0 Interest on outlay of £50, wear and tear eight weeks 1 5 5 £43 6 8 Twenty-five head of stock for eight weeks, at 4s. 4d. per week — £43 6s. 8d., as before stated. The mode in which the cattle were fed was as follows: — At 6 A.M. each beast was supphed with about forty to forty-five pounds of yellow l)ullock- D THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. turnips, sliced; at 10 a.m., with one pound of lin- seed, boiled for two or three hours, with about one and a half gallons of water, two and a half pounds of ground corn, and five pounds of chopped straw; at 1 o'clock, p.m., the turnips were repeated, and at 5 o'clock, p.m., the prepared food was repeated. At night, a little straw was placed in their racks. If any cattle had refused their mess, it was removed and given to those that had finished theirs and were desirous of more. It may also be observed, that the ground corn and chopped straw must be mixed together first, and then the boiled linseed being poured upon them, and mixed with them, may be allowed to stand for one or two hours, and given while yet warm ; for if allowed to stand a few hours, the mass ferments and quickly turns sour. Hence the necessity of the strictest cleanliness in all the vessels and imple- ments made use of. Assuming an acre of land to grow twenty tons of yellow bullock-turnips, and that they are worth about £6 15s. per acre, each beast will consume eighty-five pounds per day, with the prepared food ; from this we may calculate that twenty tons of turnips will feed twenty beasts for twenty-six days, at a cost of about Is. 8d. per week per head. Again, assuming an acre of land to yield twenty tons of Swede turnips, and that their value is about £8 5s. per acre, each beast will consume sixty-three pounds daily, along with prepared food; from which we conclude that twenty tons will supply twenty beasts for thirty-five days, at a cost of Is. 8d. per week per head. Hence five acres of Swedes, yielding twenty tons per acre, will suffice for twenty beasts for twenty-five weeks. If, instead of Swede turnips, we supply raw carrots or potatoes to the cattle, they consume the same weight of the latter as of the former, without making any apparently greater progress. Regularity and cleanhness, highly important as they are in every system in feeding animals, are, in this method, the basis of success. Without them, every attempt must inevitably fail. I have found that the omission of this food once on a Sunday makes the cattle return to it with an increased ap- petite. Under this mode of feeding, three-year-old heifers increased in weight (calculating by measure- ment) during the time they were tied up, on an average of the whole lot, about fourteen pounds each per week. Two of them made twenty stones each in sixteen weeks. Steers consume less food, and gained weight more slowly. The draught horses had their allowance of pre- pared food on coming from work. When at constant work, and long days, each horse was sup- plied with about five pounds of ground oats or split beans, divided into two portions, and given morning and evening in addition to the five pounds contained in the prepared food. During the three winter and other months in the year that my horses have had this provender, they have improved in their condition, have been free from disease, and capable of performing any work that horses kept for agricultural purposes could reasonably be required to do. This method of feeding has been carried out by the author on a small farm since November, 1843. The increased quantity and superior quality of manure thus derived have doubled the produce of the farm. Independently of other matters, the main source from which the feeder of stock should look for remuneration is his manure heap. He cannot grow corn without manure, nor have manure with- out cattle. Whoever can feed the largest quantity of stock, and thus secure the most and richest ma- nure at the cheapest rate, is best calculated to aug- ment the produce of his farm, and thus to meet competition in the market. Up to this time, linseed cake given in large quantities along with roots has been considered to yield the best manure. But why should linseed, unadulterated, be inferior in its feeding and manuring properties to linseed, from which all its richest and most feeding matter has been extracted, and which has afterwards, in many cases, been adulterated with rubbish of any and every description ? The effect of this system has been so apparent, in the increased fertihty of the farm where it has been practised, as to induce my neighbours to follow my example. Amongst them, I have great pleasure in naming John Button, Esq., of Sowber Hill, near Northal- lerton, who gave the plan a fair trial in December, 1844. The result was so satisfactory, that he has since procured an apparatus, enabhng him to carry it out on a more extensive scale. He has kindly furnished me with the following report of his ex- periments, T. S. Walker, Esq., of Maunby Hall, near Thirsk, and H, S. ITiompson, Esq., of Moat Hall, near York, have also adopted the plan with success. Their reports I annex. Communication from John Hutton, Esq. On the 9th of October, 1844, Mr. Joseph Marshall produced a paper at the Northallerton Market Club, on the Feeding of Cattle with Prepared Food. I was induced, by his statement of facts, to erect an apparatus for the boiUng of linseed, of the same dimensions as his own. This was first bi'ought into operation 4th December, 1844. Sixteen polled beasts (cows) were taken up. They were divided into two lots; each lot, consisting of eight beasts, was as nearly equal in weight and. condition to the other as possible. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. One lot was fed as follows, costing 6s. lOd. per head :— s. d. Linseed cake, 3 stones, at 13Ad. per stone 3 4^ Turnips, 980lbs 3 0 Labour 0 5^ Per week, for each head G 10 The other lot was fed upon prepared food : — Linseed and ground corn 4 4 Turnips, 490lbs 1 6 Labour, &c » , 0 51 Coals 0 6 Per week, for each head 6 9h The two lots were sold at Bedale market, on two different days ; four being taken from one set of beasts, and four from the other set, at each sale. The cattle fed upon prepared food realized £2 6s. 6d. more than those otherwise fed. The time occupied in feeding them was eight weeks. By the first week in April, 1845, all my turnips were finished. I then .put sixty head of cattle on prepared food, and found the plan to answer re- markably well. Of these, about twenty were in a very forward state ; they were allowed to have pre- pared food after the rate of 5s. 3d. per head per week. They made great improvement, and were all sold by the 9th of July ; several of them fetch- ing £20 each. The fold-yard cattle, cows, and young stock were allowed one meal each per day of a weaker quality of prepared food, but a full quantity of cut straw. The cost was 2s. 4d, per head i)er week. In this way their condition was improved ; and the whole of them, when turned to grass, did as well as could be wished. My attempts in the autumn of 1845 were so satisfactory in their issue, that I put uj) a new ap- paratus on a larger scale, and have been using it since the 1st December of that year for all my cattle at Sowber Hill, which were generally in a forward condition when put up to feed. Up to this time, twenty-nine fat beasts have been sold ; and seventeen more are coming on, and will be ready for sale before grass. At present, I have twenty-eight head of cattle tied up to stall-feeding, at a cost per week per head, including turnips, of 6s.; twenty-four in fold-yards, costing 3s. 6d. per week per head; and sixteen I cows and nine yearlings that have prepared food, at a cost of 2s. per week per head; and in addition, ;hay of inferior quality. I have also tried the experiment with sheep, of which I have already sold thirty. Forty sheep and sixty hogs* have prepared food twice a day, with turnips, and are doing well. Sheep vmder a year old. What I have seen of this system convinces uic, that certainly doxible the quantity of stock can be maintained with the same quantity of turnips as was consumed by the old method of feeding cattle. The manure is of the best quality, and very soon fit for use. No manure I have seen has equalled in efficacy that derived from this process. Hence it is hard to fix any ])recise limits to the number of stock that may be maintained on a farm with a moderate supply of turnips, when this method is rightly carried out and persevered in. It seems pecuharly adapted to stiff soils, where the turnips cannot be consumed on the land. It is also appli- cable to light land, where only a small quantity of turnips can be taken away, as the whole of the straw by this system may be made into a much better quality of manure. At the same time it must be remembered, that economical and fertilizing as this mode of feeding stock is, it cannot be brought into practice without sufficient capital. Nor can any system of agri- culture, however good, be properly carried into effect in this country without it. (Signed) John Hutton. Soivber Hill, near Northallerton, llth April, 1846. Communication from T. S. Walker, Esa. Knowing that the advantages of feeding stock on prepared food will be fully detailed by some of my neighbours, Avho, from a longer experience of the system, are better qualified to speak of its effi- cacy, I shall only give the result of one winter's trial ; which, however, has convinced me that the plan has a decided superiority over the old way of feeding with linseed cake or meal unprepared. Twenty head of cattle, of various ages — steers, cows, and heifers — generally in a low, and some of them in an unhealthy condition, were put up to feed. The improvement of all was most satis- factoiy. Part of them were killed in the neigh- bourhood, and turned out quite equal to the ex- pectation of the butchers. As to feeding young stock with this food, in preference to hay and turnips in large quantities, I submit the following statement : — Thirteen calves, varying in age from six to four- teen months, principally well-bred short-horns, in very low condition, were turned into an open yard with a good shed, about the last week in November. Straw (principally wheat and barley straw) was al- lowed sparingly, and a moderate quantity of turnip- tops were given during the early part of winter. Afterwards, about twenty-four povmds of turnips were given to each daily. In addition to this, pre- pared food was given of about the value of 3d. per head per day. The improvement of the youngest of them was very rapid, in spite of the disadvan- D 2 30 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. taycs of being chased from their food by the older calves. The progress of the older calves may per- haps be bestproved by the fact, that butchers wish to buy them now at the highest market price. I give my decided opinion, that had they been fed \vith good hay, and an unhmited supply of turnips, they could not have been brought to so high a state of condition in the same time. About twenty head of cattle intended for grazing, recently purchased, have had prepared food, and their rapid improvement has attracted the notice of all who have seen them. In conclusion, I feel assured that if, instead of the present restriction in some agreements with ten- ants, by which they are debarred from growing lin- seed, encouragement were given to all tenants to grow linseed, to be consumed on the farm in feed- ing and rearing stock, at least two-thirds of the grass-land, now most unprofitably used in growing hay, might be much more profitably devoted to grazing and rearing cattle, for which the rapidly increasing population of this country always fur- nishes a demand. The superiority of the manure produced from stock fed in this manner over com- mon farm-yard manure no one will deny ; and it is difficult to assign hmits to the produce of the arable land of this country, if all the straw were judici- ously consumed. Communication from H. S. Thompson, Esa. Dear Sir, — I have great pleasure in sending you the result of my trial of your method of pre- paring food for cattle. I have not had time to make a long trial, but I have taken some pains to make an accurate one. My previous system having been found to work well, I determined to give it a fair chance against the new one ; and I accordingly selected two of the most thriving of a lot of twelve bullocks, of nearly the same age and condition, and fed them for the first month on the food I had been in the habit of giving, viz., Swede turnips, hnseed cake, and bean meal, in the proportions stated be- low. Two others of nearly equal weight had their food prepared according to your directions. All four were weighed at the commencement of the ex- periment, viz., April 11th, 1846. Their weights are given in Table No. I. The numbers are the numbers of their stalls, to prevent mistakes. Nos. 8 and 9 were fed in the new way. Nos. 12 and 13 in the old. They were weighed a second time on the ]5th of May. Table, No. I. Live weight. Live weight. Increase No. of April 11. May 15. in weight. Stall. St. lbs. St. lbs. st. lbs. 8 83 8 88 4 4 10 9 79 8 85 1 5 7 12 81 0 85 2 4 2 13 85 0 89 0 4 0 Thus it will be seen that the bullocks fed on the old plan gained 8st. 2lbs. in five weeks, and those fed on the new way gained lOst. 3lbs. in the same time. As I was convinced that the two bullocks which had made the least progress were, neverthe- less, the most thriving animals, I for the next month fed all four alike, viz., on Swedes, mangold-wurtzel, and your prepared food. The results are as fol- lows : — Table, No. 11. Live weight. Live weight. Increase No, of May 15. June 15. in weight. Stall. St. lbs. St. lbs. st. lbs. 8 88 4 92 4 4 0 9 85 1 90 12 5 11 12 85 2 92 7 7 5 13 89 0 96 0 7 0 The impression that the bullocks Nos. 12 and 13 were better thrivers than Nos. 8 and 9 was, it will be observed, fully borne out when the four were fed alike, the latter two having made ]4st. 5lbs. in the thirty-one days, and the former only 9st. lllbs. If we compare the increase of weight of the two bullocks, Nos. 12 and 13, when fed on the old plan for thirty-four days, viz., 8st. 2lbs., with the in- crease of the same bullocks when fed on your plan for thirty-one days, viz., 14st. 5lbs., the superiority of this method is very apparent. Let us next compare their cost. First Method of Feedinrj. s. d. lOjlbs. of linseed, at 7s. per bushel, of 561bs. or Ud. per lb 1 3j 35lbs. bean meal, at Is. per stone . . 2 6 lOOlbs. of coal daily, at 14s. per ton, or 4s. 5|d. per week, for twenty bullocks, or for each, per week. . 0 2f Extra wages 4s. per week, or 2-f'i5d. per head, say 0 2^ Cost per head per week 4 3 Second Method of Feeding. 2llbs. of oil-cake, at £10 per ton, or 15d. per stone 1 lOg 2 libs, bean-meal, at Is. per stone . . 16 20st. of turnips extra, say 0 11^ Cost per head per week 4 4 By the above calculations it appears that the cost of the two methods is about the same. I have, however, to observe, that, to avoid raising the expectations of those who may wish to try your plan too high, I have, throughout the two esti- mates, favoured the old system rather than the new. The price of the hnseed is decidedly above the average. Coal can, in most situations in the north, he had for less than 14s. per ton; and the charge; both for coal and wages would be lower per head, \ if I had made my calculation for forty bullocks in- stead of twenty. On the other hand, had I, in the I THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 37 second estimate, valued the oil-cake at what I have given, on the average, for the last five years, viz., £11 per ton (for the best English-made cake, in- cluding carriage), and estimated the turnips at 10s. per ton, instead of 7s. 6d. (a very low value), the comparison between the two plans of feeding would i have been very decidedly in favour of the new sys- tem, in point of economy. Before leaving this part of the subject, I would I wish to remark that though I have given an estimate ; of the cost of the food for seven days, I really only ( use it six days out of the seven, as, if the steamer !. were kept going on the Sunday, the men in charge of the cattle Avould have to work as hard on that day as on any other day of the week. I conse- quently substitute linseed cake for the prepared food on Sundays, and am of opinion that this slight change of food is rather beneficial than other- wise. The cost of the linseed cake is so nearly equal to that of the prepared food, that I have not thought it necessary to make any difference in the calculation on that account. I have now given you the result of my trial of two different systems of feeding, and also estimates of their cost, and will next endeavour to answer a question which has already been frequently put to me, viz. : — " What are the peculiar advantages at- tendant upon this system, which should induce farmers to incur an expense of £50 (price of appa- riitus and cost of fixing) for the sake of introduc- ing it r" One of the principal advantages is, that the animals make greater progress at the same cost. In all the instances that I have heard of or seen, the cattle treated in this way have fed unusually fast. In my own case this was very striking. The twelve bullocks mentioned above, were, in March, taken lean from the straw-yard ; quite unfit, in fact, for tying up to feed, except by way of experiment ; yet, they made such rapid progress that some of them were sold to the butchers at 7s. 3d. per stone, at the end of May ; and the last were sold the third week in June, in good kilhng condition. One of the main causes of this rapid progress is, I con- ceive, the perfect state of health the animals enjoy. Linseed oil is a mild purgative, and when combined \vith meal, especially bean-meal, the bowels and skin are kept uniformly in a state of health, which, I think, cannot be surpassed, and which I never be- fore saw equalled. Another reason which appears to conduce much to their thriving, is, that the food prepared in this ttejway approaches so much more nearly to the natural food of the animal. In grass, and other green food, we find a very small per centage of nourishing ingredients combined with a large proportion of *jj woody fibre, water, and other matters which are not fitted for assimilation by the animal, and are re- jected as useless after the nourishing parts have been extracted by digestion. These apparently superfluous matters have, however, very important uses ; one of the most striking of which is to givo bulk to the food, and, therefore, distension to the stomach. If the stomach is not moderately filled by a meal, those muscles are not called into active exercise which tend so much to promote healthy digestion, by keeping the food in constant motion ; and accordingly, we find, that if we supply a feed- ing bullock with cake or meal, which, though highly nourishing, lies in a small bulk, the animal will, if not supplied with a sufficiency of other food, eat a portion of his litter, old thatch, or almost any other vegetable matter, however unpalatable, to satisfy that craving which an empty stomach is sure to produce. Though, however, an animal will swal- low a certain portion of food for which he has no rehsh, rather than lie down with an empty stomach, he will not fill himself properly unless he likes his food ; and, on the other hand, if an unlimited sup- ply of favourite food be furnished to him, he will take it in quantities injurious to his health. The following is a case in point : — " Before tying up the twelve bullocks, mentioned in a former part of this letter, I desired that they might have a fair allowance of Swede turnips given them for a short time, lest a too sudden change of diet should disagree. They, accordingly, had four or five stone of Swede turnips per head daily, and with this they did well ; consuming at the same time a considerable quantity of straw. After hav- ing this quantity for a week or two, I increased their allowance of turnips ; and, finding their appetites kept pace with their increased allowance, I ordered them as much as they would eat. At the end of about a month, I found that they were each con- suming about fourteen or fifteen stone of turnips daily, and that they ate no straw. This was con- tinued for a short time, in consequence of my ap- paratus for boiling hnseed not being completed as soon as I had expected. And I found, that thougli the turnips were sound and good, the animal's bowels began to be affected, their coats grew rough and staring, and the purging increased to such an extent, that without a change of meat, I have little doubt dysentery and inflammation of the bowels would have been the result. The same turnips, when given in so limited a quantity that they were obhged to eat a certain quantity of straw to fill their stomachs, agreed perfectly well ; but when they could fill themselves with turnips they refused the straw, and became ill in consequence. This might, probably, not have occurred had the strav/ been very good, which it was not ; but it is a good instance to show the importance of a well-regula- ted diet, 38 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. As soon as they were fed with the prepared hn- seed, and had but fifty [jounds of turnips per head per day, they at once recovered their health. Other instances also have come under my own observa- tion, where severe purging has been brought on by improper diet. I have seen it produced by man- gold-wurtzel, by carrots, and by potatoes, when given in large quantities. Another advantage of your system is, the great saving of turnips. To keep a farm in a high state of fertility, it is, on almost all descriptions of land, necessary to fatten cattle in yards during winter ; and as turnips and other root crops are indispen- sable for this purpose, any system which econo- mizes their use is equally important to strong and light land farms ; as, in the latter case, it leaves a greater proportion of the turnip crop to be con- sumed on the land by sheep ; and on the former, a larger nvimber of cattle can be fed on the same Ijreadth of fallow-crop ; which to those who know the difficulty of catching a season for even a few acres of such crops on really stiff land, will be felt to be a point of material importance. Allow me, in conclusion, briefly to point out the many points of resemblance between your prepared food and that obtained by a grazing buUock in a pasture. The grass is in short lengths, and requir- ing little mastication before swallo^ving ; it contains much watei", and nourishing ingredients are mixed with a large proportion of what may be called neu- tral matters to give distension to the stomach. In the artificial food, by using chaff or chopped straw, you also save the labour of long mastication, and fvu-nish the neutral ingredients which give the re- quired bulk. The boiled linseed and meal, inti- mately mixed with the straw, furnish the nutritive matter, and give an agreeable flavour to the whole ; a sufficient quantity of water is also thus supplied, and the warmth is artificially furnished, which, in summer grazing, the temperature of the air sup- plies. The parallel is very complete, and its success is such as a close imitation of nature usually en- sures. I beg to state, that as I intend (D. V.) to have your system in full operation during the whole winter, any brother farmer who may wish to see it at work will be heartily welcome to do so at my farm, whether he wishes to take a hint, or merely to examine and criticise. I am, dear Sir, yours truly, H. S. Thompson. Moat Hall, York, Sej)!. I4:th, 1846. In the winter of 1842, before my attention was drawn to the boiling oflinseed for feeding purposes, I had fourteen head of cattle, and other stock, on food artificially prepared as follows : — thirty-five to forty pounds of thoroughly steamed potatoes, with four pounds of ground corn, and six pounds of cut straw, were given to each beast daily, with a little straw in their racks, morning and evening. This food was prepared and given warm twice during the day, half the above-mentioned quantity at a time ; a supply of water was also given them, when eating the ])repared food. The potatoes were bought and delivered upon the premises, at Is. id. per bushels of 80 lbs., the ground corn at Is. id. per stone ; and during the last eight weeks the cattle consumed a ton and a half of linseed cake, at £8 per ton. To these items labour, coal, &c. must be added. At the time these cattle were sold, beef had advanced in price 4d. per stone ; and they left me a heap of manure valued at 5s. per cubic yard, when it was carted out in September, 1843, to pay for the straw, which, with the exception of two tons, had been purchased. The quantity of manure produced by this method is small, when compared with that which arises from ])repared linseed, when given with raw turnips in the manner already described. Nor does it ap- pear that the cultivation of potatoes for the feeding of stock can be generally profitable. But in dis- tricts where potatoes can be grown and sold at a remunei'ating price, this mode of consuming such as are not marketable for domestic purposes is far preferable to giving them in a raw state. I gave some of this food to half-bred ewes with lambs, from the early part of March vmtil grass came — they ate greedily, and milked well upon it. The grass-land on which they were fed still retains a luxuriant appearance. This descrip- tion of food, like the other, if allowed to stand three or four hours, or even less, turns sour and is unfit for use ; and when given to horses in this unwholesome state, they are, until accustomed to it, frequently at- tacked with the gripes. This the author has frequently witnessed at the Brierley Iron- Works, where the horses have been fed with steamed po- tatoes, bean-meal, and chopped straw, for twenty winters in succession. To describe the apparatus used in preparing food for stock is the province of an engineer rather than a farmer. The difficulty of giving a description at once short and intelligible is not diminished by the fact that most agricultural readers (I speak of those in my own neighbourhood) are utter strangers to steam and its effects. It is therefore intended to give nothing here beyond a clear and concise out- line, leaving such readers as may wish to make further investigation to consult engineers, or others competent to execute contrivances of this sort. The boiler and apparatus used by myself and some of my friends came from the establishment of Messrs. Barker, Cutler, and Eastwood, Waterloo THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 39 Iron-Works, Bradford, Yorkshire. Their work- manship has given great satisfaction, A waggon- sliaped wrought-iron closed steam boiler, about 3 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet 6 inches wide, and of proportionate dimensions, is set in brick-work over a furnace, with grate and door at- tached, with a circulating flue, built with fire-bricks. The boiler is supplied with water from a cistern, containing about 250 gallons. The same cistern also supphes water with which the linseed is mixed for boihng. By means of fuel the steam is raised to a pressure of about four pounds on the square inch ; that being the pressure best suited for our purpose. But when that pressure exists, the boiler will not supplj' itself with water (which it ought to do), un- less the water in the cistern be elevated twelve feet above the water in the boiler ; and in most situations for raising water into a cistern so elevated, a force- pump is required, and is found to be the most effective and cheapest instrument that can be em- ployed for that purpose. The boiler should have a safety-valve, a steam-gauge, and a water-gauge. A pipe of three-quarters of an inch bore conducts the steam from the top of the boiler to the vessel containing the linseed, which we come to next. At such a distance from the boiler as is most con- venient (perhaps two or three yards from it) is fixed a circular cast-iron pan, about 30 inches wide, and 26 inches deep, having a rim or flange round its outer edge three inches wide ; inside this is placed a smaller pan, 28 inches wide and about 24 inches deep, also having a rim or flange round its outer edge, but so much wider than the flange of the other pan, that when the smaller pan is placed in- side the larger one, the outer edges of the two flanges are commensurate. The two flanges are jointed with bolts and cement so as to be steam-tight. The two vessels thus fitted together, may not in- aptly be compared to a small hat placed inside a large one. This being done, there is between the outer surface of the lesser and the inner surface of the greater pan a small space for the steam to be conducted from the boiler by the aforesaid pipe ; in which is placed a stopcock for increasing, diminishing, or entirely cutting off the supply of steam. The water generated by condensation in the interval between the two pans is drawn off by a small tap in the bottom of the outer pan. The smaller pan is made to contain about 40 gallons, in which the Unseed is prepared. Such a pan filled j with water will boil, in about thirty minutes, enough i linseed* for a single meal for 24 head of cattle. * The Unseed should be crushed before boiling, \ but not reduced to meal. Peas, beans, and Indian corn should be ground into meal, otherwise they I pass through the animal whole and undigested. Other grain should be either crushed or ground. Linseed may be boiled three times during the day in the same pan ; twice for the feeding beasts, and once for the store beasts; consuming about 1 cwt. of the best coal. By this method linseed never burns to the pan, boiUng over is prevented, and constant attendance during the process unne- cessary. For steaming potatoes, the steam passes through a pipe from the boiler into a closet formed of cast- iron plates, having a lid fitted up to be steam tight, and having a false bottom perforated with holes, through which the condensed steam passes from the potatoes to the true bottom, whence it is dis- charged by a small tap inserted for the purpose. For getting the potatoes out of the steamer, a loose door nine inches square, in the low part of one of the sides, is necessary, from which the potatoes are discharged upon the floor, or into any vessel adap- ted to receive them, and may be taken thence to their destination. The steaming of hay or straw, when cut, is most easily effected by having the steam conducted into the lower part of a large box, so as to allow of the hay or straw being trodden down into a firm mass, before the steam is admitted to it. The steam being turned on, as soon as it has found its way through, the operation has been continued long enough. It is not, perhaps, generally known, that mouldy hay, having undergone the action of steam, loses all its noxious properties. The expense of the apparatus described, for boil- ing linseed and steaming potatoes, would be £40 ; this does not include carriage, or men's expenses from home when fixing it. An extra double pan, with taps, would be £5 10s. ; and if a potato-steamer be not attached, the cost would be reduced £5. Many objections, and some of them plausible enough, may no doubt be advanced against the sys- tem just described. In opposition to these, nothing will be offered beyond the statement of facts and figures already given ; not that arguments are wanting on our side of the question, but because all reasoning would be thrown away upon one who rejects the evidence of the foregoing facts. Ex- perience has taught the writer, that men of strong prejudices are convinced by no argument whatever — no, not even by the testimony of their own senses. There are persons who have actually seen the cattle feeding on this system, have watched their progress, and have had satisfactory answers to every inquiry by which such progress was made, and have at last gone away convinced the whole scheme was a delusion. Others more charitably inclined to give their neighbours credit for veracity and common sense, have witnessed the same things, made the same inquiries, have consequently adopted the system, and been perfectly satisfied with its !0 THE FARiVIER'S MAGAZINE. success — and so will every one else, who shall set about the imdertaking with a persevering and un- prejudiced mind. in conclusion, I beg to thank those gentlemen who have favoured me with the result of their ex- periments, and more especially for their kindness in allowing me to state, that any person who may be desirous to see the system carried out, may have permission to do so on their respective farms ; and it M'ill give me great pleasure to do so likewise. AN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING FOOD FOR STOCK. a. Wrought iron-closed steam boiler. b. Cistern to supply the boiler and double pans with water. c. Valve which regulates the supply of water to the boiler. d. Water gauge. e. Safety valve. f. Steam gauge. g. g. Double pans for boiling linseed. h. Potato-steamer. i. Pipe which conducts the steam from the boiler. j. j. j. Taps which regulate the steam. k. k. k. Taps which allow the condensed steam to escape. /. Door for taking out the potatoes. m. Pipe from force-pump. n. n. Taps which supply the double pans with water. Joseph Marshall. Holme Lodge, Bedale, Yorks. WAKEFIELD FARMERS' CLUB.— REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1846. {Concluded from our last.) June 12th. — Mr. Charnock commenced the pro- ceedings by reading his ])romised paper " On the most eflScacious mode of draining running sands." After dwelling for a short time upon the great bene- fits to be derived from draining generally, he stated that probably the drainage of no description of land required greater care than that in districts where a loose and running sand is the prevailing ingredient in the sub-stratum. He then proceeded to consider the best method of accomplishing the drainage of such districts, dividing them into such as have an uniform flatness of surface, and such as ai'e more irregular. The former he conceived to be nuich the easier to accomplish, in as far as the run or velocity of the water making its way into the drains must be much less than in steeper land, thus rendering the danger of the fine particles of sand being carried down by the water in the drains, and deposited at intervals, much less imminent. The distance of the drains from each other he re- commended to be from seven to ten yards, but when the outfall is circumscribed, and not more than three or four feet of fall to be obtained, he considered that ten yards apart would be most ad- visable. In such circumstances he mentioned that it would be doubly necessary to attend regularly to the cleaning out of the ditches and water-courses into which the drains discharge themselves ; also THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 41 that it would be necessary to guard against tlie admission of rats or other vermin into tlie drains, 1)y placing a grating at the end of each drain, which might be accomphshed economically, by having a tile pierced with vertical holes, and small rods of iron inserted upwards and downwards. For the drainage of such land he recommended a pipe tile of an oval shape with a flat bottom externally, the length of the oval being placed vertical. Where the sub-stratum of sand is very loose, Mr. Char- nock said that it might be advisable to form a sort of bed or foundation on which to lay the pipe, of broken stone or other material of a more solid nature than the sand. He remarked that perhaps no description of land would pay better for effective draining than that where the sub-stratum is a loose sand, abounding in water, as probably no sort of land is more troublesome and sterile previous to be- ing drained, and he said that he had frequently seen the expense in such cases returned by the first crop. With regard to land with the same sub- s-tratum, but more irregular in surface, he stated that the great difficulty to contend against is the more rapid run of water in the drains, if the usual system of carrying them straight down the inclination of the surface be adopted. To remedy this he re- commended that they should be carried diagonally down the inclination, or where they must neces- sarily be taken directly down, that the tile should be covered, and the drain filled up with some harder material than the sand which came out, or that the system of filling entirely with broken stones should be had recoiu-se to ; which, where the descent is rapid, has a tendency to retain the sand, and pre- vent its being carried down by the run of water. He then remarked that pipe tiles with their ends fitting into each other, that is, with what are com- monly called spigot and faucet joints, and manu- factured from clay of so porous a character that water could filter through them, might be effectively used in such circumstances. As a proof that some clays do possess the property of forming a porous tile, he mentioned that he had immersed in water, pipe tiles made from a coarse clay, with their lower ends tightly made up, and that in the course of twelve or fifteen hours they have admitted through their pores a column of water equal to a third of their length. With clays which do not possess the quahty of porosity, he imagined it might be ob- tained by the admixture of ashes, or particles of burnt refuse tiles. In cutting the drains he men- tioned that they should be done with considerably moi*e slope at each side, otherwise they would be apt to fall in before the tile could be placed. The small diameter of the pipe now recommended by many drainers, as equally effective and more econo- mical, he condemned, particularly in land of the nature now under consideration, and he recom- mended a pipe of not less than two or three inches internal diameter, cylindrical, or of one and a half, by three inches oval. He exhibited in illustrating his observations, tiles of his own manufacture, of a great variety of shajjes and sizes, both open at the bottom, cylindrical and oval, which were much ad- mired. After a few observations from some of the members present, all of which were in corrobora- tion of what Mr. Charnock had advanced. The following resolution was passed : — " That in the opinion of this meeting, the draining of run- ning sands may be best accomplished by making use of a clay which will produce a porous pipe or tile." July 10th. — In the absence of Mr. Green, who was to have introduced the subject for the evening's discussion — " On the best time and method of cut- ting and securing the barley crop," Mr Hislop volunteered to supply his place, by stating in the first place, that in his opinion, barley, like wheat, ought to be cut before it is fully ripe, not adhering to the old maxim, that it ought to be forgotten for a week or ten days after it appears to be ripe. Maltsters certainly differ in their opinion on this head, some saying that when it is reaped before being ripe, the malt is apt to be flinty, while others maintain that the barley in that case germinates more freely, and if managed with judgment, pro- duces a superior malt. Mr. Hislop stated that at any rate, according to his experience, the early reaped barley, that is, that which is cut before being dead ripe, commands a better price in the market, which he considered a sure criterion of its superiority. The mode of cutting which he recommended was with the scythe, provided with a piece of thin board ten inches in height at the heel of the blade instead of a bow of wood or iron ; that the barley shoidd be taken up immediately on being cut, and made up into sheaves of sizes varying according to cir- cumstances; that is, if the weather was unpropi- tious, or if there should be much young clover on the ground, into small sheaves, and into larger if the weather should be warm and dry, and little or no clover; though as a general rule he should pre- fer small sheaves. He particularly condemned the practice of allowing the barley to remain in the swathe, after being cut, even if overtaken with rain. He then said that in setting up, he generally placed five sheaves, if small, or four, if large, on each side, and hooded them with two others. The plan of hooding he particularly recommended, as he main- tained it preserved the colour of the barley, and rendered the sample more pleasing to the eye. The stooks, he said, should be set up with the ends north and south. — Mr. Bayldon, speaking as a maltster, said that he always preff-rs a bright colour 42 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. in barley. To attain this he recommended that it should be taken up into sheaves and set up into stooks immediately on its being cut, even if the weather should be wet ; and stated that he found by experience that the barley which had been so treated, compared with other barley, cut on the same day, which had been allowed to remain in the swathe, the former was much easier to malt, and was superior in quality when malted. The system of hooding the stooks he much recommended. With regard to the most advisable time of reaping barley, he shoidd say that in variable weather, let it be cut before being fully ripe ; but if the weather should be hot and settled, he thought it better to allow it to remain until it was ripe, but not beyond. He further observed that a little sweating in the stack he considered to be desirable, as it made the barley germinate better and malt more freely.^ — Mr. John Wood said that he had tried hooding the stooks, and most emphatically recommended the plan, particularly in a wet season. He also said that in his opinion the barley should be taken up immediately on its being cut, and not on any account to lie in the swathe. He also recommended that the stooks should not be moved or touched until led away, even in bad weather. — Mr. Charles- worth said he approved of early cutting and of hooding the stooks, and i-emarked that in his opinion there is more barley spoiled by being allowed to stand too long, than by being cut too early. — Mr. T. Wordsworth expressed the same opinion. — Mr. Hislop here again observed that in Scotland there is an old saying, that " barley will ripen nine days in the stook." — Mr. W. Belton gftve an instance where in a field of barley, with a thick xmdergrowth of clover, the part which was taken up immediately produced an excellent sample, and in that part where the barley was allowed to remain in the swathe the sample was not nearly so good. — With regard to early cutting, Mr. Briggs remarked, that in all sorts of grain, when cut on the verge of being ripe, the skin is thinner and finer than when allowed to remain until dead rij)e, and that in the latter case, the woody fibre at the exterior of the grain increases, at the expense of the kernel Avithin. This he considered a provision of nature, to enable the grain to bear the inclemency of the winter, and to preserve the powers of vegetation from being thereby injured ; but at the same time he conceived' that that very thickening of the skin might in some degree imjjair its tendency quickly to vegetate, and that therefore barley reaped just before being ripe, and allowed to complete the ripening process in the sheaf, might reasonably be expected to germinate more speedily, and produce a better malt. At the conclusion of the discussion, the following resolution was passed ; — " That in the opinion of this meeting it is preferable to cut barley before it becomes dead ripe, particularly in unsettled weather ; to bind in small sheaves immediately on its being cut, and set up in stooks, with hoods ; also that the rakings should not be mixed with the general crop." August 13th. — Mr. Briggs introduced the subject for the evening's discussion — " On the most economical mode of keeping cart-horses," by re- marking that according to chemical theory (and he believed it would be found to be correct in practice also), diflTerent descriptions of food, both for men and the inferior anim.als, are nutritive in proportion as, on analysis, they contain nitrogen — that being one of the main ingredients of gluten, which is universally acknowledged to be the most nutritive l^art of all food ; and that the intrinsic value of any kind of food, for the production of muscle and strength, must therefore depend upon the quan- tum of that constituent (nitrogen) which it pos- sesses. From chemical analysis it is found, that the quantity of nitrogen contained in the different articles of food suitable for horses is extremely variable ; hence their relative value must also vary in a like proportion. But in the market that criterion is not the regulator of price, and therefore by a judicious selection of food, Mr. Briggs main- tained that much saving might be effected in the cost of keeping horses. He then quoted a table extracted from M. Bousingault's work on " Rural Economy," in which are given the relative value in nutriment of a great variety of articles of food, taking 100 lbs. of good meadow hay as the standard or basis of calculation ; from which it appeared, that it required, on the average, 350lbs. of wheat- straw, or 68 lbs. of oats, or 23 lbs. of beans, to yield the same quantum of nutriment as 100 lbs. of hay. A very common allowance for a farming horse he stated to be, per day, 20 lbs. of hay, and l^j pecks of oats, costing per week — s. d. 140 lbs. of hay, at 70s. per ton 4 4 lOis pecks ofoats,at 24 stone (or 1361bs.) per quarter, say 8 stone at Is. (equal in value in nutriment to l64lbs. of hay) 8 0 Per week 12 4 Now, suppose a horse was allowed one bushel of beans, or 63 lbs. of bean meal, per week, it would, according to the table, be equal in strength of nutriment to about 274 lbs. of hay; and as he cal- culated that the above method of feeding (with hay and oats) was equivalent to 304 lbs. of hay alone, an addition of only 30 lbs. of hay, or its equivalent appeared to be necessary, when 63 lbs. of beans were substituted for eight stone or 112 lbs. of oats. But then, again, an animal cannot subsist on condensed food alone, but re- quires also bulk, not only properly to distend the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 43 stomach, but of such a nature as to yield the elements or carbon consumed during the process of respiration, particularly when that respiration is quickened by continual effort while at work. In order to give that required bulk at the least cost, Mr. Briggs proposed to substitute chopped straw, of which he conceived 25 lbs. per day or 175 lbs. per week would be amply sufficient, which would yield nutriment equal to 50 lbs. of hay. In order to neutralize or counteract the binding nature of beans as food, Mr. B. recommended the addition of 1 lb. per day of crushed linseed ; and to show the relative value in nutriment, as well as the relative cost of these two methods of feeding horses, he exhibited the following calculation : — Equivalent in hay only. s. d. lbs. p.wk. 1st, Hay per week, 140 lbs. at 70s. per ton . . Oats per week, IO2 pks. or S stone at Is. . . 4 4 140 8 0 12 4 164 304 2nd, Beans per week, 1 bush. or63lbs.at40s. per qr 5 0 274 Straw (chopped) per week, 175 lbs. at 30s. per ton 2 4 50 Linseed per week, 7lbs. at lid 09 31 355 Cost of grinding beans, linseed, and chop- ping straw 1 0 9 1 From which it appeared that the latter method would cost less by 3s. 3d. per week, per horse, and would be more nutritive by the equivalent of 51 lbs. of hay per week. He further stated, that during the present sum- mer he had tried the experiment of chopping green Itahan rye-grass along with chopped straw and bean meal, which, when used soon after being mixed, to prevent fermentation, answered remarka- bly well, and at little cost ; the mixture and cost he stated to be as follows : — Equivalent in hay. d. Bean meal per week (8 lbs. per day), 561bs. at 40s. per qr 4 Straw (chopped) per week (I5lbs. per day), 105lbs. at 30s. per ton 1 Green Italian rye-grass per week (25lbs. per day), l75lbs. at 10s. per ton 0 Grinding and chopping, as before . . 1 243 30 35 7 8^ 308 f I Being equal in nutriment, theoretically, to the first mentioned mode of feeding, and at little more than one-half the cost. The making use of straw as food, he considered as far superior and more economical than converting it into manure by merely being trodden in the folds ; and chopping the rye-grass he stated to be also a great saving, from much less waste being incurred. He con- cluded by stating that if the theory of the relative value of oats and beans, in proportion to the quantity of nitrogen that each contains, be correct, the latter (beans) must be worth nearly three times as much, weight for weight, in the production of muscle (not fat) as the former (oats), and strongly recommended the members present to give beans to their horses ; though to fattening cattle or pigs, he recommended a mixture of the two, in the pro- portion of two-thirds oats to one-third beans, the one to produce fat, and the other muscle or lean meat. Several members afterwards made observa- tions on the subject, but as the paper on which the Secretary had made his memorandums, was unfor- tunately lent to the agent of the Farmer's Journal and could not be recovered, a report of what was said cannot be recorded. The subsequent resolution was to the effect " That cart-horses may be kept economically, and in good condition, upon good chopped straw, mixed with about 9 lbs. of bean-meal, and lib. of crushed lin- seed per day." September 11th. — It was proposed by Mr. Bra- kenridge, and seconded by Mr. Charnock, and passed by a large majority, " That the Secretary be requested to insert in the next monthly circulars, that at the meeting to be held hi October, a propo- sition will be brought forward and discussed, to establish a show of fat stock at Wakefield, in the week before Christmas, in connection with the Wakefield Farmer's Club, and with the co-opera- tion of influential gentlemen in the three Ridings of the County." — Mr. Brakenridge then proceeded to bring forward the subject for the evening's dis- cussion : " The potato disease, its causes, and the most probable mode of preventing its recurrence." He stated that in considering the subject he wished to bring forward a few facts, and leave the members present to draw their own conclusions. It was on the 8th of August in the present year, that he first observed any symptoms of disease in his potatoes. The sort that he planted were what are commonly called " pink eyes," part being put into the ground on the 7th of November, and the remainder in spring. A few " American natives " he also planted at the latter time. The latter sort were first affected on the 8th of August, and on the 10th the disease had ramified, and then both the autumn and spring- sown plants were affected ; watery matter seemed to be issuing from the stem 44 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. near the surface. From microscopic iaspeclion, il appeared that the membranes of the cells were rup- tured by excess of moisture. On examination, also, of the potatoes, with a microscope, he could discern animalculse next to the rind ; and in the adjoining part, more in the interior of the potato, the cells appeared ruptured from the same cause. Last year he attributed the disease to a surcharge of water, more than the potato could assimilate ; but this year he was extremely puzzled, as the season had been a remarkably dry one. To attempt to arrest the disease, he cut off the main stems of the plant, and lightened up the soil, so as to allow the air to penetrate, which seemed to have the desired effect. On minutely examining the crop a few days ago, he found the spring-planted potatoes diseased to the extent of seventy or eighty per cent., and those planted in autumn only about fifty per cent, affected. He stated that he intended to allow the crop to remain in the ground until wanted for con- sumption. He prefers part of a large potato for a set instead of a whole small one. The insects or animalculse which he observed with the microscope he conceived to be the effect, and not the cause, of the disease, which he attributed to atmospheric action ; that is, the high temperature of the air, succeeded by rain, and surcharged with electric fluid. Mr. Wilson stated that his potatoes were last year very little diseased ; that he stored them up in chaff; but that fermentation and great mois- ture ensued ; upon which he had the potatoes dried in the air, and they afterwards kept very well. After a few observations from three or four other members, the further consideration of the subject was deferred until the next meeting but one. October 30th. — The discussion on the potato disease, its cause and remedy, was resumed, having been adjourned from the meeting of September 11th. In the absence of Mr. Brakenridge, who originally introduced the subject, Mr. Briggs vo- lunteered to open the proceedings, and began by shortly recapitulating the remarks made by Mr. Brakenridge at the previous meeting. He then stated that several causes of the disease had been assigned by different writers on the subject, but that the true one seemed still involved in mystery, as even some of the most scientific men in the kingdom had confessed, that after all their examina- tion and research, they felt as much in the dark as ever, as to its undoubted cause and remedy. In the year 1845, certainly, the excessive rain which occurred, and the great alternations of heat and cold, together with the prolonged absence of sun- shine, seemed to be the most apparent cause ; but the very contrary nature of the weather in the sea- son of 1846 had overturned that idea. The disease had been attributed by various jiarties to the attack of insects — to the variable state of the weather- to the air having been surcharged with electric fluid — to the growth of fungus on the plant — to the appUcation of manure — to late planting, and two or three other causes. Mr. Briggs thought that a combination of some of these attributed causes might produce the effects, but that others were effects rather than causes — such us the attacks of insects, and the growth of fungus ; as, when disease and decay take place, both in vegetable and animal matter, it seems to be a provision of nature to adopt such means as the ravages of insects and the assistant operations of fungus, (the growth and production _of which are only a re- combination and re-aduptation of the chemical con- stituents of the decaying matter), to get rid of, or clear away, any subject of annoyance to the living members of the animal and vegetable kingdom. In human beings, we frequently find that influenza and other diseases are more prevalent in some states of the weather than in others, not always in cold and wet weather, but at times when the medical profession can assign no fixed cause ; it seems to arise from some unascertained state of the atmo- sphere or electrical influence, combined with a pre- vious susceptibility to disease in the patient. So, Mr. B. imagined, it might be with the potato. The susceptibility might be caused by over-ma- nuring and late planting, and a highly electrical state of the atmosphere, combined with sudden and frequent changes in the temperature, he sup- posed to be the dominant cause of the complaint ; and he therefore felt much inclined to beheve that the theory of over-cultivation, or the excessive application of manure, being a pre-disposing cause, had some reasonable foundation, on the ground that as animals are notoriously rendered more tender and liable to disease, and in many cases have actually become diseased, by excessive care, and high living, so the potato, which in a natural state is small and waxy, might equally be enervated in its constitution by excessive similar care, and by too stimulating and rich a food being adminis- tered to it. To combat this argument it has been affirmed, that such cannot be the case, as the potatoes planted without manure, or with but a scanty supply, have in many cases been equally affected by disease : but then again, it is known that many diseases are hereditary in animal life, and it is reasonable to suppose that such may be the case in the vegetable world also ; and as in the former, it may require the most care- ful and abstemious mode of living, on the part of two or three subsequent generations, fully to eradicate the complaint brought into the family by the excesses of the progenitor ; so in the latter, or in the case of the potato, the produce may not be THE FARMER'S MAGAZLNE. 45 free from taint, even though no inauare were ipphed, ])rovided that the sets or seeds had been Drought up daintily. Again, in late planting the potato, the sets having generally been kept in a pie ar heap during tlie winter, warmly covered over vith straw or earth, have undergone a species of fermentation which has injured the germinating oowers, or prematurely urged forward those powers jy producing sprouts, which have abstracted considerable strength from the parent, which is afterwards unreasonably expected to bring fourth a aumerous progeny. Whereas, in })lanting during .he autumn montlis, that storing of the seed in pies s avoided, and its consequent injurious effects also jrevented. It has been said that the winter's frost vould, in the latter case, absolutely kill the set ; )ut if it be planted two or three inches deeper in he soil than is commonly done in spring, and the manure placed above, such is not found to be he case ; and in corroboration of this, Mr. Sriggs brought forward the published experiments )f Mr. Grey, of Dilston, in Northumberland, who aas adopted the practice of autumn planting for "our or five years back, and has invariably obtained jetter and sounder produce by that means, by 20 ;o 30 per cent. Mr. Briggs here stated that he had limself tried the plan last year, and that his ootatoes (two or three of which he exhibited) had lever been a better crop, and though not without 3isease, yet the taint was trifling. He said that ;hus being of opinion that too much rotten manure Deing in contact \vith the potato, was one of the Auxiliary causes of the disease, he meant during che approaching seasons to try the experiment of the application of straw, simply chopped, instead oi fermented manure, which he thought would keep the sets warm and dry, and the gradual decay of the straw in the soil would give out nutriment at the time when the growing produce required it. From some experiments conducted by Philip Pusey, Esq., on the turnip crop, he found that the applica- tion of twenty-six loads or tons of fold-manure per acre produced only one ton more in crop than the ap- plication of only thirteen loads per acre, at a less ex- penseby at least £3 5s. per acre; thus showingthatan excess of manure does not produce any porportional benefit; and it is possible that in the case of the potato such excess may be actually detrimental. Having stated his opinion that excessive manuring ;it any rate predisposed the potato disease, Mr. Briggs proceeded to say he thought that the pecu- liar state of the atmosphere must be the developing cause of the complaint, and this he illustrated by mentioning, that in two instances he observed that opposite to a gate, and an opening in the fence towards the north-west, the potatoes were diseased, when those growing on the part more slieltered v/ere comparatively sound ; thus show- ing the pecuhar exposure to which the former had been subjected was, probably, the immediate and acting cause of the disease; and the sudden and almost simultaneous manner in which plants were attacked in different parts of the country, seems to corroborate that idea. With regard to the best mode of keeping potatoes, he stated that he conceived they ought to be perfectly dry before being stored ; and that after being heaped in the pie for a fortnight or three weeks, during which time a partial fermentation will probably have taken place, they ought again to be opened out and dried, after which he thought they should have a little sand, soil, or chopped straw, mixed with them, in order, in some degree, to keep them from being so much in contact, and again covered over with straw and soil. As a preventive of the disease, he said he had heard of the application of sulphate of soda, and sulphate of magnesia, which he believed in many instances had proved effective, sowing about two cwt. per acre over the plant, soon after it ap- peared above the ground. Mr. Thomas Belton said that last year his potatoes were diseased, that some were immediately stored up in pies, and others dried on a barn-floor. In January last, the tubers which had been immediately pied were found to be decayed and worthless, and those which had been dried had kept sound. He thought that au- tumn planting would act as a preventive, by giving the plant greater strength and stamina to resist disease. Mr. Charnock thought that atmospheric influence was the cause. Mr. Croysdale said he had planted two-and-half acres of dry sandy land in April, and two-and-half acres of drained clay land in May, in both cases applying lime, manure, and guano ; that both portions were diseased in the proportion of one-fifth. Mr. Bottomley said he well limed his field previous to planting his pota- toes ; that soon after the appearance of the disease in August, he had the tops or haulms pulled up by the hand, and that he afterwards found his crop perfectly sound, and the produce at least 120 packs or loads of sound tubers to the acre. Mr. Fitton informed the meeting that he had had many applica- tions for gypsum during the year to be applied to potatoes, and that many parties whom he knew had used it with great effect. Mr. John Dawson said that last year he had set part of his potatoes in May, with newly slacked lime while hot, and the other part in AprU, without lime ; that the produce of the former was a good crop and perfectly sound, while the latter was much diseased. He condemned the practice of immediately storing in pies, and re- commended the tubers to be first dried, and after- wards to be laid up with a mixture of lime and charcoal. Mr. T. Wood said that last year he 46 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. found that the produce of those sets which were planted under the manure was bad^ and over the manure was good. In storing he applied a little lime mixed with the tubers. In the present year he applied hot lime to the sets, and the result has been a failure. Mr, Webb recommended lime to be dusted over potatoes to preserve them, having found it efficacious. Mr. Barratt being prevented from attending the meeting by indisposition, sent a note expressing his regret, and saying that two friends of his had purchased sets from him ; the one used some refuse from the ammonical works as manure, and the other planted without ; that the produce of the former was sound, while the latter was diseased ; and that he had himself tried the same refuse yviih great effect. The result of the discussion was a resolution to the effect, " That in the opinion of this meeting, the prevalent disease of the potato does not arise from any actual deterioration of the plant itself, nor from the ra^'ages of a fungus or an insect ; but that susceptibility to disease may in many cases have been brought about by over cultivation, or too pro- fuse an application of rotten manure ; that atmos- pheric influence, arising from the highly charged state of the air with electricity, has been the domi- nant cause, and that the besi mode of preventing the recurrence of the disease is to plant in autumn, by which the strength and stamina of the plant are better preserved, and the early maturity of the crop promoted." REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION FOR 1846. Work in the Laboratory. The analytical investi- gations conducted in the Laboratoiy di\ade them- selves into two classes — the one class consisting of analyses of soils, manures, &c., which are sent for examination, and on which reports of a scientific and practical nature are drawn up by the chemist ; the other comprising matters of research, which are undertaken for the advancement of science and of the arts. During the six months under review, the analyses of the first description amounted to 103, and of the second to 116. The following table shows the details of analyses for each half of the past year :-^ Analyses made in 1846. From Jan. to July. From I Whole July to year, Dec. 1846. Soils and clays 25 Guanos and other manures.. 65 Refuse of manufactories. ... 4 Marls, limestones, and corals 26 Ironstone 9 Specimens of rocks and other minerals 4 Waters 7 ANALYTICALRESEARCHES Organic — Analyses of the parts of plants Determination of nitrogen in plants Inorganic — Analyses of the ashes of plants Do. do. coal.. 140 41 6 27 30 27 4 29 55 92 8 55 9 8 16 103 25 11 78 2 214 219 433 243 66 17 105 2 Under the head of analytical researches in the above table, are included many analyses, both organic and inorganic, of the potato, in reference to the prevailing disease. The greater part of these has been embodied in an essay upon the subject, presented to the Highland and Agricultural Society, and for which the society has awarded a premium of fifty pounds. Such anal}'tical researches as these are the prin- cipal means by which the Association hopes to pro- mote the second object for which it was established, namely, the extension of our existing knowledge. The pressure of other analytical work on the part of the members of the Association prevented the devotion of so much time to this subject in 1844 and 1845 as during the past year. The committee are satisfied, however, that the more the funds of the Association allow this branch to be prosecuted, the greater wUl be the benefits it will confer upon scientific agriculture. All the analyses, agreeably to the practice of the laboratory, are carefully recorded; and the book in which entries of them are made is now submitted for the inspection of members. Besides the correspondence connected \vith sub- stances transmitted for analyses, a duty requiring considerable time and reflection devolves upon the chemist, in replying to the numerous letters which are addressed to him by members of the Association, seeking advice to aid them in the pursuits in which they are engaged- The letters of this description, received since the 30th June last, were as follows : — July, 65 August, 76 September, 45 October, ..... 55 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 47 November, December, 20 65 32b January to July, per last half-year's report, 461 Total letters in 1846. 787 This twofold correspondence, comprehending reports on substances analysed with practical remarks, and suggestions offered in cases wherein analyses are not resorted to, the committee are disposed to regard with much interest ; and they consider it well calculated, at once to show the utiUty of the institution, and to promote the interests of its members who avail themselves of its advantages. In illustration of the facihty \nth which the benefits held out by the Association may be turned to account by landlords or tenants, and in the hope of encou- raging applications for the semces of the chemist in this department of his labours, they have much pleasure in bringing to the knowledge of members the subjoined letter, addressed to the Honorary Secretary by one of their number, distinguished by his zeal and ability in the cause of the Associa- tion:— " It has often occurred to me, that proprietors and tenants who are members of the Agricultural Chemistry Association would more frequently con- sult Professor Johnston as to the best method of increasing the fertility of their land, did they know the way to set abotxt it. With some also there seems to be a doubt, that they might apply in vain for advice of much practical value. " It would serve to remove these difficulties were you to publish in your half-yearly reports, or otherwise make known the advice which, in par- ticular cases, has been actually asked and ob- tained. "With the view of promoting this object, I shall now briefly mention an application lately made by me to your chemical officer, and the informa- tion and suggestions which I, in consequence, ob- tained from him. " One of my fields is bearing this year turnips, M'hich are much infested with the disease called fingers and toes. Last mnter I put furrow-drains into the field, at a depth of from 3 to 3^ feet. It had previously been kept in grass for many years, but the grass was coarse and scanty. "Being desirous of trying whether I coxild obtain from your officer any suggestions for im- proving the fertility of this field, I sent to the la- boratory a box containing samples of the soil taken from three different parts of it. Two of these samples indicated the average nature of the soil, the other was from a moorish and very barren part. At each of these places, about two handfuls of soil were taken from the surface, and from the respective depths of 8, 20, and 30 inches. " In the course of ten days I received analyses of my soils, with a letter from the Professor, containing suggestions founded on the analyses. The following are the points which he brought under my notice : — "1, That the soil contained to a depth of 30 inches in the moorish pai't 0*54 per cent., and in the other parts from 0"44 to 0"63 per cent, of carbonate of lime. "There was here a great deficiency of lime, which at once accounted for the disease in my turnips. " The Professor recommended, therefore, a con- siderable admixture of lime, which I intend to apply next spring, to the extent of about 15 tons per acre. "2. That the lime should be applied on the moorish part in a caustic state, and on the rest of the field in the form of compost. " This special advice was founded on the circum- stance of there being 6'45 per cent, of organic matter in the moorish part, and only from 3"78 to 4"45 per cent, in the rest of the field. " This organic matter, originating, as it probably did, in the decay of marshy grasses (for the analyses showed 18'96 per centage of water in the moorish soil, and only 14*45 per cent, in the other), contains ulmic and other acids, which are (as is well known) injurious to the roots of grain crops, and require to be neuti'alised by lime, which, by their action, is readily converted into food for plants. " In the rest of the field, the deficiency of organic n^atter will be rectified by the lime compost. " 3. That there is a deficiency of alkaline salts, on which account the Professor recommended that the lime should be slaked with salt and water, to the extent of giving 2 cwt. of salt to the acre. " 4. Farther, I may mention, that there is a soda-water manufactory near my farm, the refuse of which, said to consist entirely of gypsum, I heard that the owner was disposing of very cheaply. The price he was asking, and generally obtaining, was five shillings per ton, and one shilling to one shilling and sLxpence for the barrels containing it. I obtained a bottle of the refuse and sent it to the laboratory, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it would be for my advantage, as apparently it was, to obtain a considerable quantity, even though I would have to cart it four miles. " The refuse was in a state of pulp, and was formed by the mixture of sulphuric acid with chalk, the combination producing a disengagement of the carbonic acid gas from the chalk. The result shows strongly the practical utility of such prelim- inary inquiries. " In a few days I received an analysis, inform- 48 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ing me that the soda-water refuse contained no less than 70'16 per cent, of water; moreover, that the mixture when dried contained, out of 100 lb., only 56-55 lb. of gypsum, and 39'24 lb. of chalk, the rest earthy matter. The relative proportions, there- fore, in 2240 lb., or a ton of the refuse, were — "Water, 1571 lb. Gypsum, 377 lb. Chalk, 262 lb. Earthy matter, .... 30 lb. " But pure gypsum, I was informed by your officer, could be obtained at thirty-five shiUings per ton, 377 lb. of which, therefore, would cost only five shiUings and tenpence, whereas 377 lb. of the gypsum, offered to me by my soda-water friend, would, including barrels, have cost from six shiUings to six shiUings and sixpence ; and his gypsum could not be obtained without carting, and putting on my land with every ton of it, more than four tons of water. " It is scarcely necessary to add, that I declined availing myself of this cheap purchase of gypsum ; and, at the same time, I told the apothecary that were he to apply more sulphuric acid to his chalk, which chalk he was importing from England at a great expense, he would not only not be throwing so much of it away, but he would make his refuse more serviceable to the farmer. " On the proper mode of applying the lime re- fuse of a gas-work near my farm, I have also received useful advice. But on this and other points I need not dUate. I think that I have already said enough in this letter to show the practical utility to pro- prietors and tenants of such analyses as your laboratory affords." Visits to districts. — The districts in Scotland to which visits have been made by the chemist, since the last half-yearly meeting, are the shires of Argyle, Inverness, and Perth ; and the lectures and addresses delivered in them have varied with the exigencies of the occasions and places of delivery. Elementary prelections have now been addressed to audiences in all parts of the country ; and, while they have been the means of imparting as much information as was compatible mth their scope, the hope may be cherished that, in a still higher degree, they have been instrumental in exciting a taste and relish for the science which it was one of their objects to recommend. They have been ser- viceable, also, as a stimulus to scientific agriculture ; from which permanent results, beneficial to the country, can hardly fail to accrue. The same plan of procedure cannot, however, be repeated, and it is a subject of anxious consideration to the com- mittee to determine what arrangement can most advantageously be substituted for it. - In visiting the different districts, the attention of Professor JoLnstoJi appears to have been parti- cularly arrested by what fell under his observation in the counties of Inverness and Argyle ; and his views, with reference to the past and present condi- tion of that portion of Argyleshire which comprises the peninsula of Cantyi-e, are exhibited in the fol- lowing letter which he has addressed to the committee : — " Among the several parts of Scotland which I have visited during the latter half of this year, I have been most struck with some districts in the shires of Argyle and Inverness. At the southern extremity of the former county towards the end of the peninsula of Cantyre, and at the head of a bay of the same name, stands the town of Campbelton. Though situated in a highland country, and separ- ated by a rough sea from the lowland districts, this has, in reality, for many generations, been a low- land town. Peopled by the decendants of settlers from the low country, who had taken refuge there during the times of religious persecution, its in- habitants have been active, industrious, and enter- prising,— a race totally distinct from those of the rural districts, and rarely intermarrying with them. They are the principal owners of nearly thirty distilleries, and possess the greater part of the local influence, with the exception of that which naturally centres in the Duke of Argyle, as the superior of the town, and the principal proprietor in the district. " To the west of Campbelton, and across the peninsula to the western sea, stretches an extent of low flat land known by the name of the Laggan. Widening as we proceed westward, — bounded by hills to the north and south, and exhibiting, here and there, little islands of richer cultivation, lifting themselves from twenty to fifty feet above the general level, — this low land has evidently, at no remote period, been an arm of the sea, perhaps a strait — opening wide towards the west, and com- municating by a narrow channel with the bay of Campbelton. " Tliis conclusion is confirmed by the fact, that, at various depths, recent shells, and especially the Cyprina islandica, well preserved, are met with in the middle of this flat land. " The character of the soil, also, is consistent with this view. It consists of islands of clay land, formed by accumulations of muddy sediment, while the whole was under water — of ridges and hiUs of almost naked gravel, of various heights and sizes, thrown up in the more troubled parts of the estuary, or as successive beaches when the waters were receding — nearer the sea, of downs of drifted sand, partly silicious, and partly composed of comminuted shells, thrown up by the sea, and drifted by the wind ; — and between and among these three varie- ties of solid land of a wide extent of moss of II THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 49 uncertain depth, filling up the beds of ancient lakelets left by the retiring sea, or formed by the waters when dammed back by the embankments of drifted sand. " The geological history of this district is inter- esting, both as accounting for its physical appear- ance, and for the character and agricultural capa- bilities of its clays and gravels, — the surface of the Laggan indicating very nearly the actual or former extent of a deposit of oolitic rocks, white sandstones, dark shales, coal, and perhajis limestone, which are here found resting upon the old-red sandstone and the older slates. " Along this part of the Scottish coast, the old- red sandstones have, in a great measure, been removed by the action of the sea. But the oolitic rocks are still softer and more easily worn away. Exposed in this spot to the full force of the Atlantic, brought by a north-west wind past the Mull of Oe in Islay, they gradually yielded, crumbled down, and gave place to the ancient lake or estuary which more recent changes have caused again to disappear. Hence the clays of this flat consist chiefly of the debris of the shales of the oolite, with some small additions from the adjacent slate rocks — the gravels chiefly of the rolled fragments of the oolitic sand- stones, mixed with those of the old-red sandstone ind of the harder slate rocks — and the sands of the :ommingled silicious particles of the oolitic and 5ld-red sandstones. Though limestones occur imong the slate rocks, especially to the south of .he Laggan, few fragments of such rocks are to be bund among the rolled gravels which are spread )ver its surface. " In this flat country the agricultural capabilities j U'e great, and the improvements which have recently jjeen made upon it and the neighbouring land are .'ery striking. " The lower slopes of the hills which bound it lire naturally fertile, as they often rest upon or are i?omposed of the debris of old-red sandstone rocks —and the higher clay lands which rise among the noss, have long yielded occasional heavy crops. The gravelly soils have willingly gro\vn potatoes ind here, and occasionally turnips ; and the naked noss, when kindly treated, has shewn itself capable if giving a profitable return. " But progress in this district was slow till /ithin the last ten or fifteen years. Up to 1830, he potato was almost the sole agricultural export ^•om Campbelton, and the money returns were uflficient to pay nearly the whole rental of the istrict. Since that time this export has been radually decreasing, and in consequence of a hange in the husbandry, other products have been Libstituted in its stead. " I have said that though a Lowland population occupied the town of Campbelton, they did not intermingle with the native race, and communicated, therefore, little of their energy to the rural popula- tion. As is still the case in many Highland districts, this part of the population was poor, and usually in debt to their landlords. With little knowledge, they had little hope, and little energy. They im- pi'oved little, perhaps, because they did not know how. They were accused of obstinacy and indolence — and indeed so frequently manifest them that many have come to think, erroneously I believe, that these qualities are inherent in the blood of the Celtic race. At all events the tenantry in this part of Cantyre were far from being comfortable, thriving, or happy ; they gave much trouble also, and anxiety to the proprietors, and it was exceed- ingly desirable that some change should be intro- duced. " The method adopted was to introduce lowland farmers as the old tenantry died out, became insol- vent, or emigrated ; to consolidate two or three farms into one, to build better houses, to convert a considerable portion of the old exhausted land into permanent pasture ; to replace the Kyloe by the Ayreshire cow, and to introduce a dairy instead of a potato husbandry. " Though a country like this could scarcely be expected to hold out inducements to the best class of lowland farmers, yet so superior a body of practical agriculturists has been gradually intro- duced, that the appearance of the country is undergoing an entire alteration. A new spiiit and energy appear among the agricultural classes ; they pay larger rents, and more punctually than the former tenantry, and yet they are more thrinng and happy. They live more comfortably, and have their houses and farms in better order. They are sensible that much may yet be done for the land they occupy, they believe it may be done with profit to themselves ; they are, therefore, full of hope, and very desirous of information as to the safest and most economical methods of improve- ment. In my lectures to these farmers I took the liberty, among other obser\^ations specially applic- able to the subject, of pointing out to them the value of a cheap manufacture of pipe-tiles for draining their stiffer soils ; of Mr Smith's peat- drains for their flat mosses ; of a compost of peat with their abundant lime, for the gravelly and sandy tracts ; the importance of saving the liquid manure, which I saw in many places running to waste, and the use of the peat earth for this purpose — the profit of a higher manuring upon their barley and turnip soils — the composition and value of the refuse of their numerous distilleries — and the advantage that would arise to the district from the establishment of a bone-mill. I have no doubt 6U THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. that the same skill and energy, by which the changes I have already alluded to have been brought about, will gradually lead to the adoption of these methods of local improvement also. It is to the exertions of Mr. Stewart of Strowan, the Duke of Argyle's chamberlain, that much of this improve- ment is to be ascribed. " I cannot leave this locality without remarking upon the striking illustration it gives of the power of knowledge and its use to all classes of society. The former race of farmers upon this land could not pay a small rent, and live free from debt. A more instructed race succeeded them, pay larger rents, and live comfortably. By the increase of knowledge among this tenantry, the income of the landlord is increased ; while, by the larger produce raised, more people are fed, and the internal peace and material power of the country are augmented. Thus, that diffusion of knowledge among the rural classes, which is one of the objects of our Association, is manifestly an object of importance to all classes of the community. " But to the rural classes themselves, the present occupiers of the soil, it is of more immediate interest. That which is taking place in Cantyre, will happen in every other district where the desire for know- ledge becomes stagnant, and improvement long stands still. Better instructed men will succeed to their farms, and they or their sons will be dispos- sessed. How important, therefore, that they should keep pace with the advance of knowledge, if they desire to retain the station they at present occupy, or to raise themselves higher in the scale of society !" The Benefits which the Association is capable of rendering. In the advanced state which the agri- culture of this country has attained, and in the lu-gency for further improvement, arising from the extended competition which recent poUtical measures are calculated to produce in the supply of the great articles of human subsistence, such an institution as the Association acquires fresh importance, and becomes more than ever necessary to the prosperity of the Agricultural Interest. Chemical analyses of soils and plants throw much light upon the arcana of nature in the departments of her kingdom to which they respectively belong ; they illustrate the relation which subsists between them, as regards the processes of vegetation ; and they afford essen- tial aid in ascertaining the kind and quantity of substances that are required by given soils for the production of specific crops. The known principles, too, of chemical action, in resolution and composition, serve to explain facts which experience establishes in practical husbandry; while they elucidate the causes of the diversified and more rarely opposite effects which sometimes follow similar appUcations, and which, without the explanation that chemistry furnishes, would be likely to issue in discouragement and perplexity. The advantages of chemical ana- lyses have been extensively experienced in the pre- vention of imposition, and in the right appreciation to which analytical investigations have led, with respect to different articles offered for sale as potent manures ; and they have, likewise, been conspicuous in shewing the absolute and comparative value of divers descriptions of food for use in rearing and fattening cattle. It ought never, however, to be forgotten, that the researches of the laboratory alone will not yield sufficient data for the formation of a sound theory, either of agricultural management, or of feeding stock. There must, in addition, be an accumulation of carefully observed and accurately recorded facts, derived from experience of the actual occurrences which take place in the conduct of the farm, and of the feeding-house. It is from the combined results of practical observation and scientific research, that just systems of practice may eventually be deduced ; and the reahzation of this desirable consummation will largely depend upon the assistance which able and scientific men shall receive from intelligent men of practice. Experiments in the Field, — In the published pro- ceedings of the Association, and in previous reports, attention has been dra^vn to the refuse matters of bleach-works, as well as to other waste materials ; and experiments have been suggested for testing their value to the practical farmer. A letter has been received from Mr. Pringle, at Ingram Farm, nearLisburn, in Ireland, describing some interesting and successful experiments of this kind, in which the waste leys of a bleach-work were found very advantageous, in conjunction with farm-yard manure, in promoting the growth of turnips. The subjoined results are deduced from the statement in the letter, as having been obtained from the ex- periments tried : — BULBS. TOPS. Tons. Cwt. Tons. Cwt. Dung alone, 17 H 8 14 per acre. Dung and guano, .. 26 18^ 8 IJ do. Dung and waste leys 33 12f 7 12§ do. The interesting difference in the weight of the tops, when the leys were used, appears to be con- nected with the large quantity of alkaline matter contained in the waste liquor ; and, so far as the experiment goes, the liquid seems to influence the gro^vth of the plant more in the bulb than in the leaf —a very important fact, if further trials should confirm it. Conclusion. — In concluding their Report, the committee mention, with regret, that, owing to 11 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 51 iinj)a!red health. Professor Johuslon was obliged to apply for leave of absence from Durham during the winter session of his lectures in the University of that city. The desired permission was readily granted, and the Professor repaired to the continent; from which, the committee are happy to say, he has now returned in improved, though not perfectly restored, health. He has collected much valuable information; and, as the Association will be grati- fied to learn, he was received with distinguished kindness in Holland, where his scientific and prac tical attainments are held in much estimation, and where, in compliance with pressing sohcitations, he deUvered two lectures at the Hague, on the Agriculture of the Netherlands, iu its connection with Science. A society for the promotion of scientific agriculture was formed immediately after the delivery of the lectures, on a basis, in most re- spects, similar to that of the Association; and Professor Johnston had the honour of naming the first Professor, and of designating his duties. No more convincing proof could be afforded of the high appreciation of the example which the Asso- ciation has set, in seeking, by the hght of scientific knowledge, to elucidate the processes of nature and art in the nutrition and growth of plants, and to advance the national welfare by means of an Eco- nomic Agriculture, — Journal of Agriculture. AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE. The existence, in the provinces, of local clubs for the mutual msurance of cows, long before the establishment of more elaborately constituted agriculturist assurance companies, sufficiently disproves the silly charge that the farmers, as a body, have betrayed a gross indiffer- ence to their own interests. That they have been ani- mated by a totally different feeling, all who have any knowledge of them will readily allow. They have ever evinced a meritorious anxiety for the advancement of husbandry, but have, unfortunately, lacked those ready and economical means which are within the I'each of other classes. The mere estabhshment of these little mutual assistance societies, is evidence of their activity of intellect, and of their readiness to avail themselves of the social advantages of the age. Burke was a tolerable judge of human character, and he frequently declared that the farmers were, on the score of intelligence, a greatly belied and calumniated body. He attributed to them shrewdness and discernment of no ordinary nature ; and those who have mixed with, and are intimate with them, will, without hesitation, bear witness to the value and correctness of the prophet-statesman's estimate. 'We know something about them, and are prepared at any moment to contend that for shrewdness and sagacity j they are not excelled by any other class in society. The I truth is, that it has been fashionable to decry them : they j have been targets for the paper pellets of the satirist and the fiction-monger ; and the town classes, catching I the tone, have become insensibly inoculated with the be- I lief that stupidity dwells in the country, and wisdom in the towns and cities. This veiy amiable creed is fast disappearing, and an enlightened appreciation of one of the wealthiest and most important bodies in society taking its place. It is now apparent to all who have capacity to deal with the subject, that the isolated posi- tion of the farmer has been sadly against bim, and that if he had possessed the means of improvement and of centralization that have long been within the reach of the middle classes, he would have equalled, if not ex- celled, them in habits of business and economy, and in his appreciation of those arts, sciences, and social regu- lations, which are the chikhen of civilization. Had the farmer's social position been on a par with that of the merchant, the manufacturer, and the tradesman, he would, years and years ago, have availed himself of the protection and security which the principle of assurance affords. To imagine the reverse would be absurd, for the supposition would be eloquently contra- dicted by the alacrity with which he grasps at the advantages held out to him by the few agricultural as- surance societies at present estabhshed. Cattle as- surance has progressed rapidly within the last few years, and bids fair in a very short time to rival in amount that long practised in France and Belgium. The local and comparatively inefficient cow clubs are being rapidly abandoned for the more safe and economical, because more extensive, system adopted by several large pro- prietary and mutual agricultural assurance offices. All descriptions of Uve stock are now insured, and that to so great an extent that the insurances effected in a single office amount to millions of pounds in a year. And no wonder, when we learn from that invaluable work Mc Queen's " Statistics of the British Empire" the enormous value of the live stock in the United Kingdom. It appears that there are 2,250,000 horses of the total value of 67,000,000/., of which more than 1,500,000 are used in agriculture, and that their value is 45,000,000/. The number of black cattle in the kingdom is about 14,000,000 to 15,000,000, of the value of 216,000,000/. ; the number of sheep 50,000,000, whose value is estimated at 67,000,000/. ; and the extent of capital invested in swine is still more extraordinary, when we reflect how little it is thought upon or taken into account. The number of pigs of all ages, breeding and rearing, is calculated to be upwards of 18,000,000, which, taking one-third at 21. each, and the remainder at 10s. each, gives a value of 18,870,000/. as the capital ^invested in pigs alone, making the total amount of capital invested in the above species of agricultural stock 346,270,000/. If to this we add the annual value of the crops, the capital in the hands of the farmers in the shape of Uve E 2 52 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. siock and the produce of the earth, cannot, at a mode- rate computation, be estimated at less than six hundred millions of pounds. So vast a sum, such a gigantic amount of wealth, is surely deserving of the most care- ful and provident management ; it is too great, too im- portant to the intei'ests and safety of the community to be sported with ; and it is with no small gratification that we know the farmers thought so a long time since, and endeavoured, by all the means in their power, to give to their possession of so much property a perma- nent and unfluctuating character. They have protected themselves from the vile incendiary by assuring against fire ; from storms, tempests, and hail, by insuring their crops ; and lastly, but not leastly, have applied the prin- ciple of life assurance to their live farming stock. The latter species of insurance we consider of the utmost importance to the agricultural interest, for the ravages of disease amongst cattle may by that means be ar- rested. No provision but a compensatory one can be made for the damages crops may sustain from storms and tempests; but the prevalence of cattle assurance will necessarily cause inquiries to be instituted into the origin of disease, and lead not only to steps being taken to effect a cure, but a prevention of such disease. Statis- tical knowledge as to the diseases and mortality of cattle will be accumulated, the experience of practical men will be enlisted, and the utmost precautionary measures adopted, to prevent those disorders to which live farming stock are so liable. Ventilation, draining, and careful feeding will be attended to, and diseases that have hitherto baffled the best and most skilful hus- bandmen be wholly banished, or so mitigated as to be mild and harmless, compared with their present seve- rity. The British farmer is as well aware of this as we are, and we hail his determination to avail himself of the protection, sound security, and knowledge afforded by assurance, as the harbmger of a better and more flou- rishing condition, both for him and his posterity. At present he excels the foreign agriculturist in every re- spect ; but as he has not obtained the position he ought to occupy in society, he must steadily pursue the course he has adopted, until he has distanced all rivalry, and made himself able to compete with the world, and shown him- self every inch a John Bull. — Assurance Gazette. m MARTOCK DISTRICT FARMERS' CLUB, The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday, June 1, at the George Inn, J. Francis, Esq., the President, occupied the chair. Several matters of preliminary business having been disposed of, Mr. Francis introduced the question he had given notice of — " The advantages to be derived from the col- lection of Agricultural Statistics;" and proceeded to address the meeting as follows : — It was no doubt in their recollection that on the first evening of his joining the club, he (Mr. F.) recommended that subject amongst others should be discussed. He had not then the least idea that a bill was about to be brought into parliament relating to it ; but he had since been gratified by seeing Mr, M. Gibson's measure introduced. The present question, as they were aware, had been entered on the minute book for discussion a considerable length of time, but other subjects of vital importance having been entitled to priority of attention, it had been delayed till now ; and when, indeed, he had observed the government introducing a bill on the collection of agricultural sta- tistics, he had imagined that the necessity of agitating the importance of the question was passed, and that the justice and emergency of the proposed measure would ensure its passing immediately ; but in this he had been mistaken. Like the other agricultural legislative enact- ments that had been introduced this session (he alluded to those on tenant-right, the repeal of the malt tax, and the alteration of the law of settlement), this was also by present appearances fast passing into oblivion ; and though it might not, like them, be strangled by its pro- genitors, yet he much feared that unless agriculturists e.-verted themselves, it would be allowed to die a natural death. The all-absorbing question that was now excit- ing such a painful interest throughout the country was, "Shall we have enough corn for our consumption?" and, respecting it, the government, the agriculturists, and the public were alike ignorant. If the agriculturists were confident that the government had correct infor- mation about the matter, they would know whether to hold or sell their corn ; and if the pubhc were assured of the same fact, the food riots which had been so prevalent of late, would not take place, for the poor imagined that they were victimised by the speculators ; but as all were in ignorance, a panic had taken place, confusion had been the consequence, and throughout England at the present time the humane and charitable were engaged in getting up subscription funds to prevent the starvation of their fellow-creatures. It was evident, therefore, that they were at present suffering, as a nation, for want of the information which agricultural statistics would provide. All the countries producing cotton, sugar, tea, tobacco, and the other articles of which our manufactur- ing and commercial neighbours were purchasers, either possessed accurate returns by legal enactment, or the enterprise of the parties interested prompted them to obtain information by which every particular relating to the future price of these productions was known. Thus the deficiency in the cotton crop had been accurately calculated last year, and the manufacturers of that article had been aware beforehand of the coming scarcity. He had no doubt that if the amount of grain in the country had been calculated immediately after last har- vest, speculations would have been entered into earlier, the farmers throughout the country would have sold their corn for more money, a greater abundance would have been left in the country at the present time, the money market would probably not have been deranged, and the !! THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 63 extreme high rates at which corn was then selling, and the sufi'ering caused thereby, would have been prevented. He had not alluded to the merits or demerits of the bill now before parliament, but the resolution he was about to propose did not require it — it was as follows : — " Tiiat the adoption of a well-regulated national system of agricultural statistics would be of benefit to the public generally, and would be of peculiar value to the agri- cultural class of the community" (much applause). Mr. Joseph Darby, in seconding the resolution, observed that after the instructive address of their worthy president, any remarks of his own on the advantages of agricultural statistics would be superfluous. He would meielv give it as his opinion, therefore, that as the whole of the community were interested more or less in the price of corn, too much information on the subject could not be obtained. If the giving in of statistics were made compulsory, he was afraid many farmers would consider the act that provided for it to be of an arbitrary charac- ter ; but he was satisfied statistics could not be obtained if farmers were not obliged to give them ; and as it would be for the good of the community, they ought not to object against being forced to make such returns (Hear, hear). He begged leave to second the resolution. I\[r. JiB Hallett differed from the preceding speaker. Agricultural statistics might be required for certain purposes, but he was afraid they would give en- couragement to monopoly. England had plenty of monied men, and he was afraid that if it were to become known iiiimediately after harvest, that there was a deficiency of corn in the kingdom, they would speculate, and buy up the whole quantity they could lay hands on, to sell again at what price they liked. He moved the following amendment: — "That the collection of agricultural sta- tistics would be more detrimental to the interest of the community than beneficial." Mr. W. H. Hebditch considered the question as one cf the utmost importance. There had been great fluctuation in the price of food during the last few ye;\rs, which was highly injurious to the welfare of the community. Unless Mr. Hallett was prepared to prove that in other countries where agricultural statistics had been collected, they had been productive of the injurious tendency he had attached to them, he could not coincide in his opinion. After a few remarks from Mr. Darby, Mr. Hebditch, and Mr. Joseph Cave, Mr. Francis, in reply, observed that if speculators, after a deficient harvest, bought up a considerable quan- tity of grain, it would be a benefit instead of an injury to the public, in preventing a lavish expenditure of it, and in causing a greater equality of price throughout the season, for they would have to sell it again ; and the more they had hoarded up, the more plentiful, and, as a natural consequence, the cheaper it would be afterwards. Mr. Hallett's amendment fell to the ground for want of a seconder, and on the resolution proposed by Mr. Francis being put to the meeting, it was declared carried. Several members then raised objections to that por- tion of the bill now before parliament, which provided that the expenses of gathering statistics should be paid out of the poor-rates. Mr. J. D. Cave proposed the following resolution on the subject: — " That as a system of agricultural statistics would be for the benefit of the whole community, and not exclusively for that of the rate-paying classes, the expense of the machinery of such a system should be paid out of the public purse." Mr. W. H. Hebditch seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. J. Dauby then moved, " that petitions to both Houses of Parliament be forwarded by the Club, sug- gesting that Mr. M. Gibson's bill be amended in con- formity with the resolution just passed, and entreating them to pass it without delay into law." Mr. T. Clark seconded the motion, which, on being put from the chair, was also declared carried. A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman, and the meeting separated. SALE OF EARL SPENCER'S ESTATE IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. Every person, who knew the late patriotic Earl Spen- cer, was aware that his lordship was particularly attached to his seat at Wiseton, near East-Retford ; but whether that partiality arose from his early associations, from its eligibility for the breeding of short-horns, or from the general salubrity of the district, is not for us to deter- mine ; but certain it is that for sevei'al of the last years of his life, his lordship spent the greater portion of his time at Wiseton, and whenever estates of magnitude were offered for sale, which were lying contiguous to his own property, he was almost invariably the purchaser. The estate It ft by his lordship at his decease, within the Hundred of Bassetlaw, consisting of upwards of 8000 acres, mostly of capital land, were situate at Wiseton, Scaftwoith, Everton, Misson, Scrooby, Mattersey, and Clayworth. The seat and estate at Wiseton was formerly the pro- perty of the Nelthorpe family, from whom it was pur- chased about the year 1670, by Jonathan Acklom, Esq., who settleditupon his youngest son, Rchd. Acklom, Esq., and who came to reside there in 1719, after his marriage with Elizabeth Stanhope, co-heiress of William Stan- hope, Esq., of High Melwood, in the county of Lincoln. This lady died in 1722, after having had issue, but which also died. Mr. Acklom married secondly in 1726, Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir George Cooke, Bart,,, of Wheatley, near Doncaster, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. The eldest of these was Jonathan Acklom, Esq , who married Mary, daughter of Marma- duke Constable, Esq., of Everingham Park, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, by whom he had amongst others a son .and two daughters. The son, Richard Acklom, 54 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Esq., mamed in 1785, Elizabeth, daughter of James Bernard, Esq., sister of the Ear) of Bandon, and had an only daughter Esther, married 14th April, 1814, to Viscount Althorpe, the late Earl Spencer, but by her, who died on the 11th of June, 1818, his lordship had no issue. It was through this marriage that the Not- tinghamshire estates came into the possession of Earl Spencer, and by him were bequeathed, at his death on the 1st of October, 1845, to his brother, the present Earl. The eldest daughter of Jonathan Acklom, Esq., Ann Elizabeth, married on the 9th of May, 1797, Christopher Nevile, Esq., Thorney, by whom she had two sons, Christopher and George. She died on the 11th of June, 1813. The youngest daughter, Lucy, married in June, 1796, the Rev. Charles Constable, of Wassand, in the county of York, by whom she had an only daughter, married in 1818, to Sir George Strick- land, Bart., M.P. for the West Riding of Yorkshire. We have stated at the head of this article that the estates belonging to Eai"l Spencer, in Nottinghamshire, had been disposed of, and we have much pleasure in stat- ing that the purchaser is the Rev. Christopher Nevile, of Thorney, eldest son of the late Christopher Nevile, Esq., R.N., by Ann Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Jonathan Acklom, Esq. ; so that the descendants of the family, who held the estates for nearly one hundred and fifty years, are once more taking the same into posses- sion. Mr. Nevile, who was born on the 1 1th of January, 1806, married, 28th December, 1830, Gertrude, third daughter of the late Col. Hotham, of York, by whom he has a son and five daughters. We hope, for the sake of the neighbourhood, that the residence at Wiseton will soon be occupied, and that this beautiful part of the country will have a resident worthy of succeeding the late justly lamented John Charles, Earl Spencer. — Don- caster Gazette. WEALD OF KENT FARMERS' CLUB. At the monthly meeting in May, Mr. Barnes, the vice-chairman, presided, in the absence of the pre- sident. The subject of discussion was. The Cultiva- tion of Root Crops. The following members being called on, described the points of their practice : — Mr. Tom LIN had used five cwt. of guano against fifty loads of dung and mould, and had not ob- served much difference in the produce. He could grow much better turnips with stable dung than cow dung. Mr. Gauge had applied as much as ten cwt. of guano per acre for turnips, and in some parts more, by way of experiment ; and where the most guano was put, the following oat crops were then looking the best. His custom was to plough once early for turnips, to sow the guano broadcast, and to "shim" the land till it was in good season in the spring. He sowed about five quarts of seed per acre, which had saved him from the flea, which had been very numerous. In one case, he had had cold lime strewed over the plant, which had driven the flea away. When, however, a shower of rain fell, the flea returned, but were again dislodged by lime. He had found lime of great use in growing potatoes. He last year had some potatoes which had been dressed with lime, and they had turned out remarkably well. Where the potatoes had been manured with dung, the crop was the largest, but was diseased. With lime, the crop was not quite so large, but the potatoes were excellent, and very few amongst them were diseased. He had tried guano on some potatoes, but they turned out small in quantity, and were very much diseased, and very waxy. After a dressing of salt, the potatoes were pretty good, but not very plentiful. A dressing of wo.id ashes produced little more than where the crop had had no dressing. The potatoes grown without any manure were better in quality, but fewer in quantity, than those grown with dung. Mr. Hague said that for growing turnips he generally prepared his land in the autumn, after carrying out on it from twenty-five to thirty loads of good manure from the yard. After ploughing his land, he allowed it to lie till the spring, when he ran the cultivator through it, and got it well pul- verized. He then baulked it in ridges twenty- four or twenty-seven inches wide ; if the land .was strong, twenty-seven inches ; if not so strong, twenty-four inches. A little more good dung was put into the furrows, and the dung being covered by splitting the ridges, the seed was drilled upon the dung. He had generally had good luck with this system, one year with another. This distance apart left him plenty of room for the horse-hoe, and he had very little trouble in thinning the rows out with the hoe. His dung had been mixened, so as to make it short enough to admit of its being covered. His carts held from sixteen to eighteen bushels. His opinion was that farmers seldom ploughed their land early enough, so as to get the full benefit of the winter's frost. In his lent corn he could see the difference of a dressing of manure between the first ploughed and the last ploughed. He adopted the same system for mangold-wurtzel as for turnips. Mr. T. Law Hodges, Mr. Murton, of East Kent, and some other gentlemen, had walked over his land in a late dry summer, and said that they had nowhere seen a better plant. He subsoiled every now and then. He did not like ploughing in the spring, for in eight seasons out of ten the ground dried too fast to enaljle them in such case to break it down. With respect to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 55 artificial manures, he thought that after a dressing of twenty-five loads of dung, twenty bushels of l)une-dust, mixed with twenty bushels of wood ashes, was an excellent preparation. His sort of mangold-wurtzel was the yellow globe, which he put in the first week in May. He had never had the plants suffer from frost, and thought that it was well to get it in thus early, as the cold lands re- quired more time to grow roots in, than the lighter and richer soils, otherwise he should prefer grow- ing them not so early. He generally preserved his roots by clamping them upon faggots, covering them with straw and a little mould. Mr. TuRLEY said that he generally thoroughly drained his land before attempting to grow roots. He then manured highly for wheat, ploughed the ground in autumn, and put in beans three feet apart. He then " shimmed" the land till he got it into a good season, and put in, between the rows, from three cwt. to four cwt. per acre of guano. This plan had succeeded for the last two or three years, and he had adopted the same plan this year, as he found that he got by it two-thirds of a crop of beans, and two-thirds of a crop of turnips. He grew an early sort of bean, which he put in as soon as possible in January. His dressing was generally about fifty loads of farm-yard dung. Mr. BucKLAND said that what few turnips he had grown had generally been after from five cwt. to six cwt. of guano per acre. He had not always ploughed so early as he thought desirable, but hav- ing a pretty good season, he had grown from 500 to 600 bushels per acre. He had stored them in an oast, and had lost very few. Mr. Unicume said that on his light land he generally grew about 400 bushels of turnips per acre, from about twenty bushels of bones ])er acre, and had also obtained pretty good crops of oats and seeds afterwards. Last year he had dressed with about six cwt. of guano on a piece of land of very decent quality, but he had got no more than 400 bushels. This year he had dressed with four quarters of bone-dust, twenty bushels of wood ashes, and two cwt. of guano per acre. Mr. Lansdell, said that he used about thirty loads of jjartly decomposed farm-yard dung, and three cwt. guano per acre, drilled at twenty-seven inches apart, and got about 500 bushels per acre, in a rather sandy soil. Hethought with Mr. Hague, that spring ploughing was not advisable, and also used the cultivator. He underdrained about one and a half rods apart, generally from three feet to three feet and a half deep, and in some cases as deep as six feet. He drilled on the ridge ; which, however, had sometimes this disadvantage— that the clods would roll in. Mr. Ralf said that last year he had used seven cwt. of guano. He had ploughed in February, in rather a light soil, and put in the turnips in the middle of May, which he found wa^ too early, as the plant got the mildew, and he did not get more than 300 bushels per acre. The oats which followed were, however, now looking very well indeed, Mr. AsHMOLE said he followed the Norfolk system for turnips, excepting that where they ploughed three times in Norfolk, he only ploughed once, and got a season with the scarifier. A member said that in rolling his Swedes with bullocks, he had found that the largest turnips had grown where the bullocks had most trodden the field. Another member said that having sown as late as the beginning of June, he escaped the mildew, and got about 500 bushels per acre. Mr. James Buckland said that he had last year sown broadcast, five cwt. of guano per acre on Mr. Hague's plan, and had got 700 bushels per acre. Mr. Barnes then described his system of tur- nip growing, of which, having been so frequently before our readers, we need perhaps only give the leading points. He had tried to grow turnips many years ago at Staplehurst, but had failed, and given it up for a bad job, for ten or twelve years. He had then drained his fallow fields four rods apart, crossing the drains with the mole plough in every fifth furrow. As soon as he had got his wheat in, he ploughed his turnip land. In spring he apphed his guano broadcast, at the rate of ten cwt. per acre, and having got about 800 bushels of Swedes per acre, he was encouraged to go on. He had tried experiments with five different manures, on five acres of the stiffest clay he had, and the follow- ing were the results, the same cost of manure hav- ing been put upon every acre : — Bushels of Swedes. 90 loads of horse -dung 300 8 cwt. Peruvian guano G40 1 ton of rape dust , 460 1 ton of London urate 380 40 bushels of bones 480 The oat crop following was the best on the guano piece by one and a half sacks. The rape-dust and the bones were the next. The seeds were also the best on the guano and the rape-dust. In the whole seeds there was also a marked difference, in favour of these two pieces. In neither of the following crops did the dung show any superiority whatever, over the artificial manures. The land was now in beans, and the guano and the rape-dust still looked much the best. He did not think that dung an- swered well for turnips on stiff clays, although he had no doubt it would do so on other soils. When the rain came at Michaelmas, the part where he had put the dvmg was completely sodden; it was a com- plete pudding, much worse than any other parts of 56 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the field. He preferred early ploughing, and if it were not to interfere with the wheat season^ he should like to plough directly after harvest. He then, witli hoj) nidgets and cultivators, got as good a season in the K|)ring as he could, and after two or three nidgettings, he put in ten cwt. of the best Peruvian guano. He sowed from one to two gal- lons of seed broadcast, by which means he got a very thick plant. As soon as the plant was up, he directed his man to get a bean brake and a hop pitcher, and to make holes with the pitcher at both ends of the field, at double the distances at which it was intended the rows should stand. Before starting with the brake to cut out the turnips l)e- tween the rows, the brakeman sent a boy with a line to place it on a stick in one of the holes at the opposite part of the field. The line being stretched, the brake- man went down one side of the line, and back on the other side. He and the boy then shifted the line a hole further on, and thus the field was cut, and left in rows as regularly as if they were drilled, they were then thinned out by being hoed across. His turnips had last year been much affected by mildew. He was still an advocate for eaily sowing in clays. Above the (ragstone) hill, the 20th of June might be early enough, for there he had some- times seen the turnips do half their work after Michaelmas. He preferred clamping, as Mr. Hague did, to leaving them in the ground late. He was disposed to consider mangold-wurtzel a better root for clay soils than the turnip, inasmuch as it could be sown earlier, and the flea would not touch it. He had found this root equal to turnips for milch cows. They had, he thought, been mis- taken in their estimate of the mangold-wurtzel, for the want of farmers' clubs as the means of inter- communication. It hadbeen supposed that the plant would not resist the frosts, v/hich sometimes came in May. An East Kent farmer had informed him that if the seed were put in at the end of April, or the beginning of May, a greater crop would be grown than by sowing at any other time. He (Mr. B.) should put it in next year in the last week of April, or the first week of March. Mangold-wurt- zel ought to be very much pressed and rolled, in some cases as much as three times. Last year he had occasion to cross a portion of his mangold- wurtzel to get at some other crops, and he grew nine-tenths more mangold-wurtzel on the spot where it was crossed than on any other part. He thought that the seed of the carrot was too delicate for stiff clays. He had always had difficulty in getting cabbage plants till he had used guano, and he had now a very good ])iece. He had had thirteen acres of cattle cabbage last year, which bore a very good crop, after twelve cwt. of guano per acre. This year the same land was sown with oats, which he thought any gentleman would now set at ten quarters, the average of the district being about four and a half quarters. This year he had adopted a new course, which he was not aware that Mr. Turley had tried before him. He had had forty acres underdrained, and dressed with fifty loads of dung per acre. Tlie dung had been ploughed-in early, and in February beans dibbled-in three feet apart, the sort being large, like the long pod, as the larger the bean the earlier it generally grew. The beans were horse-hoed twice. A man then took a basket of Peruvian guano, and deposited a portion of it between the row^: wliere it was intended for cabbage hs put about five cwt., and for man- gold-wurtzel he put two and a half cwt. per acre. He had dibbled-in yellow globe mangold-wurtzel in about twenty-four acres. If he failed in either crop, he should not fail altogether. He generally grew wheat after turnips, and he had now eighteen acres of his best wheat so grown. Mr. Hague said that he thought if Mr. Barnes had ploughed-in his dung in his experiment, he would have found a different result. Mr. Barnes said that the dung had been ploughed-in in an adjoining field with no better re- sult. He had also tried some experiments last year with diflferent manures. With ten cwt. of guano, with twenty bushels of bones mixed with guano, with the Cornwall white manure, with Lie- big's manures, with prepared night-soil, and with superphosphate of lime. The guano had turned out the best, next the bones and guano, next the su- perphosphate of lime. The Cornwall white manure was worthless; it had utterly failed with the turnips, and did not promise so much wheat by half as the guano. Liebig's manure had not produced half the turnips, and had done nothing for the wheat. The prepared night-soil promised better for the wheat than it had done for the turnips. It was then resolved, — " That upon the light soils of this district, the best mode to grow root crops is to plough the land at Michaelmas, allowing the frost to pulverize the soil, and as soon as it is suf- ficiently dry in the following spring, to thoroughly work down the soil, strike it Tip, and put in from thirty to forty loads of the best dung per acre, and cover the same by splitting the furrows and drilling the seed over the manure. Upon the stiff soils the land should be deeply ploughed, and at Michael- mas the maimre put in and the land thoroughly worked in the sj)ring, but by no means ploughed again; the seed sown broadcast, hoed out, or brought into rows by breaking, as the grower may think best. A new plan has been tried by some members, of putting in turnips, mangold-wurtzel, and cabbages, between beans dibbled three feet apart : of this system the club can express no opinion, in consequence of the plan not having yet been sufficiently tried," THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 57 HINTS FOR THE PRESENT TIME; OR, BEANS AND POTATOES. (from a correspondent.) Amid the conflicting statements that day by day come before us, one thing is certain, that either there is a great lack of common honesty in the breasts of many scribbling men, or else an egregious ignorance of matters on which they profess to treat ; otherwise nature itself must be a very chameleon, and puts on a garb to suit the desires of diflerent lookers-on, else why do one class of writers give the most favouraljle accounts of the general appearance of the potato crop, whilst another class state every thing which will lead to alarm ? Were we gifted with the power of seeing through all men, and could arrive at the principle which actuated their many singular actions, very probably much of the outcry that has this year already been made about "incipient disease," " aphis vastator," &c., &c., would be found to arise from those most likely to derive benefit from the state of alarm which svich calamitous forebod- ings, if believed in, would induce. As to ourselves, we are no alarmists : we hope for the l)est, and dis- believe the worst; still we would not advise the growers of potatoes, either for the present year or for future years, to act as if they were protected from failures more or less general amongst their potato crops ; for warding off to any extent the calamity of a failure in any year would be a blessing; and any hints that are given, if they be not acted upon, add nothing to the calamity ; but if they be ju- dicious, and come to the knowledge of rightly judg- ing individuals, they may perhaps be made avail- able for mitigating, to a considerable extent, the effects of a failure. For preventing the (speaking in the mildest term) inconvenience of a failure amongst potatoes at any time, would be the growing of something that might be a substitute for the potato, either with the growing crop, or on the land where a failure has occurred. In this country we consider that too little attention has been paid to the cultivation, on an extended scale, of the Windsor bean, and the haricot or French bean, not merely for eating green, but also for ripening their seeds as an article for food ; we might suggest the question — Could there be found in these varieties of beans a sub- stitute to a very great extent for the potato ? The yield from Windsor beans, when the crop has been allowed to ripen, is occasionally enormous. We have accounts of crops that have yielded eleven quarters per acre. As an article for food these beans woidd be made available, by first soaking in water to soften them, and afterwards stewing them with some pepper, salt, and a little lard, or with a portion of bacon or other meat. The French or haricot beans are capable of being employed in three different states for food : they may l)e eaten green, as is the usual way in this country; the dried beans may be cooked in various ways and eaten ; and the beans may be salted when green, as is done in large quantities in Holland and Ger- many, and eaten at any period of the year. The continental mode of preparing salted beans, ac- cording to the Rev. W. L. Rham, is slicing them with a machine a deal like a turnip cutter, and " ]5lacing the sliced beans in alternate layers, with salt, in a cask ; when the cask is full, the contents are well pressed down by means of a round board, having a heavy weight upon it. As the beans are compressed, and begin slightly to ferment, the liquor is poured off, some fresh salt is strewn over the surface, and a linen cloth is pressed close upon it, to keep out the air ; the round board and weight are put over the cloth, and so the beans re- main till wanted for use. When any are taken out, they are washed in soft water to take out the salt, and gently stewed mth a little gravy, or with milk and a piece of butter. The dried seeds are also boiled after being soaked in water for some time, and are usually mixed with the preserved green beans in the same dish." In this country, where the dried bean has hitherto been used, it of course has been cooked without the preserved green beans. In recommending an article for food, it is com- mon to enquire what are its nutritive qualities ? According to Einhof, the proportion of nutritive matter in beans, compared with grain, is as fol- lows : — Wheat 74 per cent, about 47 lbs. Rye 70 „ „ 39 „ Barley 65 „ „ 33 „ Oats 58 „ „ 23 „ Beans 68 „ „ 45 „ Peas 75 „ „ 49 ,, French beans . . 84 „ „ 54 „ The 84 per cent., nutritive matter of French beans, as above, is made up of pure farina 50, and gluten and mucilage 34 parts ; they are, there- fore, according to Rham's remark, " superior to every other grain or pulse cultivated, in point of nourishment; and when it is taken into the ac- count that they remain in the ground only from 58 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. May to September, and that a croj) of cabbages or turnips is growing in the intervals at the same time, it will appear that the cultivation of this pulse on a large scale might add greatly to the re- sources of agriculture." Had Rhara recommended tlie cultivation of the French bean, or the Windsor bean, with the potato, as well as with cabbages and turnips, he would have done that which we would suggest ; for sup- posing that hereafter the potato crop shall con- tinue an unusually precarious crop, the intermediate rows of beans would in a great measure be a sub- stitute for any failure of the potatoes, both as regards the present consumption, as well as the winter and spring demaiid for family purposes, from the va- ried modes of preparation the green bean and ri- pened seed are capable of. In respect to the present year, where the cultivation of beans has not already been anticipated for the sake of the seed, it is now too late ; but for some time to come, their cultivation might be carried on for the raising of young beans for immediate use, and for salting. If, then, the growers of potatoes should, by the middle of July, see real indications of a failure, let them make what use they like of our hints ; and at the proper season in following years, we think that we should not be doing an injury in recommending attention to the cultivation of Windsor and French or haricot beans, for the sake of their matured seeds for domestic purposes. BURTON-ON-TRENT FARMERS' CLUB.— THE BEST MODE OF FARMING A LIGHT SOIL. The usual monthly meeting was held on Thurs- day the 27th ult. ; but many of the members being also yeomen of the Burton troop of cavalry, which was doing permanent duty at Lichfield, the attend- ance was not so numerous as has teen usual dur- ing the present year. The subject of discussion appointed for the evening was "The best mode of farming a light soil," and was introduced by Mr. James Ordish in the following paper : — I look upon our society as a school for farmers ; and each of us who in his turn takes some question to treat, in order that it may be discussed, is not to be regarded as a teacher, but as a scholar repeating the lesson you have appointed him to endeavour to learn. I hope you will extend your indulgence to me, though the imperfect manner in which I per- form my task should prove me the dullest boy in the school. I have to offer my opinion on the best system of managing a farm of light land. The main object of our club I take to be to enlarge the experience of this neighbourhood, by subjecting it to a comparison with what has been done to improve Practical Farming in other districts. I shall not, therefore, entirely confine myself to my own practice, for many reasons may prevent a farmer fi-om pur- suing the very best rules he knows and approves. As sometimes you must look to the sermon rather than to the life of your spiritual guide, and learn temperance from the sober counsel of a physician who may love a cheerful glass, and follow the law I'ather than the lawyer in all that regards honesty ; so you must look to the advice a tenant farmer gives, rather than to the practice he adopts. Sup- pose a man to cultivate his own land, to have a well-filled purse, and to be as eager for the best profit as though the spur of poverty urged him to forethought and industry. In such circumstances we might expect the very best system of farming from him. But some of us are fond of old ways, and content with a very little, so it be easily got ; some have not capital, some do not think it prudent to sink it in another man's land ; and some perhaps — but I am afraid very few — are rich and careless. Every one of us knows best where his own shoe pinches. I am free, however, to admit that under whatever circumstances a farmer is placed, it is his interest to farm well ; and without farther preface I ])roceed to state what I mean by farming light land well. All light soils will not bear the same treatment, and it is therefore right to say what description of soil I intend my remarks to apply to. Light soils vary from a blowing sand to a good sandy or gravelly loam. I wish to speak of a soil which has firmness enough to grow wheat, and yet prefers barley and turnips. If light soils are not of this character, in my opinion they ought to be made so by marling, or claying, or they ought not to be under tillage at all. Now whether land be light or heavy, it must be treated in some respects on the same principles. The object is, to get in every year as large an amount of crop as the land will grow ; and though the crop and the course of cropping may be differ- ent, and the times and mode of tillage varied, yel, on both light land or heavy we must take care to have the soil full of condition. As far as I know, there is no way of keeping land in condition bui by growing large crops of produce to be eaten b} cattle ; for as to getting a sufficiency of manurf from any other source, that is not to be thought o; as a general rule. Manures may be brought or the land as a help to what are made on it ; but thr THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 69 chief dependence must alwaj's be on that formed out of the land's own produce ; and if we want the soil to do its labour cheerfully and well, we must give it back plentifully of what it yields us. The land and the labourer give us everything, and we should not stint either of them in their wages : both v/ill repay us better for liberal treatment. All good farmers seem now to be ])retty well agreed, that on hght friable land it is necessary to grow at least one crop of roots or herbage to be eaten by cattle for every crop of corn taken. This rule may be departed from when good manure can be had near to a farm ; but on hght lands it is seldom, I think, profitable to take two crops in succession. Heavy lands preserve their manure better than light ; and on them the course may be longer, and corn more frequently taken, if they are kept a few years in grass. But I think the plan of laying down light lands to grass, and then taking a severer course, is not good. First, they yield very little while in pasture ; and secondly they will not pay well for tillage on a long course. 1 1 is therefore, in my opinion, the best plan to lay them down to clover and other herbage very fre- quently, and to break them up again after one, or at most two years. In other words, I am altogether an advocate of the four-course or Norfolk system of farming light land. I will go through the operations of this course, and point out what ap- pear to me to be its advantages, and the best way of securing them, and afterwards offer a few very diffident suggestions on the means of obviating some objections which it is liable to. To begin with the beginning, let us suppose the land in one year's seeds. On the lightest soils, perhaps barley is the most paying crop on the turf; but on those that have more substance, wheat. In either case the land should be ploughed to the depth of from five to seven inches, using a skim coulter. It should afterwards be pressed. If the ploughing and pressing be well done, the seed will go in at a uniform depth ; the rows will be as straight and regular as drilled land, and will admit of being hoed either by hand or by the horse hoe. We are all aware that wheat likes a firm seed- furrow. It will not bear the winter well, and will throw out in the spring unless it be sown pretty deep. By means of the presser, all these helps to the plant's well-doing are secured ; and too much praise cannot well be given to the implement. Though barley likes a very light and well broken seed-bed, yet experience shows us that pressing is equally good for that crop. Why it is so I cannot explain, but the fact is certain ; and what with the saving of seed, and the better plant from uniform depth, and the improvement of the plant by hoeing, and its being saved from the robbery of weeds, the crop, whether of wheat or barley, is, I believe, increased by a judicious use of the presser, at least half a quarter per acre. Now here we get the most remunerating crop of the course, at the very trifling cost of one ploughing and harro^ving ; for the hoeing and other labour are as much to be set down to the benefit of the succeed- ing fallow as to the immediate crop of wheat or barley. As soon after harvest as possible, the stubble should feel the plough again. I am a convert to the plan of autumn-ploughing on light land ; though, as a general rule, it is not of so much importance on light as on heavy clay lands. But in all cases where the autumn is favourable, or the early part of the winter, I agree with those who endeavour to get a clean tillage as a prepara- tion, either for the tvxrnip fallow or for Lent corn. If stubbles he through the winter, you pay dear for a scanty sheeji walk in the increase of weed. A wheel-barrowful of quitch in the autumn will yield a cart-load in the spring. There is, conse- quently, less labour required in cleaning land in the autumn than in the spring. The work is more efl5- ciently done ; and besides this, it is not always that you can command a fortunate season in the spring, or can conveniently spare the teams for the work which has been put off until that season. It is always well to take time by the forelock, in the case where stubbles are ploughed for Lent corn. I do not mean to say that it is always good to sow on a stale furrow ; but early sowing is generally good, and if the land is ready, you can take advan- tage of the first favourable time to sow, and I am sure that sowing on a stale furrow is better than sowing on land that has been tilled in an unfavour- able spring, while if the spring happen to be favoui-- able it is easy to stir the old furrow deeply with the cultivator before drilling. These remarks are not in their fittest place here, perhaps ; but I shall not have to repeat them when I come to the third crop of the course. Now the more green crops the land yields, the more manure it gets ; if, therefore, a half crop can be taken before the turnips, it is so much the better for the land. And I need scarcely say tiiat it is not amiss to have a good supply of green food in the early spring for both sheep, neat cattle, and horses. There can be no doubt that a good crop of vetches can be taken and cleared off the ground before white turnips, and as they are every way less hazardous than Swedes, and generally they will last well till the end of January, I think it more profitable to grow a large breadth of them. If we take tares 1)efore them, we have two chances of a large pro- duce from the land in the same year, and it is sel- dom that both fail. I scarcely know a reasonable objection to the 60 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. growth before turnips on land in good condition. If land is out of heart, I grant the tares Avill be very foul, and a good clean fallow cannot be made, and consequently the main object of this particular croj) of the course is lost. But if land is in good heart the vetches will so occupy and engross the soil that they will preserve it through the winter and spring from losing the cleanness which the autumn tillage gave it. There is nothing hke a full crop to keep down weeds ; and after vetches the soil turns up in a state more fit to receive turnips than as though it had been subjected to an abundance of spring ploughing. This club has at a former meeting signified its ap- probation of the plan of growing spring food for sheep on the land intended for Swedes. That is a more doubtful practice ; but yet in most seasons I think it repays the seed and labour twice over. If you get either a late winter, or a warm spring, the system is a good one. Should the harvest be early, and enable you to get in the seed early in the autumn, you have two chances in your favour. In such a case I would never omit to sow for an inter- luediate crop. For this purpose rye is the only plant that seems fitted, by its hardihood, to l)ear the winter, and by its early growth in the spring. The first remark I have to make about the turnip crop is, that as you don't know what kind of v.'ea- ther is to come while the plants are growing, and therefore cannot tell whether you will have a good chance of cleaning between the rows, it is better to leave as little to be done as possible. Another re- mark I may make as a fellow to my first — Don't l)ind yourself to any fixed time of sowing, but let the land be got ready, and sow very early if the time be favourable, and very late if it be otherwise. I need not enter into particulars as to the manage- ment of the turnip plant. I think we are too apt to observe one uniform rule as to the width of the rows on different descriptions of soil. Twenty- seven inches is a good width on many accounts : the ridge will bury the manure ; the interval allows of plenty of room for deep horse-hoeing ; and large turnips are better for the same weight per acre than small ones. But except on land that will grow large crops, a less distance apart would perhaps give a greater produce ; and now we can grow the crop with artificial manures, there is no difficulty in burying enough either on the fiat, or in eighteen- inch ridges. We have been accustomed to think that turnips required more stimulating manure than other crops, and have judged it necessary to apply very large quantities of farm-yard manure to get a crop ; but now it turns out that on land in fair condition a dressing of bones and sulphuric acid will often yield as large a produce as twenty loads per acre of dung — thus proving that the turnip does not want manures to furnish much ammonia. It has consequently become a question whether it is not better to reserve a good part of farm-yard manure for the seeds, and thereby give a greater stimulus to them and to the subsequent wheat crop. I should be very mtich inclined to give a little more condition to the seeds and wheat, and espe- cially when an intermediate crop of rye and vetch is taken before turnips, even with two good cattle- crops of turnips and seeds in the course. I am oi opinion that it will always be profitable to carry on to the land some kind of artificial manure in addi- tion. I have used bones and guano with uniform success for the turnip crop ; but if the turnips are consumed with a good proportion of oil-cake, that will of course stand in the place of artificial manure, As to eating turnips on the ground, that must de- pend partly on the convenience of one system oi another, and partly on the character of the soil anc quantity of manure. If the soil be good, and thf l)ulk of the manure of the course is applied to th( turnips, then there will be enough left to sustain th( barley and seeds ; but it is generally better to ea at least part of the crop on the ground, except yoi have manured so strongly as to run the risk of ovei nourishing the barley witbout carrying the whoh off the ground. I have already said that I would jilough up the turnip fallow for l)arley as soon as the crop was ofl' and the season permitted. I do not think it at al well to let land on which turnips have been fed of by sheep lie long. There will always be sonn quitch left ; and it is wonderful what a start it ml make after the soil is enriched by the manuring o the sheej). If the land is not ploughed, therefore the quitch should be forked out. That is not ! practice adopted in this district, but it is one tha deserves consideration. No ploughing is neede( with it, but the land is stirred with the cultivatoi in the spring, and is then ready for the drill, think the drill indispensable for the barley crop and by hoeing-in the clover seeds rather later tlv plant does not exhaust itself, and yields better th' next s])ring ; and the barley requires less field roon — indeed, it may often be carried after the scythe The best time to dress the seeds is immediatel; after the barley is carried ; and, as I have befor remarked, it is perhaps a good plan to mix artificia manure with part of the dung for the turnips, anc keep another part for the seeds. If this be done ; larger crop may be mowed and carried off, and thi wheat yet get all it wants from what remains, Bu I think if the seeds are not manured they shouh' not be mowed. Some farmers mow their seeds and then lay on dung for the wheat; but I prefer t* enrich the soil for the seeds, because, as we al THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 61 know, green crops pay better for forcing than corn ; and if green crops are large, and the manure made from them returned to the soil, the corn is always well enough provided for. I have thus gone through the several crops of the four-course shift, of which the advantages are, in my opinion, so great that we cannot much de- part from it without running into errors. The fol- lowing appears to me to be the advantages of the system : — In the first place the two cattle-crops /ield as much manure as can possil)ly be got on an dternate system of cropping, and the manure is ipplied in the way to return the greatest amoimt of produce. Secondly, the rotation of crop is such as o avoid the fault of having two in succession which •equire the same kind of food, and to keep the soil supplied with vegetable remains. The wheat leaves ill that the turnips want ; the turnips take noth- ng that the barley especially requires ; and the ;lover dift'ers from them all, while it fills the soil vith a supply of roots which lasts through the ;ourse. Thirdly, the land may be kept perfectly ;lean, and yet never be without a full crop on it. Fourthly, two of the crops — namely, the clover and he wheat — are raised without much expense in til- age, so that in fact you get two corn-crops, enriched .vitli the manure of two cattle crops, and yet have scarcely more tillage than is required for the for- ner two. This is almost tantamount to growing irable green crops without tillage, which would :ertainly be a very desirable thing to accomplish ; "or we all know that, however abundant they may be, the expense of tillage can only be repaid in the corn for which they are a preparation. If, how- ever, we can get two abundant crops of green and root crops, and two of corn for a very little over two tillages, that I think must be pronounced the best system on all lands that can be cultivated on it. Now, if we could always secure good crops by adhering strictly to the course I have described, one could scarce suggest an alteration. But it must be confessed that there are difficulties in the way of uniform success, in accomplishing this ob- ject. It is too frequently found that the turf wheat and barley are terribly injured by wireworm and grub, which find a quiet home in the seeds through the previous year. It is the custom in some of the best-farmed districts of the country, to pare the seeds very thin, and stifle-burn the surface, and then to take a crop of rape or vetches, which are eaten off by the sheep previous to the next crop of wheat. The practice is rather costly ; but if by means of it the crop of wheat or barley can be pre- served from harm, it would repay the cost. Be- sides, an additional green crop would enrich the soil, and save something in artificial manures. Again, on many soils there is a difficulty in getting a good plant of red clover so frequently as every fourth year. Generally the failure of the plant of clover has been found to be owing to a want of its proper food, and where this is supplied it will again flourish. But it is easy to substitute Dutch clover and rye grass for the red clover in every other course, or the Italian rye grass. But if grasses be grown instead of clover, they ought to be eaten on the ground, because lieing of the same kind as the succeeding crop of wheat they will exhaust the soil of what that crop will need. In this immediate neighbourhood there is an abundant supply of both gypsum and lime, and good marl is usually within easy reach of our land. By the use of these, I believe red clover may be grown every four years ; and there is no substitute to be found which possesses all its advantages. I prefer the four-course shift to any other course of husbandry on hght land, for these reasons : First, light land requires a frequent repetition of a crop like grass, or clover, which yields a large stock of roots,and forms a storehouse of the spare manures, which are otherwise apt to escape. And secondly, because the more frequently we can get this green crop that requires no tillage, the less expensive must the general average of the tillage of our crops be. I prefer it to a system of laying down to grass for three or four years, and then ploughing for as many ; because by no means that I know of can you make light land pay well in pasture after the first year's clover ; I prefer it to keeping the land in seeds two years, because this system adds almost nothing to the supply of roots in the soil, and when the clover and sown grasses are gone out, in the first year the land becomes filled with rubbish, which is with difficulty got rid of in the subsequent tillage. With the four-course shift, and good liberal treatment, the land will easily be kept clean ; for as it is always occupied by a good and well-hoed crop, the weeds have no chance to grow. Ithas more than once been made an express object, in papers read before this club, to convince us that the best and cheapest way of destroying weeds is to have the land in such high condition as enables the sown crop to engross the land. In proportion as we can do this, the expense of tillage is lessened, because a great part of that expense is for operations which do no good except in cleaning. No doubt the profits of a farmer depend almost as much on the manner in which the stock is man- aged as on the course of husbandry; butmyremarks have already extended to as great a length as yom* patience will bear, and I have perhaps rather to beg you to excuse my saying so much, than my not going into the other branch of my subject. I shall con- clude, therefore, with the general observation, that whether we consume our crops with milking beasts, 62 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. or feeding stock or stores, or whether we chiefly keep sheep, every animal should in every part of the year live on good food, which will keep it doin(; ; and we should be constantly on the look-out for an opportunity of using oil cake or corn, so as to make a profit from the stock fed on them. Without well- fed stock we cannot have good manure; and without good manure the best course of husbandry will be a failure. Mr. Daniel asked of Mr. Ordishwhat he would do in case of a failure of the clover pjant; grown so frequently as every fourth year, red clover would often fail, and it was important to be prepared with a substitute. Mr. Ordish said that in his opinion the best plan was to pare and stifle-burn the failing layer, and sow vetches to be eaten on the ground. Tliis furnished abundance of green food during the summer, the consumption of which would supply manure, and the soil and the vetches were an admirable prepa- ration for the wheat crop. Mr. G. Greaves thought a more admirable system than the course recommended by Mr. Or- dish for light land could scarcely be devised. The practical sagacity of farmers had discovered the ad- vantages of the Norfolk course, and it was jirecisely the system which science would now direct to be followed. But much had lately been done to teach practical farmers how to remedy the occasional de- fects in the crops on the Norfolk course, and its success mainly depended on adopting these im- provements. For instance, the failure of the clover plant had been shown often to be owing to the want of gypsum, which was a necessary part of its food, and the failure of the other crops might be prevented on uncertain soils by a recourse to pro- per artificial manures. Mr. Ordish had very justly pointed out the different nature of the four plants of the course. The wheat and barley wanted alka- line siUcates, which neither turnips nor clover re- quired. The turnips needed a plentiful supply of potash, while the clover contained a large propor- tion of lime. But phosphoric acid was wanted for every crop, and hence the benefit through the whole course of such manures as guano and bones. Re- cent experience had also shown how well fitted these crops were to rotate with each other on other accounts. The turnips, and also the clover, col- lected ammonia from the air and from the water of the soil — they, in fact, were manufacturers of am- moniated manure ; but the white corn crops con- sumed the ammonia given in manures in much greater proportion. He agreed mth, and even went beyond, Mr. Ordish in his opinion about the inter- mediate crop of rye or vetch ; and he thought that when the land was in high condition the name of the rotation might be changed into the five-course system. He had on his own farm a very success^ ful crop of rye this season. He sowed 2s bushel of common rye per acre on a stubble, after one' ploughing in the second week in September. As the autumn was mild the plant got a good head be- fore the severe winter set in. On the 1st February he turned into it six ewes with their lambs per acre, and they remained till the 20th March. The seven weeks' keep of six ewes and lambs he thought was fairly worth £2 2s. By the 9th May the rye had become fit for the scythe, and from that day to this, the 27th, he had continued to mow it; and he had no hesitation in saying that it was now yielding 12 tons per acre, and that its average had been from 8 to 10 tons. He thought it was worth 10s. per ton to consume on the ground, and thus the value of this rye crop was £6 or £7 per acre, without any detriment to the succeeding turnips. He had mown the rye in lines to allow of the plough following im- mediately the scythe, and by next week it would be sown with Swedes. Tliis crop was to him a proof that if the land was in high condition and the rye sown early, even a backward spring would not prevent its vigorous growth. In the same field a part of the land lay idle through the winter ; and though it was well cleaned in autumn, and the part sown with rye was hastily harrowed and raked, yet it had not at this moment a fiftieth part of the weed on it that the idle part had, and, in fact, required almost no tillage to prepare it for turnips. The roots of the rye prevented so fine a tilth as some farmers like for turnips ; but he thought the de- gree of roughness they caused was rather an advan- tage than otherwise, as the soil never ran closelj together after rain. He had carried his rye off the land ; but, as it would make as much manure ir his yard as when consumed on the ground, and as he took care to return as much as the soil needed his turnips would not suffer. When the subject o! gro\ving an intermediate crop of rye was formerlj discussed in the club, it was remarked by som( members that it was a practice only fit for those who had access to manures from a town. But h( contended that the practice was especially needec by those who most wanted manure ; for a greer crop, whether eaten on the land or off it, yieldec more manure than was required for its growth, anc was, in fact, a farmer's only way of making ma^ nure. I Mr. W. Greaves made some additional obser- vations in confirmation of the benefits derivabl( from the plan of growing an intermediate greer crop; and Mr. Wm. Hopkin detailed his experience of th( use of the presser, which he had found a most valu- able implement on strong as well as light soils. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 63 Mr. Ordtsh was fully convinced of the advan- tage of growing an intermediate crop ; and, in re- ply to a remark to the effect that the system should only be followed on a small portion of the turnip land, he observed that it was seldom a farmer was embarrassed by an excess of spring food ; and if a grass farm was attached to the arable, he had al- ways stock to consume more than all the furnij) fallow would grow. He had seen the plan so suc- cessful xinder the management of his friend, the late Mr. Greaves, that he had been induced to try it himself, and had this year 50 to 60 ewes and lambs feeding on rye. He remembered being called on to judge a piece of vetch and rye belonging to the late Mr. John Greaves. The crop was as high as himself, and was a splendid sight. Afterwards he saw as fine a crop of Swedes on the same land. In a favourable season Swedes might thus follow A'etches. Notwithstanding the arguments which had been used, he was favourable to the plan of eating part of the crop on hght land. With eating on he could grow five quarters of barley, while three would be his average if crops were removed. He had grov\ai as fine turnips as he could desire with guano and with bones ; l)ut, especially when artificial manures were used, he thought it neces- sary to eat turnips on the ground. The club came to a resolution in approval of the system of farming prescribed in Mr. Ordish's pa- per, and passed a vote of thanks to him for it, TENANT-RIGHT. It is with infinite gratification that we call at- tention to a communication on the subject of "Tenant-right" from a gentleman of the name of G. B. Thorneycroft, an ironmaster at Wol- verhampton, which will be found subjoined. Mr. Thorneycroft's name is not unknown to us, but we never before had the pleasure of com- municating Avith him. During the period that we have advocated tenant-right in our columns, we have received and inserted many communications upon that subject, but amongst them not one with which we have been so much delighted as that to which we now allude. There seems to be a sort of horror felt by landed proprietors at the idea of ap- plying commercial principles to the letting of land. We have contended, and still do contend, that it is only by the application of those principles that the estate of the landlord can be benefited, the skill and capital of the tenant protected, and the wants of the public supplied. Mr. Thorneycroft says: " During the last thirty years I have been the te- nant to four different ironworks ; when we enter, or take possession, an inventory or valuation is taken, and the tenant agrees either for a term or as a yearly tenant, and to keep in repair, and leave it of equal value when we shall think proper to give notice to give it up, or pay for deterioration ; any additions or improvements he has made for carrying on his trade are first to be offered to his landlord, at a valuation ; if refused, he has tlie right of selling them to the next tenant, or removing them, as the case may be. This is what the tenant fanner ought to have ; and I think such an agreement might be made as would secure entirely the tenant's property — viz., an agreement that would be for the mutual benefit of both landlord and tenant." "This is what the tenant farmer ought to have ;" aye, and what he must, and will have. But Mr. Thorneycroft does not merely perform the ofiice of preceptor : he shows how his pro- position may be, nay, is, carried out by himself practically. He says : "Some time ago I purchased three farms adjoining eacli other, at different times. The plan I proposed to tlie tenant was as follows : the land was all capable of great improvement by draining, &c. I called in a per- son to value the rental, in the state when purchased ; all the permanent improvements, such as draining, straightening, and improving fences, &c.,&c , I agreed to do myself, charging five per cent, interest, and adding it to the rent ; the tenant being accountable for keeping the drains, fences, as the amount of subscriptions received on the arrear account, and £"'86 received as life compositions ; leaving the sum of £405 as the reduced balance available for current purposes. Northampton Meeting. — The Council decided that, agreeably with the Bye-Laws of the Society, no Member in arrear of subscription could be allowed to be an exhi- bitor at the Country Meetings of the Society, or to enjoy any of the privileges of a Member on those occasions. Mr. Manning, the Contractor of Works to the Society, transmitted from Northampton a favourable report of the progress of the arrangements for the Country Meet- ing to be held at that place in the week commencing the 19th of July next. Conditions of Machinery. — Colonel Challoner gave notice that at the next Monthly Meeting he should move that it be an instruction from the Council to the Stewai-ds and Judges of the Implement Department, that the following points of information should be ascer- tained from the respective makers or exhibitors of im- plements and machines selected for trial, previously to the other arrangements being made for the determination of the respective capabilities and practical value of such implements and machinery, at any particular Country Meeting of the Society, namely : — 1 . The number of revolutions per minute at which all hand- iustruments are respectively constructed to be worked. 2. The speed per hour at which horses are to walk, and the power they are required to exert, in the case of all imple- ments and machuiery intended to be worked by such means. 3. The weight per inch of pressure wliich all engines or appa- ratus for steam-power are made to bear. Colonel Challoner explained that his object in this motion is to obtain, for the guidance of the Stewards and Judges of Implements, such data as will enable them to place the implements, machines, or engines selected by them for trial, under the special conditions that will best accord with the design of the inventors or improvers of such mechanical arrangements, and especially to limit their operation to that degree of power for which they were respectively constructed. York Meeting.— The agreement with the authorities of York was received from the Lord Mayor and Town Clerk of that city ; and having been duly sealed with the great seal of the Society, and signed by the President and Secretary, in the presence of the Council, was declared to be duly ratified agreeably with the powers of the royal charter of incorporation, The following General York Committee was duly ap- pointed : — The Earl of Egmont, Chairman ; Sir John V, B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P., Vice-Chairman ; Duke of Richmond ; Earl Spencer ; Lord Portman ; Mr. Hudson, M.P. (Lord Mayor of York) ; Mr. Raymond Barker ; Mr. Bennett ; Mr. Brandreth ; Colonel Chal- loner ; Mr. Walbanke Childers ; Mr. Druce ; Mr. Gar- rett ; Mr. Brandreth Gibbs ; Mr. Fisher Hobbs ; Mr, Kinder; Mr. Miles, M.P,; Mr. Pyra ; Mr, Shaw; Mr, Shelley ; Mr, Crompton Stansfield, M,P, ; and Mr. Thompson. On the motion of Sir. Brandreth, seconded by Mr. Shaw, it was resolved : — " That the sum of £350 (re- maining unappropriated out of the total of £450) offered by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society be given in local prizes, and not accepted into the general fund for the purposes of the Yorkshire Meeting ; and that the nature of the prizes be decided at the Monthly Meetmg in De- cember next," Privilege Budges. — Mr. Bennett gave notice that he should move, at the next Monthly Council, that the charge of five shillings made on former occasions for each of the badges worn at the Country Meetings by Members of the Council be for the future discontinued. Consulting Chemist. — Mr, Raymond Barker, having stated to the Council the unavoidable absence of Mr. Pusey from the meeting of that day, obtained leave for the postponement until the next Monthly Council, of the motion in reference to the appointment of Professor Way as the consulting-chemist to the Society, of which Mr. Pusey had duly given notice. Mr. Kinder having on a former occasion called the attention of the Council to the desirableness of appoint- ing an inspector of manures, gave notice that he should move at the next Monthly Council, that in addition to Professor Way as consulting-chemist to the Society, Mr. John Bennet Lawes should also be included in that appointment. Mr. Lawes had for twenty years been practically conversant with the nature of manures, and the subjects generally connected with chemical de- tails in which farmers were interested : he had at his own expense established a laboratory for his researches, and would, he had no doubt, prove a valuable aid in the practical application of chemical science to agriculture. — Mr. Hudson, of Castleacre, had been for fifteen or twenty years acquainted with the pursuits of Mr. Lawes, and with his introduction into Norfolk of that excellent manure of his manufacture, by which he had reduced the cultivation of the turnip to so decided a certainty, and rendered it so sure a crop, as in his opinion to deserve for his researches the best thanks of the farmers of Eng- land.— The Hon. Mr. Carnegie thought that it would be very desirable if, in addition to the analyses which the' consulting-chemist to the Society was required to make for Members at a given rate, some arrangement could be made by which, on payment of a certain professional re- muneration, lectures on practical topics of agriculture could be claimed from such consulting-chemist, to be delivered at any given place on the requisition of a cer- tain number of Members, who would hold themselves responsible for the payment of the required remunera II THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tioii. This plan had been found highly advantageous in Scotland, whei'e science, by such means, had become fa- miliar to the farmers of that country, and its important applications obvious. He trusted that a similar advan- tage would be afforded by the Council to the farmers of England ; who, on various accounts, were precluded from constant attendance on the valuable lectures deli- vered before the members in London, and at the place of the Country Meeting of any particular year. — Mr. Raymond Barker, Mr. Brandreth, the right hon. Mr. Bingham Baring, Sir Robert Price, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Mr. Smith, and Rlr. Bennett then fa- voured the Council with an interesting discussion on this important subject. Implement Prizes, 1848. — The Council took into pre- liminary consideration the Implement Prize-sheet for the York meeting, and postponed its final settlement to the INIonthly Council in August next. Papers and Discussions. — On the motion of Mr. Ray- mond Barker, the motion of himself and Colonel Chal- loner on the arrangement of Journal Papers, and the suggestion of Mr. Slaney on the subjeci of Papers and Discussions, were (in the absence of Mr. Pusey, Colonel Challoner, and Mr. Slaney) postponed to the next Monthly Council. Miscellaneous Communications. — An offer from Mr, Danson of a prize, under conditions which the Council declined to accept. Mr. Mortimer's offer to communi- cate his mode of cure, as he believed, for the potato dis- ease. The Very Rev. Dr. Smyth's statement of his i efforts, at considerable private expense, to establish an agricultural college in the county of Galway in Ireland. The Council then adjourned to Wednesday, the 9th inst. A Weekly Council was held at the Society's House, in Hanover Square, on Wednesday, the 9th of June; present. The Earl of Egmont, President, in the Chair ; Earl of Leven and Melville, Lord Bridport, Lord Port- man, Lord Wenlock, Hon. R. H. Clive, M. P., Sir Francis Lawley, Bart., Sir Charles Taylor, Bart., Mr. Almack, Mr. Baines, Mr. Thos. Raymond Barker, Mr. John Ray- mond Barker, Mr. Brandreth, Mr. Burke, Colonel Chal- loner, Mr. Cotes, Capt. Dilke, R.N., Mr. Druce, Captain Evans, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Baskerville Glegg, Colonel Hall, Mr. B. E. Hall, Mr. Hillyard, Mr. T. C. Hincks, Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Mr. W. Miles, M.P., Colonel MacDouall, Mr. Kinder, Colonel Mar- tin Leake, Mr. Parkins, Mr. Chandos Pole, Mr. H. Price, Mr. Roddam, Mr. Shaw (London) ; Mr. Shaw, jun. (Northampton), Professor Sewell, Mr. T. Turner, Mr. T. R. Tweed, Professor Way, and Mr. Wilbraham. .i4>'^i;?cia/Mz»?47. " Will you do me the favour to acquaint any of the Mem- bers of the Coxmcil of the Royal Agricultural Society, who may desire to see my farms, that I should be pleased they should test the results of thin sowing, and the prices at which I have stated I raised com, by an inspection of the crops growing on any of the farms I cultivate. My object is to call their atten- tion to the fact, that with an expenditure of seed of only about one-third of the usual allowance — a saving which, if general throughout Great Britain, would amoimt to about five milhon quarters of grain of the value of £10,000,000 steriing per THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. auuuiu, and with less than the ordiuary cost of preparation — I have plenty of plants, and a promise of larger returns than common. The farms I would suggest as handiest for inspec- tion arc the Haling Park and Lime Kiln Farms, belonging to J. S. Giles, Esq., which adjoin the lower end of the town of Croydon, on the right of the Brighton Road, immediately past the turnpike. j\Iy Spring Park and Shirley Farms are four miles from Croydon. In drawing comparisons between my crops and others, I wovdd suggest that consideration should be paid — 1st, to the natural quality of the soil ; 2nd, to the preparatory expenditure in tillages and dressings ; 3rd, to the total amount of produce raised off the farms, as well as to the return per acre of single fields ; so that the extra produce from the absence of fallows may be taken into the account. If the farmers generally can be shown the waste and injury which ensue from too thickly sowing, my object will be at- tained ; for my experience tells me that in this way a saying of corn equivalent to the loss of the potato crop may be made, and a provision for the apprehended scarcity be secured. I expect to make a Flemish tour .after the 27th, biit my farms are always open." The Chairman directed that, along with an acknow- ledgment of the thanks of the Council to Mr. Davis for this communication, he should be specially informed that at the Northampton meeting of the Society, a practical discussion would follow the reading of Mr. U.S. Thomp- son's paper on the advantages and disadvantages of the thick and thin sowing of wheat, on Wednesday, the 21st of July, at 5 p.m., when Mr. Davis's attendance would be esteemed a favour. The Chairman conceived that in all results of this nature it would be of the most material importance that the measurement should be per bushel, and that the actual number of thrashed bushels per acre from any one field should be accurately stated. — Mr. Baring and Mr. Blake favoured the Council with interest- ing practical details of their respective management on the point under consideration. — Mr. Davis's letter was ordered to lie on the table for the information of the members. Solution of Mineral Manure. — Dr. Murray, of Hull, addressed to the Council a suggestion for effecting the solution of the silicates and the earthy phosphates oc- curring in land, and thus rendering them available as food for plants, by means of nascent carbonic acid gas chemically produced from chalk mixed with the soil, and treated with sulphuric acid. — Professor Way having favoured the Council with a scientific outline of the con- ditions under which carbonic acid is gradually supplied by organic matter, and with the views of Liebig on the subject, the Chairman stated that the Rev. Mr. Huxtable had been engaged in experiments on the soft marly chalk of Dorsetshire, and with most interesting results. His Lordship did not know how far these experiments were analogous to those suggested by Dr. Murray, but he thought it would be veiy desirable that the Council should be favoured by Mr. Huxtable with a detail of the expe- riments he has made on this subject. Ammoyiia as Manure.— Co\ouq\ Challoner called the attention of the Council to an interesting set of experi- menta in progress at the Horticultural Society's gardens at Chiswick, in which, among other artificial manures, the effects of tho Mui-iate, Sulphate, and Phosphate of Ammonia wei-e ascertained on Spring Talavera Wheat. The most remarkable circumstance was, that each of these ainmoniacal salts appeared to possess an equal fer- tilizing power. It therefore became a question of eco- nomy, which of the three could be obtained most abundantly and at the cheapest rate. — Prof. Way stated that the cheapest of these salts would probably be the sulphate, and the most costly the phosphate. He believed that it was generally understood that the efficacy of ammoniacal salts consisted not so much in the particular acid which entered into their composition as in the base, namely ammonia, common to them all. It was to the element nitrogen contained in this volatile alkali that their powers as manures were due, and the re- spective acids had perhaps no influence on the fertilizing action in question. He would observe, that it was to the final result at harvest that he would look for the re- spective value of these artificial manures ; for they were all apt to produce too great a luxuriance of straw, and accordingly' to diminish the amount of grain. — Mr. Blake had often remarked that luxuriant green crops do not always prove the best grain crops ; indeed, he wasi inclined to think that he was the best farmer who grew grain crops with the smallest quantity of manure, if with ' any at all. — Mr. Tweed had grown more oats on well- drained land without manure than with it, in conse- quence of the manure having produced too great a luxuriance of straw to be beneficial. — Mr. Fisher Hobbs thought the mode and time for the application of manure for corn crops required much consideration. Both hi' own and the late Lord Western's experience bad showi him that it was frequently advisable not to apply the manure close to such crops, but to the young clovei crop of the preceding year. By this arrangement, th< mildew arising from the rankness of immediate manuring was obviated, and abundant crops produced on chall gravel. — Col. Challoner had been fully impressed witl the value of this earlier application of manure for a graii crop, in consequence of a statement he had read in ; Synopsis of Practical Husbandry, published about th commencement of the present century, in which the ad vantages of that plan in reference to Norfolk farming ar clearly pointed out. — The Chairman cited the differen modes pursued in the plan of manuring in the neigh bourhood of Holkham. — Mr. Mechi explained the mod in which the Earl of Lonsdale had succeeded in raisinj oats by improved tillage, and without manure, at Barns in Westmoreland ; and he pi'omised, at the request c the Chairman, to obtain from Lord Lonsdale's baili: the particulars of his management on this point. Salt as Manure. — Mr. Mechi informed the Counci that he had found the application of common salt hav a very beneficial effect in strengthening the straw of hi wheat crops, which were always strong and erect. He ha this spring applied eight bushels of it per acre, broad cast, on 40 acres of wheat, with great success ; and tb barley, oats, and flax following the swede crop draw off, were all looking very healthy. He had also applies it broadcast, with a shovel, to his root crops, on bot light and heavy land, mixed with twice its bulk of limi namely, 15 bushels of common salt with 30 bushels i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 79 quicklime, to the acre ; these substances, before ap- plication, being well mixed together, and either exposed to rain or otherwise moistened by water. His land of course had been well drained. Fat Cattle. — The Marquis of Downshire and Sir Charles M. Burrell, Bart, M.P., having called the at- tention of the Council to the great injury inflicted on the Society's country shows of breeding stock, by having animals introduced into them which were only adapted for the purpose of the butcher, contrary to the intention of the Society, and the express regulations of the Council, the Chairman stated that he had, at the monthly meeting of the Council in December last, brought this subject under their consideration by a dis- tinct motion, preceded by due notice given during the period of the Newcastle meetmg. At that Council it was arranged, that previously to any further direct en- actment on the subject, the original regulation of the Society — standing as the 32nd regulation on the North- ampton prize sheet — which instructs their judges, " That as the object of the Society in giving prizes for neat cattle, sheep, and pigs, is to promote improvement in breeding stock, the judges, in making their award, will be in- structed not to take into their consideration the present value to the butcher, of animals exhibited, but to decide according to their relative merits for the purpose of breeding," shall this year be most distinctly brought under the notice of the judges, by being communicated to them as a portion of the letter conveying to them, from the Council, their respective appointments to that important judicial office. The Chairman trusted that the enforcement of this regulation, while it increased the responsibility of the judges in the faithful discharge of their duty, would, at the same time, more fully justify them in the full and free exercise of the powers with which they would feel themselves invested for carrying out, to the best of their judgment, the direct objects of the Society. Mr. Blake thought that it would also be desirable that the judges in the class of Horses should be particularly requested to carry out the special instruc- tion constantly given them by the Council of taking " activity and strength" into consideration, in addition to the " symmetry" of the animal. Communications were luid before the Council from Mr. Bullen, secretary to the Royal Agricultural Im- provement Society of Ireland, Mr. Raymond Barker, Mr. Clive, Mr. Glegg, Mr. Towers, and Mr. Hiliyard. The Council then adjourned to Wednesday, the 30th instant. NEW MEMBERS. The Hon. Captain Dudley Pelhara, R.N., of Arling- ton-street, London, and St. Lawrence, near Newport, in the Isle of Wight, was elected one of the Governors of the Society. The following new Members were elected :— Abel, Philip, Northampton Batten, Abraham, Digswell, Welwyn, Herts. Bennett, Edward, Tetteiihall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire Beningtoti, William, Stockton-on-Tee?, Durham Bethell, William, Rise, Beverley, Yorkshire Birch, William, PuJlicot, Chipping-Norton, Oxon Bloxam, William, Duke-strcet, Grosvenor-square, Loudon Boraford, Benjamin, Great Dadford, Bromsgrove, Worcester Brauder, Robert Burnett, Essex Lodge, Norwood, Surrey Brown, William, Gloucester Terrace, West Green, Tottenham Cammell, Charles, Wadsley House, Sheffield, Yorks. Collier, John, Panlathy, Muirdrum, Forfarshire Dewar, The very Rev. Principal, D.D., Carlochie, Errol, Perth- shire Druce, Samuel, jun., Ensham, Oxfordshire Edwards, John, Brockford, Thwaite, Suffolk Ellis, Richard, Northampton. Ellison, J., AUerton Park, Green Hammerton, York Emson, Henry H., Nether Hall, Cherry Hiiiton, Cambridge Parrell, Richard, Q.C, North Great George-street, Dublin Faux, Edward, Yaxley-hill, Stilton, Hmitingdonshire Fellowes, Newton, Eggesford, Chumleigh, Devon Gough, Ralph, Gorsebrook, Wolverhampton Grenfell, Riversdale, Ray Cottage, Maidenhead, Berks Hamilton, George Ernest, Wolverhampton, Staffs. Hawkesworth, Richard Steele, Forest, Queen's Connty, Ireland Hill, Richard Clarke, Stallington, Stone, Staffordshire Hughes, Edward Carter, Belle-vne, Lympue, Hythe, Kent Hutnhius, John, Waltham, Melton-Mowbray, Leicestershire Kay, Richard, Hans Field, Rochdale, Lancashire James, Joseph, St. Benyan, Penzance, Cornwall Jarratt, George Jarratt, Elmfield House, Doncaster, Yorks. Jones, George, Lower Hill, Hereford Keer, Manning, Framlingham, Suffolk Laye, Lieut. W. S., R.N., Albion-place, Scarborough, Yorks. Luard, Godfrey, BIyborough, Spital, Lincolnshire NichoUs, J. S., Melplash, Bridport, Dorset. Nicol, James Dycc, 5, Hyde Park-terrace, London Relph, G. R. Greenhow, Turner's-hill, Cheshunt, Herts Roper, John Keighley, Leeds, Yorkshire Robinson, Thomas, Wilson House, iVIilnthorpe, Westmoreland Rj'laud, George, New Canal Street, Birmingham, Warw. Sharp, Thomas, Mayor of Northampton Sherley, William, Staines, Middlesex Sherlsck, Thomas, Kew, Surrey Umbers, Abraham, Weston Hall, Leamington, Warwickshire Wells, Charles, Barton Lodge, Kettering, Northamptonshire Whittaker, Oldham, Hurst House, Ashton-under- Lyne, Lan- cashire Wdliams, Alfred Edward, West Mersea-h all, Colchester, Essex. Wiiloughby, Edward, Birkenhead, Cheshire Worters, William, Broughton, Kettering, Northamptonshure. REVIEW. COATES'S HERD BOOK. Complete to the present time. Seven Volumes. Rogerson, Norfolk Street, Strand. Advantage, either of an individual or general character, must, to attain any great hei;;ht, be obtained on a well- organized system. Any especial talent for promoting the increase of such advantage should be accompanied by almost an equal amount of assiduity and attention, so that industry may perfect what ability has commenced. Unceasing exertion of this kind is certainly a prominent feature in the national character, and one which, we are happy to add, rarely goes without its reward. Energy, with a proper aim for its direction- the more especially o 2 80 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. when it tends to the common good — is tolerably sure of bringing some name and fame upon its possessor. The aim of the Herd Book is the common good ; its purpose being to preserve a breed of animals, with which, according to the opinion of no mean authority, scarcely any other breed can be crossed without benefit. If the short-horn, then, has reached the grand point of produc- ing the most food at the least cost, the good work of establishing such a variety must at once be apparent. Let this be the first and most important of our pre- mises ; and next, as the good intent must be admitted, let us proceed to its performance. As a judge, an artist, and one long acquainted with the animal, Mr. Strafford's capacity or bent of disposition was as readily recog- nised, and it rested consequently chiefly with his assi- duity and continued trial of hand and head to show how qualified he was for the duty he had undertaken. On this, as on every other point, we have to congratulate him on having given the most triumphant proofs of his ability. The whole of the Herd Book has now been re- vised and almost re-written by Mr. Strafford ; and such a perfect record or judicious condensation of matter upon this subject does not exist. The greater the facility to the reader, of course the greater labour to the compiler ; and we fear sometimes the less consideration. On that account, perhaps more than any other, we would make especial mention of the indexes and other means for tracing pedigree and stock, as conceived and carried out on a most admirable principle. All this, too, has been effected quite in accordance with the spirit of the age ; for moderation in price is the agreeable accom- paniment of its excellence. The three volumes that we ourselves in 1841 gave four and five guineas a-piece for, may now be had for half the sum we paid for a single volume. The re-publication, it will be seen from this, was greatly needed ; and it is an additional and weighty recommendation to say that Mr. Strafford has produced it without making those terms which the demand and monopoly might have induced many to require. Still, moderation has never descended to meanness ; for in printing, paper, and all the getting up, the new edition is far superior to the original. In fact, on all heads the Herd Book does more than sustain its original reputation, and thus stands forth as an authority that can be fully relied on, and which we trust to find as heartily supported. AGRICULTURAL QUERIES. to THE EDITOR OF THE MARK-LANE EXPRESS. Sir, — I have a small field (about five acres) of polts, which had been well manured, and the crop, although not a thick one upon the ground, looking very healthy up to about a fortnight since, when the plants began to droop, and die away. On taking some of the roots up, which were drooping, to my surprise I found they were being eaten away by the wire-worm. Now, not having observed in any of the publications which I have read upon the cultivation of the bean that any notice is given of the plant being subject to be eaten by this most mischievous insect, perhaps this fact may be worthy your notice. I perceive also that Mr. Curtis, in the last part of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, in treating of the "insects affecting the bean and pea crop," does not notice the wire-ivorm. — I am, Sir, your obedient servant, H. C. Woohurn, Bucks, May 2i, 1847. Sir, — Having long felt considei'able interest in the animal the Llama, and a conviction of the benefits which would result from its introduction and domestication in this country, the climate of which is, I understand, well suited to its constitution, I shall feel much obliged if any of j'our I'eaders can inform me the result of any ex- periments which have been made with it in this kingdom, as I am aware that several parties have for some time possessed them ; and I have myself been in treaty for the purchase of a male and female. What description of cloth does the wool (or, as I believe, it is hair and not wool) make ? ^tlie thin kind of cloth now so much advertised as being made of the " Llama wool," really so made .-' I am informed that it is not. Can you in- form me whether any success has attended the breeding and rearing the animal in question at Prince Albert's farm, where I understand they have been kept some time .' — I am, Sir, your's very truly, iNauiRER. ANSWERS TO AGRICULTURAL QUERIES. A Remedy for Wire- worm. ■ Sir, — In reply to a " Yorkshire Correspondent," in your last number, allow me to recommend salt, as I think it the only remedy for the attacks of the wire-worm. The quantity to be applied per acre should be regulated by the texture of the soil. The lighter the soil the more salt may be used with safety and advantage. From 5 to 10 cwt. per acre is a medium quantity ; and if his soil is sandy, your correspondent might probably venture on the latter quantity. I should, however, observe that the salt will not destroy the wire-worm effectually in a dry state. It should therefore be applied in showery weather, orbefoi-e rain. A highly intelligent agriculturist in Warwickshire in- forms me that he has in his occupation a sandy soil, on which he experienced much difficulty in getting a plant of wheat, owing to wire-worms and other worms, that he took to salting his land at the rate of 8 cwt. per acre, and that since doing so over upwards of 400 acres he has not had in any one field a yard of ground without a good plant of wheat. — I am, sir, your's very respectfully. May 28, 1847. A Reader. I To "Constant Reader." — Bhubarb Wine. — To every pound of rhubarb stalks, when bruised, put a quart of cold spring water : let it stand three days, stirring twice a day ; then press and strain it through a sieve, and to every gallon of the liquor put 2 Jibs, of good loaf sugar ; barrel it, and to every vessel add a bottle of white brandy: hang a piece of isinglass in the vessel THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 81 sugpended on a string, and stop up close : in six months, if the sweetness is off sufficiently, bottle for use ; other- wise let it stand in the cask a longer time. Preserving Rhubarb. — In addition to preserving with sugar, it can be bottled as green gooseberries are, by peeling the stalk, and then cutting in small pieces as for tarts, 8f c. It also makes a very agreeable dried preserve. The Root also makes a very good substitute for Tur- key rhubarb, when scraped and hung up to dry. A small piece, cut off as required, will be found very nice physic. Reuben Rha. P.S. Cigars, &c., are made of the leaves : the flowers, when boiled young, are excellent. May 24. CALENDAR OF HORTICULTURE.— JULY. Meteorological Remarks. — Since my last the weather, which had progressively ameliorated since the first change of wind from N.E. to S. on the 6th May, became very warm — too warm for the month. On the 18th the thermometer marked 70 degs. ; on the 23rd it showed 73 degs. at Croydon — 72 degs. even at 10 p.m.; while other locahties registered 80 degs. Thunder, with hail, and a considerable fall of rain, followed the sultry heat of the 28th ; and then succeeded a brilliant period, with northerly winds, which continued till the 4th of June. The temperature subsequently became very low, and the earth was parched by the hot sun and brisk drying winds. More thunder and rain on the 8th ; the latter refreshed the gardens and aided the crops j but as no penetrating rains have occurred, gardeners assert that they never re- member the ground in a condition less moist. The results of the sudden and violent heat on the days before mentioned have been considerable injury to the bloom of strawberries, which now exhibit (10th of June) a sadly sterile appearance ; myriads of apples have perished ; of plums there are very few indeed ; and currant bushes are absolutely puckered, and almost destroyed by aphides and the dry hot- bed temperature of the ground. Of gooseberries, the crop is small ; but this failure was anticipated in the winter. Vegetables are, and have been, very fine since May 6th. Peas are dear, and cannot be otherwise than scarce, if much rain do not speedily fall. Beans are short, but full of bloom. Cabbages fine. As to potatoes, there is much talk of disease ; but I find it not. I hare overlooked numerous plantations. On the 10th I was invited to inspect several acres near Waddon Marsh. A few of the upper leaves of some plants had become discoloured and flaccid. I tried them in every way ; the cause, at first, appeared to be a sun-stroke through drops, or a covering, of water ; but it was soon ascertained that the cold night of Sunday, with rime, had touched the plants ; thus all fear of disease was removed. These drooping brownish-yellow leaflets emitted none of the fetid herbaceous odour of the old disease. On the contrary, the tobacco-like eflfluvium of true " solana" was discernible. I could discover none of the black decomposing spots of the old malady — no fungus,'no vastator ; and the Httle tubers, when divided, looked healthy. At present I firmly believe that not one true symptom of the malady has manifested itself; and I there- fore caution the reader against either groundless alarm or too confident hope. All the reports are contradictory, and are evidently based on fiction or design. One thing has again received confirmation, and that is, the danger and injury which result from a sudden increase of heat during the month of May. Fruits are blighted, insects and caterpillers become numerous, and the fair foliage of trees and shrubs disfigured just at the time when it should attain its most beautiful verdure. Some time since it was stated that the machinery for the more eflfective distribution of heat in forcing- houses should be duly noticed. Time and op- portunity failed ; for just as a plan had been per- fected, which acted in a manner superior to any other we have seen in use, new arrangements led to a change of residence; and as a new sphere of in- quiry and observation oflfered itself (the season also having passed over), the projected reports are postponed till the autumn. In the mean time I announce prospectively, that as the equable diffusion of heat throughout the whole area of a glazed erection is the only guiding principle, he who can, by the exercise of any skill or ingenuity, make the nearest practical approaches, may compliment himself as having effected a very great object. OPERATIONS IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. July may be expected to support its wonted cha- racter to some extent, and be more or less showery ; and if during the dry weather the ground has been kept open, clean, trenched, dug, and manured, and these operations have been indicated, it will be in a fitting state to receive the crops required to be intro- duced. Sow a last crop of runners and French beans — a little manure should be at the bottom, rather deeper, but just in the way which the Scotch adopt in their turnip fields. Let any one try this method in an open plot of ground of some meadow — say one pole 82 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. in extent — laying half decayed manure in a shallow trench, and over it some very fine earth three or four inches deep, thus raising a low ridge. When the ground has been patted to a firmish suiface, let a shallow drill be traced by a line and sharp- pointed hoe, one inch deep, and any turnip seed be sown along its course, giving water along the drill if the weather be dry, afterwards completely covering the seed with powdered charcoal, and finally with hght earth, and we are much mistaken if the rapid progress of the crop do not make him a thorough convert to Scotch turnip husbandry. So might the gardener treat his \2Aepeas, but previously saturating the ground with water. None, however, should attempt pea-culture after the first days of July. Draw earth well up against the stems of peas, beans, and French beans. Plant out, early as possible, Brussels sprouts, savoys, and the kales. Sow cabbage for coleworts after the 20th. Sow lettuce, salading, radish, spinage : at the end of the month, endive, and the earhest spring cabbage, for hearting— the sort called the " Enfield market" is very fine and hardy. Parsnips, carrots, and beet are to be thinned out and hoed till the surface be free of weeds. Re- member also the rows of onions ; nothing acts more beneficially upon this bulb than hoeing where the ground is dry and liable to crack. Cucumbers must be duly stopped, pegged down equally, and watered if the weather be hot and dry. HARDY FRUIT DEPARTMENT. The unseasonably hot weather, prior to the first thunder showers, produced an onslaught of myriads of aphides upon the currant shrubs, which, aided by the dust-dry condition of the land, especially where it was a cracking clay, has done cruel injury. One of our papers recommends the constant use of a garden engine to wash every infested tree and shrub. This is all very well ; but something m.ore is required j for in the first place, it is desirable to destroy the currant pest by cutting back the shoots near an eye below the leaves that are puckered and covered underneath with insects, and to cast each cutting forthwith into some fire or burning heap close at hand. The shrubs can then be more easily washed, by those who do not possess an engine. We cannot but admire the thoughtful and applicable directions given to poor cottagers, by writers who practically know, only, and have at command, all the apphances which are found in the highest establishments. S/ratyierry-runners are coming on, and will soon be fit for pegging down, either in the soil or small pots; the first young plantlet on the string, emerging from a fruitful origin, is ever to be preferred. The dry heat has much injured the fruit, but some of the bad eflfects have been ob* viated where moist straw litter, mowings of short grass, or brewers' spent hops, have been liberally placed over the ground. The last named material is very excellent ; it protects while wanted, keeps in moisture, and is easily forked-in v/hen out of oflfice, yielding a decomposable manure very serviceable to plants, and particularly so, we believe, to the rose family. Espalier trees, — Apples should be regulated by either cutting back or breaking the foreright and irregular shoots to within four or five eyes above ( their origin. The object is to cause the swelling of low- seated buds, which may thus become fertile \ The laws of nature are mysterious ; we observe i eflfects ; but neither the microscope nor theoretic inductions interpret causes. However, the plaii facts are these : if, during an entire summer, w6o( shoots be permitted to advance to their full extent a forest of barren ill-placed wood will be the result The remark, however, refers chiefly to trainei trees, for with standards the case is different, in so fa as the balance of power is somewhat more equall preserved by the figure which the head of the tre maintains. If in espaher, wall, or rigorousl trained dwarfs, the wild twigs remain untouched, th consequences will be such as above described ; i on the contrary, a severe cutting-back be mac early in the summer, an abundance of secondar wood shoots would be forced forward, and a doub' pruning required. The medium line of condui has therefore suggested itself; and this I concei; ' to be a pruning, or half breaking-oflP, of all the pn jecting shoots of spur-bearing trees, about mi( ■ July, and thence to the first week of August. The: as the vigour of the sap has naturally becon moderate, the lowest buds will enlarge withoi breaking into growth, and thus become the r cipients and storehouses of the rich organizab summer juices. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, and indeed all oth trained fruit-trees, require a correct and judicio' regulation and laying-in of the yearling or sprii wood, selected by a knowledge of future results. The Greenhouse plants are now fully exposed the open air. So much the worse for the po "changelings" (so far as situation is concerne(i which suffer to a direful extent by their exposure the full unrefracted power of light, and to the pel till of every storm. Coolness of abode, and shade, a always beneficial ; but by all means let us get rid exposure, andif possible deposit the plants in pits those made of turf will answer well — facing t north, and covered by sashes or oiled semitrar parent fabrics. Vineries. — Give plenty of air to the earliest hou to ripen and perfect the wood. Air also freely t L THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 83 house with ripening fruit. Air admitted at bottom, which disperses itself throughout, is the most useful. A full sun, dully admitted, is the most efficient agent of colour and flavour. Let every lateral be regularly cut back to the last developed leaf; but preserve all the leaves attached to the actual fruit-bearing wood. Here we want equality and free circulation ; and these can, to a great ex- tent be obtained, but not by sliding sashes. A little more experience will introduce great and economical substitutes for our defective machinery. Moveable pannels or sliding doors in the back- wall, low seated air-orifices in the front, and fixed sashes — so secured as never to move by the force of wind — ^vill protect, and give every desirable ad- vantage, to a summer and autumnal crop. Final notice of the month. — At this time so much delightful rain has fallen, with low temperature, that the ground has received all it required, and plants progress very nicely. Every crop of vegetables promises abundance, and sun willperfect without burning. Our future communications — thanks to the vast scope for observation afforded by this most fertile locality, covered as it is with the richest market- gardens, will be more effective ; and it is hoped that the instruction imparted will be proportionably more effective. Theory will thus go hand in hand with practical facts observed on the broadest scale. An instance may be cited : — On the 18th we inspected the magnificent "American" grounds of Messrs. Rollison, at the south side of Mitcham Common, two-and-a-half miles from Croydon. Persons are taught that peat or bog (heath soil) is required, and much mystification is attached to processes most simple. There the soil is the natural sandy loam of the common ; it is a russet-brown sandy loam, verging to a dark grey tint, owing to the quantity of vegetable matter it contains. The surface be- comes peat-like in consequence of exposure to the air, which carbonises the fibrous matter ; but by the slightest disturbance the nisset-grey becom.es visible. Herein masses of Kalmia of all ^-arieties form garlands of surpassing bloom. We find, too, azaiias, rhododendrons, andromedas, vaccineuraSj gaultherias in profusion. The azahas demand some moor or heath soil ; but in general it suflScea to collect turfy sods from the common, to heap them in masses — reversed — till the short grass decays, when a thorough chopping of the earth finally pre- pares the soil for dressing the larger plants, or potting smaller ones for sale. The simplicity of management, and grand breadth of the masses, are features that are equally new and striking. June 20. John Towers, AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR JUNE. The weather, during the greater portion of the past month, though extremely vegetative, has not proved sufliciently warm for the growing crops of wheat and spring corn : nevertheless, although it is gene- rally admitted that harvest work v/ill not be com- menced very early this year, the accounts which have reached us from the whole of our agricultural districts speak in the highest terms of the prospects now presented in the fields. That the late rains have been productive of benefit to the crops, not a doubt can be entertained ; and it is very gratifying for us to be enabled to state that very few failures are apparent in any part of the United Kingdom. It would, of course, be impossible at this moment to give any positive opinion as to the produce of the harvest ; but we may state that present appearances induce us to hope that a most abundant crop of each kind of grain will be secured this season . But all now depends upon the weather ; and shoiild that prove fine during the next four weeks, we should not be surprised to see samples of new wheat in Mark Lane in the early part of August. The great advance which has taken place in the value of wheat all over the coimtry has induced us to make the most extensive inquiries as to the amount of supply now held by our farmers. The great inroads which have been made upon the stocks during the whole of the present year, and the gradual falling oflT in the supplies at the various markets, prove to demonstration — for surely the present high rates would induce farmers to forward liberal quantities, if they possessed them — that the quantities of English wheat on hand are unusually small for the time of year. This, in point of fact, is the result of the inquiries we have instituted : hence, as we have observed on some former oc- casions, we are in no way surprised at the decided improvement which has taken place 'during the last two months in the quotations. The immense im- portations of foreign grain and flour, and the pos- sibility of their continuing extensive for the next six weeks, have had a depressing influence upon the corn trade within the last three weeks, and the currencies have declined, though not to the extent 84 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. which many persons predicted, for the simple rea- son that the quantities of home produce available for consumption are unusually small. The frequent showers of rain have considerably impeded the operations of the hay-makers. The crop of grass is undoubtedly a heavy one, and, with the aid of warm weather, a very large quantity of hay will be secured this season. It is, therefore, very probable that the value of hay will rule very low for some months hence. The show for fruit in Herefordshire and else- where is good, if we except that of apples : and the various markets have been exceedingly well sup- plied for the time of year, at moderate prices. The potato crop is now commanding the most serious attention of all classes. From some parts intelligence has reached us that the rot has again presented itself. We fear there is some foundation for a few of the reports that have reached us, be- cause we have no right to expect the total annihila- tion of the disease in one season ; but, on the other hand, we honestly confess that, at present, there is no actual cause for alarm. The potatoes which have hitherto appeared on sale have been wholly free from disease ; and we sincerely trust that the general crop will be equal to our wants. From Ireland and Scotland, our advices are to the effect that very large arrivals of foreign corn and flour have taken place, and which have had the effect of reducing the value of those articles. The condition of the people is very httle improved ; and, as the stocks of home-grown corn are small, we are quite of opinion that the whole of the imports in question will be required for consumption pre- viously to the close of harvest work. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. Notwithstanding there has been an increase in the supplies of fat stock on offer in our various markets since our last, compared mth those exhi- bited in the preceding month, a large amount of business has been again transacted; though, in some instances, the quotations have had a down- ward tendency. The general quality of the beasts and sheep brought forward, though tolerably good, has not been equal to that noticed on some pre^dous occasions ; and the accounts which have reached us from the different grazing districts are to the effect that the number of the former, really fat and fit for the London market, is by no means equal to that at the corresponding period in 1846. This fact induces us to imagine— looking at the large consumption going on— that the present high rates are safe for the next month. It is generally admitted that the fall of lambs this year has been an extensive one ; yet it is well known the available supply of sheep in the country is not sufficiently large to have any material influence upon the currencies. The deficiency here alluded to — without any prospect of an increase, at least for the present year — accounts for the firmness on the part of the grazing community in forwarding only moderate supplies to our markets for sale, and the continuance of the comparatively high range of figures. The abundance of pasture and other herbage has had a most beneficial influence upon the health of the stock generally ; yet we regret to state that in some of the marshy districts the epidemic has made serious ravages — especially amongst the depastured foreign stock — consequently the graziers have been very severe sufferers. As respects the imports of foreign stock, we may observe that they have been exceedingly large, both in London and at the outports. The quality of the beasts, particularly the cows from Rotterdam, has been good ; but that of the sheep has proved very inferior : while, as to the lambs, so bad has been their condition, that many hundreds of them have been disposed of, in Smithfield, at no more than six shillings per head ! Most of them have been sold chiefly for the purpose of grazing; but we learn that very few of them live when placed on good land — the change of food being very prejudi- cial to them. The extent of the importations will be seen by the following statement : — IMPORTS OF FOREIGN STOCK INTO LONDON. Head. Oxen 1,319 Cows 3,275 Sheep 29,430 Lambs 995 Calves 844 Total 35,863 ARRIVALS AT THE OUTPORTS. Head. Beasts 3,250 Sheep and lambs 16,200 Calves 220 Pigs 175 Total ,... 19,845 At the corresponding period in 1846 the total arrivals into the metropolis, and at Hull, Newcastle, &c., comprised only 4,344 head of all kind of stock. The trade in Smithfield, in the early part of the month, was decidedly brisk, and prices rapidly ad- vanced. On one market-day not less than m- sUUingsper Slbs. was paid for the best Scots, with a very active demand ; but towards its close the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 85 currencies were somewhat easier, arising from in- creased amvals. The numbers of stock exhibited were asunder : — Head. Beasts 16,222 Cows 594 Sheep and lambs 148,660 Cah'es 3,064 Pij?s 2,488 The following supplies were brought forward during the month of June in 1843, 1844, 1845, and 1846:— 1843. 1844. Head. Head. Beasts 11,980 13,290 Sheep and lambs 159,400 169,800 Calves 2,200 1,840 Pigs 2,800 . < 2,600 1845. 1846. Beasts 13,476 15,284 Sheep and lambs 131,390 163,080 Calves 2,212 0,321 Pigs 2,345 , 2,5SO On comparing the above important returns we find the actual supplies of beasts brought forward in the past month — a large portion of which, it must be observed, has been composed of the foreign importations — have exceeded those of the last four years; but those of sheep and laml}S have been only on a moderate scale. The bullock-droves have been thus derived : — Head. Norfolk, &c 4,500 Western and Midland Counties . . 3,200 Northern districts 350 Other parts of England 2,350 Scotland , 1,200 The remainder of the supplies have been received from abroad and the neighbourhood of the metro- polis. MONTHLY COMPARISON OF PRICES. Per 8lbs. to sink the offals. June, 1846. June, 1847. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef, from.. 2 4 to 3 10 .. 3 10 to 5 4 Mutton 2 8 — 4 4 .. 4 0 — 5 4 Lamb 5 0 — 6 2 .. 5 0 — 6 6 Veal 3 6 — 4 6 .. 4 0 — 5 2 Pork 3 4 — 4 10 .. 3 10 — 5 0 1 Owing to the warm weather the arrivals of I slaughtered meat up to Newgate and Leadenhall markets have been very limited, and the supplies on oflfer have proved very moderate. The general demand has been active, at higher rates. Beef has , sold at from 3s. 8d. to 4s. 8d. ; mutton, 3s. lOd. jto5s. 2d. ; lamb, Ss. to 6s. 4d. ; veal, 4s. to 5s. 2d.; and pork, 3s. lOd. to 5s, per 8lbs. by the I carcass, SURREY. The month of June came in with a splendour and power of sun which, however grand and pleasing to the eye, created some alarm ; for so dry had been the whole season since the deep snow of February, that it became evident the spring corn and meadow grasses must be- come seriously affected. The heat, too, sudden and intense on two or three occasions, brought to mind the paralyzing effects of the tropical weather of June, 184G, to which must certainly be ascribed the defects of the wheat in France, and partially in Britain. However, thunder brought some soaking showers ; a very low temperature succeeded, particularly on the 6th, and in the night between the 6th and "th, which touched the potatoes, the dahlias, the heliotropes, &c., and led to the opinion that the potato malady had suddenly re- appeared. So far, however, the alarm is fallacious ; and moreover, if there be any faith in observation — in con- stantly viewing and reviewing the crops of the field and garden to an immense extent, the writer can certify that never was the condition of the crop more pure, more beautiful to the eye, than it now is in every part of this county that has been approached. In other localities we have been assured that the stem is affected to some extent ; but time must determine the fact. The beau- tiful rain of the third week has done its effectual work : the ground is moistened to a great depth : the tempe- rature, to be sure, is low ; but the crops, one and all, have advanced beyond belief. Wheat lirst came into ear on the 2nd, on a magnificent breadth close to Croy- don Comu^on, which is said to be the finest field in the county. We saw its first series of blossom on the 10th, and almost at the same time a very superior field of barley, sown in November, so exceedingly strong and intense in its colour that, till the ears were seen, the plant was mistaken for wheat. Wheat, barley, oats, peas, and beans, are all superior, rich, and of high pro- mise, wherever justice has been done to the land ; but the contrasts are frequent, wretched, and disgraceful : they cry shame on landlord, tenant, or both. Bad land, it may be said, must be productive of poor crops ; and so it ever must be, unless hard, assiduous labour be ap- plied to it. Virgil taught this truth, hundreds of years ago, in his celebrated axiom : — " Labor improbus om.nia vincet ;" and of this the undeviating practice of Mr. Davis has substantiated the truth. Labour— deep moving of the lower soil, however bad, so as effectually to pro- vide for intercolation and the free passage of moisture from above and below ; great width between the drills of seed-sown crops, so ample as to allow of the full exercise of the horse and other hoes, to the constant and entire destruction of every weed ; and finally, a most careful rotation, which rigidly excludes the repetition of any one of the white crops. These are conditions which have more than worked out the poet's practical axiom ; since they have produced, and continue to produce, very admirable results from soil so debased, founded on a pan so stubborn and vioious that any unexperienced observer might have yielded to a hopeless despondency. We advance these undeniable fa:ts, not with any par- tiality—not with the most distant view of exalting Mr. 86 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Davis's crops as above those of his skilful neighbours, but solely to rouse a lawful emulation ; to point out the results of exertion judiciously applied ; and last, though not least, to shame those who vihfy what they have not the spirit to imitate, and who pretend to deny that which the most casual inspection proves to have been practised. I here allude to the small quantity of corn sown ; and without challenging to the proof those who impugn the veracity of Mr. Davis's assertions, shall content myself with the remark that the mere distance of the drills (always twelve inches) would of itself vouch for the economy of seed to the extent of one-half, were it ad- mitted that a quantity equivalent to that allowed in the customary broadcast-sowing had been deposited along the course of each drill. Good and most pi'olific crops are to be found everywhere ; but when one sees, in all but close contiguity, separated, as it were, by the space of a foot, a plot so tall, so strong, so rich in dark ver- dure, as to give assurance of ample, nay, of luxurious nutriment ; and another, the pale, yellow-green, sickly hue of which affords proof that its dense crowd of plants are in a state of actual starvation, it becomes ia, pos- sible to refrain from giving expression to regret (not to use a coarser term) that in a period of distress and alarm so little care should be taken to meet the de- mands of a population increasing at the ratio of nearly one thousand daily. In looking over a very great ex- tent of country, and viewing tlie prevailing low condi- tion of agriculture, connected also, as it is, with the ex- tent of vacant spots, wide hedgerows , waste of land by means of tortuous ditches, and banks covered with brambles and vile weeds, it becomes a paramount duty rather to appeal to what is already well done, and to hold up to emulation a few bright examples, than to dwell on the aspect of a whole county, nine-tenths of which display the results of inferior husbandry. In proof of this assertion let any one attentively peruse the article "On the mainte- nance of fertility m new arable land," written by Mr. John C. Morton, forthe " Royal AgriculturalJournal," and thence copied into " Tlie Farmer's Magazine." This detail of the operations at Whitfield speaks volumes ; and one such example becomes of more value to agriculture, than the record of a thousand starving farm establish- ments. Seasons are not at the command of man ; they have been found adverse ; but if husbandry be true to itself, the land, as a whole, is so generous as to yield ample store and profit to landlord and tenant, and plenty of food to the consumer. Farmers scoff at instruction ; they resent a hint ; but what can they say .' what can anyone think, when in an expansive field of corn short in stature are seen some dozens of widely-remote small patches of plants, tall, erect, of a reed-like strength, and dark green tint, evidently produced by the casual dropping of a small portion of manure, perhaps that of a horse employed in the tillage. Is not this simple cir- cumstance conclusive ? Does it not speak in language too plain to be misunderstood — that deep tillage and plenty of manure are the life and soul of agriculture ? If we have taken the liberty to remonstrate, the more pleasing duty remains of stating that a great spirit of improvement is abroad. Thus we see the operations of paring and burning old pasture effecting the destruction of insects, and the permanent amelioration of the staple ; the far-extending system of planting cow-cabbage and kohl rabi upon 27-inch ridges over manured furrows; considerable plantations of white beet 12 or 14 inches apart in rows a yard asunder ; the vast market-gardens abounding with kidney beans, parsnips, potatoes, alter, nating with similar long rows of cabbage, broccoli, beans. The precautionary measures are wise, and will reward the industrious operator. Rain and cool temperature still prevail at this period. — June 24. ESSEX. Chelmsford market to-day has without exception beea the dullest we have had for many a month: it was with diffi. culty ^£''20 could be obtained for what would easily have made £"'26 some few weeks since ; indeed all confidence in prices seems to have subsided. Mark Lane formerly ruled our prices, but that has not been the case during the > last few weeks, for continued depression exists whether it is so in Mark Lane or no. Both miller and merchant I seem determined to depress prices, and though but an^i extremely moderate supply is at our market, yet it is i with the greatest difficulty purchasers can be found. Harvest with very warm weather cannot be here for six weeks at least ; and though a profusion of vegetables are assisting the consuming population, yet we cannot conceal the opinion we entertain that the present de- ' pression is unaccountable. The foreign arrivals have been large it is true ; but they are the accumulations of months just released by favourable winds. The arrivals must continue large, or an upward movement must agaui occur. An eighth part of the year is yet to pass before our own supply can be made generally available, even with the finest of seasons. Indications of maggot in the wheat, symptoms of potato pestilence, and un- settled weather, a supply or rather a reserve of old corn insignificantly trifling in amount to that of the same period of 1846, all this must tell in favour of the specu- lator. It is true that, with few exceptions, everything flourishes : Providence, with a profusion of bounties, giving both to man'and to beast the promise of plenty. But the corn is yet in the fields, and the hurricane and the blast may only linger to be the more destructive. A giant's arm will be required to gather the forthcoming harvest ; but its quality and value are yet unknown Should the weather be favourable, without excepting any grain, we hesitate not to give it as our honest opi- nion that the coming harvest will prove almost un^ precedently grand and productive. No wheat of anj breadth is injured by being laid, nor has barley sufferec in this resjject. We will forward you the state of the crops previous to harvest, which shall be the result o ( much attention and examination given to the subject. — June 25, i We are sorry to learn that disease is very prevalent; among cattle in the neighbourhood of Stourbridge During the last five weeks Mr. Boxley, of the New road, has lost four cows and three calves by it. — Wor cester Paper, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 87 METEOROLOGICAL ] DIAR^ '. Barometer. Thermometer. Wind and State. Atmosphere. Day. 8 a. in. lOp.ra. 1 Mill. Max. lOp.m. Direction. Force, 8 a. m. 2 p. ra. 10. p ni. May 22 in cts. 30.14 in. cts. 30.10 59 69 64 W. by South lively fine sun fine 23 30.05 29.91 64 73 72 S.E., S.W. lively fine sun fine 24 29.94 29.94 64 66 59 S. Westerly Hvely cloudy fine cloudy 25 30.18 30.26 49 65 57 Westerly lively fine sun fine 26 30.27 30.26 49 67 59 Southerly gentle fine sun fine 27 30.17 30.10 52 74 70 E.byS.,S.W. tluctuat. fine sun fine 28 30.08 30.— 61 75 73 All points gentle fine sun fine 29 29.99 30.20 66 68 61 S. West lively cloudy cloudy fine 30 30.39 30.45 58 68 64 Westerly gentle fine sun fine 31 30.50 30.50 56 74 66 i W. to S.E. gentle fine sun fine June 1 ;i0.50 30.50 56 73 66 N. E., East gentle fine sun fine 2 30.50 30.47 54 72 65 , N. East brisk fine sun fine 3 30.45 30.30 56 72 6s ; N. East variable cloudy sun fine 4 30.30 30.30 58 71 66 N. East brisk cloudy sun cloudy 5 30.28 30.20 57 65 60 N. East lively cloudy cloudy cloudy 6 30.17 30.24 54 60 54 N. by West gentle fine sun fine 7 30.19 30.10 46 65 58 N.W., West gentle fine sun fine s 29.95 29.94 52 60 50 W., W.N.W. lively cloudy fine cloudy 9 29.94 29.94 46 59 57 N., N. by W. lively fine sun fine 10 29.80 29.90 51 58 54 N. West gentle cloudy fine cloudy 11 30.— 30.07 ' 46 52 57 1 X.Yf., S.W. gentle fine sun fine 12 30.06 30.— i 50 65 60 S., W. by S. gentle fine sun cloudy 13 29.90 29.77 I 56 59 59 S. West lively 1 cloudy cloudy cloudy 14 29.70 29.66 57 61 58 South lively cloudy cloudy cloudy 15 29.65 29.80 52 58 53 S. by West strong cloudy cloudy fine 16 29.86 29.70 ; 50 58 55 South lively cloudy cloudy cloudy 17 29.70 29.70 50 62 57 S.W., East gentle fine sun fine 18 29.72 29.87 54 61 57 N. by West gentle cloudy cloudy fine 19 29.93 30.— 52 65 60 N.byW.,Ely. gentle fine sun fine 20 30.02 30.— 54 62 60 Westerly gentle i cloudy cloudy cloudy estimated averages of JUNE. Barometer. Thermometer. High. 30.46 Low. 29.60 High. 90 Low. 37 Mean. 58.7 real AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF THE PERIOD. Lowest. 54.3 Highest. 65.56 Mean. 59.93 Weather and Phenomena. May 22, superb. 23, sultry, with threats of thunder. 24, distant thunder in the East, had cleared the air. 25, 26, very fine; mock sun, 27, sultry. 28, the same. 29, clouds forming, and thunder storm at three a.m., an hour's rain. 30, beautiful lively day. 31, again hot. Lunations. — First quarter, 22nd, 1 h. 59 m. morning. Full moon, 30th, 2 h. 46 m. morning. June 1, haze early; fine. 2, superb. 3, forenoon oppressive, evening lively. 4, some clouds. 5, brisk air, heat declines. 6, very cold, remarkably chil- ling. 7, partially, a rime on some leaves ; dahlias, heliotropes, and potatoes touched. 8, cold rain, thunder and hail. 9, chilling, fine, dark clouds form. 10, refreshing rain, 11, very fine. 12, a little dew, cool, changeable. 13, a hint of rain, totally overcast during four days. 14, fine, soft rain. 15, many showers, cold. 16, the same. 17, cloudy afternoon, very fine on the whole, 18, pro- fuse rain. 19, some massive threatening clouds, a trace of small rain. 20, changeable, wind whistles, and the weather is quite unsettled. Lunations. — Last quarter, 6th, 4b. 6m. morn. ; new moon, 13th, 12h. 22m. morn. Remarks referring to Agriculture. — The brilliant sun, and general high temperature of the first period, brought on the crops amazingly ; but it was too dry for the hay and spring corn. June came in as May ended — hot and sunny. Wbeat was seen in ear by the 2nd, and in flower by the 9th ; winter barley in ear. Rain came at length, and produced its effects ; but then the cold was great. Crops of all kinds are very fine where- ever the land has been generously treated ; there are, however, lamantable exceptions. Potatoes occupy a great deal of land. J. Towers. Croydon, 88 THE FARMER'S xMAGAZINE. REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE. Though rather important fluctuations have oc- curred in the value of wheat during the month, the changes have not been nearly so great as they were in May. The fact is, that prices have attained a point much above the ordinary level, and all parties have been afraid to act; business has consequently been very far from active, and whenever the sup- ply has at all exceeded the quantity required for im- mediate use, a difficulty has been experienced in effecting sales. Under these circumstances it is rather surprising that quotations have been main- tained so steadily; for the value of wheat is now, at the close of June, very nearly the same as it was when we last addressed our readers. Considering that the weather has, throughout, been favourable, and that the accounts from all parts of the king- dom represent the growing crops as promising a good return, there is only one M-ay to account for the extreme firmness hitherto shown by holders, viz., the shortness of stocks of home grown wheat, and the belief that the whole of what is likely to be imported from abroad will be required before the harvest can be gathered, and the new produce be fit for consumption. This belief is certainly strength- ened when we consider that neither rising nor fal- ling markets have had the eflfect of bringing for- ward more liberal supplies, but that, on the con- trary, a steady^and progressive decrease has taken place week after week in the quantity of English wheat brought to market for sale. That such has been the case will be best shewn by the following table of the sales made during the last six weeks, at the 290 towms where the returns are taken for the purpose of compiling the averages. To this statement we have added the returns of the quan- tities sold in the corresponding weeks in 1846, to show the vast difference between the two periods, SOLD AT THE 290 TOWNS RETURNING THE AVERAGES. 1847. 1846. In week ending May 15th 100,670 115,681 Ditto ,, 22th.... 78,269 78,064 Ditto ,, 29nfl 68,843 79,001 Ditto ,, 5th 41,223 88,378 Ditto June 12th 31,364 87,508 Ditto ,, 19th.... 45,071 91,886 We think that this statement must be convincing that the quantity of English wheat in the country is much below that usually held at this time of the year, for it would be absurd to suppose that far- mers would run the risk of holding back supplies with the price as it is at present, close upon lOOs. per qr., the prospects for the next crop (to say the least) encouraging, and large foreign arrivals drop- ping in at the various ports daily. By these re- marks, we do not mean to intimate that any ma- terial fall from present rates is probable ; but we need scarcely say that the chances are that the ex- isting high rates would not be maintained should harvest prove propitious, and in that case a decline of 20s. per qr. might very easily be caused by a succession of large arrivals, even though the whole might be ultimately needed, there being, as we have already intimated, a decided unwillingness to buy a quarter more than absolutely necessary for immediate wants. The extremely hot and dry weather experienced during nearly the whole of May rendered rain very necessary in June, more particularly for the spring- sown crops. Daring the first eight or ten days the temperature was much cooler than it had been in May, but the much-desired moisture did not begin to fall until towards the close of the second week in June ; when it did come, we had, however, plenty of it, and the hay crop suffered in some of the early districts. A large portion of the grass cut early in the month remained in the fields for upwards of a fortnight, and it is pretty certain that the hay crop will fall short of that of last year, both in quantity and quality. This is, however, a matter of minor im- portance when compared with the result of the potato produce, and we are sincerely sorry to say that too much reason exists to fear that the disorder which caused so extensive a failure of the latter has again attacked that plant this year. For some time the reported reappearance of the disease was not generally credited, but within the last week or two the reports from all parts of the country have be- come increasingly unfavourable; and it can no longer be doubted that the plant has already mani- fested precisely the same appearances as it did last season some weeks later. In respect to the grain crops, the accounts are universally of a favourable character ; the recent showers have proved of im- mense benefit to the spring corn, whilst they have done no harm to the wheat ; the latter crop came into ear in the more forward districts about the 7th of the month, and \vith tolerably propitious weather we may calculate on reaping being commenced in the southern parts of the kingdom about the latter end of July or early in August. We have lately THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 89 heard of no complaints of smut and blight, but we should be careful in drawing conclusions from par- ticular instances ; and on the whole we are inchned to think that the prospects for the future are good, though certainly not so brilliant as some of the daily papers would wish their readers to believe. Of the circumstances which will determine the range of prices from this time to harvest, so little can at present-be known that an opinion would be worse than useless. The state of the weather will have more influence than anything else. The result of the potato crop will be next in importance, and the extent of the foreign will also have its due effect. In respect to the latter a tolerably clear estimate may be arrived at ; but as to the more important elements in the calculation, nothing can of course at present be known. There is one point which in our opinion will act greatly against an advance — viz., the very high value of the article. This must naturally deter speculators from operating, and when the demand is, as it has recently been, of a purely consumptive character, the chances are in favour of prices remaining tolerably steady. As the tone of the trade at the principal provin- cial markets has been in a great measure regulated by what has taken place at Mark-lane, a statement of the actual occurrences at the latter place will convey to our readers as clear a notion of the opera- tions of the month as though we were to particu- larize each market separately; we shall, conse- quently, confine our observations on this head to what has been done in London since our last monthly notice. The anivals of wheat coastwise into London have in the aggregate been very small during the month ; and though the town millers ha\'e through- out acted with the greatest caution, still there has been no accumulation of stock. What has been brought forward at Mark-lane by land-carriage samples from the neighbouring counties has also been moderate ; and we are dis- posed to think that, notwithstanding the increased supplies from abroad, the quantity at this port is, as a whole, much below what is usually held by the London trade. In the early part of the month an impression was general that prices would be higher; and, though the demand has at no period been anything like lively, the whole of the English wheat exhi- bited for sale on the 7th inst. was taken off at rates 6s. to 8s. per qr. above those current on that day se nnight. This rise was unexpected : it conse- quently produced a good deal of sensation at several of the country markets, and during that week wheat rose in value 5s. to 6s. per qr. in all parts of the kingdom. Tliis state of affairs did not, how- ever, last long ; for, so soon as the millers had se- cured sufficient for jiresent wants, they refused to foUow up their purchases, and no one showing any disposition to support the market by making spe- culative investments, nearly the whole of the advance realized on the 7th was again lost on the 14th inst. Up to the 28th hardly any change occurred. An effort was made on the 21st to establish a further rise, but it proved unsuccessful ; the great bulk of what was sold on that day being disposed of on about previous terras. On the 28th prices fell from 6s. to 8s. per qr. Most of the foreign which has recently reached us has come to hand out of order, besides which the quality of the wheat of last year's growth was inferior over the greater part of continental Europe ; our millers, therefore, find it necessary to employ a certain pro- portion of home-grown wheat to manufacture a good sack of floui', and it is consequently by no means impossible that, whilst large arrivals of foreign may cause the latter to recede in value, the scarcity of English may prevent its declining in price. Foreign wheat of really good quality (such as the finer sorts of Danzig and Rostock) has been in very fair request ; having, in addition to a good local ijiquiry, had rather a lively countiy demand : prices have, however, on the whole, rather tended down- wards; very good parcels of high-mixed Danzig having lately been sold at 80s. to 83s. per qr. — terms which would not have been taken in May. The quality of the Mediterranean shipments has greatly disappointed the consigners, and numerous disputes have arisen between the buyers and sellers of free-on-board cargoes. As for disposing of the inferior and out-of-condiiioned qualities from on board without incurring landing expenses, the thing has been quite impossible; and what has not already gone into granary will unquestionably have to be warehoused to be got into something hke good order before it will be saleable. Correct quo- tations of these descriptions cannot, of course, be given ; but that purchases might easily be made many shillings per qr. below the nominal currency of May is certain. The arrivals, though not hitherto so great as had been previously calculated on, have, nevertheless, been hberal ; the quantity having been increased by the fall which has occurred in the French mar- kets, many cargoes originally intended for Mar- seilles, Havre, and other parts in France, having been sent on here. The consumption of flour in the metropolis has been rather large during the month, owing to the almost total exhaustion of the old, and the dearnesa of the new, potatoes. Whilst prices of wheat were on the advance, the top quotations of flour was put up to 80s. per sack : this rate was, how- 90 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ever, only maintained for a single week ; and, on the 14th, it was again lowered to 75s., and on the 2Sth to 70s. per sack. Country flour has fluctuated in value to the like extent; but American has not been much influenced by the changes which have taken place in the top price; the latter having been offered relatively cheaper than Enghsh. This has been owing to the liberal nature of the supply, and to the inferior quality and bad condition of a large portion of the arrival. The highest price realized for the best brands of western canal has at no period exceeded 44s. to 45s., and latterly 40s. per qr. has been freely taken for really good parcels ; whilst the ordinary sorts have in vain been offered at 38s. per barrel, and even lower. English barley has come very sparingly to hand, nor have the receipts of foreign been of much im- portance : this grain has, nevei'theless, been very difficult of disposal, the demand for shipment to Wales, Sec, experienced in May having wholly ceased, and the maltsters and distillers having kept out of the market altogether. Quotations are, however, nearly as high at present as they were at the close of May ; the decline which has, within the last week or two, occurred in prices having been only to about the same extent as was the previous rise. Whether any further fall will take place will, in some measure, depend on the future value of wheat, but probably still more on the extent that Indian corn-meal may be employed as a substitute for barley, in feeding cattle, poultry, &c. Malt has, as usual, been influenced by the bar- ley market. The transactions in the article have been on a strictly retail scale, and prices have gradually tended downwards ; even the best sorts being at present Is. to 2s. per qr. cheaper than at the close of last month. Though the arrivals of oats of home growth have been scanty in the extreme, tolerably large supplies from abroad and a materially contracted consump- tion have prevented anything hke scarcity being felt. The principal dealers have been gradually working out of stock, in anticipation of the Riga and Archangel arrivals, which usually begin to come forward about this period ; indeed, from the first-named port several cargoes have already made their appearance. Business in oats has, throughout the month, been wretchedly dull; and though no actual decUne of consequence occurred in prices till the 21st inst. (when the first Riga supply was re- ceived), the tendency has, all along, been downwards. The operations in beans have been very restricted; and though the quantity of English brought for- ward at Mark Lane has been trivial, we must quote this article 2s. to 3s. per qr. lower than at the close of May. The fall in the value of all kinds of peas has been to about the same extent, with but very little doing either in boilers, maples, or grey. So long as the price of wheat was on the rise Indian corn did not recede, though the arrivala were, even in the early part of the month, more than equal to the demand ; latterly, however, a material reduction has taken place in the value of Indian corn, not only here, but likewise at Liverpool and in the Irish markets ; and such qualities as were worth 70s- in May may now be easily bought 208, per qr. below that price. The very important fall which the value of grain underwent in this country towards the close of the last month has naturally had a material effect on quotations on the continent. At some of the Medi- terranean ports, more particularly at Marseilles, a perfect panic has prevailed ; and Pohsh Odessa wheat, which at one time was worth close upon 80s, per qr. at that place, was, according to the latest accounts, freely oflferedat 44s. per qr. free-on-board, and the inferior qualities were relatively still lower. That immense losses will accrue cannot for a moment be doubted. Many of the cargoes destined for Great Britain, which were bought when the ex- citement was at the highest, have been a long time on passage ; and a large proportion of the wheat which has lately arrived here has come to hand in wretched condition, which will also, we much fear, be the case with that still expected from Odessa and other distant ports. In the Baltic prices have not given way so much, owing to the stocks being comparatively light; still a marked alteration has taken place in quota- tions in that quarter. Letters from Danzig, of 19th inst., state that large supplies were expected down the Vistula ; and that though the quantity in ware- house was not large, the effect of the dull English advices had been to cause much anxiety to be evinced by holders to reahze, which had given a decided advantage to purchasers. During the pre- ceding week about 300 lasts of red-mixed, mixed, and high-mixed Wheat had been sold at rates vary- ing from 72s. to 76s., but that those terms were then no longer procurable, the export demand having almost wholly ceased. The reports from Konigsberg, Stettin, and Rostock are of a similar character, with only this diflference, that at the two last-named ports stocks were much higher than at the first mentioned places. At Hamburg prices were on the 22nd inst. far above our quotations, red Upland "Wheat being then held at 85s. to 86s. per qr. free on board. At some of the French and Belgian markets, where the depression was very great in the early part of the month, a slight rally appears to have THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 91 taken place ; and it is not improbable that some of the lower qualities of foreign wheat now arriving may hereafter be exported to those countries. The latest accounts from the United States reach to that period when the most exciting ad\dces from Great Britain had arrived out. Upon receipt of the English letters of the 1 ] th of May holders of flour immediately rose the price, and at New York as much as 9 d. 50 c. per brl. was paid for the best brands of Western Canal. On the 7th of June a slight reaction had however occurred, and the top quotation was then 9 d. per brl. Veiy large sup- plies had been received from the interior at the difl'erent ports on the seaboard, and ac- tive preparations were in progress for shipping off the same to Europe ; whether, however, the quan- tity to come forward will be so great as many repre- sent we still doubt — at all events the demand for ships had not been so great as to occasion any very marked advance in freights, 2s. 6d. to 3s. per brl. having been taken to load to London and Liver- pool. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. June 28. V.'HEAT, Essex & Kent, red .. 75 80 White .... 80 88 Norfolk and Suifolk.... 75 80 White Rte, new DiAN Corn 44 r'ARLET, Chevalier, new 53 Distilling 49 Scotch 49 Malt, Brown 65 46 57 52 52 07 80 8i) C3 Extra .... 50 Malting ... 54 Grinding .. 39 Irish — Pale SuflTolk & Norfolk 71 Chevalier.. 75 Potato, Sec. Si New 32 New 33 Potato .... 38 50 Pigeon 53 59 65 Ware pale 72 73 Oats, English, feed 30 34 Irish, teed 29 32 Do., Potato 32 84 Scotch, feed 35 87 Beans, Tick.. 4G 4S Harrow.. 49 Peas, Essex and Kent, white boilers, new.. Maple, new 54 59 Blue 78 80 Grey or Hog 53 66 Do. non-boilers.. — — FlOTTR, Town-made and first country marks, per sack.. 65 70 Norfolk and Siitfolk 60 67 Stockton and Yorkshire 68 65 FOREIGN. Wheat, Danzic and Konigsberg, finest high mixed .... 73 84 Do. mixed.. 74 78 Saale Marks, AnhSiUlt 74 78 Silesian and Stettin 73 7G Mecklenburg.. 75 80 Pomeranian .... 75 80 Polish Odessa . . 70 75 Rye — — Baslet, Hamburg, Konigsberg, Dantzig, and Russian malting 40 50 Do. distilling and grinding 42 44 Oats, Dutch and Friesland, Brew or Poland 82 3*1 Danish or Swedish „. 27 29 Eussian and Mecklenburg 2" 29 Beaus, Small or Pigeon 50 S4 Egyptian.... 38 40 Peas, white boiling.. .... none Grey or hog... none FlOUR, Danzic, per brl. of 196 lbs — — American 88 40 Canadian 37 40 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. Week ending May 15th 2ind ... 29;h June 6t.h 12th.... 19ih AgKrejfnte average of the »ii n'eeka which reifulates the duty. Comparative Averag'e. Bame time latt y«ar 85 2 94 10 10 J 5 19 10 88 10 91 7 52 7 55 10 66 5 55 3 52 0 93 0 ! 64 0 S> 8 : 38 1 Oats. Rye. j Beans. Peas. 32 11 .58 7 54 7 55 0 &4 3 69 4 57 8 60 U 36 3 73 11: 59 10 59 3 35 11 72 0 60 3 61 8 34 1 67 li S7 8 59 1 33 9 76 11 67 5 56 10 34 0 60 8 57 1 1 58 10 9« 7 S8 1 8S 8 84 8 PRICES OF SEEDS. June 28. Nothing of interest was done in Cloverseed, and prices remained nominally as before. Canary was more freely offered and was easier to buy. We heard of no change in prices of other articles. Rapeseed, 311. 33/. Linseed, English, sowing 50 Linseed, Baltic, 48 50 Mustard, per bush., wliite 8 Carraway, 41 43 new, 42 Hempseed, 35 38 per qr. Canary, 60 61 fine, 62 61 Irish,-;, —I. CO crushing 46 49 per qr. Odessii, 47 50 10 brown, 9 10 44 Coriander, 18 21 Trefoil, 17 19 Tares, Spring, Os. to Os. Linseed Cakes, English 13/. 131. 10s. per lOOO HOP MARKETS. BOROUGH, June 2 8. There is no alteration to notice in our market since our last report. The accounts from the plantations are various. Some growers are progressing favourably, others not so well. Prices are nominally as follows : — Mid and East Kents, 112s. to 150s. ; Weald of Kents, 90s. to 105s; Sussex pockets, 80s. to 903. WORCESTER, (Saturday last.)— There was more disposition to buy Hops to-day ; the accounts from the planters being so generally bad. The duty is variously estimated at from i, 9, 000 to £12,000; but little doing upon it. Although prices are so low, considering the blighted state of the plantation, yet most folks appear inclined to wait the result of the old distich. " Until St. James's day is come and gone. There may be Hops, or may be none." BUTTER, CHEESE, s. : Dorset Butter, per firkin 64 ■ Fresh Butter, 12s. Od. per doz. Irish, do., per cwt. Carlow, new , . 90 Sli,?o 80 • Cork, 1st 84 Waterford 80 • Foreign Butter, per cwt. Prime Friesland .... 94 Do. Kiel 92 BACON, AND HAMS. Cheese, per cwt. s. p. Double Gloucester ..60 68 Single do , 48 62 Cheshire 56 76 Derby 62 66 American 54 60 Edam and Gouda ... 48 66 Bacon, new 82 — Middle — — Hams, Irish ...80 — Westmoreland Si — York 98 — WOOL MARKETS. BRITISH. LEEDS, June 25. —The demand for combing and clothing wool during the present week has not been large. Prices have been about the same as last week. WAKEFIELD, June 25.~We have a limited de- mand, but what sales are made are at the full rates of the two previous weeks, our stocks being low, particularly in hogs ; nor do we think they are likely to be much increased soon, as the grower is indisposed to sell the new wool at prices proportionate to what is ruling in these markets. PONTEFRACT, June 19.— This being the last mar. ket of the season, there was only a short supply of wool, which was readily sold at last week's prices. YORK, June 24.— The show of wool at this day's market was large, and the buyers were also numerous ; but the trade continues dull, and sever 1 lots are left unsold, though rather lower prices have been submitted to. The following are the nearest quotations : — Super hog, 13s. to 13s. 6d ; hog and ewe, lis. 6d. to 12s. 6d. ; ewe, 10s. 6d. to lis. ; locks and cast, 8s. to 9s. per stone. HULL, June 22. — There was a fair quantity of wool shown, with a small attendance of buyers ; the parcels went off rather heavy at last week's prices, and there wag a imall part left uniold. 92 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, LIVERPOOL, June 26. Scotch. — There has been rather more doing in Laid Highland this week at a further reduction in price. White Highland is still neglected. In Cheviot and Crossed Wool little doing, and holders anxious to clear out be- fore the new clips come to hand. Laid Hislili'iid Wool, i)or-.i -libs 6 8 to 7 0 AVhite Highland do 9 9 U 0 L:iid Crossed do ., iir.wasiied.. .. 8 0 9 6 Do. do... washed 9 0 10 0 Do. Cheviot do... unwashed.... 8 6 9 0 Do. do... washed 12 0 15 0 Whits do. do SO 0 2-i 0 FOREIGN. The sales of wool are progressinpr much better. There is a fuller attendance, and prices are rather higher than at the opening. Tlie series will yet last nearly all the week, and there are sales declared up to Thursday after- noon inclusive. The following have been the auctions held since our last : — Monday's sale of 1,572 bales by Messrs. Sinies and Co. went off at Is. 2^d. to Is. lid. for sheep's clean, part being withdrawn. Lambs' brought Is. 2d. to Is. 8d., and greasy Sid. per lb. 78 bales Port Phillip went at Is. Id. to Is. 4d. for sheep's clean, and Is. 4d. to Is. 6|d. for scoured ; 8 bales South Australian sold at Is. Id. to Is. 3d. ; 25 bales Cape went at lUd. to Is. Id. per lb. for sheep's, and at lid. for lambs'. JIarsh and Edenborough put up on Tuesday 1,403 bales ; 506 were Australian, and realized is. 3d. to 2s. for clean sheep's, 2s. O^d. for snow white, and 7d. to Is. 7d. for greasy. 242 bales South Australian were nearly all withdrawn. A few bales sold at Is. Id. to Is. 3^d. for sheep's, and at Is. 3d. for lambs' ; 159 bales Port Phillip sold at Is. 2d. to Is. 3^d. for washed sheep's, and at Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. for lambs' ; 124 bales Van Dieman's Land brought Is. 2§d. to Is. 4d. for washed sheep's, and Is. 42d. to Is. 5d. for lambs'. 340 bales Cape realized 7d. Is. 25d. for sheep's, and Is. 2d. to Is. 6d. for lambs'. On Wednesday Messrs. Simes and Co. put up 1,349 bales Van Diemen's Land, about 70 bales of which were withdrawn. The sheep's, clean, went at Is. 2d. to Is. lid., the greasy at 9d., and the lambs' at Is. Gjd. to 2s. l^d. per lb. 112 bales South Australian brought ]s. Id. to Is. 2d. for washed sheep's, and lOd. to Is. 2d. for lambs'. On Thursday Messrs. C. and J. D. Jacomb and Co. put up 1,047 bales. There were 152 bales Australian sold at Is. 3 Jd. to Is. 9d ; 93 bales Port Phillip at Is. 3d. to Is. 8d. for sheep's, and Is. 3^d. for lambs'. 469 bales South Australian realized Is. to Is. 3ld. for sheep's, and at Is. to Is. 3d. for lambs'. 333 bales Van Diemen's Land went at Is. 2il. to Is. 6d. for clean sheep's, and at Is. 5id. to Is. lO^d. for lambs'. Some Mogadore, &c. — 56 bales — was withdrawn. Friday's sale was by Messrs. Southey and Son, and comprised 1,195 bales. There were 616 bales Van Die- men's Land sold at Is. 2d. to Is. 4d. for clean sheep's, and at Is. 2id. to Is. 9d. for lambs'; 289 bales Aus- tralian sold at Is. 2id. to Is. 8d. for sheeps' ; 136 bales South Australian at Is. to Is. 2M. for clean sheep's and 8d. for greasy; 54 bales Port Phillip, at Is. 2d. to Is. 3d. ; 82 bales Cape, at Is. to Is. 3d. ; and 18 bales Me- rino, at 7d. to Is. l^d. per lb. On Saturday Messrs. Daniel Hazard and Son put up 680 bales. There were 277 bales Cape, 198 Port Phillip, 137 Port Adelaide, and the rest Sydney, Moga- dore, &c. Port Phillip went as high as Is. 8d. for superior clothing, and first combing Is. 7d. Cape touched Is. 3d. to Is. 5d. Sydney realized lOd. to ^Is. 3d. South Australian, Is. to Is. 5^d. per lb. At the Posen Wool fair prices were not very well! I supported, but at Leipsic, on the 15th June, prices rose I about 1 rix-dollar per stone, compared with the cor- I responding period of 1846, although the quantity brought I forward was 50,000 to 60,000 stone. The condition of I the fleeces was scarcely equal in some respects to that usually expected from Silesia. There were English, Dutch, and Belgian buyers present. Accounts of June 16, from Leipsic, state that nearly all the wool brought to the fair had found buyers. Fme and superior samples were in most request. The Eng- lish, French, Germans, and Dutch were buyers. The lowest quality wools were at Hi aird the highest at 24 rix- dollars per stone. At Baudessin, on the 15th iust., the holders of wool were very firm. The condition of the samples was ex- cellent. Fine realized 16 to 18 rix-doUars per st., and low 8 to 11. From Pesth, under date of June 11, we learn that business was not brisk in manufactures. Goods of ordi- nary quality sold best. A great deal was done in raw wool, about 30,000 cwt. being sold. In the Berlin market, on the 20th inst., there were 70,000 cwt. of wool. About 30,000 cwt. had been sold already at 2 to 5 rix-dollars advance, compared with this time last year. There was no want of buyers. The Gotha fair was well attended on the 20th June. There were 11,226 stone on offer, which sold at about last year's rates, viz., 8 to 13 rix-dollars per stone. The quality generally was ordinary to middling fine, and the washing most satisfactory. PRICES OF MANURES. Subjoined are the present prices of several sorts of Manure : — Muriate of Ammonia, 21s. par cwt. New Bristol Manure, 8s. per qr. Nitrate of Soda, 198. per cwt. Nitrate Potash (saltpetre), S7s. to i8s. per cwt. Patent Disinfected Manure, 91. per ton Petrc Salt, 21. per ton Potter's Guano, 91. per ton. Preparation for Turnip FIj, lOs. 6d. per pakt., sufficient for tliree acres Rags, il. to it. 10s. per ton Rape Gake, 7t. per ton Rape Dust, 71. 7s. per ton Soap Ashes, 10s. per ton Soda Ash, Us. to 14s. 6d. per cwt. Sulphate Soda, 6s. per cwt. Sulphur for Destroying Werni on Turnips, 12s. per cwt. Sulphuric Acid, Ijd. per lb. Superphosphataof Lime, 78. 6d. per cwt. ; 71. per ton Tlie Liverpool Abattoir Com- pany's Animalized Manuring Powder, 21. lOs. per ton The Urate of the London Ma- nure Company, il.is. per ton Willey Dust, 41. 4s. per ton WolvorhamptonCompost(Alex ander's), 128. perqr., subjec to carriage to London, or forwarded from Wolver- hampton Agricultural Salt, SOs. per ton Alkalies, 23s. and 42s. per cwt. Boast and Co.'s (Bow) Inor- ganic Manures, from 6s. to lis. per cwt., according to crop Boast's Guano, 9Z. 9s. per ton Carbon, 12s. per qr. Chie foil, 21s. per cwt. Chloride Lime, 283. per cwt. Clarke's Compost, 8/. 12s. 6d. per hlid., sutKcient for tlu'ee acres Fothergill's Gypsum, 35s. per ton. Fothergill's Phosphate of Linir, 8/. 10s. per ton Graves, 61. 10s. per ton Guano, Peruvian, 10^ ICs. ; Bolivian, lOMOs.; African, 6i. 63. to 7i.l0s. per ton, accord- ing to analysis and quantity Gypsum, 28s. per ton Highly Concentrated Manure, 30s. per qr. Humus, 14s. per qr. Bone-dust, — s. per qr. Half-inch Bone, — s. per qr. Hunt's Stuff Graves, 3s.Sd. cwt. Hunt's new Fertilizer, 13s. 4d. per qr. J, T. Hunt's Artificial Guano, 91. per ton Manure Powder, 16s. per qr. Muriate of Lime, 6s. per cwt. PLEURO PNEUMONIA.— A correspondent in- forms us that this disease is making great ravages in the neighbourhood of Winslow, Bucks. A local cattle in- surance association there has had very heavy drafts upon its funds, stated to be upwards of .£'160 in three months. The Farmers' and Graziers Cattle Insurance Association (see advertisement) has, we are informed, during the same period, paid upwards of ^"6,000. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand, London. s .X 1' ^^ THE FAEMER'S MAGAZII^E. AUGUST, 1847. No. 2.— Vol. XVI.] [Second Series. PLATE I. N E C K L A C E ; A Short-Horned Cow. Red, calved in 1837, bred by Jolin Booth, Esq., of Killerby, near Catterick, Yorkshire; got by I Priam (2452), d. (Toy) by Argus (759), g. d. (Vestal) by Pilot (496), gr. g. d. (Vestris) by Remus j (550), gr. gr. g. d. (^'alentine) by Blucher (82), gr. gr. gr. g. d. (Countess) by Albion (14), gr. gr. I gr. gr. g. d. by Shakes]jeare (582), gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. g. d. by Easby (232).— Firfe '' Coates's Herd I Rook," vol. vi., p. 489. The names and fame of " Necklace" and her twin sister " Bracelet" as prize cows are too well known to require any eulogium from us ; suffice it to say, the former won sixteen prizes, one Gold and ; tlu'ee Silver Medals ; the latter fifteen ])rizL's and one Silver Medal, at the various meetings of the Royal I Agricultural Society of England, the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the Yorkshire Society, and other local shows, as well as at the Smithfield Club, where the subject of our plate finished Iicr career as a prize cow in 1846, by winning the first prize of her class, and the Gold Medal as the best l)L'ast exhibited in any of the cow and heifer classes. Mr. Booth obtained the first ])rize for Short-horned Cows at the following ^leetings of the Royal AgricuUural Society of England :— In 1841, at Liverpool; in 1842, at Bristol ; in 1844, at Southampton. The prize Cow at the Shrewsbury Meeting, in 1845, was bred by Mr. Booth. PLATE II. MENDICANT; Winner of the Oaks, i«46. Mendicant, a dark-brown filly, was bred by Mr. Whitworth in 184.3, and is by Touchstone out of Lady Moore Carew, ])y Tram]), her dam Kite (Vulture's dam) by Bustard— Olympia, by Sir Ohver Lady M(>ore Carew, bred by Mr. Allanson in 1830, was a very fair provincial performer iii her time, and has also given a tolerable return during the few years she has figured in the stud— Lady Sarah, by ^ elocii.ede, for one worthy of i)lace in the same page as the winner of the Oaks, continuing to run on and well. ° On behalf of Touchstone, [Mendicant appears as the first Oaks M'inner that celebrated stallion has produced, and, at the same time, as something like a contradiction to an opinion which was fast gaining ground, viz., that the Touchstone mares couldn't run. In 1845 Mendicant, then two years old, the property of Mr. Gullv, and ridden by J. Howlett, ran second to Mr. I'ortii's Sting for the Lavant Stakes of Goodwood. In 1840, at Newmarket First Si)ring Meeting, Mendicant, ridden by S. Day, won the Thousand (luineas Stakes of 10',) sovs. each, h. ft. (twenty-six subscribers), won easy by two lengths. At Eijsom ridden Ijy S. Day, won the Oaks Stakes of 5o sovs. each, h. ft. (140 subscribers) ; 9 to"" 4 against Mendi- cant: won Dy two lengths. At Liverpool, ridden by A. Da}-, and carrying 7st., she was not placed for the Liverpool Cl^^ ; won by Mr. Meiklam's Lightning, five years old, 8st. 61b. : 6 to 4 agst. Mendicant In 1847, Newmarket Craven Meeting, Mendicant, ridden by F. Butler, and carryin'o- Sst 71b beat Lord Glasgow's Conspiracy, 8st., in a match for 300 sovs. At Chester, ridden by Butler, and car'rvinff 8st sne ran second to Mr. Dankald's St. Lawrence, 7st. 101b., for the Cup. At the same Meeting ndden by Butler, she won the Cheshire Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 158t., &c ; two to one on Mendicant- won easy. At Ascot, ndden by F. Marson, was not placed for the Cup. Just previous to this last ap- pearance she was purchased by Sir Joseph Ilawley for three thousand guinea-;. lo.A^'Y^'^^^^ oi.- Mendicant'.^ Performances.— In 1845 she started once without winnin straw, at 8d. a-head per day.... 1 13 4 Jan. 1 . To 34 tons of white globes, at 8s. 4d. per ton, since 24th October till this date, being 10 cwts. per day 14 3 0 April 7. To 38 tons 16 cwt. of Swe- dish turnips, at 12s. 6d. per ton, since 1st Jan. till this date, being 8 cwt. per day 24 5 0 June 7. To 21 tons 0 cwt. of Swedish ' turnips since the 7th of April till this date, at 12s. 6d. per ton 13 8 2 ' Total 108 9 10 The avei-age cost of the food of eadi beast in this lot was about 6s. 2d. per week. On the 7th of April the judges ap])ointed by the Society in* THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 97 spected the cattle, and reported their vahie to be £82, or £1G 8s. per head. Lot No. 2 — fed on tl'hnii's and oilcake. Oct. Jan. April £ s. 12. To price of five cattle 55 0 •24. To ten daj's' keeping of ditto on turnij)s and straw, at 8d. per day 1 13 1. To 17 tons of white globes, at Ss. 4d. ])er ton 7 1 7. To 1 9 tons 8 cwt. of Swedish turnips, at r2s. 6d. per ton I'i 2 „ To 1 ton 18 cwt. of oil-cake, at £7 1 5s. per ton, since 16 Nov. to this date, being 30 lbs. per day 14 14 90 12 0 The estimated value of this lot at this date was £17 14s. per head, or £88 lOs. June 7. To 10 tons Hh cwt. of swedes, at 12s. Gd. per ton 6 14 1 „ To 16 cwt. 38lbs. of oil-cake, at £8 per ton 6 10 8 Total cost of keep ... . 103 16 9 The average expense of the keep of this lot was about 5s. 9d. each beast per week. Lot No. 3 — fed on turnip.s and ground CORN. £ s. d. Oct. 12. To price of five cattle 55 0 0 24 To ten days keeping on tur- nips and straw, at 8d. per day 1 13 4 „ To 17 tons of white globes, at 8s. 4d. per ton 7 18 April 7. To 19 tons 8 cwt. of swedes, at 12s. 6d. per ton 12 2 6 „ To 1 ton 14 cwt. 98 lbs. of bean-meal, or 63 bushels of ground beans, weigh- ing 62 lbs. per bushel, at 5s. per bushel , 15 15 0 „ To 9 bushels of bruised oats. at 3s. 6d. per bushel ill 6 The average expense of the keep of this lot was about 6s. 8d. each beast per week. This lot had also for a short time towards the end of the feed- ing season a quantity of the rough seeds of oatmeal, "■q at l^d. per bushel, as a mi.xture with the bean- meal, but which are not charged above, as the ad- I ditional manure was considered to Ije equivalent to 4 their price. 5 Lot No. 4 — fed on distillery refuse and ' ground beans. £ s. d. Oct. 12. To price of five cattle 55 0 0 24. To ten days' keep on turnips and straw, at 8d. per day 113 4 Nov. 7. To 3 tons 5 cwt. of white globes, at 8s. 4d. per ton 17 1 April 7. To 72 qrs. of " draff," at 4s. 6d. per qr 16 4 0 ,, To 60 puncheons of " dreg," at 2s. 6d. per puncheon.. 7 10 0 April 7 To 1 ton 14 cwt. 62 lbs. of bean-meal, or 62 bushels of ground beans (62 lbs. per bushel), at 5s. per bushel 15 10 0 97 4 5 The estimated value of the lot at this date was £81 10s., or £16 4s. per head. June 14. To 37^ qrs. of "drafF," at 4s. 6d. per qr 8 8 9 „ To 28 puncheons of" dreg," at 2s. 6d. per puncheon.. 3 10 0 „ To 19 cwt. 104 lbs. of bean- meal, or 36 bushels of ground beans (62 lbs. per bush.), at 5s. per bush . Total . 9 0 0 lis 3 2 93 4 0 The estimated value of the lot at this date was £77, or £15 8s. per head. June 14. To 10 tons 14^ cwt. of Swe- dish turnips, at 12s. 6d. per ton 6 14 1 „ To 1 ton 9 cwt. 100 lbs. of bean-meal, or 54 bushels of ground beans, weigh- ing 62 lbs. per bushel, at 5s. per bushel 13 10 0 Total 113 8 I The average expense of the keep of this lot was about 7s. 2d. each beast per week. At the commencement of this ex])eriment the several divisions of cattle had each their places, as well as kinds of food, allotted to them ; and those of Lot No. 1, whose feeding was turnips alone, from being the kind of food with which they had previously been accustomed, made a more imme- diate improvement than any of the others. About the end of November this lot was considered to be £5 better than any of the others, though they were all estimated as of equal value on the 24th Octol)er, when put up to feed. The cattle of Lot No. 1 had not, however, the disadvantage of a change of food to contend with, which may account, in some de- gree, for their immediate thriving. It will be perceived, from the preceding state- ment, that half turnips and oilcake, on which Lot 98 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. No. 2 was fed, was the least expensive mode of feeding which was adopted in this experiment, and that the cattle of this lot made the greatest improve- ment, which was sufficiently jjroved by the marked difference in the value put upon them on the 7th of April by the judges appointed by the agricultural society. By the charge against No. 4, it will be perceived that feeding on distillery refuse was more expensive than the keeping ofNos. 2 and 3 on their half allowance of turnips. The whole of the cattle were disposed of to the same butcher; and the following is a statement of their live weight before being taken away : — No, Lot 1. Lot 2. Lot 3. Lot 4. Fed on Turnips alone. Half Turnips and Half Turnips and Ground Distillery Refuse, and Ground Oilcake. Corn. Corn. stones. stones. stones. stones. 118 115 95 109 104 118 115 109 111 105 105 129 107 122 111 110 96 92 91 88 536 552 517 545 Subjoined is a statement of the weight of beef, tallow, and hides, as furnished by the butcher. The carcasses are in imperial stones, the tallow and hides in pounds : — No, 1 2 , 3 4 , 5 Total Lot 1. Lot 2, Lot 3, 1 Lot 4, Beef, TaUow- Hides. Beef. Tallow. Hides. Beef. Tallow. Hides. lbs. ■ Beef, Tallow. Hides, St. lbs. lbs. lbs. St. lbs. lbs. lbs. 1 St, lbs. lbs. St, lbs,' lbs. lbs. 62 1 112 96 61 11 103 86 51 9 119 79 57 6 119 72 57 2 104 83 61 8 119 97 63 0 84 85 54 6 90 80 58 12 101 75 55 12 115 17 57 5 118 76 66 1 112 77 54 4 98 68 66 9| 146 84 1 59 12 115 75 55 6' 82 50 50 12 99 69 49 12 97 68 48 9 84 62 46 9' 112 78 283 3 514 391 295 10 580 412 280 7 520 377 280 0 515 357 Mr. Brodie concludes, from the I'esults of his ex- periment, that feeding with turnips, as an auxiliary, is the most advantageous mode of using them, since it is apparent, from the foregoing statements, that, if the cattle of Lot No, 1 had been allowed only half the quantity of turnips which they con- sumed, and had got oilcake instead of the other half, as was given to Lot No, 2, the expense of their keeping would have been diminished £4 13s., and from the superior quahty their ^'alue would have been increased to £10, making together £14 13s.; hence, by giving the remainder of the tur- nips, with the addition of oilcake, to other five cattle, the realization on the roots consumed by Lot No. 1 would have been £29 6s. more than it has been. By keeping the cattle till the month of June, Mr, Brodie says he had been amply remune- rated for all his outlay and trouble, without taking into account the great advantage of the additional manure of twenty cattle fattening on the farm where ten only could have been maintained had turnips alone been used for that purpose. Mr, Andrew Howden, of Lawhead— another in- telhgent agriculturist of East Lothian, has con- ducted some experiments under the directions of, and in competition for a premium offered by, the East Lothian Agricultural Society, with the view of ascertainingwhetherbeans and potatoesmight not be advantageously employed in fattening cattle, wliere turnips could not be profitably cultivated on ac- count of the unsuitableness of the soil. The fol- ' lowing details are taken from Mr. Howden's report to the society. The produce of 14 statute acres of land was set apart for fattening twenty head of young cattle, which were divided into four lots of five in each, of as nearly equal value as possible, each lot having had the exact produce of three and a half acres, as follows : — Lot No. 1 . — To this lot of five cattle was as- signed the produce of 3^ statute acres of Swedish turnips, weighing 34 tons 3 cwt. per acre— say 49| tons — of which 12 cwt. remained unconsumed at the period of removal, being at the rate of 133ll)s, per day to each beast for 166 days. Lot No. 2 had only one-half of the turnips al- lowed No. 1, with the addition of the produce of if acres of potatoes, weighing 12 tons per acre, so that the allowance for the five cattle in this lot was ■2A'i tons of Swedish turnips, and 21 tons of pota- toes. The potatoes were of the yom kind, and 5 tons remained unconsumed at the time of removal, which leaves 67 pounds of turnips and 40 pounds of potatoes as the average consumption of each beast per day. Lot No. 3 had also 24f tons of Swedish tm-nips, and the produce of ij acres of peas and beans, amounting to 8 quarters 2 bushels, and weighing 04 ])ounds ])pr bushel : 6 cwt, of turnips, and 7 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. m bushels of beans, set apart for this lot, were not used at the period of removal, making the average con- sumption 66 pounds of turnips and 4^ pounds of bean-meal to each beast per day. Lot No. 4 was allowed the produce of l:f acres of yam potatoes, being 21 tons, and also that of if i acres of peas and beans, amovmting to 8 quarters 1 2 bushels, and weighing (54 pounds per bushel, of which 5 tons of the potatoes and 7 bushels of the beans remained imconsumed, thus making the average consumption 40 pounds of potatoes and 4^ Lot 1. ft. in. On the 10th of November 27 11* On the 24th of March 30 U pounds of bean-meal to each beast per day. This lot got about 10 Scotch pints of water daily, and straw in common with the three other lots, which were allowed no water. It is proper to mention that the land which pro- duced the different descriptions of food was of equal quality, and got the same quantity of manure, only that the turnips had in addition a small allow- ance of compost in the drills. The following were the aggregate girths of each lot : — Lot 2. Lot 3. Lot 4. ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. 28 8 28 3 27 111 31 1| 31 4 31 0 Improvement 2 2 .... The subjoined values were placed upon the seve- ral lots when inspected by the judges on the 1st of April: — Lot No. 1, valued at £12 4s. per head. 2, „ 13 12s. 3, „ 14 iGs. „ 4, „ 14 OS. „ 5i 3 0^ The following is the butcher's note of the weight of the beef, tallow, and hides of each lot : — Lots 1 2 3 4 Description of Food. Fed on Turnips .... Turnips and potatoes . . Turnips and beanmeal . Potatoes and beanmeal . Beef Tallow. Hides lbs. lbs. lbs. 3005 314 315 3213 437 318 3353 366 333 3194 355 334 In calculating the value according to the girths, the difference between the highest and lowest was found not to exceed 3s. 6d. on each beast, and it was therefore considered unnecessary to take the difference into consideration in stating the original valuation. Lot 2 was superior to Lot 1 by 208lbs. beef, l23lbs. tallow, and 3lbs. hide, „ 3 „ 348 „ 52 „ 18 „ „ 4 „ 189 „ 41 „ 19 „ 745 216 40 The following tabular summary of the results of this experiment shows the difference arising from feeding on turnips alone and on mixed food : — « u o Origina value o whole lo Valuatio of the Judges g Q £ £ £ 1 35 Gl 26 2 35 68 74 33 3 35 39 4 35 70 35 140 273 133 Consumption. Acres. 3j turnips, at £7 8s. 7d, per acre / If turnips, at £7 8s. 7d. per acre \ 1^ potatoes, at £1 5 per acre / if turnips, at £7 Ss. 7d. ]3er acre \ l^ beans, yielding 59 bushels, at 8s. 9f d. per bushel f 1^ potatoes, at £l5 per acre \ 1^ beans, equal to 59 bushels, at 5s. per bushel . . . . 7 acres of turnips and 6 acres of potatoes and beans 'ere found to have eaten a trifle more than four acres out of the seven, the crop being an even one, and the ewes penned across the lands. The subject of folding is pecuhar to this breed of sheep. This practice was one of the general objects and amongst the earliest pursuits of our ancient flock- masters, who, from the open state of our island, the absence of artificial manures, and the national im- portance attached to the flocks, looked upon it as the leading feature of the then pastoral age ; but by the rapid strides in the ajjplication of artificial manures, the old system is fast going out of fashion, it being now rarely practised, except by compulsion upon the downs and heaths, where it is considered better to fold on the land than allow the sheep to roam at large. In the general practice of folding for the purpose of manuring the land for wheat, or otherwise, it is found by repeated calculations that the deterioration of the animals exceeds the return in the shape of manure (when compared with the present price and easy access of the new artificial manui'es), as the disturbance of the animal, trans- ferring the choice of their hours of feeding and rest from themselves to the shepherd, and their being kept in large flocks, each affect their domestic habit and constitution ; the only true feature is the trans- fer of the produce of the grass-land to the arable, whereby the breeder may reap the benefit of both. In situations where folding is compulsory, it is far better to have prepai-ed sheep-yards, regularly lit- tered with straw or stubble, where they would raise a large quantity of manure, rest warm and com- fortable, and jje supplied with cut clover, chaff, hay, or vegetables, than to fold them thickly upon a bleak situation, or more particularly when they are placed a second night in the same unwholesome fold, which is usual when a '" good dressing" is required. The strongest advocates for folding are the '*' Hill-side" farmers, who state it to be better for the sheep to deposit manure in those situa- j tions than by carting — an endless task. Would j it not, in such situations, be better to lay them down to " sheep-walk," or use artificial manure? [Many breeders in the Southdown districts apd THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 147 southern counties adopt the system of fattening a part of their lambs for the London market. In this case those ewes that are mtended to jiroduce lambs are drafted from the general Hock the year previous, and put with the ram at an early jieriod. The management of lambs from their birth is al- lowed by all breeders to be the most difficult task in sheep-husbandry ; it is regulated throughout by the period or age at which the breeder intends to realize. When they are intended for the earliest markets, some breeders adopt the plan of jn'oduc- ing what is termed " house-laml)." For this purpose they invariably procure the Dorset ewes, which have been previously put to the ram for the purpose of dropping their lambs at Michaelmas. After the usual pre])arations for tb.e lambing season, and the lambs begin to come, they are (after a few days) separated from the ewes, and placed in a suitably pre- pared house, or large barn, well littered with straw ; the ewes are taken to them three times a-day, but are not allowed to i-emain beyond the time required for suckling, as the extra heat occasioned by their presence for a longer period would have the effect of producing an uneven and consequently unhealthy temperature — a point to be avoided if possible, as upon the lamb-house being kept at one regular degree of heat depends the more certain and quick composition of animal food, by an union of the elements of the milk, food, and oxygen consumed. The ewes when turned from their lambs are kept as near home as convenient, and sujiplied with a liberal quantity of turnips, cabbage, coleseed, or other succulent food within reach at this season of the year, together with grains, broken corn, or linseed. Chalk is supplied to the lambs in troughs, both in lump and ])owder, to prevent looseness — particular attention being paid to cleanliness and a free circulation of air. When the business of draw- ing them for the London market has commenced, it is not uncommon to suckle the next run of lambs upon the ewes that have had their lambs taken oif (in addition to their o\vn dams) which is done by the shepherd holding the ewe a proper time, otherwise the ewes are turned away and made fat. If young, they are sometimes kept on for another season, and sent to fold. The lambs while fatting are also regularly supplied with sweet clover, split peas, broken corn, or bran ; in short, it being an artificial production, both the lamb and dam, for the time, are given anything they will eat. When they are intended for the next stage or run, many breeders pro\ide well-littered yards, with covered sheds all round them : these lambs are al- ways kept in like the '' house-lamb." The front of the sheds are fenced with " lamb- trays," which have upright bars at a sufKcient dis- tance to admit of the lambs passingbetween them, the shed being entirely reserved for their use, and they easily pass in and out when the ev/es are brought up for suckling ; the only difference in their man- agement being, that these ewes remain in the yard all night. The next run are usually kept up in the larabing-yard for a week, to gather strength ; they :are then taken with their dams to the turnip-field jduring the day, and brought back to the yards at night for about a week ; after which they are al- lowed to remain on the turnip-land with the ewes. By the use of the " lamb-trays", the lambs are al- lowed to run over the unstocked turnips, and have their corn given them outside the trays, apart from the ewes, which have clover-chaff; thence they are removed to the young clover, until drawn for the butcher. The late or grass-fed lambs are produced in the midland counties with common treatment, but of course do not fetch near the price ; but as their cost of production is moderate, a question arises whether they do not make as good a return for the food consumed as the more early ones. The Long Wools are principally classed under the head of Lincolns, New Oxfords, Cotswolds, Teeswaters, and Kents. The Long-woolled Lincolns were formerly the chief or only variety produced in the county : they seemed formed for the then rich marshy soils or cold situations (there being little or no heath-land under cultivation), and their principal property was their long, strong wool, to protect them against the vicissitudes of the eastern winds upon their bleak open pastures during the winter months. They were further known by their large white heads and ears, long thin carcass, with ex- ceedingly large bone; and, from their wool-bearing propensity, they were scarcely ever fattened pre- viously to the third year. In consequence of tbe rapid advances of our manufactures in the produc- tion of liner woollens, and the altered tastes of the ]5eople, this breed of animals has happily gone nearly out of fashion ; some few are yet to be found in the neighbourhood of Louth, Caistor, and Boston, and are sought after by some breeders, who sell their lamb-hogs in the spring to the marsh graziers, to h& by them fattened — if possible. With the new era of improvement, when the heaths, wolds, and rabbit-warrens were converted by the spirited breeders into tillage, arose the great importance of adapting the large unwieldy Lincolns (hitherto produced for the rich marshes) to the more moderate production of the healthy soils undir improvement; consequently rapid advances have been made in their improvement by judicious crosses with the Leicesters ; and at the present time they rank amongst the most valuable breeds for the purposes assigned to them, and are shown in great perfection at the Lincoln, Caistor, Boston, &c., great spring fairs, at each of which full 20,000 lamb-hogs usually change hands, from the heath and wold breeders to the graziers and dealers from the surrounding grazing districts. But they are principally shown in condition for the butcher; and, instead of representing the old coarse breed, to be fattened when two or three years old, they now combine to a great extent the properties of the Leicester, upon a larger scale, with a longer and heavier staple of wool ; in this they have been much- aided by the judicious selection of males, from time to time, by the spirited ram-breeders in the different districts in the county, amongst whom I may men- tion Mr. Clarke, of Canwick, near Lincoln; Mr. Kirkham, of Hagnaby, near Boston ; Mr. Dawson, of Withcall, near Louth ; Mr. Brice, of Risby j House; Mr Richardson, of Northlands, near Bar- ton-upon-Humber ; Mr. Thomas Casswell, of '. Pointon House ; and Mr. G. Casswell, of Laugliton, near Falkingham. The mode of feeding and fat- j tening the store-flooks depends entirely upon the 148 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. soil and situation in wliicli they are kej)t. No breed of sheej) vary more in their character and management, from the circumstance of tlieir being bred to suit the marsh-land or arable districts. The flocks suited to tlie former districts are most com- monly bred in the north and nortb-eastern parts of the county, and possess more the cliaracter of the old style of Lincolns. The breeders of this de- scription of sheep make it their study, in setting their flocks, to select those females that possess the longest wool, strong bone, and largest size, their leading object lieing to raise a tliick-fleshed, hardy animal, suitable to their soil and climate, which, from its coldness during the spring months, is only considered suitable for lambs coming rather late in the season. Their plan of management during the lambing season varies l)ut slightly from the Leices- ter, with the exception of their having good grass reserved to ])lace them upon after lambing. The lambs are allowed to remain with the ewes until the 1st of August: they are then placed uj^on clover eddish, and subsequently npon coleseed, and finish with cut swedes. Corn is rarely given in this dis- trict ; the study of the breeders is to turn out large long-woolled lamb-hogs for the j)urpose of grazing, when (unless sold to the graziers) they are run very thickly upon their clovers or middle descriptions of grass-land, during the summer. From the bleakness of the district, they are not sborn until the beginning of July ; and as these breeders and graziers look more to quantity than quality of wool, it suits their system. During the month of August they are thinned out to other parts of the farm ; they are afterwards placed in their winter-quarters on the best grass- land for fattening. "When they are intended to l)e sold in March or April, they are allowed from half a pint to a pint of old beans per day, that kind of food being best in their cold situations ; on the rich or warmer lands they attain a sufficient degree of fatness without any artificial food, and are also sold off about May. With the graziers they are re- placed with lamb-hogs at the late fairs, which is an excellent arrangement. Those shearhngs that have been kept back upon the second-rate grass-lands are })ut forward amono st the beasts on their rich pastures during the sum- mer ; thence they go to coleseed, and subsequently they are sold to the butchers in the neighbourhood, being far too heavy for the London trade, as at this period of the year they weigh from 30 to 3G lbs. per quarter upon an average. The sheep bred npon the heath and in the mid- dle of the county are the " inqiroved Lincolns" (before mentioned), and their management is closely assimilated to the Leicester, particularly upon the heaths near Lincoln. With the addition of their spirited husbandry in supplying them with artifi- cial food throughout the j ear, the universal plan of these breeders is to sell their lamb-hogs in the spring from turnips ; consequently every movement is brought to bear upon the production of first-rate fat lamb-hogs, whereby an immense return is made in the shape of wool and mutton, as also in the succeeding crops of jjarley, seeds, and wheat. The effect of sheep-husbandry on the productiveness of the soil is an important feature in the general rules laid down upon the heath-farms ; for, as the soil requires artificial aid, so does the importance of producing sheep at an early age become essential. By constant attention to an equal and proper dis- tribution of the flock fed upon artificial food, im- mense results follow ; it being better to spend a portion of the money set aside artificial manure for in the purchase of oil-cake, &c., to be passed through an animal to the soil, thereby gaining a se- cond return, than to expend the whole amount in the production of vegetables. Again, such are the propensities of the best sheep to fatten, that an ample return of wool and mutton is made for the extra keeping allowed them, and the land is manured at a cheap and easy rate. Further, by the use of artificial food, the vegetable jjroduce is much economized ; the animal is kept longer ujjon the land, and becomes more healthy and less liable to disease. This result I fully proved by an experiment in the yeiu- 1836. On the iPCth of October part of a field of Swedish turnips was measured off, amount- ing to eight acres, and SO wether-lambs and 80 ewe-lambs were placed upon them in separate pens, the wether-lambs commencing on one side and the ewe-lambs on the other. Each lot was penned across the lands, so that there might be no differ- ence in the crop or after-management. The wether-lambs were allowed half a ]:)ound of oil-cake each per day during the winter ; the ewe- lambs were kept entirely npon turnips ; each lot had the turnips cut for them ; and when the roots were all consumed and the lambs met, the land was again measured, and the ewe-lambs were foimd to have eaten 4a. Or. 32i'. of turnips ; the wether-lambs, 3a. 3r. 8p., thus showing a gain of iR. 24 p. of turnips by the use of the artificial food, and longer duration upon the land. The field had been highly manin-ed upon the ridge system for the turnip-crop, which, by a calculation (after weighing 22 square yards in an average part of the field), was estimated at22| tons per acre. When the lamb-hogs were placed upon the tur- nips, 10 average lambs of each lot were weighed and marked, and again weighed every month du- ring the time they remained npon the turnips, which proved to be 16 weeks 2 days. Having no opportunity of weighing the turnips daily to the respective lots, a calculation was made, and ii showed the ewe-lambs to have eaten, upon an average, 22^ lbs., and the wether-lambs 20J lbs. ol turnips each per day. The average gain of the K ewe-lambs during the time proved to be 28§ lbs., and the 10 wether lambs 36^ lbs. each. The 6 acres were sown M'ith Chevalier barley and mixec clover-seeds in the spring, and each part harvested and thrashed separately. They were found to pro-| duce — the 4a. Or. 32p., 25 quarters 1 bushel, oi nearly 6 quarters per acre; the 3a. 3r. 8p., 25 quarters 6\ bushels, or 6 quarters 6h bushels pei acre. The young seeds \ipon the latter, up to the following May, looked weaker than the other; bul this I attribute to the heavy crop of barley. Thf whole piece was grazed during the summer, wher the part fed off with the wether-Iambs reco^■ered and was by far the strongest and best crop. Thf following March the land was sown with Frieslanc THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. oats, but which were not thrashed separately, the apparent result being so decidedly in favour of the part eaten oil" by the wether-lainby. The breeders upon tlie heaths, from their pecu- j liar situation, plouoh everything : they rarely or ever occupy any grass -land, except in some few in- stances ; they procure a portion of marsh-land, which is situated at a distance, and they then require it most for the jnupose of growing or feeding their cattle raised upon the ploughed farm. In setting | their flocks at Michaelmas, their object is to select ' those ewes which possess uniformity of size, frame, fleece, and style. For producing large, well-pro- ))ortioned anim.als, they are also particular in hav- '. ing a long kind head and ears, as they consider it most essential to the finish of a iirst-rate lamb-hog, and are frequently known to reject a well-propor- ; tioned male r.niraal. unless possessing what is termed '"' good looks." The management of the flock during the lambing season is similar to that of the Leicesters, excejit that in some instances, in , the more southern part of the county, mangel-^^•urt- i zel is used, and with success, as is shown by the following correspondence with a leading breeder : — ' " When I formerly dei)ended upon turnips for my in-lambed ewes, my loss was frequently very r/reaf .- since using mangel-wurtzel during the lambing season, out of 500 ewes I do not recollect ever losing more than three from the effects of lambing. ' The succulent nature of the root, and the large pro- ])ortion of saccharine matter it contains, give it a great advantage over any other vegetable in the pro- duction of milk, so essential to the breeding e\A'es • in suckling their lambs in the early part of the spring.'"* The princijjal breeders on the heath and wolds have a great fancy to put fonvard their wether- lambs from the earliest j^eriod : they are sepai-ated from the ewe-lambs, and take ]n-ecedence. A\'hen taken off about the middle of July, they are still i supplied with corn or oil-cake upon the seeds, and thence they are placed upon the turnips, cabbages being little used in this district, the artificial food being continued. As the barley-thrashing ad- vances, thev give them bruised barley and malt- comb with their oil-cake, which it is to be regretted cannot be supplied to them in the shape of malt, containing more saccharine matter. If malt-comb he good for sheep (the mere shadow, or husk), what must the substance itself be ? As the spring advances, the artificial food is increased with the cut swedes. The '" hilling,'" or getting up, of the Swedish turnips at the close of the year is becom- * After trying mangold for four successive years, I came to tlie conclusion that cov,--; fed on it gave quite as much milk, but mi(ch less butter and cream, than when fed on turnips or carrots ; also, that when e\Aes were fed on mangold-v.'urtzel the lambs throve remarkably ill, which I attributed to the same poverty of milk Mhich had been proved in the case of the cows. The kind was the orange- globe ; the roots large, and perfectly sound ; were not used till after Christmas, and were grown on land of rather weak staple, but what is termed ! hereabouts -'good sand land."— H, S, Thomp- son, ing a general plan. The feeding qualities of the root are thereby preserved, the land is not drawn l)y running up, and the vegetables are more e asy of access (luring the winter months. When this ]dan is adopted, a portion is removed to \\ie field intended for turnips the following year, to be con- sumed at the latest period of the season, that the turnip-land may be sot free early for sowing with barley and young seeds. When swedes are allowed to remain on the land until they are daily pulled for the sheep, they get dry, and are inferior in quality towards the end of the season ; the sheep become tired of them, and are very restless ; but in every instance where the turnips have been '' hilled," the)' are found to do exceedingly well to the last daj'. Some breeders i)refer keeping their lamb-hogs un- til the late fairs, and allow them to take the best of their young seeds ; others reserve them entire for the ewes that are suckling the couples and wether- lambs. In some instances the lambs are not cas- trated until the first week in August, to produce extra size and constitution, when they are either castrated, or what is termed " traped," and are rarely known to falter or decline eating their food after the operation. The ewe-lambs are drafted eaiiy in the winter, and the cuUs placed with the weiher-lambs to be sold in the sjiring, the best being leserved for the flock, and kept entirely ujjon turnips. The flock- ev.'es are inspected and drafted early in the sum- mer, and are removed from their lambs about the first week in June, when they are prepared for the autumn fairs, and fetch high prices, breeders from the suirounding districts being anxious to procure them. In the southern or Grantham district, the wether-lambs are kept upon moderate food during the winter, it being the practice to sell them as shearlings in the autumn, when they are purchased by the graziers for wintering upon their grass-land, or for feeding off coleseed, where the land is in- tended to be soM'n with wheat, which is a growing practice. The Xew Oxfords are termed " Long-wools," but more from the circumstance of theu- not coming under the denomination of Leicesters than from their extra wool-bearing properties. They are bred principally in Oxfordshire and the surrounding dis- tricts, particularly in the neighbourhood of Broad- well, the residence of Mr. Charles Large ; Charl- l)ury, the residence of Mr. Smith ; and Seven- ' hanipton, the residence of Mr. Handy — the most eminent breeders, and to whom great credit is due for their exertions in raising this valuable breed to I its present high state of perfection. They are of large dimensions, and have a great propensity to fatten, arising chiefly from their wide frame, [ quietude, and open texture of flesh, which is of J quick growth, and consequently expands itself more rapidly than many other qualities ; but they do not ; posses's that exactness of form peculiar to smaller animals, though they have a better carriage. For many years the male animals have been eagerly sought after, with a view to increase the size and frame of other long-woolled breeds. The Cofswolds are a breed chiefly found in the same district of country as the New Oxfords, but more particularly upon the Cotswold hills, in Glou- 160 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. cestershire, whence they derive their names ; they are also frequently called " Gloucesters." Their general properties so nearly resemhle the New Ox- fords, with the exception of the slight deviation of their flesh, which is not so firm or fine in its tex- ture, that it is unnecessary to repeat thera. This breed of sheep has also shared in the fashion of the age, and has been alike sought after of late years, particularly the flocks in the neighbourhood of North Leach, the residence of Mr. Hewer, one of the leading breeders; they have also l)een purchased for the purpose of crossing with the short-woolled breeds, and to good eflfect. The two breeds, being so nearly allied, may be treated under the same head of management ; they are alike confined to the hills and surrounding arable districts, the soil of which is more or less of a thin character, and consequently requires good sheep husbandry, which is practised to some ex- tent. It is a leading feature with tlie breeders to produce their sheep at an early age, and folding is rarely practised by the best flockmasters in this district of country. In setting the flocks particular attention is paid to size, wool, strength of constitution, propensity to fatten, and uniformity of character and carriage, by which the animals are easily distinguished from other long-woolled breeds. The ewes are placed with the ram rather early in the season, and care is taken to have a reserve of f esh keep to remove them to about the middle of September. The rams are continued with the ewes about nine weeks — the latter ])art of the time they are kept upon white turnips, as the hill soils produce but moderate keeping at this season of the year; thence tliey are drawn out weekly upon the plan adopted by the Leicester breeders. Great attention is paid to their flocks during" lambing time, their 3'ards being made very warm and comfortable. The wether lambs are put forward and managed iipon a similar plan to those upon Lincoln Heath ; but these breeders are more particular in having early spring feed for them. They are supplied with corn, according to circumstances, through the summer. When the clovers are going off about Midsummer they are frequently removed to green tares provided for them, the ewes being taken away and placed in some distant field. When the lambs are placed upon the tares, they are either allowed fresh pens from time to time, as they require them, or the tares are mown and given them in racks, or laid along- side the trays, to be eaten through thera. The better plan, when consumed upon the land, is to have a regular set of iron trays, upon feet, coupled together by rings and staples. These trays should be 12 feet long, upon oak feet 2h feet long, which may be moved in an onward direction several times aday, according to the consumption through them. By this plan the tares are much economized, and fed off without being the least soiled. These " iron trays" l)eing portable, are equally good for feeding off coleseed upon the same principle, and are much used for this purpose in South Lincolnshire, where it is not uncommon to see coleseed much higher than the sheep, particularly in those situations where " paring and burning" is practised, and the seed drilled in with a portion of bones. The feed- ing properties of this coleseed are unrivalled by any artificial food. When the feeding of tares is practised to any extent, they are sown at different intervals during the spring, to hold out imtil after harvest, at which time the lambs are removed to the barley stubbles, or young seeds, and are supplied with white turnips thrown upon the land for a short time. They are placed upon the turnips at the end of September, and commence their winter management with cut turnips and artificial food, which is increased during the winter. About March and April they are sold fat to the butchers in the neighbourhood, or sent to the London market. Those breeders who be- stow less care and expense upon their lamb-hogs sell them in a store state at the principal fairs in the neighliourhood, to be fattened by the graziers. The breeders, in fact, make it their practice to clear them off when the turni])s are finished. The flock- ewes are drafted and sold upon the plan adopted by the Lincoln Heath breeders. Under the head of Long Wools the old Teeswaters may be mentioned, although the kind is nearly ex- tinct. The animals were originally bred more par- ticularly upon the banks of the Tees, in Yorkshire, whence they derive their name, and in those days were thought valuable for that district of country, as they possessed great size and constitution (similar to the Lincolns), and were bred from the same stock. By the breeders paying more attention to size than to wool, they became a different style of sheep ; but subsequently, by crossing with the Leicesters, they have become more in conformity with the Yorkshire description, and cannot now be traced to any particular locality. The sheep of the Yorkshire class is a bold upstanding animal, with gay looks, open wool, and open texture of flesh. The Yorkshire breeders prefer selling their produce as shearlings in the autumn : they make a great dis- play at the Market Weighton fair, on the 25th of Sep- tember. Their management is very similar to that observed on Lincoln Heath — those animals fattened from turnips lieing forced during the winter, and those intended for shearlings are kept more mode- rate, and placed in the early part of the summer upon the clovers, whence they are removed to early coleseed, sov/n ex])ressly for finishing them off, in which they very much excel. When the shearlings are sold, the wether-lambs are placed upon the coleseed, to clean up previously to their going to turnips, and the land being sown with wheat : this is considered the best arrange- ment for finishing the shearlings, starting their lambs, and preparation for the succeeding wheat- crop. The Kents are principally confined to the county whence they derive their nam.e, but are mostly bred and grazed in Romney Marsh ; they were originally a coarse description of animal. A prejudice in their favour still exists with some breeders, although they acknowledge to have received a benefit in crossing with the Leicesters. The principal fea- ture in their management is the entire change the animals undergo, from being bred upon the marsh- lands and sent (about Sq)tember) to winter upon the uplands or turnip-soils. They are taken back to the marshy districts about the beginning of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 161 Vpril for the summer, when, the .land being ex- ■eedingly hixmiant, they are ))laced very thickly ipon it, and remain so during the early part of the airainer; they are afterwards thinned out to other jastures, for the purpose of fattening, which pro- cess is completed by the end of the season. The iwes are placed upon the grass-lands for the winter .mtillambing-time, which commences later than in most other counties, the breeders making no extra provision for them, preferring, in fact, to turn their 'wes and lambs at once into their grass-pastures. The breeds I have hitherto mentioned comprise ;he long-wools, adapted to the richest grass-lands md inarches, which yield produce suitable for the inest worsted manufactures ; the Leicesters, for ess fertile soils and enclosed arable land (on which be fold is not used), intended to supply a sta])le of vool for the manufacture of coarse cloths, blankets, larpets, and worsted stockings ; and the tine short- voolled breeds, as the Southdowns, for arable ands, heaths, and sheep-walks on which folding is )ractised, for producing a stajile of wool suitable or the manufacture of cloths of middle equalities. [n addition to these there is a hardy race for our Mountain and northern districts, such as the Scotch and Cheviot breeds, which, from their uni- brraity of character, have l)ecome, as it were, in- ligenous to the locality in which they are found. Dn the lower hills, at the extremity of the Cheviot •ange, they liaAe been frequently crossed with the Leicesters, of which several flocks, originally Cheviot, now possess a great share of their form md fleece ; many have been sent to the highlands af Scotland, where they have succeeded pretty well, but are not found so hardy as the heath or black- faced kind. Diseases. Xo department in our sheep husbandry is so little understood, even by practical men, as the various diseases among sheep. It would be a te- dious and im profitable task to enumerate all the minor affections, but it is highly requisite to notice those which come more closely under our dailj' practice, such as the foot-rot (or foot halt), diar- rhoea, dysentery, scab, rot, sturdy, blind, red-water, sore heads, and fly-galls. The Foot-rot is a disease most common on old grass-land or marshy situations, and most preva- lent in wet seasons ; it clearly shows that an extra degree of moisture is injurious to the hoof, and that, by being softened or relaxed beyond the habit of the animal, a fretful disposition is produced. It commences between the claws, and idtimately forms a matter which spreads itself so rapidly that, if allowed its course and not checked, it completely undermines the hoof, and occasionally throws it off. So soon as the disease makes its appearance in a lot of sheep, they should be immediately had up and placed under cover, the shed being well littered, to clean their feet ; the whole of their feet should then be examined, observing to rub in a small portion of the halt ointment (afterwards named^ between their claws, to dry up the accumu- lating matter, or to act as a preventive with the sound feet. They shcmld remain in the shed until the following morning, and then be placed in a short pasture, or upon stubble-ground. If the disease be found to have advanced, the hoof should be carefully removed to the bottom of the disease, as the dressing will cure just so far as it is applied. In fact, if one single particle of the matter remain untouched, it will continue its ravages — hence arises the apj)arent difllculty in staying its progress. When the foot has Ijecome much diseased from neglect, it should be placed in an oil-cake poultice for tweh'e hours ; then \\-ashed clean v/itli warm water, and the poultice renewed again twelve hours more; then to be again washed, and the diseased parts probed to the bottom and dressed ; then to be tied up in common tar for twenty-four hours, and renewed when necessary, again apjilying the ointment. Opening medicine will materially assist in the cure of obstinate cases. The worst subjects should be regularly removed from the general flock as they occur, the disease being certainly infectious; it is, besides, more convenient for dressing and shutting them up— a course that is highly essential, in order that the feet may be kept clean and dry for a time after the ointment has been applied, which I have found invaluable both in staying its pi'ogi'ess and curing the disease. The Halt Receipt. I oz. corrosive subhmate, 1 ox. blue vitriol, 1 oz. spirits of salts, 1 oz. verdigris, 1 oz. horse turpen- tine, 1 oz. oil of vitriol, f oz. spirits of turpentine, and 4 oz. sheep ointment. [To we well mixed when prepared, and kept tied down when not in use.] Diarrhcefi is most known amongst lambs after vv-eaning, when they have been incautiously placed upon luxuriant keeping. The young succulent grasses are most likely to produce it, or a sudden transition from heat to cold, producing weak bowels, will cause it. When the disease is observed to be coming on, the animals should be instantly changed to older or dry keeping. If the disease has ad- vanced unnoticed, they should be taken up, kept warm, supphed with dry food, and given 1 oz. of castor-oil, in half a pint of gruel ; if the anim.al has much pain or straining, add 20 drops of laudanum, j with rather more gruel ; if the discharge still con- ! tinues, and the bowels have been cleared by this j dose, it will be proper to check it by astringents. The following is found to be an excellent medicine, I and rarely fails : — '< 4 oz. logwood, 1 drachm of the extract of cate- I chu, and 2 drachms of cinnamon, mixed with 3 pints I of water, boiled for a quarter of an hour; strain it off, then add 6() drops of laudanum. Give half a pint night and morning as long as the flux con- tinues. Dysentery.- — Although some breeders class this disease with the diarrhoea, I consider it to be very different,* being found most amongst the older * Diarrhcea and dysentery are undoubtedly dif- ferent complaints, and one great distinction between them is, that an attack of dysentery is dangerous from the commencement j but diarrhoea is only serious when accompanied by dysentery, which it usually is after continxring for any length of time ; ! and I believe diarrhcea seldom proves fatal to sheep until dysentery comes on. — H. S. Thompson, 162 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. sheep during the summer months, particularly in hot, sultry weather, or when they have been run too thick upon short pastures, and are consequently more easily acted upon. It is distinguished by the frequent discharges of sHray or green matter ; fur- ther on in the disease they are mixed with blood ; the l)elly is drawn up, the appetite lost, the animal wastes rapidly, and the disease proves fatal very quickly, unless it be arrested by jjowerful luedicine and warm treatment. The apj)roacli of death is known by the black scour coming on, M'hich is an aggravation of the disease, being mixed with shreds of dark gangrene matter from the decomposition of the intestines. If the disease has only just com- menced, bleeding is highly necessary ; but if ad- vanced, great caution should be observed, and the pulse attended to, to avoid lowering the system too much. To effect a cure, a reaction or perfect change in the system is necessary, and may be best produced by exciting the action of the skin. To effect this the animal should l)e innnersed in a tub of hot water for 15 minutes, then given 1 ouncje of castor-oil, A\ith 30 drops of laudanum, in a little gruel, taking care that the animal be kept warm by wrapping, and placed in a warm shed. As the ani- mal recovers, give gruel freely, witli a more mode- rate dose of the above ; when the appetite returns, give mixed food, such as hay and vegetables. Dur- ing this disease care should be taken not to pull the wool, as it frequently falls oft"; a change of pasture, and not run too thick, is the best preven- tive. I have also found either of the following re- ceipts to stay its ravages when given in time ; they may be adopted, when parties reject the hot-water plan, with equal success : — No. 1. 4 Tablespoonfuls of comm.on salt, rTeaspoonful of turpentine, Mixed with a little water, and repeated in a milder dose when neceessary. No. 2. ] Teaspoonful of laudanum, I Tablespoonful of either gin or rum. Well mixed and given ; reaj)eat the dose if neces- sary, or in a milder form. No. 3. 1 ounce of alum in half a pint of warm water. The above three receipts will also stay the pro- gress of the diarrhoea in lambs. The Scab. — This is a disease familiar to all breeders — to some from the dread they have of it, and to others from its constant plague. In the open fields the flocks were formerly rarely ever without it, from their constant intermixture ; and it is a fact that the open-field shepherds were careless in staying its jirogress, from the feeling that they always have it in the field. It is known to exist by the animals becoming restless, with a constant de- sire for rubbing ; when the disease has l)ecome rooted, the animal itches to a such a degree that it is quite violent in pulling its wool, &c. When taken in the early stage of the complaint, little specks are noticed, which are foimd to contain a minute insect burrowing in the skin ; then by rubbing, the skin becomes fretted, discharging an ■ ichor, which hardens into crusts, and if the sheej: , I be not relieved it sinks under the accumulatec miseries. This disease is exceedingly infectious but is never observed or known to arise spontane ously in a flock. When first discovered, the wholi flock should be carefully inspected, and the diseaset subjects removed to a separate field ; it is best t( give the whole flock a shght dressing, as a preven tive ; no fear need be entertained in dressing th inlambed ewes, as I have had occasion to practis' it at different periods, and have experienced no il effects, observing not to dress the belly or points The mercurial ointment in common use, prepare( by all druggists, is found to be sufficiently good without resorting to other receipts ; when ordered the party should take care to name that it is re quired for the specific purjjose of curing the disease that attention may be esjjecially paid to the grind ing of the quicksilver. In mild cases one dressin; by an experienced shepherd, at the rate of 3lbs. t the score for full-grown sheep, and 2 albs, fo younger ones, will prove sufficient, plenty of shred being the principal feature, and also observing t dress the points pretty freely ; care should be take to shut them uj) for one or more nights accordin to the case, and afterwards kept in a warmer situs tion, if possible, for a time, and given a good suf ply of food. In bad cases it is proper to inspec them weekly, until the disease be entirely removed and give opening medicine pretty freely. Shoul any die under the operation, the remainder shoul be M'ashed immediately ; if the disease do not the stop, they should be shorn, which is a certai remedy. The Rot. — It is beyond my power to give an a( curate account of this disease, as scarcely tw breeders agree as to its origin. By some it thought that the animal takes up the larvas of soir grub, dejDosited on swampy or wet situations, wuic find their way to the vessels of the liver, and ai there reared up and become flukes, which absor the chief nourishment of the blood of the animal hence the white veiny appearance, and the deficienc > of blood and general decline. Others think th; the disease is produced by bad health or manag( ment at some particular period, which becomf habitual. When observed coming on, the anima' should have dry meat, with a plentiful supply < salt to lick : placed in small iron troughs, they tak it freely. The following simple receipt, given fc three or four mornings fasthuj, has proved of gre; value, and is the best (out of the many) I hav met with : — H ounce of common salt, with threi fourths of a pint of water, well mixed before uS' In one experiment, a sheep being killed one wee after this dose had been given, 120 flukes wei taken out of its liver, most of which were dead. I support of this, it is well known that sheep nevt have flukes M'hen pastured upon the salt-marshe; S/Mrr/y.— This affection may be the result eithe of ]iressure upon the brain, from an animal growtl or from the accumulation of a fluid, the excess ( which leads to the dilatation of the skull and to th absorption of its M-alls, when the bones can n longer be made to yield ; for this reason the skul towards the termination of the disease, generaJl becomes thin and soft, and ofliers a spot easily df THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ib4 jcled, and from its being easily pierced is fre- uently made the seat of surgical operations ; but leyare rarely known to succeed. The sheep has a dull stupid look, turns round, nd frequently falls. This disease by some breeders 5 said to be hereditary, and often produced by lose breeding ; but as it rarely occurs in sheep lore than eighteen months old, and having ex- lerienced it in the produce from a first cross, I at- achbut httle importance to this opinion, but think ; more likely to arise from the malformation of the rovFth of the animal's head, it not being known to ccur after the animal has ,done growing. j The Blind. — This disease makes its appearance imongst the young sheep more particularly, but it ; ; hard to tell how they acquire it ; the animal sinks apidly under its progress, unless it be arrested at n early stage, which may be done by an application f common tar, rubbed round the outside of the ye, to be repeated in about four or five days, ■hen they will recover their former energies. Red-Water is known most upon turnip soils, ] uring the time the animals are feeding them oft'; i n accumulation of this water takes place, and can- ot be passed oft' without aid, which may be ac- omplished by the following receipt, when taken in me : — 1 oz. of common salt, ] pint of water, and a tablespoonful of turpentine, well mixed in uantity for the number, and freely shaken when sed. The best preventive is a constant supply of salt, ither given in chaff*, or rock-salt placed in troughs 0 bo licked at leisure. Sore Heads and Fhj-yalls. — These are trouble- ome complaints, which are much better avoided han cured. In woodland situations cappinr/ at an ■arly period is decidedly the best plan, but it should lot be done later than the first of June or when the 'beep are shorn ; then by attention to keep the •aps on their heads, very little annoyance will be 'xperienced; but nerei' place a cap on a sorehead. When this plan is not adopted, the heads and flanks )f the whole flock should be dressed with a mixture )r preparation of the dregs of whale-oil and brim- stone, sufiiciently thick for use, to be applied with 1 round brush from a suitable tin or jiot. My practice is to clip the flock early, and then dip them it once with Bigg's composition, before they ai-e affected with the flies, and apply the preparation to their heads, which is repeated every fortnight to the heads and flanks during the fly-time ; they are kept by this plan perfectty clean. When fly- galls have commenced, a small quantity of spirits of tar may be mixed with the brimstone and whale- oil, and apphed to the parts. When they are very bad, a plaster of the following preparation will be found useful :— Horse turpentine, tar, and wheat- flour, well mixed together. ^ Having endeavoured so far to comply with the Society's instructions contained under the head of "The Management of Sheep," I proceed to give the result of my oicn practice. Before what is termed " setting a flock" in any locahty, due regard should be paid to the soil, situation, and climate on which they are to be pro- duced, as that aJo7ie should govern the decision as to what breed or description of animals should be ])ropagated to produce the largest return. Having decided upon the variety of sheep, care should be taken to select the best of that particular breed, as in every breed much choice is open to decision; this jirinciple should be strictly observed in the selection of females, but more particularly in the choice of males, by no means being influenced by over-fed animals, unless they are "strictly in con- formity with the rules laid down for establishing the flock. In the production of male animals much depends upon the principle laid down; I have ])ractise(l every plan by way of experiment, but have found none equal to what is termed " breeding in the hue." With '' crossing" and breeding " in and in" I have been most lamentably disappointed, there being no dependence on the first, and no size to be procured in the latter ; even in " breeding in the line," much depends upon the union or know- ledge of matching the male and female, particularly if selected from different families, even of the same race, which have been for some time raised in other localities, and consequently influenced by chmate, soil, situation, and treatment. When using rams of the same flock, they should by no means be put together nearer than a third remove in the same line of blood ; I have, by repeated experiments, ex- perienced by the nearer affinities of blood the most decided disappointment, but have raised some first-rate animals by putting the third removes to- gether, when attention has been previously paid to the sort required. From close observation I have found the quality and quantity of wool to be governed by the quality or description of the flesh upon the animal ; hence certain wool and certain mutton go together : further, so often as the wool is observed tochange upon the back or otherwise of the sheep, so does the quahty of flesh change, commencing at the exact division of the varieties of wool — thus showing the importance of selecting those animals that pos- sess the best description of wool and mutton. Now these carry but one sort of wool upon their frames, ' and that of a mellow, moderately long, thick, bunchy character, under which is found the mellow flesh peculiar to first-rate animals, which flesh is foundto spread or expanditself morerapidlythan any other, but with a sufficient degree of firmness. Under short fine wool is found extra firm or hard flesh, which does not expand or grow in proportion. With thin-set, strong wool, we find the animal to have a white objectionable head, with loose or coarse-grained flesh, wanting in quahty in due pro- portion to the wool it bears ; and the animal is never, in consequence, known to spread wide, but represents its degree of fatness along the back. In the selection of male animals it is even better to choose a strong animal from a well-bred flock of the same family than to step out of " the bne" to cross with a large sheep of inferi .r blood, as prac- tice has shown that the produce from a large in- ferior-looking sheep, selected from a pure-bred flock, has been rather better than those produced from an apparently good sheep selected from a cross-bred flock. In matching the animals I have found it desirable that the female should possess the larger frame for supplying an increased suj^port to the improved progeny, particularly when the 154 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. object is to produce male animals : thus it is equally important to keep up the strength of the ewes to afford this advantage, which can alone be done by strict attention to that object, by mixing strong sheep with those ewes that are not termed " ram breeders," and the well-formed sheep Vv'ith the others, as the offspring invariably partakes in the proportion of three -fifths after the male, again showing the importance of procuring good males of pure descent : hence the Leicesters v/ill correct and assist what are termed the larger breeds ; but in no instance have the larger males improved the best Leicesters, and more particularly when the "cross" has been an extreme one, which is frequently shown in a twin produce, as they often represent opposite qualities. Again, in reference to the principle of breeding, although the Leicesters will impro\'e the larger breeds, we find that, when mixed with smaller breeds, the produce require equal additional support to maintain the increased size ; for instance, our mountain breeds may be enlarged by crossing, but the progeny will not prosper on the hilly pastures of their dams, and would be equally unprofitable on the pastures of their sires, but succeed equally well on the intermediate situations, thus clearly showing the importance of assistiiiy nature, by suiting the animal to the particular soil, situation, and climate, rather than leaving it to climatize or adjust itself to the locality in which it is placed. Such is the effect of soil and situation, that when animals have been equally divided and kept apart for twelve months, upon opposite soils, they have scarcely resembled each other when placed together again, beyond the family head. It is said by some breeders that a good animal should approach the form of a " soda-water bottle ;" but I prefer the upper and nnder lines to run parallel with each other, and extend themselves to the very extremity of the animal's frame, but have no objection to the oval sides. It is important that the sheep should display a degree of grandeur in its movements, which can alone be accomplished by a proper forma- tion of the general frame : for instance, when the " soda-water bottle" form is adopted, the animal has a thin neck, narrow hind quarters, wide sides, or hanging fore flanks, and invariably stands upon short fore legs, consequently it walks with difficulty, and carries its head in a low position; but, on the other hand, when the chines or shoulders are well thrown into the back, blended with well-sprung top ribs, long hind quarters, the flesh or fat laid even, or in mass throughout the upper form, the animal stands open and well upon the fore legs, and consequently liecomes habitually gay and easy in its carriage. The crossiny of the pure breeds has been a sub- ject of great interest of late amongst every class of breeders. While all agree that the first cross may be attended with good results, there exists a diver- sity of opinion upon the future movements, or putting the crosses together. Having tried ex- periments (and I am now pursuing them for con- firmation) in every way possible, I do not hesitate to express my opinion that, by proper and judicious crossing through repeated generations, a most valuable breed of sheep may be raised and estab- lished; in support of which I may mention the career of the celebrated Bakewell, who raised a weu variety from other long-woolled breeds by dint oj perseverance and propagation, and which hav(. subsequently corrected all other long - wooUec breeds. Having determined upon a series of experiment! for my private information, and being desirous t( ascertain the best and most economical plan o producing good animals (and having subsequentl; confirmed at least the greater part of them), I pro ceed to give them at full. Experiment No. 1. — On the 20th of Decern ber, 1842, 8 lambs were weighed and placed upoi the regular turnip-land (a red loam, with coli subsoil), to consume the turnips where they grew and were regularly supplied with what cut swede they would eat, which proved to be on an averag 23 h lbs. per day. They were again weighed on th Srd of April, 1843, being 15 weeks, and found t have gained upon an average, during the tinif 252 lbs. each. No. 2. — On the same day, S lambs were place in a grass paddock, under the same regulations and found to have consumed, on an average, 19 lbs of turnips per day, and gained during the tim 26f lbs. each. No. 3. — On the same day, 8 lambs were place alongside the No. 2 lot in the grass paddock, an allowed to run in and out of an open shed durin the day, but regularly shut up at night. The were allowed half a pound of mixed oil- cake an jjeas each per day, and consumed 202lbs. oftu) nips per day, and gained 33 i- lbs. each. No. 4. — On the same day S lambs were place with the Nos. 2 and 3 lots in the grass paddocl under the same regulations as No. 3, but supplie with 1 lb. of mixed corn per day. They consume 20 lbs. of turnips per day during the followin 10 weeks, being again weighed on the 28th ( February, 1843, and gained on an average 26^ lb; each. No. 5. — Eight lambs were also placed in a wan paddock, with a shed to run under during tl middle of the day, but were shut up at least 1 hours, and fed upon lilb. of mixed corn per da; and consumed 18', lbs. of turnips per day. The were again weighed at the same time as No. 4, an found to have gained 331 lbs. each during the 1 weeks. No. 6. — On the 5th January, 1843, 1(3 shearling were equally divided, and 8 placed upon a graf paddock, and allowed 1 lb. of mixed corn each p< day. They consumed 24 lbs. of Swedish turni|: each per day. They were again weighed on tt 2nd of March, being 8 weeks, and were found i have gained 21 2 lbs. each. No. 7. — On the same day the other 8 shearlingi were placed alongside the No. 6, in the grass pac dock, and allowed 1 lb. of mixed corn each, an consumed 20i lbs. of turnii)s per day. They wei allowed an open shed to run under during the da] and regularly shut in at night; and again weighe at the same time as No. 6, and were found to hav, gained 24 lbs. each during the 8 weeks. No. 8.— On the 3rd of April, the 8 lambs (N( 3), having Ijeen weighed, were i)laced iq)on youn clover, and supplied with half a pound of niixe THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 165 corn, as before. They consumed 12 lbs. of turnips ! per day during the following month. Being again rt-cighed on the 1st of May, they were found to have gained Ujlbs. each. They had a shed to run under during the day, and were shut up at night. No. 9.— On the 29th of May the 8 lambs (No. 8) were again weighed, ha\'ing been allowed, as before, half a pound of mixed corn upon the clover, but no turnips, with a shed to run under at will. They were found to have gained 16 lbs. each during the month. I To prove the temperature of the animal body luring the hot weather, I placed the two lots of iheariings, No. 6 and No. 7, upon moderate clover, )nthe 1st of July, 1843. No. 10. — The 8 shearlings (No. 6) were weighed, ind allowed 1 pint of peas per day, and again veighed at the end of 21 days, and were found to lave gained 9i lbs. each. No. 11. — Tlie 8 shearlings (No. 7) were also I weighed, and given 1 pint of old beans per day, nd again weighed at the same time, and were ound to have gained 6 lbs. each, the peas appear- ng most suitable to the animal temperature during he hot weather, and the beans far too hot. What 3 more important, those sheep fed upon beans I'ere getting full of humours in this short space of ime, while those fed upon peas were looking ex- eedingly healthy. In the autumn of 1843, after making the above xperiments, I determined upon testing the quali- ies of the various vegetables open to our use at hat season of the year. On the 2nd of October, 843, 30 lambs were equally divided into lots of 0 each, and placed upon over-eaten seeds. They vere all weighed, and the roots regularly given hem by an experienced shepherd. No. 12.— Ten lambs, fed upon cut v/hite turnips, vere again weighed on the 13th of November, and vere found to have gained upon an average 15, J lbs. jach. No. 13. — Ten lambs, fed upon cut swedes, gained during the 6 weeks, upon an average, 11 lljs. ?ach. No. 14. — Ten lambs, fed upon cut cabbage, gained during the time 162 lbs. each, showing, as I ully expected, a preference in favour of cabbage, )ut, to my equal surprise, a great difference in avour of the white turnip over the swede. By subsequent experiments I found as the cold weather idvanced, the cabbage and white turnip became of I ess value, and that the swede improved. ; In the autumn of 1844, having placed my ram- ambs in their winter quarters, and observing that hose placed upon cole-seed were going on a])pa- ently the best, I determined to weigh a part of hem in comparison with those placed in pens upon ;rass-land; consequently, on the 14th of October, i844, the following lots were weighed, as in pre- •ious experiments, the 10 upon the cole-seed being selected from 24 others, marked, and again placed vith them. No. 15. — Ten lambs penned upon cole-seed, with ;ut clover-chaff, were again weighed at the end of ' month, and found to have gained 12^ lbs. each. No. 16. — Ten lambs penned upon drumhead- cabbage, with cut clover-chaff, and weighed as above: they gained lOa lbs. each. No. 17. — Ten lambs j)laced upon grass, and fed upon cut swedes and cabbage, of equal quantities, with clover-chaff, gained 9f lbs. each. No. 18. — Ten lambs placed upon grass, and fed uj)on cut white turnips and cabbage, of equal quantities, with clover-chaff, gained 1 1 lbs. each. Having frequently given my lambs carrots during the winter and spring months, and to no apparent advantage, when compared with other roots, I de- termined to test their qualities after the expiration of the above experiments, and the No. 16 lot were supplied with what swedes they would eat, and the No. 17 lot \vith carrots. No. 19. — Ten lambs, fed upon cut swedes and clover-chaff, having been weighed at the end of the other experiment, were again weighed on the 9th of December. They were found to have gained du- ring the month lOlbs. each, and consumed 22 lbs. of turnips each per day. No. 20. — Ten lambs fed upon cut carrots and clover-chaff were weighed as above on tlie 9th of December, and were found to have gained 9j lbs. each, and consumed 22^ lbs. of carrots each per day — Thus proving that the carrot cannot be given to sheep with ecpial profit, when compared with the Swede turnip, the carrot being more expensive and hazardous in its cultivation, and producing rather less animal food from a given weight at this season of the year. Thus, by a careful review of these experiments throughout, it will be found that ivannth is proved to be an important feature in sheep husbandry, and is a subject affecting the rural economy of the whole nation. For instance, taking the average temperature of a sheep's body at 100 de^^rees, and the average temperature of our climate at 60 de- grees, in every respiration of air the animal loses by the exclmnije animal heat equal to 40 degrees, which, if not again supplied by the elements of food, or artificial warmth, the animal would cease to exist. Hence the animal frame becomes a ma- chine for the conversion of vegetable food into animal food, as the animal heat produced by the supply of food is generated by the combustion caused by the imion of the oxygen of the external air with the carbon, hydrogen, and other elements of the food : thus, when the temperature of the animal body is below the atandard of heat,* it * All our great authorities represent the variation of temperature of the animal body to be confined within very narrow limits indeed. Liebig, in fact, hardly allows it any scope at all. " The most trust- worthy observations prove that in all climates, in the temperate zones, as well as at the equator or the poles, the temperature of the body in man, and in what are commonly called warm-blooded ani- mals, is invariably the same." — Liebig's Organic Chemistry of Physiology, p. 19. But, whetteverbe the e.xact amoimt of variation of animal temperature, Mr. Smith, as an eminently practical man, will, I am sure, admit that in practice it would never do to vary the treatment of our flock whenever the ther- mometer showed a minute alteration in the tempe- 156 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. itujuires ;i proportionate artiiicial warmth to econo- mize the \'L'getable foorl, and assist the fattening propensitieM of the animal, which are governed materially by the formation of the internal structure or frame ; for instance, when the chest is contracted, the animal is restless, and the respirations are more frequent than with the wide, open chest, which is the sure guide to quietude, and consequently /i"?^!'-;- respirations. But when the animal body is forced bei/ond its standard of temperature, the result is ])roportion- ably unprofitable ; the animal laws being impeded, nature withdraws her su])port, and the animal body becomes at once artificial, ungovernable, and exj)osed to every difficulty : the animal frequently sinks under the pressure which has been caused by extreme feeling or improper ventilation when placed in sheds, as the exhalation of the animal would en- ter into a state of decay, ov unite with the oxygen of the air, and thus be again inhaled and conveyed to the lungs and intestines, the seat of all infirmi- ties. Thus having been supplied with too great a stimulant, in the shape of food, for the amount of oxygen inhaled, the system becomes deranged, and the digestive organs cease to perform their func- tions ; and as the temperature of the body exceeds the standard of heat (see exi)eriment No. 11), so advances the danger of inflammation and apoplexy, which can alone be stayed by cooling medicine, and by the animal being gradually exposed to the free temperature of the air, when from the additional oxygen received, combined with the exercise and inci'eased velocity of its respirations, the animal body is restored to its standard of heat and health. Thus, to keep uj) the le;::p:r;i'-.;'-; cf the animal body for its required purposes, it is necessary to supply food or warmth, according to the tempera- trn-e of the situation. The principle, therefore, is confined to this : At all times endeavour to keep the animal body at an even tempera- ture, which must be adjusted as the seasons roll on, or as the soil and chmate vary in the diflerent lo- calities ; for instance, when sheep are kept up in sheds daring the winter, and intended to be kept on through the summer, a corresponding temj)era- ture must be observed, or the animal machine would cease to perform its fattening evolutions, which is beautifully shown by the increasing fa- tigue represented by the sheep to support his warm winter coat as the spring months advance, and which nature directs should be cast off at the ex- piration of its functions. Many breeders have a rature of their blood, and that the simpler the prac- tical rule can be made which is founded on scienti- fic ])rinciples, the more likely it is to be generally acted on. I would suggest, therefore, that instead of endeavouring to " keep the animal body at an even temperature," it would be better simply to recommend flockmasters to keep their stock as warm as they can, consistently with perfect ventila- tion, and that the principal points to pay attention to are— 1st, That the cost of the shelter is not such as to absorb the profit arising from its use ; and 2nd, That the health and well-doing of the sheep .should decide whether the warmth and confine- ment are carried too far or not.— H, S. Thompson. dread of clipping their sheej) early. Experience- has taught me to consider the animal first, whicln dictates the removal of the fleece when the greal change of temperature takes i)lace, as the anima' loses flesh under the sudden increased pressure o heat. By various experiments carried on througl the summer months to test the dift'erence of weigh gathered by the difl'erent lots of sheej; that ha( been fed in the different degrees of heat during th previous winter, I found that those sheej) which ha( been kept the coolest increased most, and that thos fed in the \\'armest sheds made bat little progresi when exposed to the free temperature of the air thus ])roving that all animals intended for th butcher should be sold from the sheds. I hav since adopted the middle course with rams ths were intended to be shown the following Septeiti ber, and have provided a number of boarded tray: for the purpose of supplying them at all seasons ( the year with oi)en sheds. The heads of these ai made of oak, six feet long by four inches squar and hoo])ed on the top : the frame or tray is nh feet long, and beard with feather-edged boai fom- feet deep, leaving about twenty inches to I placed in the ground. Four of these trays, two the back and one at each end, make an excellei 0])en shed for eight or ten sheep (according to the size) to run under. These trays are placed open the south during the winter, and, being portabl are removed with the sheej) to the clover or tar for the summer, when they are reversed, to kei out the heat, but regularly littered with clean strs or stubble; this the sheep enjoy, and they are i duced by it to remain under cover during the he of the day. When jilaced uj)on clover, a consta supply of green tares, in racks, during the heat summer, is very desirable to cool the system, reduce the pressure of heat upon the animal bod that the process of fattening may be carried on wi greater success, as on an even temperature of he depend the composition of animal food, and t consequent return for the vegetable food consume Thus, after many anxious reflections u])on t ])rinciple which " science" had dictated, " pra tice" has shown it to be one of great magnituc and to develoj) the mysteries of past ages, by poir ing out those elements of the vegetable creati best adapted to nature's laws, under the vari temperature of the seasons. Experiments serve elucidate and confirm this ; but as the result oft experiments goes to show the average amount animal food jjroduced from a given quantity vegetable food under the different degrees " warmth," I am bound to add (and this is tri important), that the different animals in many i stances varied considerably in their gain ; con: quently, while the experiments confirm that a pro] degree of " warmth is an equivalent to food," tound by close observation, they also confirm that the form and sort of animal invariably go^'ern the difference in the production or composition animal food referi-ed to. Hence the importance of Ijreeding and feedi robust, docile, symmetrical animals, to j)roduce t largest return for the quantity and quality of fo consumed. — Jour. Roy. Agri. Soc. Bnrley-ou-the-Hill, Rutland. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 167 ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. NORTHAMPTON MEETING. The annual country meeting of this great and useful and truly national society commenced on Tuesday, the 20tli of July last, at Northampton, under the most favourable auspices. Preparations for an exhibiiion whicli should equil, and, if possible, surpass even the preceding ones, had been made for some time past, and all parties, whe- ther directly or indirectly interested, appear to have strenuously exerted themselves to promote the honour of the locality and the interests of the society. The railway companies, as became tliem, led the way, by announcing that they would convey heavy implements, &c., for exhibition at the sliow-yard, free of charge, from any part of England to Northampton ; and, in consequence, a great number of competitors have availed tiiemselves of the opjiortunity, and upwards 9f500 tons weight of implements and machinery from ill parts of England and from Scotland arrived during the last week at the station, from whence they were :arefully removed to the show-yard, under the super- ntendence of Mr. Roadster, the local agent of Messrs. Pickford and Messrs. Worster and Co., and Mr. T. Siiaw, of Northampton. The implement exhibition commenced at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning. The following gentlemen acted as Judges of Im- plements at the Northampton Show : — John Morton (Gloucestershire) Wm. Heseltiue (Lincolnshire) J. P. Owthwaite (Yorkshire) W. Everett (Suffolk) rhomas Crisp (Suffolk) J. P. Taylor (Norfolk) Wm. Siiaw, juu. (Northampt.) P. Love (Northampton) The following are the awards of the Judges in this department : — Best Plough for Heavy Land — '\^'iIham Busby, of Nev> tou- I le-Willows, near Bedale, Yorkshire. A two-wheeled plougli ; invented, improved (with Ransom's truss beam), and mauufac- :ured by the exliibiter. Two-wlieeled plough for strong- laud. riiis implement is capaljle of working twelve inches deep when ; required ; also, with a lighter mould-board, will not be found j:oo heavy to be used as a two-liorsc plough. Price £5. A I prize of £10. Best Plough for laght Laud— Messrs. John Howard and son, of Bedford, Bedfordsliire. A patent iron plough, witli wo wheels, marked J. A. (No. :,', maker's list), invented and nanufacUued by the cxliibiters. Ou tlip same principle as N'o. 1, but with a new metliod of fixing the wheels, by whicli neans the widtii of the furrow-wheel may be altered more eadily than upon the old plan. It is also superior to tlie )riginal method for deep ploughing, and upon dirty laud, vhere the sod accumulates upon the old sliding axle. Price £5 ; if fitted with skim coulter, Gs. extra. A prize of £10. Best Drill for General Purposes— jMr. Kichard Garrett, of (Leiston Works, uear Saxmuudham, Suffolk. A drill for gene- ral pm^joses ; invented and manufactured by II. Garrett and 5on. R. Garrett and Son were awarded prizes liv the Roval Agricultural Society for this drill— at Liverpool, 1841, £10; Derby, 1843, £30; Soutliampton, 1841, £20 and a medal, jrhis drill is for the purpose of depositing corn or seeds witii j-ompost, guano, well rotted farm-yard dung, or other manures, either in a moist or dry state, and at any intervals apart. The most recent improvement iu its eonstnietion consists of the application of " Strattou's" patent hollow wrought-iron for the cells or side frame of the drill, instead of cast-iron, whereby much greater strength is obtained, without occupying so much space, and allowing the wheels to run nearer to the drill-box; at the same lime affording a much better plan of regidating the gear-wheels for the delivery of grain ou billy lands. It is lilted with double-actioned levers for depositing corn and manure, either together or through separate conduc- tors, burying the manure at any required deptli below the sur- face, and placing as much soil above it as necessary before the seed is deposited. When the manure part is not reqiured, it may be altogctiier removed, leaving the drill simply for corn, and rendering it suitable for the draught of two horses in- stead of three. Price £46 12s. 6d. A prize of £15. Best Turnip Drill on the Flat — Mr. R. Garrett, of Leiston Works, near Saxmuudham, Suffolk. Adrih for turnips and mau- gold-wurtzel, with manure, on the flat, No. 37 B ; invented and manufactured by R. Garrett and Sou. This drill was awarded a prize of £10 at the Royal Agricultural Society's Meeting at Cambridge, 1840. A foiu--row lever drill, for the purpose of depositing turnips or mangold- wurtzel seeds with artificial or -nell-rotted farm-yard manure, for either flat or ridge-ploughed lauds. It is made with iuqn-ovcd levers and coulters, whereby tlie manure may be deeply buried in the land below the seed, and any required quantity of soil placed be- tween them. 'J'he seed coulters may be adjusted to drill the seeds either deeper or fleeter, as circumstances may require. This drill is also adapted for drilling beans, peas, and carrots, with manure, at anv intervals apart. Price £26 10s. A prize of £10. BestTm-nip Drill on the Ridge — Ditto, a drill for turnips and mangold-wurtzel, with manure, on the ridge, mvented aud manufactured by R. Garrett and Son. This drill was awarded a prize of £20 at the Royal Agricultural Society's Meeting at Bristol, hi 1842. A patent two-row lever drill, for depositing turnips, mangold-wurtzel, and other seeds, with compost, guano, or well-rotted farm-yard manure, on ridge-ploughed lands. It is made with improved levers, for the better cover- ing the manure and seed witli soil. It is adapted for deliver- ing any quantity of moist or dry manures ; and the coulters being made to steer, may be kept ou the top of the ridges with great precision. Price £23 5s. A prize of £10. Best Scarifier — John 'Wood Sharmaii, of "WeOiugborough ; William Proctor Stanley, of Peterborough, Northamptonshire ; and Thomas Johnson, of Leicester. A patent scarifier, witli seven wrought-iron tines ; invented liy ilr. Arthur Biddeli, improved aud raaufactured by Ransomes and May. This im- plement covers 4ft. Sin. Price £19 15s. ; delivered in London, £18 18s. A prize of £10. Best Chaff Cutter — John Comes, of Barbridge, near Naut- wich, Chester. A chaff-cutting machine, with three knives, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. This machine is to be worked either by two men or machinery ; breadth of cut 12 inches, deptli 2^ inches; and makes five different lengths of chaff, two for horses, two for cattle, and one length of 4 inches for litter. It is also fitted up with an additional pair of feed- ing rollers, which regulate the materials before entering the front ones next the cut, whereby the danger of the feeders get- ting their hands entangled hi the hay or straw is eutirly av oided, when the machine is driven by steam or other power at a gTcat velocitj'. Price delivered at Barbridge, £14. A prize of £10. Bo?f Pipe and Tile 'Machine — ^lessrs. Sanders and A\'illiara.s of Bedford ; and Samuel Taylor, of Cotton End, Bedford. .\ machine for making drainiug-pipes and tdes ; invented, im- proved, aud manufactured by Messrs. Sanders and ^A'iiliams, of Bedford. This implement is simple iu construction, and works M 153 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. easily ; it is calculated to make 6,000 of 1^ inch drain-pipes per day, with one man and two boys. Price, -witli oue die and one horse, £12 12s. A prize of £25. Best Harrows — Ditto, a set of patent four-beam diagonal iron harrows, invented by Mr. Samuel Taylor, of Cotton End, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters. Tiiese harrov.s obtained a prize of £3 at the Derby meeting, 1843, also at tl>e Southampton meeting, 1S44, and at Shrewsbury, 1845. Tiieir form is diagonal, and the set consists of three, and arc drawn by two horses ; the teeth are so constructed that each cuts a separate track. The draft being from the centre, gives them an advantage over any other mode, and is so arranged that if one liorse moves more forward than the other, the harrow is not put out of its working lines by it. Price £4 15s. Iron draught bar, per set, 10s extra. A prize of £5. Best Drill Presser — Richard Hornsby, of Spiltlegate, near Grantham, Lincoln. A two-row drill presser ; invented, im- proved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. This presser re- ceived the prize of £10 and a silver medal at the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England at Southampton, July, 1844, and £10 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1846. A two- row drill presser, to drill corn and bones or any other pulver- ized manures, with coulters to conduct the seed and manure to the groutid ; also fitted with an extra coulter to cbill both sides, the last furrow to finish the land. Price £16 10s. A prize of £10. Best Weighing Jlachine — H. G. James, 44, Fish-street Hill, London. (New Implement.) A 21 cwt. Portable Machine for ■weigliing live cattle and farm produce generally ; invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. It is upon wheels, and quite portable. Price, wheels included, £20. A prize of £10. Best Steaming Apparatus — Mr. Richard Robinson, of Lis- burne, Antrim. A portable steaming apparatus for general purposes ; the boiler invented by J. Jeuniugs, of New York, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter. This steaming apparatus was awai-ded the prize at Newcastle-on-Tyne, last year, of five sovs., smce which the exhibiter has adapted it for the purpose of preparing soup or stirabout, &c. ; several h\ui- dred of them have been furnished to relief conmiittees and other parties in Ireland for this purpose. Price £9 10s. A prize of £10. Best Skim or Paring Plough — Mr. George Kilby, of Queeni- borough, near Leicester, Leicestershire. A turf and stubble paring plough ; invented and manufactured by Thomas Glover, of Thrussington, Leicestershire. This plough is adapted to pare turf or stubble land with the gi'catest nicety, and is calculated to plough a common furrow when required. Price £5 10s. A prize of £5. Best Subsoil Pulverizer— Mr. John Read, of 35, Regent Circus, Piccadilly, Loudon. A patent Subsoil Pulverise]-, in- vented and manufactured by the exhibiter. A prize of £10 was awarded for this implement at Southampton, Shrewsbury, and at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Price £5 5s. A prize of £10. Best Horse Seed Dibbler — James Wilmot Newberry, of Hook Norton, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. A seven- rowed dibbling machine, invented by Messrs. Saunder and Newberry, of Hook Norton, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter. This implement is the same as exhibited last year, only improved in the mode of opening the dibbles. It consists of seven dibbling wheels, in a suitable frame, with double shafts ; and each wheel receives its own seeds, and plants independently of the others. Price £60. A prize of £13. Best One Horse Cart— Mr. Richard Stratton, of Bristol. A one-hoLse manure cart, with cranked axle ; invented, im- proved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. A silver medal was awarded to it at Derby, and a prize of £5 at Southamp- ton. A cranked axle cart, with a body for solid manure, which can be removed, and a Uq\ud manure cistern substituted for it. The improvement consists in substituting a v\Tonght-iron liquid manure cistern for the cask used at Southampton. The price of the cart, fitted only for sohd manure, is £17 17s. Price £25. A prize of £10. Best Thrashing Machine — ilr. Richard GaiTett, of Leiston "Works, near Saxmundham, Suffolk. A four-horse-power bolting thrashing machine, invented and manufactured by Garrett and Son. The prize of £25 was awarded for this ma- chine at the Royal Agricultural Society's Meeting at New- castle, 1840. This machine is for the purpose of thrashing every description of grain, and is warranted not to injure the corn, or bend or bruise the straw so much as thrashing with the flail. It is fitted with " R. Garrett and Son's" patent cylindrical wire drum and registered iron levers or shafts. In districts where the straw is sold this will be found a most in- valuable implement. Price, as a portable machine complete, £60 10s. ; ditto, as a fixture, complete, £53s. 10s.; extra if fitted with the registered iron levers, each lever ICs. ; ditto of the thrashing part to be applied to steam or water power, fitted with pulleys, £27 10s. A prize of £20. Best Draining Tools fur Clay Land— Mr. Henry Clayton, of 21, Upjjcr Park Place, Dorset Square, Loudon. Clayton's " Cycloidal" (or improved Essex shape) draining tools, with polished or ordinary black blades, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter. A variety of tools for cutting the drains for pipe or other description of draining tiles, either in clay, light, or gravelly soils. These tools are made with ground polished blades or witli the ordinary black blades, and upon scientific principles as to shape, viz., cycloidal, which produces a perma- nent cutting edge on their sides, and from the peculiarity of shape gi^ ing great strength with lightness to the blade of the tool, and also causes the clay or earth whe)i in a moist and ad- hesive state to leave the tools much readier than from the old shape of tool ; every tool is laid with steel, so that by wear they always keep their edges sharp. It is well known to men accus- tomed to the use of agricultural spade tools, that a tool with a polished blade requires much less labour in its use, and will deliver the soil with greater facility. A complete set of tools for clay laud, light land, and gravelly land, consisting of five tools, with polished blades, £2 ; ditto, with black blades, £1 15s. A prize of £5. Best Draining Tools for Friable Land — Messrs. Mapple- beck and Lowe, Birmingham. (New implements.) A set of W. A. Lyndon's Patent Drainmg Tools ; invented by Mr. Josiah Parkes, Draining Engineer, London, and manufactured by W. A. Lyndon, of Birmingham. The set consists of one spade (3s. 6d.), one grafting tool (4s. 3d.), one deep tool (5s.), one shovel (3s.), three hoes (3s. each), one pickaxe (43. 3d.), one pipe-layer (2s. 6d.), and one mattock (4s. 3d.). Price per set, 31s. 6d., or, with mattock, 35s. 6d. A prize of £3. Best Draining Tools for General Draining — Ditto. (New im- plements). A set of W. A. Lyndon's Patent Draining Tools, No. 2 ; invented and manufactured by W. A. Lyndon. Thf set consists of one spade (3s. 6d.), one grafting tool 13 by 7 by 6 (4s.), one grafting tool 15 by 6 by 5 (4s. 3d.), one graft- ing tool 15 by 5 by 4 (4s.), one mattock (4s. 3d.), and one flat scoop 3 inches (3s.) Price per set, £1 3s. A prize of £5. Best Steam Engine — Mr. 'WiUiain Cambridge, of Market Laviugton, near Devizes, Wilts. A foin--horse power portabk steam engine ; invented and manufactured by the exhibiter This engine is very simple : it is therefore well adapted for agri cidtural purposes. Price £140. A prize of £50. Best Corn Dressing Machine — Mr. Joshua Cooch, of Har lestou, near Northampton. An improved patent corn dressinj machine ; invented by the late John Cooch, of Harleston, im proved and manufactured by the exhibiter. — This machine, ii its original shape, obtained the prize of £10 at the Liverpoo Meeting, Julv, 1841 ; improved in 1846 and in 1847. Prici £16. A prize of £15. Best Broad-cast Manure Distributor — WiUiam Crosskill, o the Beverley Iron Works, Beverley, Yorkshire. A portabl manure drill, for sowing broad-cast soot, lime, salt, ashes, gu ano, &c. ; invented, impro\ ed, and manufactured by the exhi biter. Awarded a prize at Bristol ; since much improred This drill is six feet wide, and will contain eight bushels «f raa uure. It distributes quantity iu proportion to the speed o tlie horse, which is regulated in sowuig by the position of th drill bos and the extra cog wheels ; by placing the drill in : vertical position the quantity is increased or decreased to au; number of bushels per acre. Price, delivered in Hidl, £10 10; A prize of £10. Best Clover Seed and Rye Grass Barrow — James Smyth, c Peasenhall, near Yoxford, Suffolk. (New Implement). A dove seed and rye grass barrow j invented, improved, and manufac J THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 159 f nred by the exhibiter. i'oi- sowing rye grass and clover seed ; upon a "new construction, admitting the two kinds of seeds to be deposited at the same time by the same machine, by deli- very of thera from chambers, thereby remedying the defect which has hiiherto existed by the two sorts of seeds being mixed, viz- the clover seed settling to (he bottom of the box. Price £6 10s. A silver medal. Best Fire Engine, price £60— Mr. Eead, 35, Regent-cir- cus, Piccadilly. A silver medal. Best Horse Drag Rake — Joseph Cooke Grant, of Stam- ford, Lincolnshire. Article No. 1. A Patent Lever Horse Rake, Xo. 918 ; invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter This Implement was, at the Royal Society's exhi- bition at Newcastle, successful in carryinsv off the prize. It lias again been much improved and strengthened in its con- struction. Price at Stamford, £7 10s. ; in Liverpool, London, Bristol, Hull, Birmingham, Newcastle, &c., &c., £8, A silver medal. Best Gardener's Turnip Cutter — Messrs. Mapplebeck and Lowe, of Lirmingham. A patent turnip cutter ; invented and manufactured by James Gardner, of Banbury. A premium of £5 was awarded for this machine at the Soutliampton Meeting, 1844. This machine cuts the turnips into pieces three-quar- :ers of an inch wide and half an inch thick for sheep. £4 15s. \ silver medal. Best Oil Cake Breaker — Messrs. Wedlake and Thomson, of Union Foundry, Hornchurcb, Romford, Essex. (New Imple- neut.) An American oilcake breaker; mvented and manu- actnred by the exhibiters. This machine is on a new con- itniction, and v.i\\ break the thick American, or other foreign )r Enghsh cake, into pieces for beast, sheep, lambs, or, if re- [uired, for manure. It is fitted with a double set of rollers, lud is easily regulated to break to aay size. Price £6 lOs. \. silver medal. Best Horse-hoe — IMessrs. Garrett, of Leiston AVorks, near >asmundhara, Suffolk. A patent horse-hoe, invented and ma- lufactured by Garrett and Son This implement was awarded irizes by the Royal Agricultural Society at Liverpool in 1 341, X Bristol in 1842, at Derby in 1843, and at Southampton in .844. This implement is for the purpose of hoeing between he rows of wheat, barley, beans, peas, turnips, carrots, and uangold wurzel, or any other crops not drilled less than seven )r eight inches apart. It is suited to almost all descriptions of '; ioil, and from its extreme simplicity may easily be managed by iny agricultural workman. It is recommended by the patentees ' !3 an invaluable implement on a farm ; the facility afforded by !ts use for hoeing all description of crops at the proper time nd season, and in a more effectual manner, and at less expense I hau can be done by hand, rendering it of the greatest import- nce to the farmer. One or two horses (depending on the size >f the implement) will hoe from eight to ten acres per day. 'rice £18. A silver medal . The arrangements for the show were as nearly as possi- ile the same as on former occasions — indeed, it would le diflScult to alter them with advantage — and have been nade as heretofore under the direction of Mr. Brandreth Jibbs, the hon. secretary. The place of exhibition was he race-course, about half a mile from the town, and he space enclosed for it comprised an area of 18 acres. t was divided, as usual, into two compartments, one for he implements, and the other for the stock, and con- ained altogether 37 sheds, each about 240 feet long, and rranged in parallel lines, with ample space between for he passage of the visitors. There were also additional tails for seeds, roots, models, &c., and offices for the , flficers of the society. Around the exhibition yard, and jbottt the race-course, there was a very large congrega- jion of refreshment booths, toy and fruit stalls, shows of 11 kinds, all of which were as gay and brilliant as they paid be made by hangings of red, and blue, and yellow ambric, and flags, and streamers waving in the sunshine. The public exhibition of the working of the light land nplements took place on the fields of Mr. Seaby and Ir. Green, adjoining the race-course ; and that of the heavy land implements at the farm of Mr. Pickering, of Moulton-park, on the Market- Harborough Road. They were attended by a considerable number of per- sons, members of the society and others, who watched the working of the prize implements with great interest. Mr. Miles was a most good-humoured and indefatigable steward, galloping after ploughs, harrows, and drills with the most incessant energy, and keeping the people in the best order and disposition. The machines manufactured by Mr. Garrett were very much adn)ired for the preci>ioii and beauty of their work. The day thus passed away up to four o'clock. Meantime, a considerable number of visitors had collected in the implement yard, and the very pretty exhibition of the Horticultural Society ad- joining it. Among them was Sir Harry Smith ; and in justice it must be said that the war-worn old soldier at- tracted as much attention, and was quite as much ad- mired, as even the new tile machine. LECTURE ON THE GROWTH OF TURNIPS. The Rev. A. Huxtable opened the practical discus- sion at five o'clock, by reading a paper in All Saints' parochial school-room (the Earl of Egmont presiding) on the Growth of Turnips by means of Artificial Ma- nures, with a recommendation of particular combina- tions of manure best adapted to particular cases, and re- marks on the adulteration of artificial manures, and the best mode of detecting them. The room was crowded, and for upwards of an hour the rev. gentleman addressed them in a very pleasing and clear way on the various branches of his subject. The rev. lecturer commenced with some general obser- vations on the importance of these meetings, and their gratifying results, and passing to the subject immedi- ately before them, made some humorous allusions to the restriction implied by the terms of the resolution, and which prevented him from travelling beyond the turnip. Not a word might he indulge iu about mangel-wurzel ; not a word of carrots, those precious underminers ; yet it was perhaps right that they should be thus restricted, and give their undivided attention to the turnip. No crop, in all seasons and in all soils, was so certain or so repaying, and it was unrivalled in its universal applica- bility. We had arrived at an enviable era iu the history of cultivation. We inherited the sum total of the expe- rience of our ancestors ; and, when comparing our own with distant periods, we saw with a thousand eyes and heard with a thousand ears, lengthening out our own ex- istence with the ages of other men's wisdom. That ex- perience was not wanting in respect of the cultivation of the turnip, and modern appliances seemed calculated to carry it to perfection. Though Professor Way considers that bones may scarcely be deemed a manure, he (Mr. Huxtable) thought them a real and excellent manure ; he really could not give up the bones (laughter and cheers). But then they must consider how hard a thing bone was. Think of the young turnip trying to get nu- trition from it, and of the time required for its decom- position when buried to any depth in the soil — a period perfectly alarming to a short-lived farmer of a short- lived turnip crop on a short-leased farm 1 (hear, and laughter.) But then, to console them, came the grand modern introduction of the agency of sulphuric acid for the decomposition of bone. Four or five bushe's thus acted upon were equal to three quarters without it. And this was no discovery of a practical man ; it was elaborated in the closet of the student ; a fact which, if it lessened the pride of the practical, would also make them sanguine as to beneficial suggestions from the same source for the future. The grand necessity was to be secure of the quality of the acid, and on thav point he 160 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. would venture to ofi'er a suggestion or two, but in no spirit oF dictation. "You know," said the reverend gentleman, " I am only a peg to hang discussion upon ; but even in that humble capacity I may not be utterly useless." He would recommend them to procure long wooden troughs, well lined with lead — that was essen- tial. The expense might be objected to, but without expense the thing could not be done. As to the quality of the acid, he believed that the invention of Messrs. Burton, Hall, and Co., by which the specific gravity could be ascertained, would render them safe on tliat point. The rev. lecturer here produced some balls, the weights of which being decimally marked on each, would denote the gravity. He went on to demonstrate that, though bone dissolved in sulphuric acid was good for the young turnip, it would not produce the largest. We ought to try for our twenty tons per acre ; but in order to do so, we must spread a more bo-rosperity of the town. ('Sir Harry sat down amidst the Qost enthusiastic cheering; . The Mayor returned thanks for the honour that had leen conferred upon him. He was extremely happy to aeet them here, although he felt how undeserving he 'as of the compliment that had been paid him. As hief magistrate of this borough he had only done his •uty ; the obligation was on his side, and he thanked them heartily for so kindly and so condescendingly re- plying to his invitation. He regretted the absence of several noblemen and gentlemen who had been unable to attend. But his invitation had been unfortunately of short notice. Last week, indeed, he had expressed his desire to give an entertainment of this sort to the society, but he was told that they had quite left off receiving in- vitations as a body, and it was not till last Monday that he heard he was at liberty to receive them. This was his apology to those whose invitations came late. If he had had but three or four days, he should have been glad to have welcomed the whole of the council. He begged, in conclusion, to drink all their healths. (Cheers). The company shortly after broke up. At five o'clock there was a meeting, in All Saints' Parochial School Rooms, to hear MR. THOMSON'S LECTURE ON THICK AND THIN SOWING OF WHEAT. Mr. Thomsox read as follows : — My best qualification for opening this discussion is, that I have no prejudice in favour of either thick or thin sowing ; and whilst I am perfectly ready to relate the re- suit of my own experiments, I am really anxious to hear the results of the experiments of others. I think it best to premise, that when I use the term " thick sowing," I mean the use of from eight to twelve pecks of seed ; and by thin sowing, I mean from three to six pecks, as I have had no experience of any quantities beyond these limits. The first change made in the quantity of seed wheat used on my farm, was about four or five years ago, when, after one or two trials, I reduced my usual quan- tity of seed fi'om twelve pecks to eight ; and this change has, on the whole, been advantageous, though I have more than once had too thin a plant when sown on clover ley, which I feel confident would not have occurred had I used more seed. In 1844 having seen in one of the papers a very well argued statement by Mr. Hewitt Davis, in favour of thin sowing, I determined to dibble a small portion of land with four pecks of seed, and the following is my memorandum of the experiment : — 1st. 1844. Two acres of dry sandy loam of good quality ; pievious crop potatoes, well manured; dibbled Nov. 26 with four pecks per acre of Spalding's prolific wheat. The work was done with tools commonly called Norfolk dibbling irons. The rows and holes each six inches apart, lightly harrowed after sowing. Came up ill, not half the holes shewed any blade at all, occa- sionally five or si.x holes together all missed. Plant was in consequence much too thin, and though it til- lered freely, was not above half a crop. I was surprised at the seed coming up so badly, and attri- buted it to accidental causes, totally independent of the thin sowing, though I could not discover any cause of injury to the plant which would reasonably account for it. In consequence, however, of the want of plant, I did not consider it a fair trial of thin sowing, and took no further steps to ascertain the exact produce, but re- solved to try it with still greater care next season. 2nd. 1845. This experiment was made in a ten-acre field of dry light land. The previous crop was white clover, trefoil, and ribbed grass, pastured with sheep. The seeds had been sown among wheat, and had after harvest a dressing of six or seven tons per acre of farm yard manure. They in consequence carried a heavy stock of slieep the whole summer, and the field was in such condition that there was some fear of the wheat being too gross. Thin sowing I thought likely to obviate this dif- ficulty, and accordingly I had four acres dibbled on the 21st of October with between three and four pecks of Spalding's prolific wheat, by Newberiy's dibbling ma- chine. The whole field had been pressed with a common 162 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tvro-rowed presser following the ploughs. The six acres not dibbled were sown broad-cast the same day, in the pressed seam, with eight pecks per acre of the same seed. After sowing, the whole tield was rolled with Crosskili's clod- crusher, which completely erased the dibble holes, and left the land in the finest possible order. The dis- tance between the rows was in each case nine inches. The broadcast came up well, and though it looked rather crowded, and had a good many small heads, proved to be a very productive crop. The dibbled wheat came up as in the previous trial, much too thin. Not more than one-third of the holes produced a plant, though the ma- chine had been closely watched, and scarcely a hole could be discovered that had not at least one grain in it. The plants tillered wonderfully, but no tillering could possi- bly fill up gaps of a yard or more in length, which fre- quently occurred. When the corn was ripe, I had pulled up by the roots 33 yards in length of a row of the dib- bled corn, and the same number of yards of a broadcast row, to ascertain the comparative number of stems pro- duced by the two methods. The roots were carefully e.xamined and separated into single plants, each grown from one grain. The result was as follows : — 35 yards dibbled gave 150 roots and 1,185 stems. 35 ditto broadcast gave 983 roots and 1 740 stems. Each root dibbled averaged 7 9-lOth stems. Broadcast, 1| stems. This compaiison leads us to the following facts: — 1st. We see that in the same space 983 plants bad come to maturity when sown broadcast, but only 150 when dib- bled. This great deficiency of plant was for the most part not occasioned by winter frost, or any other cause of injury to the plant after appearing above ground, but avose chiefly from the seed not having come up at all. This was a mystery to me at the time ; it had occurred two successive seasons, once when dibbled by hand, once by machine ; the land in both cases being in as fine order for sowing as land coxild be, and that the seed was not deficient was proved by the rest of the field sown broad- cast having produced a magnificent crop ; an experiment, however, tried this spring, and detailed in a subsequent part of this paper, will furnish a probable solution of the difficulty. 2nd. I would call attention to the effort made by the plant to make up for the above-named deficiency by abundant tillering ; no less than 1,185 stems having been produced from 150 roots, when dibbled ; whereas, where the plants stood thick, 983 roots only produced 1,740 stems. I next compared the size of the heads. One hundred heads of the dibbled corn weighed lOfoz., one hundred broadcast weighed 7foz. ; the heads having been taken as they came, without selection, and dried for several hours in front of a kitchen fire, to ensure their being perfectly dry. The number of grains were respectively 3,781 in the 100 grains dibbled, and 3,003 in the 100 heads broadcast. We here see, that in addi- tion to the tillering of the plant, there are other causes at work to compensate for the want of plant, viz. : — Better filled ears and bolder grain. The dibbled heads contained 25 per cent, more grains than those sown broadcast, and the appearance of the heads led me to anticipate some such result. The individual grains also were larger ; 489 of the dibbled weighing as much as 500 of the broadcast. These efforts of the plant to make up the deficiency were, however, attended with some serious disadvantages. The strength of the plant was so long devoted to the formation of side shoots, that it was considerably later in pushing upwards, and therefore later in ripening. It was also mildewed, and therefore decidedly inferior in sample to the broadcast. I intended that some of the dibbled and broadcast corn (which were purposely kept separate) should have been sold on the same market day ; but in consequence of a mistake, this was not done, and the two parcels wer; sold at an interval of a week. The price realized was' for the Broadcast, 13s. 4d. per bushel — Dibbled, lis. pe, bushel. During that week, however, the market had fallen a least Is. per bushel for good corn, and rather more for coarse sample, such as this was ; and it would probabl be correct to say that the difference in value was fully 1< per bushel, and this was the opinion of the practical me consulted. I next come to the comparative product A rood of each was measured off, and cut before th rest of the field was mown, when the result was as fo! lows : — Produce per acre. Head. Tail. Head. Tail. Bush. pk. Pk. Bush. pk. Bush. pk. I rood broadcast 11 0 .. 1^ .. 44 0 .. 1 2 1 rood dibbled .. 6 3^ .. 1^ .. 27 1 .. 1 2 This shows a deficiency in the dibbled corn of ] bushels 3 pecks per acre ; the difference in the value the crop is still greater, as leaving out of considerati( the extreme prices realized this season, and supposu the broadcast corn to be worth 7s. per bushel, and t! dibbled 6s., the value of the broadcast per acre wou be 13/. 13s., and that of the dibbled 8/. 9s. 6d., showii a difference in value of 11. 5s. 6d. per acre in corn alon and if we take into account the deficiency of the stra' the additional hoeing required, and the extra espen of putting in the seed, I cannot, even after deducting t value of the seed saved, estimate my loss at less than i per acre, or 32/. on the four acres dibbled. This was sufficient lesson to prevent my trying it again to any e tent ; but as my previous experiments had been wi autamn-sowa corn, and as I was still not able to accou for the deficient germination of the seed, I determined try a single rood of land this spring after turnips, and endeavour to make up for the lateness of the season an extra quantity of seed. I therefore directed t droppers to put not less than half a dozen grains ir each hole, and as I superintended the experiment myse I can state that I could not discover a hole in whi were less than six grains, whereas many had eight ten. This was done on the 25th of February last, a the rest of the field was drilled at the same time w ten pecks of the same kind of wheat known as " Hu ter's white." The wheat in this instance came up bi ter than it had previously done when dibbled, but ; there were many deficient places ; and as I had uniforn failed in procv.ring a sufficient plant by dibbling, to i fairly the comparative productiveness of thick and tl corn, I determined to hoe out a small piecfe of wh' where the plant was thick. I accordingly selecte( plot of ground immediately adjoining the dibbled re last mentioned, the plant being very abundant where I pecks had been sown. It was hoed with a very narrow hoe before the pL shewed any side shoots or tillers, and was left in regu tufts about six or seven inches from centre to cent This corn not being yet ripe, I cannot give the ex results ; but, from its appearance, I should guess tl the dibbled corn would yield several bushels less tl; the rest of the field ; and there is so little difference the eye between that which was thinned by the hoe a that which was not, that I cannot hazard an opini upon their respective produce until brought to the t of measure and weight. In the foregoing e.xperimen tried three successive seasons, the thin- sown corn v very inferior in produce to that sown thicker, and alwi for the same reason, that a large proportion of the s( did not come up. With a view to trace this failure its source, I selected two samples of the best wb wheat I could meet with, and sowed a few handfuls THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 163 each in a garden. I dibbled them one grain in each hole, holes about two inches deep, in a good strong loam, on the 10th of last March. Of one of the sorts 43 per cent, came up, of the other 49 per cent. After giving them a sufficient time for any straggling plants to make tiieir appearance, I set to work with a trowel to examine the grains which had not produced plants. In almost all cases, and I examined a great number, I found that the grain had germinated, but had been de- stroyed by small white worms, some of them with nume- rous legs, some without ; in one case only by a wire- worm. In some instances the plant had nearly reached the surface, and had become coloured, but had its prin- cipal root eaten through, or the shoot itself so gnawed as to stop its growth. I next examined some of the dibble holes in the field which had failed to produce a plant, and found that these too had been destroyed by insects ; but in this case chiefly wireworms. I was sur- prised at this result, as I had always supposed that little injury was done by insects until after the plant had ap- peared above ground. In all probability much more damage was done to the seed in this garden experiment than would have been the case in a field, as the high manuring and constant succession of crops in a garden attract insect depredators of all kinds. To make it clear that these insects were the real and only cause of the failure of the seed in the last experiment, I sowed a f e v hundred grains of a very inferior sample to that sown in the garden, in a hot -house, in a mixture of sand and charcoal, which I thought would be pretty free from insects of all kinds. In this case 90 per cent, of the grain formed fine healthy plants, Tliese experiments explain a fact which is well known to all farmers, and which I had never before been able to account for, viz. : — That the same quantity of seed corn sov.n after an open fallow will produce many more plants than if sown on clover ley. Many reasons might be given for the plants thriving better after a good fallow when once they are up ; but as the young shoot in its early days is entirely dependent on the supply of food contained in the seed, there seemed no reason why these young shoots should not come up in one case as well as another. Still whether a good reason could be found or not, it remained a stubborn fact, and I now fully believe the right ex- planation to be thit slugs, wireworms, and other insects, find abundant food in the stems and roots of the clover while growing ; but that when this is ploughed in they immediately attack the seed corn, v.hereas during a fallow they are starved out and obliged to change their quarters. I believe also that dibbling aggravates the injury done in this way, as when insects, especially wire- worms, find a dibble-hole, they generally destroy all the grains or plants in it before they move, and if this occurs to two or three adjoining holes, a large gap occurs; whereas I have repeatedly observed that wireworms moving down a row of drilled or broadcast corn leave some plants untouched, which in good land and a favourable season do much towards repairing the damage. In any further experiments that I may make in thin sowing I shall therefore give up dibblitig and try the drill. Having now given a detailed account of my own experiments in thin sowing, I wish to remark that though 1 have carefully abstained from bringing forward the results of any experiments that I have not been able personally to superintend from beginning to end, yet that I have taken some pains to collect information from practical men upon this subject, and wherever I was able to examine tbeir crops at difterent stages of growth. These inquiries and observations have led me to the fol- lowing practical deductions, viz., that thin sowing does not answer. First, loherever the soil is thin, whether the substra- tum be chalk, limestone, sand, or gravel j as, if the ground be not well covered tolerably early in spring, the land is technically said " to burn," whenever a drought sets in, and the crop is materially injured. Secondly, tvherever the land is out of condition, imper- fectly drained, or badly cultivated. It is not sufficient to say that there ought to be no such land ; unfortunately there is still a good deal to be found in Yorkshire, and possibly some nooks and corners might be found even in Northamptonshire where the land is not quite so well farmed as it ought to be. On such soils the plant will not tiller freely, and weeds grow with such vigour that it is almost impossible to keep them down, and they smother what corn there is. I now come to the most important question, viz. — Is thin sowing safe practice on goodland— land (i.e.) which is either naturally fertile, or made so by good farming ? I think not, except within very narrow limits ; and I ground my opinion on the following facts : That if corn is very thin in winter, should the months of March and April be dry, it does not tiller sufficiently to produce a full crop, and in all seasons it ripens later, suffers more from the attacks of insects, especially wireworm, and is much more liable to mildew. I shall be told that a suf- ficiently full plant may be obtained by early sowing. This, however, only applies to a portion of the land in- tended for wheat, as that portion under turnips and other root crops cannot be sown early ; and as there are few open fallows on good land, it becomes a question for each farmer to decide for himself, whether it would be for his advantage to exert himself to get a portion of his wheat sown so early as to save a bushel or a bushel and a half of seed per acre, or whether his horses would be more profitably employed in cleaning his stubbl?s in- tended for root crops the following season, as long as the weather permitted, and to begin his wheat sowing at the usual time, at the cost of a few more quarters of seed. I wish to call your attention to a point which I think of importance, viz., that sufficient alteration is not, in general, made in the quantity of seed as the sowing sea- son advances. If four pecks are considered sufficient at the end of September, I think an additional peck should be used for every fortnight beyond that time. This would give us five pecks for the middle of Octuber, six for the end of October, seven for the middle of Novem- ber, and eight for the end of that month ; after which no further increase seems necessary. Supposing, however, that this is a tolerably good approximation to the truth as a general rule, it must of course be modified in ac- cordance v.ith the varying circumstances of the soil, climate, previous crop, and other causes, of which ench farmer will be the best judge in his own case. I will, however, point out one which I believe has been gene- rally overlooked — I mean the size of the grain of the par- ticular kind of wheat sown. To estimate roughly the difference in the thickness of plant due to this cause, I weighed half-an-ounce of a told sample of " Spalding's Prolific" wheat, and found it to contain 240 grains : the same measure and weight of " Hunter's White" (a mo- derate sized wheat) contained 303 grains, being one- fourth more in number; so that for every bushel of Hunter's White that was thought necessary, five pecks of Spalding's Prolific ought to be sown to produce an equal number of plants* and had I, instead of taking a moderate sized wheat like the Hunter's White, chosen one of the smaller varieties, the difference would have been still more striking. In conclusion, I must express a hope that I have treated the subject as impartially as the facts in my possession would allow, and I can honestly state my regret that I am unable to join in the brilliant anticipations of those who think that the gene- ral adoption of thin sowing would prove a national sav- ing to the amount of some millious per annum. \Gi THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The Noble Clialinium having iiitiuiated his wish that ! any gentleman feeling so difposed would come forward I and address the assembly, a member ascended the plat- \ form, and gave an account of his mode of sowing, and the j averages of his crops for a series of years. He conceived that thinner sowing might be advisable, and in 1844 his ' experiment was attended by an increase from 22 to 37 bushels. [A member inquired whetusr this was not the i-esult of improved cultivation?] The speaker said that there was no improvement whatever in the cultivation. Mr. Warnes follow'ed with an account of his inspec- tion of the farm of IMr. Hev?itt Davis, where three pecks per acre had been sown, and certainly with indisputable success ; but it did not follow that the system was appli- cable to all soils : he had himself been a thin sower, and very miserable, shabby crops had rewarded his parsi- mony. [Mr. Warnes spoke at considerable length, but rather indistinctly, and amidst incessant noife and con- fusion.] Mr. Brown had also visited the farm of Mr. Hewitt Davis, and instanced a crop of barley sown with less than six pecks per acre, and which was extremely good ; and though the wheat was on an ill-cultivated soil (a sandy ground, and a short sub -soil), the crop was clean and good. [In answer to a question from one of the members, he stated that the thin sowing was dibbled — the thick broadcast.] The speaker now digressed from the subject of thick and thin sowing to express his views of the necessity of a proper institution for the education of the sons of farmers. In his neighbourhood they had been labouring for five or six years to create such a school — a school in which the man who intended to de- vote his life to farming pursuits might be properly trained, and become a thorough farmer. [Here a storm of cries of " Question, question," " Chair, chair," com- pelled Mr. Brown to come to a rather abrupt conclusion.] Mr. Bennett (who had been loudly called for, and rose amidst warm greetings from all parts of the room) stated that he came there with no idea or expectation of addressing them. He had listened with great interest to all the observations which had been elicited by the sub- ject under discussion, but not with a conviction equal to the interest. For himself, he believed that there was much error on both sides relative to thick and thin sow- ing ; nor could he wholly trust even to the evidence on either side of those who spoke of crops which they had seen. Very fallacious ideas were got from a view of crops at this period of the year ; ears, however full and fine to the eye, did not always carry the grain. He be- lieved that on good land with early sowing thin seed might be successful ; but this left undecided the ques- tion of universal applicability : however, no harm could come of experiment and discussion ; and it was thus that a great deal of useful information had been spread abroad by this society. But whatever might be the advanfage of speculative views and novel efforts, they would do well to abide in the main by those systems which had stood the test of time. It was equally proper to hold fast the good, as to try to prove all ; and in his deliberate opinion the adoption of the system of sowing three or four pecks to an acre on the average soil of England would lead to ruin (roars of applause). The farmer had numerous and insidious enemies to guard against — the seasons fought against him— the vermin undermined him —and it would not do to increase the difficulties of his position by the dangers of unsafe theorizing in this matter of thin sowing. He (Mr. Bennett) had not himself tried it very extensively, and would therefore offer no decided opinion upon it ; nor would he join with those who were so eager to condemn the experiment of thin sowing. The country was indebted to Mr. Hewitt Davis : he had chalked out a new line for himself, and had courageously pursued it. Mr. Bennett then stated that he was called on two or three years ago to value some property belonging to a gentleman since deceased : he was a wealthy rHan — one of those who like and are able to try experiments (laughter and applause). He was in- toxicated— (laughter) — with the sight of Mr. Hewitt Davis's farm ; but the result of his (Mr. Bennett's) measuiement and valuation by no means in this instance redounded to the credit of the system. It would be wise to look ere they leaped— to go gently and carefully oa their way, and with the variations of the seasons and the soil, take such quantity of seed as would be able to bear them out on the average of years. At certain seasons and on particular soils thin sowing might be advanta- geous ; but again he warned them against the adoption of it as a general measure. He repeated that he came to the meeting with no intention of speaking, but h could not be silent when he saw his brother farmers likely to be led into error. [Mr. Bennett left the plat- form amidst tumultuous cheering.] Mr. Fisher HoBBS had, during the last six or eighty ears, commenced sowing with four or five pecks early in the season, finishing with eight. He had tried smaller quan- tities inconsequence of Mr. H. Davis's example ; but the result was that he had left off as he began. Thin sowing might do on clean and good land, but our own experience, as well as the practice of our forefathers, im- plied its impracticability as a general measure. [A member rose and suggested that, in discussing the com- parative merits of thick and thin sowing, they had not entered sufficiently into the question of manure.] Mr. GiDNEY (as we understood) of Norfolk, stated that he had travelled extensively, and observed minutely, and his testimony was in favour of thin sowing. His friend Harvey, of Essex— and there was no better farmer in England — had tried thin sowing, and on a fallow the crop was invariably successful. He had also seen splen- did crops on Mr. Mechi's farm from thin sowing. Mr. Shelley said that he had come to hear, and not to speak. He was not present when Mr. Thorn- son's paper was read, but he had gathered its purport from the allusions of subsequent speakers. It was their duty, in these discussions, as he believed it was their in- clination, to hear both sides. They had heard none of the eminent advocates of thin sowing, therefore the friends of thick sowing must not hastily arrive at a tri- umphant conclusion. He was not prejudiced in favour of thin sowing, though what he had witnessed and expe- rienced might excuse such a bias. He had seen the sys- tem as carried out by Mr. Deering, of Lockley, near Welwyn, in the county of Hertford ; and that gentleman had succeeded to the fullest extent in vindicating the views of Mr. Hewitt Davis. He (Mr. Shelley) had tried tVie system, and with him it had been a complete failure (loud cries of " Hear") — until this year,atotal and com- plete failure. He had had six pecks of barley drilled in at 12 inches, now bearing the heaviest crop he had ever beheld. The crop shall be properly and carefully mea- sured off, that he (Mr. Shelley) might report the result either in their journal or at one of the meetings. A Member in the gallery : Did you ride into the crop you speak of.' Mr. Shelley. — It is close to my house. Member. — That may be, and you may have only looked at it. Mr. Shelley. — I have ridden into it several times, but I defy anybody to get into it now. Member. — It's too far off. (Laughter.) Mr. Shaw having, in the course of some observa- tions, which we heard very indistinctly, said something respecting broadcast sowing, Mr. Hillyard observed, "I thought we did not broadcast in this oounty." THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 165 Mr. SuAW exclaimed — " I'll show my bailey, broacl- :ast, against your drilled (laughter and loud cheers)." Mr. Hu.i.YARD. — " I thought that everybody in this ■ountyhad arrived at the conclusion that broadcast sow- iig was very prejudicial (hciir, hear). I accept your •hallenge, tliough mine is a drilled crop of barley after a ;ood crop of wheat last year — a system I by no means ipprove." [Much excitement followed this bit of spar- ■in", and it was some time before order was restored.] Mr. PoPK thouj^ht that the meeting was now in a josition to pronounce its opinion against thin sowing, iiid he proposed a resolution to that effect. The noble ^'hairman and the meeting were evidently taken by urprise by Mr. Pope's movement, and after a pause, Mr. Bennett rose and said — That resolution may le carried here, but I very much doubt the wisdom of arrying it. If you are convinced that thin sowing is ot safe, why then leave it alone. Others think it seful : leave them alone to try it. Mr. Mechi and Ir. Hewitt Davis not being present, it would be unfair 0 pass the prop-sed resolution. The noble Chair.man thought so too. In the ab- Dnceof Mr. Hewitt Davis and Mr. Mechi, uo decision ould be come to. Mr. Pope then withdrew his resolution. No other speaker appearing — Mr. Thomson said he might as well fill up the in- 3rval before the announcement of the awards by exer- ising his right of reply, although in the present in- tance he had nothing to reply to. He agreed that ;iey might spare their censure of the thin sowers, 'hose system would be punishment enough. He had ecn disappointed by the absence of ^Messrs. Mechi and lewilt Davis. [It was here intimated that the ab- .'uce of Mr. Mechi was occasioned by the severe illness fMrs. Mechi.] He went intoaca'culation to show that :" thin sowing answered on one half of the farm and diled on the other, the loss would be more considera- le than the gain. The loss would be sixteen bushels n an acre — on ten acres, therefore, a loss of IGO ■ushels. Supposing the 60 acies gainful, it would be ml a gain of a bushel an acre. He must reiterate his lelief that the system was dangerous; but of course le had no objection to let its friends carry it out: it rould carry with it its own refutation, its own puuish- lent. A Member, whose name we understood to be HuT- -IN, rose as a thin sower. He began to sow 180 cres on the 26tli October and finished December Ist, owing six pecks to an acre, thus saving from half to hree quarters of a bushel jier acre. But, to render bin sowing really ])rofitable, draming, cultivation, lilcake, and excessive cleanliness are necessary. The peaker concluded very energetically — "lam a far- ner in Essex, making long fallows and growing good rops. 1 will back my occupation againt-t any in the ountry (much cheeiing and laughter). I challenge l.ny man in England to shew better crops." An intervalof half an hour occurred, and the awards vera read. The meeting was very numerously at- ended. [ In the morning Mr. Warnes delivered a lecture on jlax cultivation, at All Sair.ts' Parochial School Rooms, le was assisted by a Belgian flax cultivator, whoillus- rated the mode of cultivating, and harvesting, and nanufacturing the crop, in a very useful and intelli- ;ible manner. The meeting was well attended, and jimong the visitors was the Rev. Sir George S. Robin- 1 on, who expressed his cordial concurrence in the ppinion as to the importance of flax cultivation, and lis wish that Mr. Warnes's views should be carried into effect. THURSDAY The multitudes of people in the streets were wouder- ful. From daylight an unbroken stream of farmers' carts and coronetted carriages, with every intermediate gradation of vehicle, horsemen, and pedestrians, poured into the town, so that one could scarcely pass along through theprincipal thoroughfares ; while monstertrains, which seem to break the hearts of the over-pressed en- gines, gorged with passengers from all parts of England, were hourly adding to the hungry swarms which threatened Northampton with a famine. The general show of cattle, &c., and implements, and the dinner of the society, were the main attractions. The cattle and implement yard was thrown open to the public at six o'clock in the morning, on the payment of 2s. 6d., and at one o'clock the price of admission was reduced to Is., so as to give every facility to the hum- bler classes of visitors to inspect the prizes in each de- partment. The influx of people was very great all day. The catalogues were bought up as fast as they could be supplied, and it was almost impossible, after one o'clock, unless through the exercise of great patience and strength, to get a view of any one of the prizes, so dense was the mass of persons around the pens. Annexed is the list of prizes : — LIST OF PRIZES. SHORT-HORNS. Judges — Messrs. Franklin, DarHng, and Tindall. Class I. — The first prize of 50 sovs. for the best bull calved previously to the 1st of January, 1845, is adjudged to Mr. John Parkinson, of Ley-fields, near Newark. The second prize of 20 sovs. is adjudged to Mr. John Booth, of Killerby, near Catterick. Class H. — The first prize of 20 sovs. for the best bull calved since the 1st of Jaiiuaiy, 1845, and more than one year old, to Mr. Wm. Smith, of West Rasen, near Market Rasen. The second prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Wm. Luitou, of Sherriif Hutton, near York. Class HI. — The first prize of 20 sovs., for the best cow in milk or in calf, to Mr. Richard Booth, of Warlaby, near North- allerton. The second prize of 10 sovs. to the Most Hon. the Marquis of Exeter, of Burghley-house. Class IV. — Tlie prize of 15 sovs., for the best in-calf heifer not exceeding three years old, to !Mr. Richard Booth, of War- laby, near Northallerton. Class '\^— The prize of 10 sovs., for the best yearling heifer, to ]Mr. Richard Booth, of Warlaliy, near Northallerton. CoiiiiENDATiONS. — lu class 1 the judges commend Mr. C. Hanbury Leigh's bull ; and the Marquis of Northampton's bull. In class 2 the judges highly commend Mr. Richard Booth's bidl. The judges highly connuciid class 3 generally. The judges commend class 4 generally. In class 5 the judges highly commend ;Mr. Samuel Bennett's heifer, and Mr. Parkin- son's heifer. The judges commend class 5 generally. HEREFORDS. Judges. — Messrs. Triuder, Wm. Cox, and the Rev. J. R. Smytliies. Class I. — -The first prize of 50 sovs., for the best bull calved previously to the 1st of January, 1845, to Mr. Samuel Aston, of Lynch Court, Leominster. The second prize of 20 sovs. to 'My. James Corbett, of the Sherriifs, LyonshaU, Leominster. Class II. — The first prize of 20 sovs., for the best bull calved since the 1st of January, 1845, and more than one year old, to Mr. George Pitt, of WelUngton, near Hereford. The second prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Cai-penter, of Eardisland, near Leominster. Class HI. — The first prize of 20 sovs., for the best cow in milk or in calf,, to Mr. Wm. Allatt, of Glintoii, near Peter- borough. The second prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Samuel Aston, of Jjynch Court, near Leominster. Class IV.— The prize of 15 sovs., for the best in-calf heifer 166 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. not exceeding three years old, to Mr. Edward Williams, of Lowes Court, Radnorshire. Class V. — The prize of 10 sovs., for the best yearling heifer, to Mr. Samuel Aston, of Lynch Court, near Leominster. CoMiiEXrATiONS. — In class 1 the judges highly commend Mr. Carpenter's bull, and Mr. Lush's bull. In class 4 the judges highly commend Mr. Edward 'U'illiams's cow. DEVONS. JuDOES. — Messrs. Trinder, "William Cox, and the Rev. J. R. Smythies. Clas.s I. — llie first prize of 50 sovs. for the best bull calved previously to the 1st January, 1845, to Mr. Thomas Bond, of Bishops' Lydiard. The second prize of 20 sov.?. to his grace the Duke of Manchester, of Kimbolton Castle. Clas.s II. — Prize withheld. Class III. — The first prize of 20 sovs., for best cow in milk or in calf, to his grace the Duke of Manchester, of Kim- bolton Castle. The second prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Gleo. Tur- ner, of Barton, near Exeter. Class IV. — Tlie prize of 15 sovs. for the best in-calf heifer, to Mr. Edward Pope, of JIapperton, near Beaminster. Class Y.— The prize of 10 sovs. for the best yearlhig heifer to Mr. James Hole, of Knowle House, near Duaster. Commendation's. — In Class I. the judges highly commend Mr. Fouracre's buU. In Class III. the judges highly commend Mr. Turner's cow. CATTLE OF ANY BREED. Judges. — Messrs. Triudfer, Cox, and Rev. J. R. Smythies. Class L— No competitor. Class H. — No competitor. Class III. — The prize of 15 sovs. for the best cow in milk or in calf, to Mr. "SA'illiam Umbers, of Wappenbury, near Lea- mington. Class IV.— The prize of 10 sovs. for t!ie best in-calf heifer, to his grace the Duke of Buckingham, of Stowe. Class V. — The prize of 10 sovs. for the best yearling heifer, to his grace tlie Duke of Buckingham, of Stowe. HORSES. Judges — Messrs. Spooner, GJreaves, and AVarsop. Class I. — The first prize of 40 sovs. for the best stallion for agricultural purposes, of any age, to Sir. Thomas Bryan, of Knossington, near Oakham. The second prize of 15 sovs., to his Grace the Didie of Manchester. Class II. — The prize witldield. Class III. — The prize of 15 sovs., for the best two-year- old stalhon for agricultural purjioses, to the Riglit Hon.* Yis- coiuit Hill, of Hawkestone, near Slu-ewsbury. Class IV.— The first prize of 20 sovs., for the best mare and foal for agricultural purposes, to Mr. George Townshend, or Sapcote, Hinckley. The second prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Anthony Chibnall, of Bromham, near Bedford. Class V. — The prize of 10 sovs., for the best two-year-old filly, to Mr. William Barns, of Byfield, near Northampton. ConniENDATioxs. — In class 1, the judges highly com- mend Mr. Darwin Galton's stallion, and Mr. James Howard's stallion. The judges commend Messrs. S. and R. Spencer's stallion. In class 3, the judges highly commend 5Ir. E. S. Trower's stallion. The judges commend ]\Ir. H. Eddison's stallion and Mr. George Townsliend's stallion. The judges highly commend Mr. A. Lee's mare and foal; and com- mend Lord St. John's mare and foal. LEICESTERS. Judges.— Messrs. Wright, Milward, and Harris. Class. — I. — The first prize of 40 sovs., for the best shear- ling ram, to ]Mr. T. E. Pawlett, of Beeston, near Biggleswade, I Beds. The second prize of 15 sovs. to Mr. T. E. Pawlett. Class II.— The first prize of 30 sovs., for the best ram of any other age, to Mr. Robert Smith, of Burley-on -the-Hiil, near Oakham. Class HI.— The first prize of 20 sovs., for the best pen of five shearling ewes, to Mr. William Sanday, of Holme Pierre- point, near Nottingham. The second prize of 20 sovs. to Mr. R. Smith, of Bui-ley-ou-the-HiU, uear Oakham. Commendations. — In class 1, the judges commeiK Mr. Samuel Bennett's ram and Mr. Pawlett's ram. In clas; 2, the judges commend two of Mr. Bennett's rams, Mr. Free stone's ram, two of Mr. Hewitt's rams, three of Mr. Pawlett' rams, and Mr. Walhs's ram. SOUTH-DO'WTSrS. Judges. — Messrs. Truraper, Ladds, and Etheridge. Cl.ass I. — The first prize of 40 sovs., for the best shearlin ram, to Mr. Jonas Webb, of Babraham, uear Cambridge. Th second prize of 15 sovs. to ]\Ir. Jo;.as AYebb, of Babraham. Class II. — The first prize of 30 sovs., for the best ram c any other age, to Mr. John Han-is, of Hinton, near Abingdoi The second prize of 15 sovs. to 3Ir. John Plarris, Hinton, nea Abingdon. Class HI. — The first prize of 20 sovs., for the best pen ( five shearling ewes, to his Grace the Duke of Manchester, ( Kimbolton Castle. The second prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Bai clay, M.P., of Eastw-ick Park, Leatherhead. LONG WOOLS. JuDGKS. — Messrs. Woodward, Clarke, and Bemau. Class I. — The first prize of 40 sovs., for the best shearhi; ram, to j\Ir. Charles Large, of Broadwell, uear Lechlade. Ti second prize of 15 sovs. to Mr. C. F. A. Faulkner, of Bm Barnes, near B>\rford. Cl.vss II. — The first prize of 30 sovs., for the best ram i any other age, to Mr. Charles Large, of Broadwell, near Led lade. The second prize of 15 sovs. to Mr. Edward Handy, ■ Serenhampton, near Andoverford. Class III. — The first prize of 20 sovs., for the best pen ' shearling ewes, to Mr. Charles Large, of Broadwell, near Led lade. The second prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Charles Large, Broadwell, near Lechlade. Commendations. — In class 1, the judges highly commer Mr. Large's ram (No. 384). The judges commend Mr. Large ram (No. 380). In class 2, the judges commend Mr. Handy ram. PIGS. Judges. — Messrs. Kemp, Weall, and Burgess. Class I. — The first prize of 15 sovs., to the owner of tl best boar of a large breed, to the Right Hon. Earl Spencer, Althorp, near Northampton. The second prize of 5 sovs. i Mr. Moses Cartwright, of Stanton Hill, B«rton-on-Trent. Class II. — The first prize of 15 sovs., for the best boar of small breed, to Mr. AA'illiam Fisher Hobbs, of Boxted Lofig Colchester. The second prize of 5 sovs. to Mr. Moses Car v.right, of Stanton Hill, near Burton-on-Trent. Class III. — The prize of 10 sovs., for the best breedir sow of a large breed, to i\Ir. Moses Cartwright, of Stantc Hill, uear Burton-on-Trent. Class IY. — The prize of 10 sovs., for the best breedir sow of a small breed, to Mr. Wm. Fisher Hobbs, of Boxtc Lodge, Colchester. Class V. — The prize of 10 sovs. for the best pen of thn breeding sow pigs of a large breed, to the Right Hon. theEa of Radnor, of Coleshill, near Farringdon. Class YI. — The prize of 10 sovs. for the best pen of tbr( breeding sow [)igs, of a small breed, to Mr. Wra. Fisher Hobb of Boxted Lodge, near Colchester. Commendations. — In class 2, the judges highly comraeii Visco uit Hill's boar and ]\Ir. Hobbs's boars. In class 3, tl j ;dgcs highly commend ]Mr. Pnsey's sow. lu class 4, tl judges commend Mr. Cartwright's sow; Viscount Ilill's so« I and Jlr. Hobbs's sow. In class 5, the judges commend M Pnsey's sows. In extra stock the judges commend Mr. V D. iilainiing's cow. They highly commend Mr. Shirley's stn lion ; also. Air. Large's ewe. CHEESE. Judges. — Messrs. Weall, Burgess, and Kemp. Class 1. — The first prize of 10 sovs. to Mr. Wm. Normal of Ashow, Kenilworth. The second prize of 5 sovs. to M Charles Rosworth, of Dishley, Loughborough. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 167 THE DINNER. The annual dinner of the society took place on Tluirs- | day afternoon, at four o'clock, in an elegant and spacious j pavilion capable of containing 1,200 people, which was j erected in Manning's Close, Bedford Street, Waterloo. I Among the company present were the following -. — ' The Stewards for the dinner were : — .; High Table. — The Earl of Egmont, President. Vice Presideat's Table. — The Earl of Yarborough, President-Elect. N The Earl of Chichester George Parsons O David Barclay, :M.P. Professor Sewell P The Rt. Hon. W. Bingham Baring, M.P. Henry Blaushard Q Sir John V. B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P. John French Burke R Francis Pym Stephen Grantham S William Rudall Browne Samuel Bennett T William Miles, ^I.P. ^Vilham Henry Hyett U ^^'. R. Cromptou Stausfield, M.P. 'WUliam Shaw V John Villiers Shelley George Kimberlev W ' C. Hillyard George Turner X William Goodenough Plavter, M.P. Robert Smith y IjOrd Hathertou Jonas Webb At the President's table there were the Earl of Eg- niont, chairman, supported on the right by Thos. Sharp, Esq., Mayor of Northampton ; the Duke of Buccleuch ; the Marquisof Northampton ; Right Hon. Vernon Smith; the Earl of Pomfret ; the Earl of Sandwich ; Lord Wm. Cromptou ; Lord Alford ; the Earl of Walsingham ; Lord Newry ; Hon. P. Pierrepont ; Right Hon. G. Hudson, Lord Mayor of York ; Sir Robert Gunning ; Mr. M'Gregor ; Mr. S. Dickens ; Mr. W. Dickens ; Lord Fielding; Mr. G. Hamilton Forbes; and Mr. Maunsel, M.P. On the left, by the Hon. W. Bancroft, American Minister; the Marquis of Exeter; Lord ^*outhampton ; Earl of Chichester ; Count de Gouray ; Marquis of Granby ; Earl of Easton ; Sir Harry Smith ; Dean of Westminster ; Mr. Raikes Currie, M.P. ; W. Stafford O'Brien, j\LP. ; Hon. George H. Cavendish ; Mr. Chaplin, M.P. ; Sir J. Palmer ; Sir Charles Knight- ley ; Sir E. Bowater ; and Colonel Challoner. Steward of , the pavilion, Mr. M'Gregor, of the South-Eastern Railway Company. At the Vice-president's table there were the Earl of Yarborough, presidentelect ; the Marquisof Downshire ; Mr. Bullen, secretary of the L-ish Agricultural Society; j Mr. Hornby; Mr. S. Hornby; Mr. Wm. Littledale ; Mr. Litdedale ; Professor Gray ; Professor Johnston ; A Robert Aglionby Slaney Wilhara Fisher Hobbs B 3ir Robert Price, Bart., M.P. Charles Stokes C rhos. Wm. Bramstou, ^LP. lohn Hudson D Colonel Challoner Fohn EUman E 3enry Stephen Thompson tlichard Garrett F ?ir Fi'Rucis Lawley, Bart. fVilliam Shaw, jim. G folm Bell Crompton Fohn Kmder H ;;olonel Austin, M.P. Samuel Druce I rhe Hon. R. H. Clive, M.P. Richard Milward J John Evelyn Denison, M.P. Samuel Jonas K rhomas Raymond Barker rhomas Umbers L Sir Matthew W. Ridley, Bart. Henry Wilson ai Duke of Richmond, K.G. Humphrey Brandreth Sir W. O. Pell; Sir G. Robinson; Hon. W. Gagp ; Hon. C. Duller; A.G.Butler; Hon. Captain Pelham ; Mr. Koppe; M. Schrode; M. Karnatowski; Sir H. Hoare; Mr. Langston, M.P,; Lord Lilford ; Lieut,- Colonel Wynne ; E. Bouverie, Esq., &c. Among the distinguished persons in other parts of the room were Lord Portman ; Sir George Napier ; Sir Francis Head; Sir Francis Lawley, B;irt ; Mr. Smith, of D^nston ; Colonel Austen, M.P. ; Professor Sewell ; Mr. Hayter, M.P. ; the Duke of Manchester; Sir Wm. Pell; Lord Newry and Morue; Lord Hill; Sir John Johnstone, Bart., M.P. ; Sir. R. Cmning ; Mr. Max- well, M.P., &c. Robert Aglionby Slaney, William Fisher Hobbs, Charles Stokes, Thomas William Bram- ston, M.P., John Hudson, Henry Stephen Thompsim, Richard Garrett, William Shaw, jun., John Bell Ci-omp- ton, John Kinder, .Samuel Druce, the Hon. R. H. Clive, M.P. ; Richard Milward, Samuel Jonas, Thomas Ray- mond Barker, Thomas Umbers, Henry Wilson, Hum- phrey Brandreth, George Parsons, Henry Blanshard, John French Burke, Stephen Grantham, William Rudall Browne, Samuel Bennett, William Miles, M.P. ; Wil- liam Henry Hyett, M"illiam Shaw, John Villiers Shelley, George Kimberley, C. Hillyard, George Turner, Robert Smith, Lord Hathertou, Jonas Webb, Professor Way, C. Isham, Hon. Sir E. Buller, Captain Scott, Lord Lilford. The usual loyal toasts having been proposed and drunk with the utmost enthusiasm, The Earl of Chichester rose to propo.se the health of '"The Foreign Ministers" (cheers). He was afraid they had not the pleasure on this occasion of seeing many of those distinguished] individuals, but they had the honour of the company of Mr. Bancroft, the representative of the United States, and he was sure that as Englishmen they would all be glad to have the presence of one who was not only the representative of a great and intelligent nation, but one who claimed the same origin with them- selves, and with which he hoped they would long remain in terms of brotherhood. He hoped that when foreigners attended their meetings, and saw their stock and imple- ments, they would derive some useful information ; but it was for them, at any rate, to admit that by their inter- coui'se with foreigners they had received many important suggestions which would be valuable to this country. He was aware that this was not the place to allude to i he commercial relations between countries, as it might pro- duce indigestion — (laughter) — but there were othtr laws which resided in the breast of every good man — those which prompted them to communicate every good gift they possessed to others (cheers). He could recognise, in the recent conduct of the people whom Mr. Bancroft represented, the operation of those laws to which he al- luded, and for which he trusted Englishmen would ever feel deeply grateful. They had often gladly welcomed their friends from America, but never with more hearty good will than on the present occasion — (cheers). He concluded by proposing " The health of j\Ir. Bancroft," which was drunk with great applause. Mr. Bancroft, the American Minister, was received with loud cheers. He said — I cannot find words ade- quate to express my gratitude for the kindness with which the noble lord has alluded to my country. As the representative of a foreign country I still feel that I am not entirely a stranger in your midst, for nature has es- tablished a bond of union between farmers of every country on the face of the earth — (cheers). The same sun shines upon us all — the same seasons, as they return, prepare alike for all the seed time and ripen the harvest ; and the celestial influences, to which we look for a bless- ing on our exertions in the culture of the soil, will blend the heart of husbandmen in the universal love of the bro- 168 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. therhood of humanity, which lias ever and will ever make them esi)ecially the men of Anglo-Saxon origin — which has ever and will ever make them the guardians of freedom and the conservators of peace — (cheers). Wherever countries cultivate the soil, there certainly the nations dwell side by side in harmony and peace. Nor is it only in this point of view that foreign nations are in- terested in your festivities of this day. Look wherever you will throughout this island, everywhere there is evi dence of English enterprise and of English desire for improvement which have penetrated every clime and brought home bright trophies from the remotest isles. Look to your gardens and to your forests. What clime is there that has not been sifted to adorn your gardens .' What remote isle is there that has not be^n looked to, to add new riches to your class of forest trees ? Every- where there is evidence of that expansive enterprise which ransacks every corner of the world. Here in the scenes of England I have had occasion to witness Ameri- can plants, and I have seen art so come in furtherance of nature — I have seen your skill so employed in multiply- ing their varieties and in gathering them into masses — that here in England I have seen the shrubs and trees of my native land brought to a beauty and perfection which I never knew them to attain in their native verdure. I have to thank you, my lord, the president of this society, for giving me an opportunity of being present this day at this celebration — this exhibition which you have held — for having an opportunity of witnessing this show, which has been so exceedingly rich in horses, and the stock which has been gathered from all parts of England, in which there is no room for mediocrity. I thank you for permitting me to be present on this occasion. I thank the noble lord (Chichester) for the kind manner in which he has alluded to my country, and I thank you all for the cordial sympathy with which you have greeted the sentiment that we are all bound together by the ties of brotherhood. The agriculture of my country differs much from yours. You are carrying on a work which has been continued from century to century. You are engaged in perfecting that which your forefathers have for centuries prepared to your hand. We have rather to grapple with the difficulties of nature — to tame, to sub- due, and to make useful the exuberance of our exhaust- less soil. Nothing would surpi'ise my countrymen more than the manner in which you cultivate your fields. Nothing would astonish them more than to be told that in England wheat is planted rather than sown, that the tender blades are with the utmost care supported by the hoe and weeded by the hand ; and they would listen with incredulity if I were to tell them of the results per acre which you expected to gain by all this careful culture. We rely upon the natural fertility of our soil ; you sub- due every thing to the hand of industry and scientific care. In America the trees are older than the roads ; they are older than the towns ; and where they have been spared, they are the oldest monuments that exist amongst us. With you there is not an animal suffered to exist that cannot present its passport, and prove its right to be fed and fattened (cheers and laughter). There is not a tree allowed to cumber your soil, except accord- ing to the judgment of the cultivator. We trust to natural processes, and we use the forests as they have been given to us by the God of nature. You cultivate the soil of your fathers under the shadow of the towers of your churches — (loud cheers) — which have stood in your midst for ages that are hardly to be counted, amidst the groves of your forefathers, which seem to shed a sacred influence on your soil (cheers). The men with us —beneath whose blows the forests fall — the living, mov- ing, active population at least in many of our most popu- lous districts, are now more numerous than all that sleep beneath the soil, ofall the generations past — (loud cheers) — and our farmers, even in the midst of their toil, and with the implements of industry in their hands, are compelled to erect their churches and schools, and to enter into competition with the mother country, in all that can promote morality through religion, and the care of science and general culture. I respond fully, and in the name of every American, in the wish that has been uttered, that peace may be continued for ever — (cheers) nay, leather let us hope that the relations between our countries, the international intelligence betwixt us, may lead to such intimate I'elations that the very thought of the disturbance of peace may be dismissed from our minds, and that it may seem a vain, unnecessary, and a useless prayer to pray that peace may be perpetual (cheers). This, gentlemen, is uttered from my heart, and every one of my countrymen will, I am sure, respond to it. I beg to renew my expressions of gratitude for your kindness to me on this occasion, and to offer my fervent prayers for the prosperity of the farmers of Eng- land (loud cheers). Lord Egmont said he had never risen with feelings of greater pleasure than on the present occasion to give a toast which he was well aware was not in the Society's list, and did not fall within their rules, and which yet he knew would be most acceptable to them. The toast which he had to propose was the health of an individual who had honoured them with his presence on this occa- sion— he meant Sir Harry Smith, the hero of Aliwal. Sir Harry Smith was received with loud cheers. He said — My Lords and Gentlemen, the honour which has been conferred upon me of having my health pro- posed in this public manner, when it is contrary to the rules of the society, is a compliment which I candidly admit I did not expect. For the enthusiastic way in which you have received the proposition of my health, I thank you with that heart for which Englishmen have been famed throughout the world (cheers). If I have been fortunate enough to reader service to my country, it has been fully and amply repaid by finding, on my re- turn to my native land, after long and eventful services, that you are daily improving in agricultural arts and sci- ences of every description. This I attribute not only to the desire for improvement, but to the example which has been set by the Sovereign, and by the lords of the realm; and you rally round them while they support you, and the people support you all ; and thus it is that Britain stands, as she does, triumphant in the world (cheers). I observe the greatest possible improvement in morality and in social order amongst the lower classes. I see that the yeomanry have improved in education, but they have not — for it was impossible they could — improved in generous courage and devotion to their country ; and I see that the nobility of our native coun- try mix with all classes with a degree of dignity which becomes them, and which dignifies them more (cheers). It is with the greatest delight that I^have observed not only the improvements, but the advantages which have been, and which are sure to be, derived from the Royal Agricul- tural Society of England. I have witnessed an improve- m.ent in a variety of implements — I have witnessed im- provements in agriculture generally, and particularly an improvement on the part of this society. But let me call your attention to one branch of produce for which this county of England was previously famed — I mean the English hunter — (cheers and laughter) —that class of horse for which England was formerly so famed, and which, while it carried the fox-hunter, was also, when exported to a foreign country in time of war, well calcu- la'.ed to teach our enemies that a soldier, mounted on a hunter, was an enemy not to be resisted (cheers). Let me, therefore, impress upon you, and upon the members of this institution, that yon ought not to lose sight of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 160 this valuable class of horses in England. If any sudden movement were required by which 500 hunters were wanted to be sent out of Great Britain, this county, which was formerly so famed for its breed of horses, would not now be able to produce them. I cannot too much, in a military point of view, impress upon the members of this society the importance of preserving this breed of horses, which are at present degenerating in their native land (hear, hear). While we import over- grown fat bulls and whole tons of cart-horses, at these exhibitions let us also see the noble race -horse receive a prize, and the mares and foals of a high-bred descrip- tion, so that Great Britain may improve in everything, and particularly that she may not fall off in the riding- horse of England. It was never before my province to address so large a body of my fellow-countrymen ; but let me impress upon you that, though my profession be one of arms, yet it is an accursed profession, and is of utihty alone when it is used to promote the legitimate object of war— a lasting peace (great cheering). I admit that we at times suffer great depression, and that we are overwhelmed with a great national debt ; but we have overcome these triumphantly ; and if you could have viewed the accursed horrors of war as I have done, you would, as you have ever done, pay your taxes most liberally (laughter and cheers.) You would look up to your landlords, and you would feel, as you have ever done, the foreign footstep of an enemy on these glorious ind highly cultivated plains. The noble lord has kindly alluded to the sense which the sister service entertains jf my services. But it was by the aid of your sons, and ;he sons of the cultivators of the soil, that this country bas attained its present position. I feel the compliment is it was offered, and I can speak of the British sailors as those on whom we might look in the first instance for the defence of our shores and the resistance of a foreign enemy. If accursed war should ever again invade us, it is to the navy we must first appeal, and long may the navy of this country be able to perform that service. But should an enemy land upon our shores, then are you, the yeomanry and the gentry, ready to do as you have ever done— to defend your native land, your Sove- reign, and your country. I thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for the compliment you have paid me, and I regret that I have kept you so long from the important objects of this society, which, as the American Minister observed, are important not to you, but to the world at large (loud cheers). The Duke of BuccLEucH proposed " Success to the Royal Agricultural Society of England." Though this society was hardly yet ten years of age, yet it showed a growth of exotic rapidity. There were now upwards of 7,000 members — (cheers) — and he was not surprised that such should be the case. Its objects could not be called ignoble. It was to increase the fruits of the earth, to tame the stubborn soil, and to stimulate those that were more fertile. The number present to-day was a clear index of the estimation in which the society was held, where persons from all parts of England had come to give and to receive information. He believed the pre- sent show was inferior to none that had previously taken place, and in many respects it was superior. The triumphs of the ground in this country were of a nature that wounded no one, nor left behind them a single feel- ing of remorse (hear, hear). Whatever faults might be found from time to time in agriculture, he trusted those faults would be pointed out with a friendly hand, that they might be avoided for the future. He concluded by proposing " Prosperity to the Society" (cheers). Mr. Stafford O'Brien gave the toast of " Agricul- Iture, Manufactures, and Commerce." After a humor- ious allusion to Sir H. Smith's recommendation to look after the breed of horses, he said he was now going to ride his hobby. He had come down from London to- day by one of the longest trains that had ever graced even the London and Birmingham Railway, and he could not help thinking that this indicated the universal feel- ing of independence that now existed among all classes. The peer and the peasant now travelled together, and an accident to the operative in the third class was shared by the nobleman in the first, as it was with the various classes in the country ; and he might be permitted to remind his Manchester friends, that if the corn or cattle train broke down, it would fare ill with the heavy goods train from Manchester. On the other hand, he felt that the prosperity of the farmers was connected with the manufacturers; and if this was so with manufactures, how much more was it the case that they sympathised with the representatives of commerce — with the British sailor (hear, hear). With regard to the town where they were met, he stated that the cotton manufacture was established in Northampton before the days of Arkwright ; and considering the present staple manufacture of the town — the array contracts for shoes — even Sir H. Smith would not deny that on the manufactures of North- ampton the British army had often marched to glory (laughter and cheers). He then referred to this as an appropriate occasion for proposing such a toast, as this was the last day of their political time. To-morrow they must attend to their several contests — to their several triumphs — and also to their several defeats. To-morrow the i"oar of cannon would announce the approach of Majesty to terminate a Parliament that had advanced a new principle ; but however that might aft'ect the Eng- lish farmers, he was ready still to fill his cup full, and to drain it amply to the prosperity of all classes together (cheers). He then made a feeling allusion to the late Earl Spencer, who, at the meeting at Shrewsbury, two years ago, proposed this toast, and by his death so soon afterwards had left it as it were a legacy to the society. He would, therefore, conclude by proposing to them, " Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce," or, as they were accustomed to give it in their country meet- ings, " The Plough, the Loom, and the Sail. May the plough never break in the furrow : may it be always guided by strong arms and honest hearts — may the loom never cease to ply its labours — and may the sail bring home our navies richly freighted with all the rich enjoy- ments of God's glorious world" (cheers). The Marquis of Northamptox proposed " The Mayor and Corporation of Northampton." In the course of his address the noble marquis adverted to the connection that existed between different arts, and as an illustration of it referred to an instance mentioned in Mr. Huxtable's lecture on Tuesday night, where a field of extraordinary growth of turnips, being examined, was found to contain a quantity of fi'agmeuts of bones, showing that it had been the scene of some old battle- field, of which no other record existed, and which would never have been suspected but for the extraordinary growth of turnips (laughter). In conclusion, he pro- posed the health of the Mayor and Corporation of North- ampton— a body which had voted the largest sums to the society that had yet been voted (cheers). The Mayor shortly returned thanks. Lord PoRTM AX rose to propose ' ' The Health of the Labouring Classes." He addressed them upon this subject earnestly — he addressed them confidently. He addressed them earnestly because he felt the importance of the subject, and because he had given to it the labours of his whole time ever since he had had the power of carrying on any work in this country. If any man ima- gined that, by some party movement, or by carrying out the popular whim of the day, he could effect reat moral 170 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. changes, that man would find himself grievously mis- taken. It was all very well for men to write or talk on these subjects who had no labourers to guide, and no workmen to pay on the Saturday night (cheers). Such writings and speeches lay upon the surface, but their work was carried on at a lower level. These writers and talkers, however, were a very valuable class of men, for they acted as flaps to whip others on. They gave the employers of labour a theory to keep in view, and it was for practical men to try and carry it out. His be- lief was, that if they were to improve the condition of the labouring classes they must apply firm, sound, and Christian principles, and to keep steadily in view that it was their duty, as it ought to be their pleasure, to make their labourers as comfortable and as happy as they could (cheers). But, in carrying out these principles, don't be in a hurry (laughter). Never let them advance a step which they could not maintain. Let them not feast a man to-day, if they meant to starve him to-morrow. Let them above all remember that their duty as masters was to train up the boys to become valuable men ; and, on the other hand, let them remember that the men who were most really valuable to every farmer were the old men, who had been all their lives watching what was go- ing on ; who could tell the master what the probable effects of the seasons would be, and could assist him in his conclusions of the future by telling him of the past (cheers). He would therefore say, educate the young, cherish the old, and do not forget to correct the men of middle age ; for no man could make so great a mistake as to flinch from correcting the man who failed to do his duty. It might be a very popular, easy, and agreeable thing to find no fault ; but, if they did not find fault with a man in middle age, they would rue it when he be- came an old man. He also addressed them confidently upon this subject, and he would tell them why. It was because he was sure there was not a man in the room who did not know the immense value of the labourers in his service. There was not a manufacturer who did not know the value of the man who guided the works en- trusted to his care ; while every agricultural mechanist knew that a skilled labourer was to turn a mine of gold. In t'uis great work of improving the condition of the la- bourer, it must not be supposed that the society had been altogether idle because it had not produced great results. It ' flfered prizes for the suggestion of hints that were cal- culated to improve the condition of the working classes ; and, by tlie circulation of tracts, it had done much to assist in improving the labourers' gardens. After some further observations, he concluded by proposing " The Labouring Classes," which was drunk with great ap- plause. Mr. Vernon Smith, in proposing the health of the president, humorously alluded to the exclusion of po- litics from the meeting, while eveiy gentleman seemed anxious to sail as near the wind as possible (cheers and laughter). He thought this rule pressed very severely upon his hon. friend the member for Northamptonshire and himself; and certainly it was a strong temptation to them to diverge into politics, but this was a temptation into which, with their good will, he would not tall. There was, indeed, no need for it when he had such a subject to talk of as the magnificent show they had that day witnessed (cheers). What could be a more delight- ful sight than to see, as they had done, the fairest of women flitting among ihe fattest of oxen (laughter) — to see their fairy forms moving about among Mr. Cross- kill's clod-crushers, and the various implements of scari- fication, which, while they tortured, did not injure the bosom of their mother earth (cheers) .'' He concluded by proposing "The Health of the President," to whom he paid an elegant compliment for his early success in the navy during the war, and for having now, in times of peace, turned his sword into a ploughshare, and de. voted his exertions to the promotion of the arts of peace (cheers). The President returned thanks, and said he had ac- cepted the office of president with great hesitation ; bu( feeling that if others thought he should accept it, it wai his duty to do so, he had assumed the oflSce, and evei since his appointment it had been to him a source of un- mixed satisfaction. He then referred to the subject o adulteration of manures, and advised the farmers not t( be led away by any theories regarding artificial manures but to rely mainly on the farm-yard produce. The ex- periments they might adopt should be on the most limitec scale, and by using two-wheeled carts instead of heavj waggons they would save a monstrous deal of labour The society had lately appointed Professor Way to con. tinue his analysis of plants, and he hoped important re suits would follow his investigations (hear). He beggec again to thank them for the honour done him on thi; occasion (cheers). Mr. Shelley proposed" Thehealthsof the Judges,' and referred to the difficulty those gentlemen must hav experi3nced in coming to a decision upon the variou specimens of live stock and implements exhibited. Th increase in the exhibition of implements especially hai been most marvellous. At Oxford the implements wet 23~this year they were 1,250, which, applied in straight line, would have occupied one mile and a quarter twenty feet wide. With regard to the stock, he muE say that, especially in the short horns, it had seldoc fallen to judges to have such a number of first-rate ani mals brought before them. The society had, this yeai given a large prize for the best steam engine, and th result had been most satisfactory, for there had bee seven engines shown this year ; and though they wer not perfect, yet great improvements had been eff'ected The drills also were highly improved, and their trial a the field was of a most interesting description, the priz winners only coming in by a head. It was the sam with the ploughs, and he was delighted to say that th price was now brought within the reach of the ver humblest. The tile-machines had also been brough down to the price of one guinea, so that every landlor who had clay on his land might make the draining tiles present to his tenants. He concluded by proposin, " The Judges" (cheers). Mr. John Wright, one of the judges, returnei thanks. He stated that many of the animals in the ex hibition were too fat, which it was desirable to avoid ii future, as it injured the objects of the society (hear). The President then proposed "The Highland ani Agricultural Society of Scotland" and "The Royal Agri cultural Improvement Society of Ireland." Lord LiLFORD returned thanks. The President then proposed " The Railway Com panies" who have liberally carried cattle and implement free of charge to and from the show (cheers). He mus remind them that they had now in their company thi King of the Railways, and as loyal subjects he hopec they would drain their glasses to his health and that o his brother potentates (cheers and laughter). Mr. Hudson returned thanks. It had been his for tune for a series of years to be connected with railways and he could say for himself, and he believed for his col leagues, that they were actuated by the desire to carrj out the intentions of Parliament, and make them usefu to the country (cheers). They felt that the landowner: had been their best friends, for the Government had dont nothing but tax them, and therefore they had taken this step for the benefit of the agricultural interest. No mar had more cause than he had to rejoice in the prosperitj of the tenant farmers of England, for he was liimself the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 171 on of a tenant-farmer (loud cheers). He concluded by | itimatiug that the next show would bs held at York, : ver which ancient and loyal city he had at present the | onour of presiding, and by assuring all present who | night visit York on that occasion a hearty welcome cheers). } " The health of the Earl of Yarborough, the President | ilect," was then given with all the honours, and the ueeting separated. It may be mentioned hei-e that no fewer than 11,000 lersons entered the show-yard in the early part of this lay- When the price of admission was reduced to one hillin?, which was the case about one o'clock, the num- ers were doubled. To show the progressive increase of bis society in popular interest, we may state that at the :outhampton Show three years ago there attended, the rst day, 973 visitors ; the second day, 1,874 ; and the lirJ day, 12,829. At Northampton the numbers were, jc first day, 1,.336; the second day, 2,738; and the lird day, 22,090. MERITS OF THE EXHIBITION OF STOCK. (from a correspondent.) Que of the most important and interesting features I the annual gatherings of the Royal Agricultural ociety is the number, quality, and condition of the irious breeds of beasts, sheep, and pigs brought to- jther for competition on these occasions — important, cm the fact that the greater the progress made by the razing community towards perfection, the more readily ill the wants of our population be supplied ; interesting, om the spirit and energy with which the owners of the :ock contend for the offered premiums. Such remarks as lese have on some occasions produced those of an op- osite tendency from a portion of the press ; but our ?aders— who are practical men, and who well under- ;and the subject — will, we are sure, agree with us that othing has tended so much to improve the general alue of our various breeds of stock as the holding of lese exhibitions. Supposing, for the sake of argument, lat we had been without tbese shows up to the present .me, should we now possess such animals as are to be )und in this country, which, on a comparison, stand econd to none in the whole world ? Should we ever ave heard of the present eminent men — noblemen as 'ell as gentlemen — who have paid, during a series of ears past, their almost undivided attention to such latters as are unquestionably those of increasing the mount of consumptive food, and thus placing the po- itive necessaries of life within the reach of all classes of ociety .' We say, decidedly not. Much has been said f the waste of money incurred in raising " mountains f tallow," and otherwise uneatable food ; but who uns the risk of loss in this particular .' In the first in- tance, the producer : xipon him rests the expense of iroduction. And if the butcher becomes a purchaser, he DCS so with his eyes open, and, at the same time, riding himself on being able to sell to his customers jrtiona of the prize animals. Lastly, the consumer iirchases because he has a desire to eat those portions. ence, the risk of a sacrifice of money rests mainly « th the graziers, to whom the public are highly in- I ;bted for their strict attention to their wants. The show of stock at these meetings has, from the particulaf portion of the year at which the annual country gather- ings are held, never yet equalled, as regards the quan- tity of fat upon the animals, that of Smithfield ; conse- quently, we look upon the Royal Agricultural Society as a most valuable adjunct to the metropolitan live stock show, and in no way to have interfered with the present position or future prospects of the latter. With these observations, we shall now proceed to give, in de- tail, our unbiassed opinion of the merits of the live stock brought together for competition on this occasion. We shall commence with The Short Horns. From the proximity of Northampton to the most cele- brated districts for the breeding and feeding of that par- ticular breed of beasts, a good show of short horns in the different classes was very naturally to have been expected. This expectation, so far as respects the first class, in which were exhibited bulls calved previously to the 1st of January, 1845, was more than realized ; and we say, without the slightest hesitation, that a finer collection of short horns in one class was never witnessed at any pre- vious show^ Notwithstanding, however, this amount of superiority, and the comparative difficulties which the judges must have experienced in coming to their decisions, the awarded premiums appear to have given great and almost general satisfaction. The animal belonging to Mr. John Parkinson, of Ley Fields, near Newark, and which carried off the prize of £50 in the first class, was indeed a most wonderful one ; of a dark brown colour, which would almost have led one to imagine there was a " dash" of a Devon in him ; in point of fact, we were not a little surprised to find such even fore and hind quarters — bot/i perfectly symmetrical — in a bull entered as a pure short horn ; the smalluess of his head and his short legs astonished us not a little, and to the touch he displayed an evenness which compels us to fay that this is the very description of short horn to breed from. The two years and nine months old short horned bull exhi- bited by Mr. John Booth, of Killerby, near Catterick, and to which the second prize of ^"'20 in the same class was awarded, was a very superior animal. It showed many most valuable points — a straight back, good barrel, even fore and hind quarters, and short legs, being its leading features, and which justly entitled it to the prize. The Duke of Buccleugh and the Earl of Burlington had caused entries to be made in this class, but their stock did not reach the yard. The improved short horned bull sent by Sir Edward Bowley, of Siddington House, near Cirencester, was a very firm handler, but a little care in the reduction of the size of the head in future years would be very advantageous. The short horns shown by Mr. Richard Bagshaw, of Newton, Northamptonshire, and Mr. John Bowers, of Brawnston, in the same county, had very excellent fore quarters, but were, as the cata- logue shows, unsuccessfully exhibited. The commenda- tions of the judges upon Mr. C. Leigh's and the Marquis of Northampton's bulls — the former a short horn, the latter a Durham bull — were well merited. There were three bulls shown, bred by Sir Ciiarles Knightly, by other exhibiters ; but they c.id not turn out so well as we had anticipated, from what we know of Sir Charles's excellent judgment as a breeder. Repeating our opinion that this was one of the very best classes ever seen, we shall now consider the beasts exhibited in the succeeding class, with which, to speak honestly, we were not so much surprised as with the preceding one ; still the exhi- bition in this particular did not show any relaxation on the part of the graziers— the whole of the beasts, as en- tered, with one exception, viz., Mr, Townshend's Dur- 172 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. I ham bull, having been exhibited. The two years and six months old shorthorned bull, the property of Mr. William Smith, of West Rasen, Lincolnshire, had the ig20 prize awarded to it ; and we may safely pronounce it a most excellent and well-bred animal, and to have well merited the premium awarded to it by the judges. For its age, Mr. Linton's bull, which took the second prize, was a most wonderful beast. The " mould" was extremely well made ; and a very clever grazier indeed must he be who will improve upon it. Earl Spencer showed a very good (pure white) bull, bred by his lord- ship ; and which elicited the marked encomiums of the visitors. This animal proved to our minds that the truly wonderful breed which the late earl succeeded in raising has not been lost ; but there was not sufficient weight in the one brought forward at this show to entitle him to a prize. The commendation of the judges was confined to the bull shown by Mr. Richard Booth, and which materially strengthens our opinion as to the merits, taken as a whole, of the second class. Not less than eleven animals entered for Class III. were not brought to the show yard ; and yet the exhibi- tion, though its numerical strength was not large, in the class in question, was a good one. Mr. John Booth was hei-e a successful exhibiter, he having carried off the £20 premium with a very excellent cow, and which pos- sessed many good and sterling points. The seven years and three months old short-horned cow, the property of the Marquis of Exeter, and to which the second prize of i^lO was awarded, was one of the heaviest iu the yard; indeed, we may safely assert that it carried a greater weight of fat and meat than any other shown in the same class. Lord Southampton exhibited some ex- cellent beasts ; but his nine years and ten months old short-horned cow was somewhat out of proportion, the fat having principally "heaped" itself upon the rump. In the fourth class, generally commended by the judges, Mr. Booth was again successful with a two years three months and three weeks old short-horned in-calf heifer, bred by himself : to that animal the only prize oi £\^ offered by the society was awarded. The only middling beasts in this class were those shown by Mr. John Flavell and Mr. Thomas Ivens ; we say middling, when their merits were contrasted with the prize animal. The Marquis of Exeter and Mr. John Bowers had en- tered stock, but it was xiot exhibited. The following, or fifth, class was, on a comparison with some former years, not to say a very first-i-ate one ; but we here find Mr. Booth a successful exhibiter with a one-year four mouths and two weeks old short-horned yearling heifer, bred by himself. Lord Fevesham exhibited a very symmetrical, pure white heifer, and which was decidedly a very handsome beast. As regards the other animals, we can say but little ; yet it would be unjust on our part not to admit that they possessed many good and redeeming points. Out of the nineteen beasts entered, only three were kept back by their owners. Herefords. Notwithstanding the number of Herefords shown in the first class was, comparatively speaking, small, the quality of the stock was wonderfully good, not a second- rate animal being exhibited in it. That which took the £bO prize, and which belonged to Mr. Samuel Aston, of Lynch Court, near Leominster, was a splendid spe- cimen of what a Hereford ought to be : both the fore and hind quarters were symmetry itself, and reflected the highest credit upon the spirited owner. Mr. James Corbett of the Sheriffs Lyonshall, near Leominster, and Mr. Carpenter, of Eardisland, had some veiy splendid beasts, and the former gentleman, whose animal weighed considerably less than that exhibited by the latter, was the second successful competitor. Although, as we have just observed, the general show in this class was exceed- ingly good, we conceive the judges hud less difficulty in awarding the premiums in this than iu either of the other classes. In the second class of Herefords, com- prising bulls calved since the 1st of January, 1845, there were only five animals exhibited. The bull shown by Mr. George Fitt, of Wellington, near Hereford, and to which the judges awarded the i?20 prize, was exceed. ingly perfect, and Mr. Carter, of Eardisland, was the next successful exhibiter. Mr. Fisher Hobbs, of Boxted Lodge, near Colchester, and Mr. Chamberlain, of Des- ford, had entered some stock, but it did not arrive. There was a decided falling off in the number of cows in milk or in calf exhibited in the third class. The competition was therefore by no means keen, the first piemium having been awarded to Mr. W. AUnatt, of Glinton, near Peterborough, the second to Mr. S. Aston, of Lynch Court, near Leominster. The Hereford cow, the property of Mr. John Walker, of Holmes, Hereford, was certainly a curious mass of fat, The next class — viz., that for in-calf heifers — was un- questionably a good one as to quality ; but, without doubt, the prize was given to the best animal, which, il we mistake not, will prove a very successful cow at some future meeting, should it be again brought forward as such. In the last class for the Herefords Mr. Astoi was again successful with a very useful one year and ten- months old yearling heifer. Thus it will be perceived that Mr. Aston carried off not less than three prizes in the various Hereford classes. Devons. Speaking generally of the show of Devons in the va rious classes, we may say that we have seen it equallei on some former occasions, but certainly never excelled and it is gratifying to find that the men of Devon, a; well as those of Hereford, as is shown by the awardec prizes, exhibit a determination not to be beaten in theii respective breeds by those residing in other counties On this occasion, four prizes were awarded to thi Devonshire breeders, the remainder to his Grace the Duke of Manchester, who brought forward some re markably fine and well-bred beasts, which were justh entitled to the premiums, especially the old Devon cow which took the 20/. prize in the third class. We mas not forget to allude to the noble Devon sent for exhi bition by that spirited and enlightened farmer, Mr. Johr Hudson, of Castle Acre, Norfolk, which was decidedly: most superior animal, though an unsuccessful one on th present occasion. There were twenty-eight animals enterei in the dift'erent classes of Devons, the whole of which with the exception of three, were in the yard ; hence thi aggregate show of Devons was certainly somewhat im posing. Cattle of any Breed. Very little scope for observation presents itself in re spect either to the number or quality of the stock showi in the above classes. We may observe, however, tba his Grace the Duke of Buckingham took the prizes ii the fourth and fifth classes — in which there were «' other competitors — with two good long-horned heifers and that Mr. Wm. Umbers, of Wappenbury, was tb successful exhibiter in the third class. We regret to fin( that no stock was shown in the two first classes. W' shall now proceed to notice The Show of Sheev ; but to detail each animal would be superfluous, from th unusual excellence of the show in that important par ticular. The Leicesters, whether we consider the shear ling rams, those above two years old, or the shearlinj ewes, were indeed excellent, and drew forth the enco miums of all present. Mr. Pawlett, Mr. Smith, an( Mr. Sanday, were the successful exhibiters ; and thi commendations of the judges were more Uian usuall} THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 173 mmerous. The Downs, taken collectively, were good ilniost beyond comparison. There were not less than liirty-four head exhibited in the first class ; and, as isual, Mr. Jonas Webb, of Babraham, was [successful u carrj'ing off, with two wonderful sheep, both the irizes ! His Grace the Duke of Richmond, and Mr. Barclay, M.P., exhibited some very superior stock in lie first class. In that for rams of any age, Mr. John Harris of Hinton, near Abingdon, carried off both of he awards with two excellent sheep. The show of ihearling ewes was extremely good, and we may parti- •ularly notice those sent by his Grace the Duke of ilanchester, to which the ^^20 prize was awarded ; the leece was remarkably fine, and the sheep reflected the ighest credit upon the noble owner. There were not ?ss than si.vleen long-wooUed sheep sent for exhibition y Mr. Charles Large, of Broadwell, to whom four out f the six prizes were awarded. The show in this respect as very good. Pigs. The quality and condition of the pigs were extremely ne. Mr. Fisher Hobbs took the prize of i,15 in class that of £\0 in class 4, and that of X'lO in class 6 ; le other pigs sent by that gentleman being highly corn- ended by the judges. The Earl of Radnor, Earl jencer, and Mr. Cartwright were the other successful impetitors. Extra Stock. Amongst the extra stock were some very useful and irious animals, amongst which may be noticed some ire Wiltshire rams, an Indian bull, and a pure Wiltshire fe with lamb, which never requires shearing. Horses. The show of horses was quite equal to that exhibited I most former occasions. CATALOGUE OF IMPLEMENTS ! EXHIBITED AT THE SHOW, [ iMEs WiLMOT Newberry, of Hook Norton, near i Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. A. seven rowed dibbling machine, a five rowerf dibbling ma- ! ine, a one row dibbling machine, a band dibbling machine, d (new implement) a fonr rowed dibbling machine ; all in- 1 rtted by Messrs. Saunder and Newberry, of Hook Norton, and proved and manufactured by the exhiijiter. 1 3ERT0N W. Harding, of Oldsprings, near Market Drayton, Salop. A set of pair horse "hippletrees, invented, improved, and ma- I factured by the exiiibiter, obtained a silver medal at the meeting the Society at Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1846 ; (new implement) a of three horse whippleirees, invented and manufactured by the iliibiter; a pair horse subsoil pulverizer, a pair horse cultivator, a e horse cart, (new implement) a light one horse cart, and (new plement) a pair of wlieels, diameter 4 feet 10 inches, tire iron 3 thes by J inch ; invented, improveel, and manufactured by the libiter. iLLiAM SwAiK, of Pembridge, Leominster, Here- ford. New implement) a hand machine for making tiles, pipes, or cks, if required ; invented and manufactured by the exhi- er. ILLIAM Bullock W'ebster, of Hounsdown, near Southampton. I. hand pipe and tile machine, andaclay cleansing machine, for iQ power, invented by the exbibiter, manufactured by Tasker I Powle, of Andover ; a level for draining purposes, &c., a im level, and a simple workman's level, invented by the ex- iter, manufactured by flir. George Cox, optician, of 128, Hol- ■n-hiU. lOMAs BiGG, 15, Crawford-street, Portman-square, London. ^ ^I'^^P d'Ppi"K apparatus, in three parts ; invented and im- )ved by the exbibiter, and manufactured by Charles Smart, of ford-street, London. Bk.nmamin Edgi.vgton, 2, Duke-street, Southwark, London. A rick cloth, a shooting tent, an impro\cd dressed waggon cloth, a model of a marquee, and a valise containing samples of sacks, horsecloths, Hass, &c. ; all invented, improved, and manu- factured by the exbibiter. James Gill and George Ward, of Oxford. A copper steant generator and vessel : invented by C. Horn, of Oxford, and manufactured by the exbibiter. James Richmond, of Salford, near Manchester, Lan« cashire. An improved steaming apparatus for preparing food for cattle, (new implement) an improved poitable steaming apparatus for cooking food of all kinds, (new implement) a registered toothed roller chaft' macbine, an improved registered chaft' machine, a registered chaft' machine, an improved mill for kibbling beans, oats, iScc., (new implement) an improved mill for bruising lin- seed, oats, &c., an improved vegetable washer, an improved turnip cutter, (new implement) a churn, and an improved churn, all invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiterj an improved drill plouyh, invented and improved by George Brown, of Capesthorne, and manufactured by the exbibiter. Thomas Johx Croggox, of 8, Lawrence Pountney- hill. Cannon-street, London, a patent asphalte roofing felt, invented by Tliomas Robinson Williams, of London, improved by the exbibiter, and perfectly impervious to rain, snow, and frost, and a non-conductor of heat, manufactured by the patentee, of IJelfast ; (new implement), a model of a permanent rickyard, regard being had to economy, &c., invented by the exbibiter, and manufactured by H. Manning, of London ; a model of a labourer's cottage, in- vented and manufactured by the exbibiter, Edward Hammond Bentall, of Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. (New implement) a patent broad share and subsoil plough combined, (new implement) a patent subsoil plough; both ar- ticles invented and manufactured by the exbibiter. Isaac Hartas, of Rosedale Abbey, near Kirby Moor- side, Yorkshire. (New impleuiont) a patent three rowed ridge making dropping machine, (new implement) a patent single rowed ridge making dropping machine, and a model of a rickyard, with machinery for the carrying and elevation of corn to the thrashing machine ; all invented by the exbibiter, and imiToved and manufactured by Tenneson Gray, of Cropton. I James Hayes, of Elton, near Stilton, Huntingdon- shire. A six horse power patent pe^ thrashing machine, with straw shaker attached, for travellii.g, invented by Josepli Atkinson, of IJraybara Hall, improved and manufactured by the exbibiter; a hand thrashing machine, with patent peg inside, and straw shaker attached, with treaders to work the same, and a straw shaker for portable u^e, manufactured by the exbibiter. Thomas Smith, of Grendon, near Wellingborough, Northampton. A light iron plough, marLed H L, adapted to work either with or without wheel*, invented and manufactured by the exbibiter; an iron improved plough, marked J A, invented by J. Howard, of Bedford, and manufactured by the exbibiter; an iron ridging plough, marked U, and a light iron one horse ribbing plough, marked S, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exiii- biter. John Adams, of Far Cotton, near Northampton, Northamptonshire. An iron plough, with wrought frame ; invented and manufac- tured by the exbibiter. Robert Beart, of Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire, A patent machine for making pipes, draining lihs, and soles, and (new implement) a patent land cultivator; both articles in- vented and manufactured by the exbibiter. James Comins, of South Molton, Devon, a subsoil pulverizer, a registered one way turnover or turnrest plough, (new implement) a drain ploiigh, to be worked with four horses, (new implement) a plough ti fill in the soil cast out of the drain, a plough for heavy and light land, and {new iniple- ment) a horse hoe ; all invented, improved, and manufactured by the exbibiter. Christopher Edward Dami'ier, of Gloucester- Terrace, Hyde-park Gardens, London. A roofing tile machine; invented by the exbibiter, and manu- factured by Messrs. Lords, brothsrs, of Todmorden, Lancashlri?. N 174 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. John Guest, of Bedford, Bedfordshiie. A ilrill, to work eitlier on ridje or flat, and a steer drill, with slinfls and jiress lever, boUi improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; and a hand thrashing machine, invented by Perry and Barrett, of Eealin;,', improved and manufactured by the exhi- biter. David Ogg, of Northamptou Foundry, near North- ampton. A portable steam engine, applicable to thrashing or other agricultural purposes (four horse power), improved and manu- factured by the exhibiter; and a thrashing machine, manufac- tured by the exhibiter. Thomas Scragg, of Calveley, near Tarporley, Cheshire. A drain tile and pipe making machine ; invented and im- proved by the exhibiter, and manufactured by James Hewitt, of Calveley (awarded to this machine, £20 at Shrewsbury, and £20 at Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1845-6). William Smith, Kettering, Northamptonshire. (New implement) an improved winnowing machine, invented by Nathaniel Smith, of Kettering, and improved and manufac tured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a newly improved skim plough, (new implement) a newly improved iron skim plough, and an improved chaff machine, improved and manu- factured by the exhibiter. Ellis Thomas, of Meifod Village, Welshpool, Mont- gomeryshire. A scarifier, or cultivator, invented, improved, and manufac- tured by Mr. Evan Thomas, of Meifod Village (a silver medal was awarded for tliis implement at the Shrewsbury meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, in the year 1845). Joshua Cooch, of Harleston, near Northampton. An improved patent Cdrn dressing machine, and an improved patent ccirn and seed dressing machine, invented by the iate John Cooch, of Harleston, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a barley hummeller, invented, improved, and manufac- tured by the exhibiter (this machine obtained the prize of £3 at the Derby Meeting, July, 1843, also a silver medal at the South- ampton Meeting, July, 1844); a plough, invented, improved, and manufjctured by the exhibiter; a scarifier, invented by John Mirton, of Whitfield, improved by the exhibiter; a model of a dressing machine. Thomas Freestone, of Irthlingborough, near Higham Ferrers, Northampton, A two-wheel plough, invented by the exliibiter, and manufac- tured by Brettell Brothers, of Northampton. William Gilhespy, of Dissington, near Heddon-on tbe-Wall, Northumberland. (New implement) a swing or wheel plough, drawn by two horses, and (new implement) a swing or two-wheel plough, with shifting mould board, invented by George Tweddle, of Wy lam, manufactured by the exhibiter. Administratrix of Mary Wedlake, of Hornchurch, near Romford, Essex. A double-action haymaking machine, invented and improved by the late Thomas AVedlake, of Hornchurch, and manufactured by the exhibiter (gained silver medal at the Derby Show) ; an improved 14 cwt. broadcast seed machine, improved and manu- factured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a machine for bruising gorse by manual labour, and a powerful machine for breaking hard American cake, invented by the late Mary Wedlake, of Hornchurch, and improved and niamifactured by tlie exhibiter; a machine for break- ing English thin cake, improved and manufactured by the exi.ibiler; a subsoil plough, invented by the late Thomas Wed- lakp, of Hornchurch, and improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a strong Et-sex plough for heavy lands, invented by the late Thomas Wedlake, of Hornchurch, improved by the late Mary Wedlake, of Hornchurch, and manufactured by the exhi- biter; a three-hoed scarifier, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a moulding-up plough, invented by the late Thomas Wedlake, of Hornchurch, and improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a vertical turnip-cutler for beasts and sheep, in- vcnteit by the late Mary Wedlake, of Hornchurch, and improved and manufactured by ihe exhibiter; a horse hay rake, a winnow- ing machine, ami a horse-power chaff cutting engine, improved by the late Thomas Wedlake, of Hornchurch, and manufactured by the exhibitor; a convex chafi' cutting engine for manual power, and a pang of four light harrows, with weigh and whip- pletrees, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter. Robert Bruckshaw, of Longslow, near Market Drayton, Shropshire. A wrought iron plough, invented, improved, oiid manufactured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a wrought iron subsoil pul- verizer, a parallel expanding horse hoe, a set of three iron hard rows and whipple-tree complete, (new implement) a compoun- lever cheese press, a one horse cart, a wrought iron scarifier, (new implement) a wrought iron araiii plough, and a set of whippletrees complete, and (new iinploinent) a wrought iron plough, for filling up drains, invented and manufactured bv the exhibiter. John Gillett, of Brailes, near Shipston-on-Stour, Worcester. A new patent power chaff engine, and a new patent hand power chaft' engine, invented by Ward, Colbourne, and Gillett, of Stratford -on-Avon and Brailes, improved by the exhibiter, and manufactured by Gillett and Colbourne, of Brailes ; a small hand power guillotine chaff engine, invented by Ward, Colbourne, and Gillett, of Stratford-on-Avon and Brailes, and manufactured by Gillett and Colbourne, of Brailes ; (new implement) a patent self acting alarum gun and property protector, and a patent rick ventilator, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter (a silver medal was awarded to the patentee for this implement at the Derby Meeting, 1843). Jabez Hare and William Baddeley, of 108, Fleet-street, London. (New implement) a farmer's fire engine, drainer, and irrigator invented by William Baddeley, of 29, Alfred-street, Islington and manufactured by JMoses Merry weather, of 63, Long-acre London. Henry Hillyard, of Roade, near Northampton. A set of iron harrows, three in number, and one sweltry, in vented and manufactured by the exhibiter. R. Gray and Sons, of Uddingston, near Glasgow Lanark, N. B. An improved iron two wheeled plough for heavy land an improved iron two wheel plough for light land, Scotch iron swing plough for heavy land, and a Scotch iro swing plough for light land, invented, improved, and manufac tured by the exhibiters; an improved drilling plough, inventidan manufactured by the exhibiters ; (new implement) an improved sku or paring plough, (new implement) a parallel lever subsoil pulve rizer, and (new implement) a viarallel horse hoe, convertible int drill grubber, inventediby John Gray, of Uddingston, and manu factured by the exhibiters ; a parallel expanding horse hoe, ir vented by J. Wilkie, of Uddingston, improved and manufacture by the exhibiters ; (new implement) a parallel drill grubber t pulverizer, and (new implement) a parallel adjusting field griil ber or scarifier, invented by John Gray, of Uddingston, an manufactured by the exhibiters; an improved lever Norwegia harrow or clod breaker, improved and manufactured by tl; exhibiters ; (new implement) a drain plough, invented by Job Gray, of Uddingston, and manufactured by the exhibiters j a improved Scotch coup farm cart, improved and manufactured l the exhibiters; (new implement) a hand seed dibbling machin' and (new implement) a horse seed dibbling machine, invente by Robert Smyth, of Saintfield Model Farm, Co. Doni Ireland, and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a turnip dri sowing machine, invented and manufactured by Robert Smyt of Saintfield Model Farm, Co. Down, Ireland. Charles Phillips and Co., of the City and Count of Bristol. A turnip cutter, invented, improved, and manufactured by tl exhibiter (a prize of £5 was awarded to this machine, at tl Shrewsbury iVleeting in July, 1845). Richard Robinson, of Lisburne, Antrim. A portable steaming apparatus for general purposes, the boil invented by J. Jennings, of New York, improved and manufa tured by the exhibiter (this steaming apparatus was awarded tJ prize at Newcastle-on-Tyne, last year, of 5 sovs.); a churn, f churning either entire milk, or cream only, invented by Jol Rowan and Sons, of Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, improved and man factured by the exhibiter (this churn obtained the prize of 5 sc at Newcastle-on-Tyne last year); a churn, with hot water ca( invented by John Rowan and Sons, of Ballyclare, improved ai manufactured by the exhibiter ; a (lotato or root washer, regi tered, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibile a set of milk ripeners or coolers, invented, improved, and maii[ factured by the exhibiter; a working model of a steam engi for farming purposes, invented by J. Mackintosh, of London, it proved and manufactured by the exhibiter. Robert Scrivener, of Alperton, near Acton, Mii dlesex. (New implement) a hand tile machine, invented by John Aii lie, of Alperton, Middlesex, improved and manufactured George Howe, of Great Guildford-strcet, Southwark ; (new ii plement) a portable forge and tools, invented and manufactur by George Howe, of Great Guildford street, Southwark; (m implement) a horse power brick and tile machine, invented John Ainslie, of ^Alperton, improved and manufactured THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 176 George Howe, of Great Giiildford-street, Southwaik ; (new Implement) a portable gearing for driving, invented and raanu- faeturcil by George Howe, of Great Guildford-street, South - wark. Barrett, Ashton, and Co., of Hull, Yorkshire. (New implement) a portable steam engine for agricultural purposes, five Iiorse power, invented antl manufactured by the exhftiters; a four horse power portable thrashing machine, inrenled, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a spiked clodcrnsher, with self cleaning motion, invented by John Naylor, of Winierton, and improved and manufactured by th(» exhibiters (obtained a silver medal at the Newcastle Meeting of the Royal Jgricultuial Society of England) ; a combined scarifier and draij, an iron subsoil plough and grubber for two horses, and (new implement) a machine for bruising oats, beans, or barley, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiters. John Bird, of Castei-tou near Stamford, Rutland. A wrought iron two wheel plougli, tor heavy land, and a two wheel iron plough for light land, invented and manufactured by the ezhi biter. Edward Brown, of Kingsthorpe, near North- ampton. A winnowing machine, improved and manufactured by the eihibiter. Philip Fowler Hodgkins, of Chipping Norton, Oxford. A patent self twisting single hand seed dibbler, and a double liand seed dibbler, invented, improved, and manufactured by the jxhibiter; (new implement) a single hand seed dibbler, and new implement) a two row horse seed dibbler, invented and nanufactured by theexhibiter. John Bruce, of Tiddingdon, near Stratford-upon- Avon, Warwickshire. A registered skim plough (obtained a prize at Southampton in fuly, 1844, of £5, and at Shrewsbury in 18 15 of £5), and a patent iubsoil plough, invented, improved, and manufactured by the jxhibiter ; a registered Norwegian harrow and clod crusher, mproved by Mr. G. K. Frere and Mr R. Stratton, of j Roydon Hall and Bristol, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a lorse hoe for general purposes, a plough for heavy land, and a ilough for lignt land, invented, improved, and manufactured by ;he exhibiter; (new implement) an improved subsoil plough, mproved and manufactured by the exhibiter. William Cambridge, of Market Lavington, near Devizes, Wilts. A four horse power porttible steam engine, a bolting thrashing machine, a patent four horse portable thrashing machine, a patent portable two horse power thrashing machine, and a patent press roller or clod crusher, 6ft. Gin. long, invented and manu- factured by the exhibiter; a revolving harrow, 6ft. wide, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a patent press roller or clod crusher, 6 ft. 6 in. long, invented and manufac- tured by the exhibiter. William Choyce, of Sibson, near Atherstone, Warwick. (New implement) a dressing or winnowing machine, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. John Cornes, Jun., of Market Drayton, Salop. a horse power for thrashing corn, &c , (new implement) a thrnshing or bolting box, with straw shaker and elevator at- tached, and (new implement) a subsoil pulverizer, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a chaffing engine for manual power, and (new implement) a perpendicular stroke churn, in- vented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. William Crosskill, of the Beverley Iron Works, Beverley, Yorkshire. A patent clod crusher or serrated roller; invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter (awarded a prize of 20 sovs. and silver medal at Southampton, 10 sovs. at Shrewsbury, and : the gold medal at Newcastle); a patent clod crusher roller, a 1 patent wheat serrated roller, a patent oat serrated roller, a patent barley serrated roller, a patent bean serrated roller, a patent turni,. serrated roller, a patent clover serrated roller, a patent potato serrated roller, a patent grass land serrated roller, a patent fen serrated roller, (new implement) a patent wire worm fen serrated roller, and a pair of patent wheels and axle, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a one horse cart, a Sshiewsbury one horse cart with self acting tail board, a one horse spring cart, a light one horse cart, mounted on springs, ■with a portable cover, as an improved market cart, and an im- proved butcher's cart or market cart, improved and manufac- tured by the exhibiter ; an improved iron liquid manure cart, with watering apparatus, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter (obtained a. medal at Cambridge); a patent portable iron liquid manure pump, with flexible hose, pipe, &c., invented by Mr. Beare, of London, and improved and manu- factured by the exhibiter; a patent portable iron pump and stand, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a patent fixture iron pump, with twelve feet of iron pipe, and ball at the end, invented by Mr. Beare, of London, and improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a portable manure drill, for sowing broadcast soot, lime, salt, ashes, guano, &c. (awarded a prize at Bristol, since much improved), and an improved patent grass land cultivator, invented, improved, and manu- factured by the exhibiter (the former patent cultivator wag awarded a medal at Bristol, and a second medal at Derby); a combined patent grass land cultivator and Norwegian harrow, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a drag hai row, or Uley cultivator, invented by John Morion, of Whitfield, im- proved by Richard Clyburn, of Uley, and nianufaciured by ths exhibiter ; a combined patent Norwegian harrow and ])urie'« drag, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a patent subsoil pulverizer, invented by Mr. John Read, of London, and manufactured by the exhibiter (obtained a prize of 10 sovs. at Southampton, 1844, 10 sovs. at Shrew>bury, 1846, and 10 sovs. at Newcastle, 1846); an improved potato washer, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by Captain Carr, of Tuschenbeck, Germany ; a patent iron fixture pig trough, invented and im- pioved by Mr. W. Torr, of Riby, and manufacturrd by the exhibiter ; a circular iron dog or sheep trough, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a one horse power mill, for crushing oats, malt, &c., a hand power mill, for crush- ing oats, malt, &c., and a one horse power mill for Imseed, &c., invented, improved, and manufactured by Messrs. Ransomes and May, of Ipswich ; a two horse power five knife straw cutter, a two horse portable thrashing machine, and an improved corn dressing machine, improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiter. Andrew W. Gower and Sons, of Hook, near Hart- ford-bridge, Hants, and Market Drayton, Shropshire. A new corn, seed, and manure drill, for general i^urposes, with six extra rows for turnip seed and manure, upon a much larger scale than the corn and manure apparatus, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by the exhibiters : a three rowed turnip and manure drill, and a light eleven rowed corn drill, upon improved principles, invented and manufactured by tlie exhibiters. Samuel Smith, of Northampton. A lever cultivator or scarifier, invented, improved, and ma- nufactured by the exhibiter (the society's silver medal was awarded for this implement at Newcastle, in 1846) ; (new imple- ment) an improved lever Norwegian harrow, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a large three knife chaflf machine, invented by Cornes, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; (new implement) an implement for turf draining, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a drill, manulac- tured by the exhibiter. Richard Hornsby, of Spittlegate, near Grantham, Lincoln. A drill machine for corn and general purposes, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter (this drill received the prizes of the Roval Agricultural Society of England, at Liverpool, July, 1841,' £25 ; Bristol, July, 1842, £zO; Derby, July, 1843. £\0; at the subsequent trial of drills at Pusey, October, 1845, £15; and at Newcastle upon Tyne, July, 1846, £15) ; a ten coulter corn and seed drill, a six row drill for tur- nips and manure (this drill received the prize of £10 <>f the Royal Agricultural Society of England, at the subsequent trial of drills at Pusey, October, 1845); a turnip seed and manure drill for two rows upon ridges and three rows on the flat (this drill received the prize of £10 of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, at the subsequent trial of drills at Pusey, October, 1845) ; a one r- w drop ridge drill, a one row ridge drill, a ma- chine for distributing pulverized manures broadcast, a six horse power portable steam engine, a thrashing part for steam power, a two row drill presser (this presstr received the prize of £10 and a silver medal at the meeting of the Royal Agricu tural Society of England, held at Southampton, in July, 1844), and an improved corn dressing; machine, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter (this machine received the prize of £3 from the Royal Agricultural Society of England at Newcastle upon Tyne, July, 1846); (new imple- ment) a horizontal separator, invented by Richard Clyburn, of Uley, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a six horse power portable thrashing machine, and a six Iiorse poner portable bolting or batting thrashing part, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; an improved three ki ife chaff cutting machine, an improved two knife chaff cutting machine, and an improved two knife chaff cutting machine, in- vented by John Cornes, ot Barbrldge, improved and manufac- tured by theexhibiter; a double cake'breaker, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter (this machine had the prize or £5 awarded to it at the meeting of the Royal Agricultural N 2 176 THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. Society of Kngland, held at Derby, July, 1848; £5 ut South- ampton, July, 1844; £3 at Shrewsbury, July, 1845); a sin^-le cake breaker, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exliibiter. Zachariah Parkes, of Birmingham , Warwick. A farmers' portable steel mill, invented and manufactured by the exhibitor; an improved portable bean splitting mill, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a i)atent domestic flour mill and a grocers' ornamental portable bright stand coffee mill, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. John Howard and Son, of Bedford, Bedfordshire. A patent iron plough, with two wheels, invented and manufac- tured by the exhibiters (the Royal Agricultural Society's pre- miums to this plough are as follow : A first prize of £b was awarded to John Howard, for a similar piough, at Liverpool in 1841. The first prize of £5 w/is also gained by tliis plough at the Bristol meeting in 184-2. The first prize of £10 offered at Shrews- bury was awarded to this ploush at the subsequent trial at Pusey in October, 1845. At the Newcastle-upon-Tyne meeting in 1846, the first prize of £10 lor tlie best plough for light land, and the first prize of £10 for the best plough for heavy land, were both awarded to this implement); a patent iron swing plough, a patent iron Kent plough, and a Northumberland or double breasted plough, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a Read's patent subsoil plough or sub-pulverizer, invented by John Read, of London, and manufactured by tlie txhibiters (this implement obtained a p^ize of ilO at the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society at Southampton in July, 1844; also the Royal Agriculiural Society's prize at Shrewsbury and Newcastle- upon-Tyne) ; a Read's patent sub-pulverizer or subsoil plough, invented by John Read, of London, improved by John Howard, of Bedford, ajid manufactured by the exhibiters ; a surface paring plough, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a set of patent four beam iron harrows with whippletree, invented and patented by W. Armstrong and J. Howard, of Bedford (the Royal Agricultural Society's premium of £5 was awarded to J. Howard for a set of harrows on this principle, at the Derby meeting in 1843) ; a set of patent three beam iron harrows with whippletree, a set of strong drag harrows with whippletree, and a set of patent two beam iron harrows, with whippletree, invented by W. Armstrong and J. Howard, and manufactured by the exhi- biters ; a wrougnt iron scarifier or cultivator, an improved culti- vator or scarifier, a horse hoe, a chaff machine, a mill for grind- ing beans and peas, and a horse drag rake, invented and manu- factured by the exhibiters; an iron field roller, manufactured by the exhibiters ; a clod crusher roller, invented by Mr. Wm. Cross- kill, of Beverley, and manufactured by the exhibiters ; an im- proved steaming apparatus, invented and manufactured by Mr. James Richmond, of Salford, Manchester; a set of improved trussed whippletrees, invented by Mr. Egerton Hardinge, of Old- springs, Market Urayton, improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiiers; a set of improved trussed whippletrees, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters; an improved Bedfordshire cart, improved and manufactured by Maynard and Son, of Bedford. Austin Knight, of Northampton. A superior thrashing machine, a superior hay machine, and a superior chaff machine, improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiter; large box, with three knives, to fix to horse or steam power; improved steer drills and an improved ridge turnip drill with manure, improved an .1 manufactured by the exhibiter. W. H. Vingoe, of Penzance, Cornwall. (New implement)— A patent seed planting and manuring ma- chine (this machine obtained a prize of 10 sovs. at the Shrews- bury meeting), and (new implement) a patent seed planting ma- chine, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. William Ball, of Rothwell,near Kettering, Northamp- ton. An iron plough, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter, and improved by James Biggs, of Desborough ; a h^rse thrashing machine, a one horse cart, and a subsoil pulverizer, invented and manutacturesl by the exhibiter. James Smyth, of Peasenhall, near Yoxford, Sufl'olk. A ten coulter patent corn and seed drill, a patent eleven coulter corn and seed drill, a patent thirteen coulter lever corn and seed drill, a fourteen coulter corn and seed drill, a thirteen and two coulter lever corn and seed drill, a fifteen coulter patent, corn and seed drill, a ten coulter patent corn, seed, and manure drill, athirteen coulter patented corn, seed, and ma- nure drill, a patent three-rowed turnip and manure drill, and (new implement) a cloverseed and ryegrass barrow, all invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. Thomas Teago, of Longworth, near Abingdon, Berk- shire. A drill for general purposes, inventel, improved, and manu- actured by the exhibiter. Barrett, Exall, and Andrewes, of Katesgvove Iron Works, Reading, Berks. A twenty- four inch field roller and a sixteen inch field roller, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a two share subsoil plough, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a Reid's patent snbpulverizer, invented by Mr. John Reid, of London, improved, by the applicatiou of patent hollow iron, by Mr. Stratton, of Bristol, manufac- tured by the exhibiters (this implement obtained the Society's prize of £10 at Shrewsbury) ; an improved regu- lator plough, a D.P. one wheel plough (this plough was awarded a prize of £5 at the Liverpool meeting of the Society, as the lightest of draught), a D.P. 3 two wheel swing or Northumber- land plougli, a double plough, and a universal plough, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiters; (new implements) a set of registered circular harrows, and (new implements) a set of registered circular narrows for grass seeds, turnips, &c., in- vented by Charles Haslam, of Reading, and manufactured by the exhibiters ; an improved horse rake, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a Weatherstone's patent dibbling machine for horse power, and a Weatherstone's patent dibbling machine for hand power, invented by John Weatherstone, of Islip, neat Oxford, and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a malt, oat, and bean mill, for horse power, a malt, oat, and bean mill for hand power, a double action heavy oilcake breaker, a double action oilcake breaker, a portable forge, and a chaff cutting machine for horse power, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters; a Reading winnowing machine, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a two horse power screw gear work with a reverse motion, and a two-horse power bevil gear work, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters; a four horse power thrashing machine with bevil gear work, a three horse power thrashing machine with bevil gear work, and a two horse power thrashing machine with bevil gear work, in- vented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a one horse power thrashing machine, with screw gear work, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a hand power machine for thrashing, invented by Mr. Exall, of Reading, and manufactured by the exhibiters; (new implement) an American clod crusher, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters. William Bloxsom, of Gillmorton, near Lutterworth, Leicester. A five liorse power portable steam engine, with shafts, wheels, &c., complete, invented by Edward Bloxsom, of Gillmorton, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a thrashing machine, applicable to horse or steam power, improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiter; a drill for turnips and mangold wurtzel, with manure on the ridge, improved by Mr. H. Chamberlain, of Desford, near Leicester, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a six furrow corn and turnip tteer drill, improved and manufactured by the exhibi- ter; a subsoil pulverizer, invented by Mr. Cummins, of Moulton, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a wrought iron scarifier, and a horse hoe and moulding plough, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter. William Busby, of Newton le Willows, near Bedale, Yorkshire. a hay or stubble rake (and also, when required, may be used as a grass-land cultivator), and a horse rake, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a two wlieeled plough, in- vented, improved (with Ransom's truss beam), and manufac- tured by the exhibiter ; a light two wheel plough, a swing plough for heavy land, a light swing plough, a double mould or ridge plough, a horse hoe, and a set of undulating seed harrows, in- vented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a fruit gatherer, invented by Mr. Thomas Reed, of Malton, and manufac- tured by the exhibiter. John Caborn, of Denton, near Grantham, Lincoln. An iron plough adapted for light land, and an iron plough for heavy land, with deep mould board, and circular wedge coulter- fastening plate to set the coulter, with two wheels ; invented, im- proved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; an improved plough, with iron body, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; an improved dressing machine, invented, improved, and manufac- tured by the exhibiter ; a one or two horse power works, an im-, proved thrashing machine for bolting or batting straw, for steam power, and a six horse steam engine, invented and improved by the exhibiter. John Cornes, of Barbridge, near Nantwich, Chester. A chaff cutting machine, with three Knives, invented, improved, and manufiictured by the exhibiter (this machine gained a prize of £10 at the Royal Agricultural Society's Meeting at Shrewsbury in 1845, and at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1846); a chafi' cutting machine with two knives, a chaff cutting machine with three knives, and a turnip drill on the ridge single, invented and ma- nufactured by the exhibiter ; a lever cheese jiress, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 177 Henrv Clayton, of 21, Upper Park Place, Dorset- square, London. A patent hand working machine for the manufacture of draining pipes, draining and other liinds of tiles and bricks, and pUns (working drawings to scale) for the erection of tile works, ice., manufactured by the exhibiter; Clayton's " Cycloidal" (or improved Essex shajie) draining tools, with polished or ordinary black blades, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter. JoHX Read, of 35, Regent Circus, Piccadilly, London. A patent subsoil pulverizer (a prize of £10 was awarded to this implement at Southampton, Shrewsbury, andat JTewcastle-upon- Tyne), a patent cultivator or surface pulverizer, a hop niget, an ajfricultural fire engine, a small agricultural fire engine, a do- mestic fire engine, and sundry small instruments for the relief of cattle. Sec, all invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. Henry Puti.and, of GO, Crown Street, London, and Hurst Green, Sussex. Specimens of pipe tiles and draining tools; improvca by the exhibiter. CoTTAM and Hallen, of Winsley-street, Oxford-street. Hatcher's Beneuden tile machine; invented by Jolni Hatciier, jf Bcnenden, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters; an improved iron pug mill ; invented by G. Cottam, of Winsley- itrset, aud manufactured by the exhibiters; an i nproved drain evel, invented by Mr. S. Pame, of Lanelly House, Carmarthen, raproved and manufactured by the exhibiters; a set of drain cols, and an improved saw fable and boring machine, improved md manufactured by the exhibiters ; an improved serrated chain larrow, improved by James Smith, of Deanston, improved by G. Jottam, of Winsley-street, and manufactured by the exhibiters obtained the silver medal at Derby) ; a dynamometer or draught ;auge (obtained a prize of £5 at the Bristol meeting), an odo- u«ter or land measurer, an improved turnip cutter, an improved iquid manure pump ana stand, and an improved liquid manure lump, improved by G. Cottam, of Winsley-street, and manu- actured by the exhibiters; (new implement) an improved mill or grinding all kinds of grain, invented by Mr. Bogardus, of imerica, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters. foHN Franklin, 10, Lucas-place, Commercial-road East, London, and Henry Franklin, of Marston, near Ampthill, Bedfordshire. (New implement) a machine for the manufactuie of bricks nd tiles, invented by the exhibiters, and manufactured by Jolm 'inney, Blackwall, London. Michael Frith, Jun., of Desford, near Leicester. A two horse scarifier, invented by Mr. H. Chamberlain, of Des- ord, near Leicester, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; (new mpleraent) a wrought iron horse hoe, invented and manu- actured by the exhibiter. I William Gerrans, of Tregony, Cornwall. A machine for distributing pulverized manures broadcast, in- ented and manufactured by the exhibiter. loBERT and Francis Grassby, of Marton, near Hull, Yorkshire. A thrashing machine, a plough for heavy land, and a plough 3r light land, all invented and improved by Robert Grassby, of larton, manufactured by the exhibiters. Samuel Harris, of Shrewsbury, Salop. A turnip drill on the ridge double, invented and manufactured J the exhibiter; a small turnip drill on the ridge double, in- ented by the exhibiter; a small hand drill for a garden, a ridge lough a barley peeler or humraeller, a turnip scuffler, a wheel Iiugh for abreast or single, a subsoil plough, a pair of iron arrows, a pair of iron tent bedsteads, and a pair of servant's edsteads, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. C. Hilly' ARD, of Thorpelands, near Northampton. A presser drill (the Thorpelands) which sows the corn at the ime of forming the pressed drills, and a wheel hand hoe aud eed sowing machine, invented and improved by the exhibiter, nd manufactured by John Luck, of Moulton, Northamptonshire. 2dward Hill, of Brierley Hill Iron Works, near Dudley, Worcester, An iron skim, an iron granary crane and winch, a wrought •on farmer's field eate and posts (this field gate and posts ob- imed the Society's silver medal at the meeting at Derby in 843), a wrought iron farmer's field gate, a wrought iron barrow, •ith apparatus for heating gas tar, a wrought iron garden or table barrow, a wrought iron tree guard, a wrought iron farmer's urdle, wrought iron sheep liurdles, wrought iron cattle hurdles, h "vK-^^' ''°" °^ hurdles, all invented and manufactured by Re exhibiter; lengths of newly invented continuous sheep fencing. invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a length of newly invented continuous cattle fencing, a len;;th of newly invented continuous ox fencmg, a lengtli of newly invented con- tinuous deer fencing, an ornamental hare proof hurdle, and a lengtli of hare proof fencing, all invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; a length of newly inventea invisible strained wire ox fencing, inverted, improved, and manufactured by the ex- hibiter; a specimen straining post complete for fencing, speci- mens of patent naphtha black varnish, manufactured by the ex- hibiter. Thomas Hunter, of Ulceby, near Barrow-upon-Hum- ber, Lincoln. A drill for corn and general purposes, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a six row drill for turnips and manure, invented by Mr. Cartwright, ol Fordington, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; acorn and seed drill, in- vented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. George Kilby, of Queeniborough, near Leicester, Leicestershire. A winnowing machine for winnowing and dressing all kinds of corn, (new implement) an iron drag or scarifier, and (new imple- ment) a turnip cutler, all invented and manufactured by A. Prid- more, of Thorpe Satchville, Leicestershire; a chatf cutting ma- chine, invented and manufactured by Messrs. Cort, Law, and Co., of Leicester ; a turf and stubble paring plough, invented and manufactured by Thomas Glover, of Thrussington, Leicester- shire. J.VMES KiRKWooD, Tranent Foundry, near Tranent, East Lothian. A swing plough for heavy land, a large grubbsr or scarifier, a two horse grubber or scarifier, and a green crop cultivator, all improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; (new imple- ment) a Rowley draining plough, invented by Mr. .Jepson Rowley, Rowthorne, Nottinghamshire, and manufactured by tlie exhibiter a subsoil pulverizer, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a first or lifting draining plough, and (new implement) a deep drain plough, both implements invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. Peter Love, of Manor Farm, near Naseby, North- ampton. A. scuffler or scarifier, and skimmer united, the skimmer in- vented by E. Hill, of Brierly Hill, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; (new implement) a one horse cart, and a grub- ber or scarifier, both implements invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. F. M'Neile and Co., Lamb's Buildings, Bunhill-row, London. The patent asphalted felt for roofing houses, labourers' cot- tagers', cattle sheds, rick yards, tile yards, sheds, and every de- scription of farm buildings, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters; a portable tar kettle, manufactured by the exhibiters; models illustrating the uses of the asphalted felt as a roofing on various descriptions of buildings, and a model of a permanent rick yard, regard being ha«i to economy, durability, and protec- tion from vermin. Mapplebeck and Lowe, of Birmingham, Warwick. A Fairbank's patent 10 cwt. weighing machine, a 6 cwt.we gh- ing machine, and a 4 cwt. weighing machine, improved and ma- nufactured by W. and T. Avery, of Birmingham ; a 4 cwt. weigh- ing machine, invented, improved, and manufactured by W. and T. Avery; a 4 cwt. weighing machine and a 3 cwt, weighing ma- chine, improved and manufactured by W. and T. Avery; (new implement) a weighing machine, invented and manufactured by W. and T. Avery ; a 6 cwt. weighing machine and a 3 cwt. weighing machine, improved and manufactured by W. and T. Avery; a steelyard, with frame for weighing sacks, &c., manu- factured by W. and T. Avery ; a set of new pattern iron bar weights, manufactured by Mapplebeck and Lowe, of Birming- ham ; a portable kibbling mill on a cast iron frame, a portable kibbling mill on a wood frame, a portable bean splittins mill on a cast iron frame, a poi table bean mill on a wood frame, a malt mill with wheel and iron hopper, a kibbling mill with wheel and iron hopper, a bean splitting mill with wheel and iron hopper, a bean splitting mill to work by power, and a kibblin.: mill to work by power, improved and manufactured by W. H. Reynolds, of Birmingham ; a hand power mill, for oats, malt, &c., and a hand power mill for crushing linseed, improved and manufac- tured by Ransomes and May, of Ipswich (obtained a prize of £5 at Newcastle, in 1846); an iron field roller, a one- horse power, and an improved cheese press, improved and m-Jiiufactured by the Coalbrook-dale Company ; an iron wheel- barrow, manufactured by the Coalbrook-dale Company ; an iron sack-barrow, improved and manufactured by the Coalbrook-dale Company; an iron cattle trough, manufactured by the Coalbrook dale Company; an iron pig trough, manufactured bv Hardy and Co., of Woicester; a circular pig trough, with eight divisions, 178 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. manufactured by Smith and Co., of Leamington ; an iron bucket, maijufaclured by tlie exliibiters ; a garden roller, manufactured by the Coalbrook-dale Company ; a east iron corner manger, a cast iron centre mamrer, a cast iron corner hay rack, and a cast iron centre rack, manufactured by the exhibiters ; an iron rick pillar and a cast iron pump for a liquid manure tank, manufac- tured by the Coalbrook-dale Company ; a harness-room stove, invented and manufactured by the Coalbrook-dale Company ; an improved corn-dressing machine, invented, improved, and manu- factured by Kichanl Hornsby, of Spittlegate; (new implement) an improved corn-dressing machine, improved and manufactured by E. and T. Humphries, of Pershore ; a corn-dressing machine, manufactured by the exliibiters ; a cake crusher, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by Richard Hornsby, of Spittlegate ; a p.ilent turnip cutter, invented and manufactured > y James Gardener, of Banbury (a premium of £5 was awarded for this machine at the Southampton Meeting, 1844); a turnip cutter, manufactured by Wilks, of Sheffield ; a chaff cutting machine, with three knives, invented, improved, and manufactured by John Corm s, of Barbridge (this machine gained a prize of £lu at Shrewsbury, 1815, and at Newcastle, 1846); a chaff cutting machine, wiih two knives, invented and manufactured by John Corncs ; a chaff cutting machine, with two knives, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters; a chaff cutting machine, with tivo knives, manufactured by Wilks, of Sheffield ; a turnip and manure drill and a patching turnip drill, invented and manu- factured by White and Co., of Worksop; a patent i)lough, in- vented and manufacture! I by Ransomes and May, of Ipswich (this plough had a prize of £10 and silver medal as the best heavy- land plough, and also £10 and silver medal as the best light-land plough, awarded at the Southampton Meeting); a Ransome's Rutland Plough, invented by R. W. Baker, of Cottesmore, and manufactured by Kansomes and May; a Clarke's universal lidge plough, invented by John Clarke, of Long Sutton, and improved and manufactured by Ransomes and May ; a set of patent iron- trussed whippietrees, invented and manufactured by Itansomes and May, of Ipswich ; (new implement; a patent wrought iron hand hoe, invented and manufactured by the Coalbrook-dale Company ; (new implements) a set of W. A. Lyndon's patent draining tools, invented by Mr. Josiah Parkes, Draining Engineer, London, and manufactured by W. A. Lyndon, of Birmingham; (new implements) a set of W. A. Lyndon's patent draining tools, invented and manufactured by W. A. Lyndon ; a strong digging fork, a potato fork, and an improved cast steel hay fork, manu- factured by W. A. Lyndon ; an iron hurdle, manufactured by the exhibiters; one yard of Iiare or rabbit fence, 2 feet high, manu- factured by the exhibiters ; a set of Bencraft's patent hames, in- vented by Bencraft, and Ujanufactured by the exhibiters; a set of hames, manufactured by the exhibiters ; a four- bushel sack, manufactured by Ironmonger, of Wolverhampton ; a Budding's patent mo"ing machine, for cutting lawns, grass plots, &c., invented by E. Budding, of Dursley, and manufactured by Ferrabee, of Stroud ; (new implement) a garden engine, im- proved and manufactured by the exhibiters; a patent iron bed- steaii, invented, improved, and manufactured by R. W. Winfield, of Birmingham; an improved sheep folding net, manufactured by Robb, of Birmingham ; an oil-cloth waggon cover and an oil- cloth cart cover, manufactured by Ironmonger, of Wolverhamp- ton ; a screw waggon jack, a pair of cart springs, a pair of 2J inch iron arms, and a black staple vice, manufactured by the ex- hibiters ; a hand or drag rake, manufactured by Harris, of Bad- desley; a mo 'el of rick cloth, manufactured by Ironmonger, of Wolverhampton ; a garden syringe, improved and manufactured by Cliadburne ; a chondrometer, manufactured by W. and T. Avery, of Birmingham ; a stand of models. John Miles, of Canwell Farm, near Suson, Colfield, Stafford. A double machine for making drain pipes and tiles, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; a single machine for making drain pipes and tiles, improved by the exhibiter and Joseph Hos- klson, of Wilnecote, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a spe- cimen of draining pipes, from one inch up to four, with collars, manufactured by John MayouHoskison, of Fazeley, Staffordshire. William Newzan Nicholson, of Newark-on-Trent, Nottingham. A machine for breaking oilcake for beasts and sheep (with re- gistered improvements), (new implement) a very strong machine for breaking oilcake for beasts, &c. (with registered improve- ments), and (new implement) a machine for breaking oilcake for beasts and sheep, and small for the purposes of tillage, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a machine for grinding beans, oats, malt, barley, &c. (with registered improvements), a machine forcrushinslinseed, &c. (with registered improvements), a bailey awning or hummelling machine, ;ind a winnowing or corn-dressing machine, improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiter; a chaff engine, invented by John Cornes, of Barbridge, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; specimens of copy- ing presses, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhi- biter; a wheel plough and a swing plough, invented by George Bealby, of Collingham, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a specimen of corrugated patent galvanized tinned iron, for the construction and roofing of buildings, invente.l, improved, and manufactured by Morewood and Rodgers, of London ; a speci- men of patent galvanized tinned iron curved and corrugateti for rooffing, and a specimen of patent galvanized tinned iron tiles, in- vented and manufactured by Messrs. Morewood and Rodgers, of London; samples of various articles of patent galvanized tinned iron, a cart covr or sheet, a waggon cover or sheet, and sam- ples of waterproof horse-cloths, invented and manufactured by C, Mackintosh and Co., ^fanehester. Edward Pierce, of Llanasa, near Holywell, FliatshirCf A hay or straw twisting machine, invented, improved, and nw- nufacture'l by the exhibiter (this machine gained a prize of 8 sovs. at Newcastle last year). Robert and James Gregory Roberts, of St. Nicholas, Warwick. (New implement) a two-wheel plough, with wood beam and stilts, the main frame of cast iron, invented, improved, and ma- nufactured by Thomas Roberts and Son, of St. Nicholas, War- wick ; (new implement) a two-wheel plough, with skim, all of wrought and cast iron, invented and manufactured by Thomas Roberts and Son, of ^t. Nicholas, Warwick; (new implement) a chaff cutter (large size), to work either by hand or horse, (new implement) a chaff cutter (small size), and a skim or paring plough, invented, improved, and manufactured by Thomas Ro- berts and Son, of St. Nichohis, Warwick; (new implement) a moulding plough and horse hoe combint^d, invented and manu- factured by Thomas Roberts and Son, of St. Nicholas, Warwick; (new implement) a drill for general purposes, inventrd by H, Thomas Cluttoii, of Paxford, Glnucestershire, improved and ma- nufactured by ThomasRobertsandSon,of St. Nicholas, Waiwick. Ryland and Dean, of Birmingham, Warwick. (New implement) a portable steam engine, of four horse-power, on wheels, with shafts, &c., complete, loi- travelling, (new imple- ment) a portable steam engine, of six-horse-power, on wheels, with shafts, &c., complete, for travelling, and a steam engine, of six-horse-power, stationary, invented, iinproved, and manufac- tured by the exhibiters; (new implement) a machine for thrash- ing and winnowing grain, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters; (new implement) a portable thrashing machine and horse worli for tliree horses, on wheels, complete, for travelling, invented by Alexander Dean, of Birmingham, improved and ma- nufactured by the exhibiters ; (new implement) a machine foi cutting hay, straw, &c., invented and manufactured by the ex- hibiters ; a machine for crushing linseed, &c., invented by Alex- ander Dean, of Birmingham, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters (this machine gained the prize of £10 offered by tlie Society for the best machine for crushing linseed, at the Shrews- bury meeting, 1845) ; (new implement) a powerful machine for crushing linseed, barley, oats, beans, &c., invented and manufac- tured by the exhibiters ; a corn crusher, for crushing oats, beans, malt, &c., invented by Alexander Dean, of Birmingham, im- proved and manufactured by the exhibiters ; (new implement) a strong iron framed corn mill, invented by Alexander Dean, ol Birmingham, and manufactured by the exhibiters; (new imple- ment) a machine for making draining tiles or pipes, invented by Mr. Humphrey Chamberlain, of Spetchley, improved and manu- factured by the exhibiters; (new implement) a machine for bruising gorse, invented and manufactured by the exhibiterfe. Charles D. Young and Co, of Edinburgh, Mid- Lothian, A roll of strong hare and rabbit proof wire netting, three feel wide, invented by Charles D. Young, of Edinburgh, improvpd and manufactured by the exhibiters ; strong wire netting, for pheasantries, poultry houses, &c., three feet wide, and strong wire net fence for sheep, three feet wide, invented and improved by C. D. Young, of Edinburgh; strong plant guards against hares and rabbits, invented and improved by C. D. Young, of Edin- burgh, and manufactured by the exhibiters. Sanders and Williams, of Bedford, and Samuei Tay'lor, of Cotton End, Bedford. A set of patent four-beam diagonal iron harrows, a set of pa- tent four-beam light seed harrows as above for one horse, a set of patent four-beam diagonal harrows, a set of patent two-beam diagonal iron harrows, and a pair of patent diagonal iron dra§ harrows, invented by Mr. Samuel Taylor, of Cotton End, im- proved and manufactured by the exhibiters; a set of lisht patenti diagonal iron harrows, for grass lands, invented by Mr. Samuel Taylor, of Cotton End, and manufactured by Sanders and Wil- liams, of Bedford ; a wrought iron scuffler or scarifler and a wrought iron horse hoe, invented, improved, and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford ; awrouEhtiron horse hoe, invented by Mr. Manning, of Medbury, near Bedford, iniprcved and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford; a wrought iron skim plough and a wrought iion lever scarifier, iti- vented, improved, and manufactured by Sanders and Williums, of Bedford ; a patent horse rake, invented by Mr. Samuel Tay- lor, of Cotton End, improved and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford ; a patent wrought iron plough, with two wheels, invented, improved, and manufactured by Sander* and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 179 WilHams, of Bedford ; a wi'ouglit iron double-breasted Northuni- berlnnd ploiigb, with one wlieel, manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford ; a Iwo-knife cliaff engine, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford ; a three-knife cliiiff engine, invented by John Comes, of Bar- bridpe, improved and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford ; a turnip cutting machine, a macliine for making drain- ing pipes and tiles, and a double machine for making drain tiles and pipes and screening clay, invented, improved, and manufac- tured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford; a basket of shares, I and six mould plates, for plouglis, models of ploughs and har- rows; a set of horse-work, for driving two-horse thrashing ma- chines, iiivented, improved, and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford. Smyth and Son, of Swelling, near Saxmundham, Suffolk. A drill lor general purposes, a manure drill for turnips and uinngold-wurtzel on the ridge or broad work, a common corn drill, and (new implement) a seed sowing machine, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by the exhibiters; a four horse power thrashing machine, partless, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a corn dressing or winnowina: machine, invented, im- proved, and manutactured by the exhibiters ; a one horse cart, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters. Samuel Wheatley, of Radcliffe-on-Trent, near Not- tingham. A corn dressing machine, improved and manufactured by the I exhibller (it was awarded a prize of ^10 at the society's meet- ing at Shrewsbury, July 1845) ; {new implement) a drag or tcufBer, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; an expanding horse hoe, Improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiter. Henry Carr, of Banbury, Oxon. (New implement) a newly invented rick-cover, and (new im- plement) a newly invented brick and tile-cover, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. H. Smith and Co., of Stamford, Lincolnshire. A Smith and Go's patent double-action hay-maker, invented, im- improved,and manufactured by the exhibiters (obtained a prize of £5 atthesociety'smeetingatNewcastle ill July 1846); animproved scarifier or cultivator, of wrought iron, invented by S. Smith, of Northampton, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters (this implement gained the society's medal at Newcastle, 1846); a Smith and Go's improved lever cultivator or scarifier, a Smith and Go's patent balance lever horse rake all iron, a Smith and Go's patent lever wheel hand-rake, and a Smith and Go's patent barley-awn cutter and cleaner, invented, improved, and manu- factured by tlie exhibiters ; a Read's patent subpulverizer, in- vented and improved by John Read, of London, manufactured by Richard Stratton, of Bristol ; (new implement) a Smith and Go's patent one-knifed machine for cutting cane-tops, hop-bines, &c., for litter, (new implement) a Smith and Go's new patent safety two-knifed chafl' cutter, and a set of horse works for one or two horses, invented, improved, and manufactured by the ex- hibiters; (new implement) a Smith and Go's new patent machine for cutting and bruising gorse or furze, (new implement) a Smith and Go's new patent manure-spreader, and (new implement) a Smith and Go's new patent horse dibbling machine, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters ; a Smith and Go's patent hay-making machine, with double action, and a mill for split- ting beans,'invcnted, improved, and manufactured by the ex- hibiters; a Phillips's patent turnip cutter, invented by Charles Phillips, of Bristol, improved and manufactured by the patentee. Edward Upfill, of Birmingham, Warwickshire. ,New implement) a new improved sheep feeding fold, a sheep fold suitable for rams or lamliing, an improved sheep hay rack covered in, a cow cr.b covered in, a flat-bur field-gate, a strong field gate, a wire tree-guard, and a strong hare-proof tree-guard, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; a sheep tree-guard suitable for orchards, a tree-guard suitable for cattle, a strong tree-guard to fence against heavy cattle, sheep, and lambs, and a strong tree-guard to fence against heavy cattle, hares, and rab- bits, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; garden or lawn iron chairs, a wiought-iroii circular flower stand in four quarters, an iron arch or verandali, an oval flower-stand with two shelves, a square flower-stand with three shelves, a single flower-pot stiind for a corner, an iron flower-pot stand, a garden roll, a wrought iion gravel-screen, a wrought-iron garden-gate, wrought-iron cattle-hurdles, and a length of hare-proof fence, in- vented and manutactured by the exhibiter ; a hurdle hare and rabbit-proof fence, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a roll peg lattice hare and rabbit proof fence, a sack truck, a pig trough, a small pig trough, and a dog trougli, in- vented and manutactured by the exhibiter; carriage-lifting jacks, awroughi-iron hay rack, a corner wrought-iron liav rack, a small corner-manger, a large corner-manger, a piece of trellis work, a flat-bar hurdle with wire rods, a flat-bar fold hurdle, and a deer nwraie, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. John Ainslie, of Alperton, near Acton, Middlesex. (New implement) a machine for making draining pipes and tiles, &c., invented and improved by the exhiiiiter, and manu- factured by George Howe, of Great Guilford-street, London ; (new implement) a model of anew kiln for burning tiles, bricks, &c., invented and improved by the exhibiter, and may be manu- factured by any bricklayer or builder. William Ball, of Rothwell, near Kettering, North- ampton. (New implement) a horse drag, and a drain plough, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. Richard Bradley and Co., of Wakefield, Yorkshire. A drain tile and pipe machine entitled the "Economic" drain tile and pipe machine, invented by Messrs. Denton and Cliarnock, of Wakefield, improved and manufactured by the exbibiter.-i ; (new implement) a drain tile an.l pipe machine entitled the " Utile" drain tile and pipe machine, (new implement) an oil- cake crusher, (new implement) a bean splitter and linseed crusher, (nevv* implement) a double-spike roller or Norwegian harrow, (new implement) a corn and seed drill, and (new implement) a scarifier, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters. Robert Broadbext, of Stalybridge, near Manchester, Lancashire. (New implement) a four-horse power steam engine, and (new implement) a thrashing machine, invented, improved, and manu- factured by the exhibiter ; a large vegetable pan, improved and t^anufactured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a machine for washing potatoes and other esculent toots, invented by Mr. Lyster, improved and manufactured by the eshitiiter ; (new implciient) a two-knife chaff cutter, a two-knife chaft' cutter, a three-knife chaff cutter, an improved turnip cutter, and a circular saw and boring machine, Invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. Richard Coleman, of Colchester, Essex, A patent expanding lever harrow (a harrow on the same con- struction as the above was exiiibited at the Newcastle meeting for 1846, and the rnyul society awarded a prize of £-1 for tlie inven- tion \ a patent expanding harrow, (new implement) a patent drag harrow (very strong), and (new implement) a cast'iron roller, in- vented and manufactured by the exhibiter. William Elliot, of Milton, near Northampton. A scarifier or fallow cleaner, invented by Nicholas Fisher, of Milton, and manufactured by the exhibiter. David Harkes, of Mere, near Knutsford, Chester. A plough f I r light or heavy land, a parallel expanding horse hoe (this implement received the prize of £:j at the Souih;impton meeting, and a prize of £-2 at the Shrewsbury meeting), a parallel expanding horse hoe or scarifier, a parallel expanding subsoil pulverizer, a double or ridging plough, and a horse hoe, invented and manutactured by the exhibiter ; a pair of bow hnr- rows, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a scarifier or drag, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; a draining plough, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter. William Hunter, of Benbrook, near Market Rasen, Lincoln. A chaff cutter, with three knives, two-horse power, a chaff cutter for band or one-horse power with two knives, an^l a patch- ing drill for filling up turnip rows, all invented, improved, and mnnufactured by the exhibiter. Charles Lampitt, of Banbury, Oxford. A horse seed-dibbler, improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiter. James Nunn and Son, of Hertford, Herts. (New implement) A new horse hoe, invented by Samuel Wool- latt, of Aston Bury, near Stevenage, Herts, and manufactured by the exhibiters. John Osborne, of No. 10, King-street, St. James's, London. (New implement) a model of a patent traction propeller, in- vented by Peter Clandsen, of Leice ter-square, improved by the exhibiter and Wiliiara Garwood, of Whiiechapel, and manulac- tured by William Garwood. Richard Garrett, of Leiston Works, near Saxmund- ham, Suffolk. A stand of models of agricultural implements, manufactured by R. Garrett and Son ; a drill for general purposes (It. G. and Son were awarded prizes by the Rovid Agiicultural Socii tv for this drill: at Liverpool, 1841, £10;" Derby, 1843, £:iO; South- ampton, 1814, £Jl) and a medal), a registered Kent dill for general purposes ^received a prize of £5 at Nowia He, 1840), a, 180 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ilnll for turnips and mangold wurzel wiili uiaiiiiio on I lie flat (this drill was awarded a prize of £10 Ht the Royal Agricultural Society's Sleeting at Cambridge IH40), and a drill for turnips and nian^olii wurzel wiili manure nn the ridp[e (this drill was awarded a prize of £l'0 at the Itoyal Agricultural Society's Meet- ing lit Bristol in lS4i), invcntid and manufactured by 1!. Garrett and Son ; a nine row lever drill, for all kinds of f.'raiii and seeds, a thirteen row lever corn drill a twelve row lever corn drill, and a ten row lever corn drill, improved and manufactured by Gar- rett and Son ; a p;itent horse lioe (this implement was awarded prizes by the Royal Agricultural Society at Liverpi ol in 1841, at Bristol in 18)2, at Derby in 1843, and Soutliampton in 1814), a four horse power tinasliing machine, a four horse power bolting thrashing machine (tlie jirize of £25 was awarded for this ma- chine at the Royal Agricultural Society's Meeting at Newcastle, 1840), (ni w implement) a two hoise power thra'-hing macliine, a corn dressing machine, and a registered hurley aveler or lium- melling machine, invented and manufactured by Garrett and Son; a horse power chaff cutt'^r, (new implement) a chaff cutter, a mill for oats, beans, peas, and malt, a linseel mill, a rape and linseed cake crusher, and a lin-eed cake crusher, improved and manufactured by Garrett and Son ; (new implement) a cake crusher, invented and manufactuied by Ga>rett and Son ; a Phillips's patent turnip cutter, invented by Charles Phillips, of Bristol, and manufactm-ed by Garrett ?nd Son; a Read's patent subsoil 1 ulverizer, with" Stratton's" hollow iron beam; invented by John Read, of London, and manufactured by Garrett and Son (prizes were aw/irded for this plough by the Roval Agricultural Society, at Southampton, £iO, 1844; at' Shrewsbury, £10, 1845; at Newcastle, £10, 1846) ; a swing plough, improved and manu- factured by Garrett and Son ; a swing plough, invented by John Hicken, of Bourton, near Dunchurch; a patent lever drag rake, invented and manufactured by Garrett and Son ; a patent ex- panilini lever harrow (this harrow obtained the prize at New- castle in 1846), and a patent expanding harrow, invented by R. Coleman, of Colchester, and manufactured liy Garrett and Son; a registered Norwegian harrow, improved by II. Stratton, of Bristol, and manufactured by Garrett and Son (this ivnidement gained the prizes of tlie Royal Agricultural Society at South- ampton, 1844, and Newcastle in I84fi); an iron field roll, in- vented, improved, and manufactured by Garrett aid Son; a patent drain pipe and tile machine, invented by Richard Weller, of Capel, ne.r Dorking, and improved at.d manufactured by Garrett and Son (a prize of £o was awarded lor this machine at N'twcasile in 18-t6r, a pitent wrought iron rick stand, invented by the late J. Springall, of Ipswich, and improved and manufac- tured by Garrett and Son (a medal was awarded by the Royal Agricultural Society at Southampton, in 1844, to R. G. and Son, for this rick stand). Thomas Richards, of Taimton, Somerset. A four horse power portable thrashing machine, and a one horse power portable thrashing machine, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a portable hand draining pipe and tile machine, invented and manufactured by the exhibiier. Smith, Smith, and James, of Leamington Priors, Warwick. A horse gear, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters; (new implement) a gorse cutting and bruising maciiine, ;ind(new implement) a kibbling mill, invented by Mr. Firchild, of Leamington, and manufactured by the exhibiters; (new imple- ment) a chnff cutting machine, (new implement) a straw cutting machine, and (new implement) a scarifier, invented by S. W. Smith, of Leamington, and manufactured by the exhibiters; a finld roller, improved and manufactured by the exhibiters ; (new wheels) iron cart wheels, invented by S. W. Smith, of Leaming- ton, and manufaclured by the exhibiters; a stable post, with top and bottom rails, improved and manufactured by the exhibitors ; a collection of rack, manger, &c., manufactured by the exhibiters. Joseph Cooke Grant, of Stamford, Lincolnshire. A patent lever horse rake (this implement was, at the Royal Society's exhibition at Newcastle, successful in carrying off the prize), and (new implement) a patent haymaking machine, in- vented, improved, and manufactured by tlie exhibiter; an im- proved haymaking machine, manufactured by tlie exhibiter; (new iniiilcmeut) a three knife chaft'miichine, a two knife ch^ifF machine, and a one knife chaflf machine, improved and manufac- tured by the exhibiter; a hand chaff box, and a hand thrashing machine, manufaclured by the exhibiter; a one horse thrashing machine, a two hor^-e thrashing machine, a five horse thrashing machine, a patent winnowing machine, a winnowing maciiim', a corn blowing machine, a ten coulter drill for general purposes with manure appar.tns complete, a ten coulter corn drill, and a OEe row turnip drill with manure apparatus complete, im|iroV(d and nianiifactureil by the exliibiier; a garden drill, invented, improved, a d manulactured by the exhibiter; a culiivator, im- proved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a wrought iron five lined lUey cultivator, invented by Earl Dueie, of Uley, and im- proved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a patent Isver steer- age horse hoe, niul a horse hoe and moulding plough, invented, improved, and manulactured by the exhibiter"; a wrought iron gjpandiii;; horse hoe, and » w'oed beam expanding horse hoe. improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; an improved cast iron beam expanding horse hoe, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a double action cake mill, improved and manufac- tured by the exhibiter; a weighing machine with steelyard beam, and a domestic weighing machine, manufactured by the exhibi- ter; a small weighing machine, and a merchant's weighing ma- chine, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; an im- proved coal weighing machine, manufactured by the exiiibiter; a double weighing machine, and (new implement) a weighing ma- cliine for live sheep, pigs, &c.. improved and manufnctiire4 by the exhibiter; an improved sack truck, an improved iron sick truck, and an improved sack and truss truck, manufactured by the exhibiter; a paring plough, improved and manulactur-'d by the exhibiter; an impr.ved G.P. iron plough, an improved GSi iron plough, an improved L.P. iron plough, and an improved L.P. wood plough, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; an N.L. wood plough, an improved A.L. wood plough, and an improved wood riilge or moulding plough, manufactured by the exhibiier; a turnip cutter for beasts and sheep, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; an improved bean mill on wood stand, an improved bean mill on iron stand, and an improved double action corn, malt, and bean mill, manufac- tured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a double action malt, corn, and seed crushing machine, invented, improved, and ma- nufactured by the exhibiter; an i:,uproved two furrow land press, manufactured by tlie exhibiter ; a two furrow land press, with manure apparatus, improved and manufactured by the exliibiter; an improved land roll, 7 feet long, in two parts, manufactured by the exhibiter; an improved land roll, and a set of patent tube whippletrees, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; a set of patent tube whippletrees, large size and extra strong, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; a set of improved wood wliippletrees, and (new implement) a new hand dibbling machine, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter; (new im- plement) a Nichols's patent hand dibbling machine, invented by Mr. Nichols, of Thurlby, and improveii and manufactured by the exhibiter; a patent horse dibbling machine, invente 1 and manu- fiicturtd by the exhibiter; an Edgson's patent dibbling flask, in- vented by Mr. John Edgson, of Elton, manufactured by the ex- hibiter ; a new broad cast manure machine, invented and manu- factured by the cxhildter ; a liquid manure cart, and a stand of models, manufactured by the exhibiter. Edward Palmer, of 232, Blackfriars-road, London. (New implement) a drain plough (patent), invented by William Morris, of the county ot Surrey, and manufactured by John Har- wood, of Whitefriar-street, London ; (new implement), a steam- apparatus, manufactured by R. Dale, of London. John Wood Sharman, of Wellingborough ; William Proctor Stanley, of Peterborough, Northampton- shire; and Thomas Johnson, of Leicester, Leices- tershire. A patent plough, cast iron body arid wheels, and wood beam and handles, and a patent iron plough (this plough had a prize of £10 and a silver medal as the best heavy land iilouiih, and also £10 and a silver medal as the best light land plough, awarded at the Southampton meeting, 1 844),, invenied, improved, and manu- factured by Messrs. Ransomes and May, of Ipswich; (new implement) an iron plough, invented by John and Edward Faux, of Yaxley, and manufactured by Kansomes and May ; a patent plougli, called "The Kent Plough," invented, improved, and manufacture I by Ransomcs and May, of Ipswich ; a Lowcock's patent plough, for laying furrows all one way, invented by Mr. Henry Lowcocic, of Maldon, Devonshire, and manufiictured by Ransomes and May (this plough had a prize of £5 "t Southampton in 1844); s pa- tent moulding or double torn plough, skimmer, and horse hoe, invented by Mr. John Clarke, of Long Sutton, improved and manufactured by Ransomes and May ; a patent Rackheath sub- soil plough, invenled by Sir Edward Stacey, Bart., of Rackheah, and improved and manufactured by Rmsomes and May; a pa- tent scarifier, of wrought-iron, with nine wrought iron tines, in- vented by jMr. Arthur Biddell, of Playford, and improved and manufactured by Kansomes and Mny ; a Hertfordshire cultivator, invented, improved, and manufactured by the Coalbrooli-dale Company, of Coalbrook-dale ; sets of patent trussed whippletrees and pomeltrees, invented and manufactured by Ransnmes and May, of Ipswich; a wrought iron scuffler, with a set of hoes and set of tines, nine in each, invented, improved, and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford; a fine tine cultivator, (or | paring and grubbing, for fen land, invented, improved, and manufactured by W. P. Stanley, of Peterborough ; a wrought iron scuffler or scarifier, with nine wrought iron tines, invented by J. Sharpless and improved and manufactured by J. AV. Sharnmn, of Wellingborough; a wrought iron paring plough, improved and manufactured by Sanders and Williams, of Bedford; {new im- plement) a registered wrought iron skimmer and turf paring plough, invented by Thomas Glover, of Thrussinaton, and im- proved and manufactured by Tliomas Johnson, of L icesier (a prize of £5 was awarded to this implement when exhibited with wood beam and handles at the Liverpool meeting); sundry baskets and packages, containing plough and machinefittings,wearingparts, bolts, tools, ice, for fixiug- machines; a set of Lyndou's patent THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 181 ilpe draining too's, invented, improvod, :ind iniimifac'tuiTd \>y W- A. Lyndon, nf Bii-minghani ; n cast steel liay fork, improved ind maniifiicfurod by \V. A. Lyndon ; a patent bi-ick making nnctiiiie, invenrod by Alfred Hall, of Coxsackie, and manufac- urod by Frederick Ransome, of Ipswich; a one knife chaft" ■niine, invented, ini|j)iived, and nianiilactured by J. Sliaiman, if Leicester ; a patent cliaff engrine, invented, improved, and inaniifnotun'd by Kansoraes and May, of Ipswicli ; a chafi' en;;ine, Willi three knives, invented by .lolin Cornes, of Barbridge, Theater, and manufactured by W. P. Stanley, of Peterborough this iniplomenf had a prize of £10 at Shrensl)in\v in 1815, and f |(» at Newcasile in 1840; a cliatf engine with two knives, in- vent d and manufactured by W. P. S'anley ; o self feedinp; hand fli.iff box, improved and manufactured by W. P. Stanley ; a funr liopse power jiorlable thrashing machine (the barn part of this machine, connei'tHd with portable steam power, was exhibited at llristol in 1842, and received a prize of £30), a two hor-e ])0wer vork Willi universal inlerniediate motion, a spiral corn crusher, I linseed mill (thi^ mill had a prize of £5 awarded at Newcastle n li<48), a spiral bean mill, and a spir.d oat mill, invented, mproved, and manufactured by Hansomes and May ; a linseed ud corn cnisher, improved and manufactHred by W. P. Stanley, f Peterborough ; a turnip cutter, invented by the late J. Uard- ler, of Banbury, and improved and manufactured by Uansomes nd May, of Ipswich; a barrow turnip cutter, invented by San- ers and Williams, of Hed:ord, and improved and manufactured y W. P. Stanley, of Peterborough : a turni]) cutter or stamper, lanufactured by Thomas Johnson, of Leicester; an improved nke breaker, fitted witli trussed tooth, double roller, and fly- 'heel, improved and manufactured by W. P. Stanley ; a patent rass cutting machine, for grass plots, pleasure grounds, ice., ivented by K. Budding, of Dursley, and improved and manu- ictured by Umsomes and May, of Ipswich; a two wheel land resser fitted with iron frame and axle, a three wheel land frsser, a two wlieel land presser and seed drill, a three heel land presser and seed drill, and a fifteen inch land 5ller 6 feet G inches long, improved and minufactured by \V. '. Stanley ; a thirty inch land roller, fitted with wrought iron racket ends and axles, brass bushes, &c., improved and manu- ictiireii by the Coalbrook-dale Company ; a twenty-four inch eld roller with wrought iron cylinders in two parts, luanufac- ired by U'. P. Stanley, of Peterborough ; an eight coulter steer rill, improved and manufactured by Alts^rs. Brettle Brothers, of 'orthampton ; a wrought iron cattle crib, invented and manu- ictured by the Coalbrookdale Company, of Coalbrookdale; a leep cratch, invented, improved, and manufactured by the oalbrook-dale Company ; a thirty-six inch Held roller, 7 feet mg, on two cylinders, invented and manufactured by the Coal- rookdale Coinpany ; a set of patent four beam diagonal iron arrows, and a patent hoise rake for hay, corn stubble, or couch, ivented by Samuel Taylor, of Cotton End, and improved and lanufactured by Sanders and ^i illiams, of Bedford ; (new im- lement) a patent wrought iron hand hoe, invented and nianu- ictured by the Coalbrook-dale Company, of Coalbrook-!.l;iIe ; a arallel horse hoe, with side and front wheels, and a wrought on horse hoe, improved and manufactured by J. \V, Sharinau, f Wellingborough; a wrought iron light horse hoe or green rop cultivator, manufactured by J. W . Sharman ; a garden oiler, invented, improved, and manufactured by the Coalbrook- ale Company, of Coalbrookdale ; an iron garden chair, im- roved and manufactured by the Cnalbiook-dale Company; a ovver put stand, an octagon hand glass Iraine, a square band lass frame, an assortment of iron garden rods, a small garden r house pump, an iron pump top with working barrel and one lot pipe fitted on, and a liquid manure pump, invented, im- ' roved, and inanr.factured by llie Coalbrook-dale Company; a lieese press, improved and luanufdctured by the Coalbrook-dale oinpany ; a lever cheese press, with iron frame and balance eight, improved and manufactured by Tljonias Johrson, of eices er; a wrought iion sack barrow, a wrought iron wheel arrow, a circular pig trough adai ted for eight pigs, a jiitr ■ough, a cast iron cattle trough, a poultry trough, a barn ven- lator, and a corn stack pillar, improved and manufactured by le Coalbrook-riale Company ; a east iron stall post and rails for ables, invented, improved, and manufactured by the Coalbrook- ide Company; a cider press screw, improved and manufactured y the Coalbrookdale Company ; a registered portable vegetable .earning apparatus, invented by Kdnard Loonies, of VVhitilesea, liid improved and manufactured by W. P. Stanley, of Peter- orough; an impioved steam generator, for steaming linseed or ither food for cattle, where a pressure of steam is required, ivented and manufactured by \V. P. Stanley ; a draining tile ad pipe machine, invented and improvfd by AV. P. Stanley, nd manufactured by Thomas Richards, of Tannton; a haiid irashing uiaohine, invented by Lieutfiiant Vibart, U.'S., and nproved and manufactured by Thomas Richards ; a j'air of corn i?ed dibblers, registered and invented by Kdward Loonies, of I'hittlesea, and manufactured by W. P. Stanley, of Peter- orough; a pair of Puller's hand seed depositors, improved and lanufactured by Ransomes and May, of Ijiswich ; a patent hand ?ed dibble, invented by Mr. Crawford, Birminghfim, and sold by le cxhibiters ; (new implement) a registered horse seed dibbler, ivented by Mr. Crawford ; (new implement) a corn dibbling lacbine for two rows, invented by .Tesse Ross, of Leicester, and improved ami manufactured by Thomas Johnson, of Leicester ; sols of tools, improved by John Cook, Esq., of Bencraft Grange,' and manufactured by William Foster, ol Stourbridge; sets of tools, improved bv Mr. John Cook, and wiannfiictnred by William Foster, of Stourbridge; a three t ned cultivating fork and a Highland manure fork, manufactur d by the exhibiters; an American cradle scythe, imported and improved by Mr. Craw- ford, of Birmingham ; a jiatent folding mangle, improved and I manulactured by Mr. Skerichley, of Leices cr ; a wire scarecrow and rattle, invented, improved, and unnulaclur d by E. Upflll, I of Birmingham; samples of wire netting and fencing wire, I manufactured by the exhibiters; a three cwt. corn weighing I machine on wheels, manufactured by W. P. Stanley, of Peter- borough ; an economical weighing machine and a patent portable weighing machine, improved and manufactured by ^^'. P. btan- |ley; a three and a half cwt. weighing machine, invented, im- proved, and manulactured by W. and T. Avery, of Birmingham; a Fairbank's patent weighing machine, imiiroved and manulac- I tured by W. and T. Avery; a portable stand mill with drawer I complete, and a steel malt mill, improved and manufactured by Thomas Johnson; a post bean mill, invented, improved, and manufactured by Ransomes and May, of Ipswich ; a patent portable rotary garden engine, invented, patented, improved, and manu'aitured by R. Farmer, of Birmingham ; a patent fire engine for villages and agricultural districts, invented, improved, and manufactured by R. Farmer, of Birmingham-, a portable fire engine for mansions, mills, manufactories, &e., a portable brass pump on an ir«n stand, and a portable engiiie for gardens I and grcenliouses, improved and manufactured by R. Farmer; a Crosskill's patent clod crusher, invented by Wm. Ciosskill, of Beverley, and (under license) manufactured by Ransomes and May, of Ipswicli ; a portable steam thrashing machine, ijivented by Messrs. Tuxfoid and Sons, of Boston, Lincolnshire, and manu- factured by them for Thomas Johnson, of Leicester. Richard Strattox, of Bristol, A stand of models, manufactured by (he eshibiter ; (new im- plement) a registered Norwegian harrow and clod-cruslier, in- vented by Mr. George E. Frere, F.R.S., of lioydon, and by the exhibitor, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter (in its imperfect state it obtained a prize of 10/. at Shrewsbury, 1845, and a prize of 51. s.t Newcastle, 1846); a patent wrought-iron scarifier, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a patent sub-pulverizer, invented by .Mr. John Read, of London, improved and manufactured by tlie exhibiter; a moulding plough and horse-hoe, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; an oat - crusliing machine, manufactured by the exhibiter ; a linseed- crushing machine, a bean-splittiug machine, and a malt-crush- ing machine, invented, iiniiroved, and manufactured by the ex- hibiter; a chalf-cutting machine, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a stone and bone breaker, invented by Mr. Robert Fry, of Tockington, manufactured by the exhibiter; a one-horse cart, for general farm purposes, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a one-horse manure-cart, with cranked axle (a silver medal was awarded to it at Derby, and a prize of 51 at Southampton), and a liquid-manure cart, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a liquid manure pump, on portable stand, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; a oiie-Iiorse agricultural cart, invented, improved, and manufac- tured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a patent wrought-iron cart, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a farm-wag- gon, manufactured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a pair of patent wrought-iron wheels, with axle, invented and manufac- tured by the exhibiter. John Twist, of Bridgetown, near Stratford- on- Avon, Warwick. A registered skim or paring plough, an iron plough with sub- soil attacltpd for light or heavy land, a dibbling tool, a piling iron for barley, and a new iron plough suitable to all soils, all invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. John Watkin, of Maidwell, near Northampton. A one-horse cart, invented, improved, and manufactured Miy the exhibiter. Wedlake and Thomson, of Union Foundry, Horn- church, Romford, Esse.x. -S. double-cylinder hay-making machine, with reverse motion, invented by Robert Wedlake, of Hornchurch, improved by Henry Hankinson, of Hornchurch, and manufactured by the exhibiters (for this machine the prize was awarded at the Derby meeting, and a prize of three pounds at the Shrewsbury meeting) ; an im- proved horse liay or barley lever rake, a wrought-iron (go- alone) plough suitable for heavy land, a wrought-iron S X. go- alone plough for light land, and (new implement) a scarifier, with 13 hoes, to cover 8ft. 6in., invented and manufactured by the exhibiters; a horse-hoe, or scarifier, with 3 hoes, manufac- tured by the exhibiters; (new implement) a sowing machine for distributing corn, seeds, or pulverized manure, broad-cast, in- vented by Mr. Peter Esdaile Bearblock,of Hornchurch, and ma- nufactured by the exhibiters; (new implement) a wrought-iron 162 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. scarifier, to cover 3ft., with five or seven lioes, a two-rowed tur- nip and manure ridge drill, a foot plougli, and a barley aveller or liummellins machine, invented and manufactured by the ex- hibitors ; a subsoil plough, a pea or bean drill plough, a double- motion winnowing machine for corn and seeds, and a chaff cut- ter with concave or convex knives, manufactured by the exhi- biters; a double-breast or moulding-up plough, (new implement) an American oil-cake breaker, an oil-cake machine, a broad-cast seed machine, a one-horse ploiigli, a round-plate turnip cutter for beast and sheep, a chaff cutter, for hand, horse, or steam- power, (new implement) a vertical turnip cutter for sheep and beasts, a four-horse power bolting or thrashing machine for every description of corn, and a paring plough, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters ; (new implement) a tile or drain-pipe machine, invented by Henry Hankinson, of Horn- church, and manufactured by the exhibiters. William Wood, of Knutsford, Chester. An iron swing or wheel plough, a double or ridging plough, a scarifier or cultivator, (new implement) a plough for filling Boil cast out of drains, a horse hoe, a churning apparatus, and a turnip cutter, invented and manufactured by tlie exhibiter; a patent thrashing machine, invented and manufactured by John Jennings, Ollerton, Cheshire ; a chaff cutter, and a horse-hoe, invented and manufactured by the exhibiters. Richard Wright, of Northampton. A one-horse cart, and sliifting harvest-body complete, manu- factured by the exhibiter. Thomas Tupholme, of Horncastle, Lincoln. (iVew implement) a wheel hand roller, partly suggested by Mr. Jusiin Cocking, of East Ville, near Spilsby, Lincolnsliire, and manufactured by the exhibiter. Thomas West, of Higham-ou-the-Hill, near Nun- eaton, Leicestershire. A one-row ridge-drill, and a two-row drill, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a six-row corn and seed drill, invented by the exhibiter, improved by Mr. Biggs, of Cosby, and manufactured by the exhibiter. James Hill Dickson, 29, Broad-street buildings. a rippling machine to take off with facility and witliout in- juring ibe fibre the seed of flax, and a fiax-breaking and scutch- ing mill or machine for SL-parating the woody part of the fibre, invented by the exhibiter, and manufactured by John McEntiie, of Gundoek, Wapping, London. John Ferrabee, of Phoenix Iron Works, near Stroud, Gloucester. A cultivator or scarifier, with fine tines, invented by .lohn Morton, of Whitfield, improved by Richard Clyburn, of Uley, manufactured by the exhibiter (the above implement had the prize at the Newcastle meeting and at previous meetings of the socii'ty); a patent chaff cutler, with two spiral knives, cutting a width of 12 inches, invented by the Earl of Diicie, R. Clyburn, and E. Bvuiding, of Tortworth, Uley, and Dursley, manufactured by the exhibiter (this machine has received the prizes of the so- ciety at the Bristol and Derby meetings); (new implement) a patent machine for cutting straw for litter, invented by the Earl of Duoie, R. Clyburn, and E. Budding, of Tortworth, Uley, and Dursley, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter ; a chaff machine, 12in. wide, a portable thrashing machine for two or three horses, a thrashing machine for bolting, and a haymaking machine, improved and manufactured by the exiiibiter; a paral- lel exianding horse hoe, with five hoes and five tines, invented by John Morton, of Whitfield, improved by Richard Clyburn, of Uley, Gloucestershire, and manufactured by the exiiibiter; a pa- tent machine for crushing linseed, bruising oats, and splitting beans, invented Ijy George Parsons and Richard Clyburn of West Lamljr ok, Devon, and Uley, Gloucestershire, manufactured by the exhibiter ; a " Budding's" machine lor cutting grass plots, pleasure grounds, bowling greens, &c., invented by the late E. Bud'ling, of Dursley, Gloucestershire, improved an i manufac- tured by the exhibiter; a set of Budding's adjusting wrenches, invented by the late E. Budding, of Dursley, manufactured by the exhibiter. H. G. James, 44, Fish-street Hill, London, (New implement) a 60 cwt. machine for weighing live cattle, loaded carts, and farm produce generally, invented and manufac- tured by ihe exhibiter; a 21 cwt. weighing machine, invented by Monsieur George, of Paris, improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; (new implement) a 21 cwt. portable weighing machine, (new implement) a 0 cwt. weiglung raa.;hine, and a 8 cwt. weighing mucliine, invented and manufactured by the ex- hibiter. William Langdell, of Kingsthorpe, near North- ampton. A four-horse (bolting) thrashing machine, (new implement) a steer manure drill with wrought-iron levers, a portable draining tile machine, and (new implement) a turnip manure drill, all invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. George Liddell, Jan., of Sherbourn Tile Sheds, Durham. A machine for making drain tiles, pipes, soles, &e., invented and improved by the exhibiter, and manufactured by James Lumsden, of Durham. Charles Miles, of 96, Great Russell-street, London. (Model of new shed) an airicultural shed, (new field gate) an impioved field gate, and a model of an improved field gate, in- vented by the exhibiter. JoHx Reynolds, of Little Harrowden, near Welling. borough, Northampton. (New implement) a plough for light land, and (new imple- ment) a plough for strong land, both articles invented and ma- nufactured by the exhibiter. William West, of Church Gate, Leicester. (New implement) a corn and turnip drill, invented and ma nufactured by the exhibiter; a horse hoe, improved and mami factured by the exhibiter; and {new implement) a machine fc cutting hay or straw, invented and manufactured by Thoma Brown, of Eaton-street, Leicester. James Worrall, of Dallington, near Northampton. A set of harrows improved and manufactured by the exhi biter ; and a set of harrows, invented and manufactured by tli exhibiter. George B. Osborne, of Kington, near Thornbury near Bristol, Gloucester. A model of a tile yard, for making draining liles and pipes six inches to the foot, and (new implement) a portable dryin shed ; both articles invented and manufactured by the exhi biter. Richard Saunders, of North Cave, near Howden Yorkshire. (New implement) a plough for light land, (new implement) plough for heavy land, (new implement) a paring plough, (nc implement) a skim plough, (tiew implement) a subsoil plougl (new iinplemeiit) a drain plougl), and (new implement) a ploug to fill in the soil cast out of drains; ail invented, improved, an manufactured by the exhibiter. William Groundsell, of Louth, Lincolnshire. An improved registered corn dressing machine, inventerl, Im proved, and manufactured by the exhibiter; (new implement) newly invented registered part of machinery, invented and ms nufactured by the exhibiter ; and a newly invented hay, con and twitch rake, invented, improved, and manufactured by tli exhibiter. The Hon. Robt. Henry Clive, of London. A wheel subsoiler ; invented by Anthony Hall, of PruJlioi Northumberland, and manufactured by Mr. Stoker, of Newtoi Northumberland. Thomas Gibbs and Co., the Seedsmen by appointmeii to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and t the Honourable Boards of Agriculture of Englan and Sweden, corner of Half- Moon-street, Piccadillj London. Grass Seeds for Meadows and Pastures. — Samples i mixtures for laying down land to permanent meadow or pastun with a proper proportion of permanent clovers, selected and ai portioned to suit the nature of various soils, attention being pai ticularly paid to the following important objects: early erowtl produce, nutritive qualities, reproductiveness, and permancnc; Samples of mixtures for irrigation or water meadows, compose of those kinds of grasses which yxperience has found to succee the best, and the natural habits of which especially fit them ft it. Samples of mixtures for upland sheep walks, composed < the varieties the habits of which especially fit tliem for elevate situations, where other kinds of gr-asses would not succeed Samples of mixtures for park and field lawns, specially adapte to those portions of parks or pastures nearest to mansions an other conspicuous parts, or for field lawns. Samples of mis tures for renovating old swards, for sowing over land ahead laid down in grass, which is either exhausted from being inoff too often without having a due supply of manure, or when t^ plant is thin, caused by drought, partial failure of see f, f other circumstances, in order to renovate it, and supply the df ficiency of plant. Samples of mixtures for garden lawns f grass plots, having none but the finer kinds of grasses, all tlios which are likely to grow lai'ge or cjar-se being caret'iUy omittcc Grass Seeds.- Agrostis stolonifera, agrostis capillnii-', a ros tie alba, agrostis spica venti, aira canescens, aira coespitosa If i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 168 ascenS) aira flexuosa, alopecurus agrestis, alopecurus nigricans, lopecurus genlculatus, alopecurus pratensis, arundo arenaria, nthoxanthum odorotum, bromus pratensis, bromus arvensis, lomus mollis, bromus distachyos, bromus pennatus, bromus ru- eiis briza media, cynosurus rristatus, dactylis sjlomerata, fes- uca tluilans, ftstuca tenuifolia, t'estuca ovina, festuca hetero- iliyUa, festuca elatior, festuca sylvatica, festuca rubra, festuca oliacea,lio!ons:>venaceuB, lolium multitlorum, loliuui multiflorum ubojiilira, lolium Bretagne, loliuiii arvense, lolium temu- entum, lolium pwrenne var., lolium Italicum, mellium effusura, nelica ciliata, nielica altissima, moliiia ccerulea, pan cum Ger- nanioum, panicum meliaceum rubrura, panicum ItaJicum, pa- licutn meliaceum glauce, pauicum meliaceum album, panicum neliacfum nigrum, poa aquatica, poa distans, poa compressa, 11)8 fleiuosa, poa annua, poa nemoralis, foa nervata, poa fertilis, oa pratensis, poa trivialis, media sativa, bunias Orientalis, lotus orBJculatus major, lotus corniculatus minor, ervum monanthos, lelelotus officinalis ; specimens of the plant and seed of the jssac grass from the Faulkland Islands. Agricultural Seeds.— Barley, beans, cabbages, carrots, iovers, Kohl rabi or Hungarian turnip, mangold wurt^el, oats, eas, tares, turnips, wheats. A collection of iield and kitchen =a.s and beans. A general assortment of agricultural seeds. Several hundred dried specimens of grass, clover, wheat, oats, irley, rye, beans, peas, &c., &c. Thomas Taylor, of Banbury, Oxon. A patent saddle for riding, with an air seat, and a patent saddle r riding, with a moveable pannel, invented and manufactured ; the exiiibiter; a registered bit for riding bridles, and a regis- red bit for driving bridles, invented by the exhiljiter, and ma- ifactured by Samuel Hudson, of Birmingham. ■EORGE GiBBS and Co., Seedsmen, &c., to the Royal Agricultural Department of Belgium, and Corres- ponding Member and Seedsmen to the Agricultural Society of Zeeland, in the Netherlands, 26, Down- street, Piccadilly, near Hyde Park Corner. Meadow and pasture grass seeds, samples of the mixtures as ley are made up for the various soils, &c.; the price is 32s. !r acre, allowing 2 bushels and 12 lbs. to each acre. Samples ■ the mixture for renovating old grass land. Is. 3d. per lb. imples of the seeds of the most approved natural grasses, jecimcns of a variety of grasses dried. Alsike hybrid clover ; js is an excellent variety, and is coming into general use in is country, price Is. 6d. per lb. Bokhara clover. South merican clover (raedicago maculata). Dwarf perennial red over of the meadows, Is. per lb. Flemish white clover. Eng- ;h white clover. Trifolium minus. Trifolium incarnatum. esiuca loliacea. English and French samples of red clover, alian rye-grass, the sort grown by Mr. ])ickinson, 8s. 6d. per jshel. Italian rye-grass, Mr. Rodwell's, dwarf brown. Ever- reen perennial rye-grass, 7s. 6d. per bushel. Stickney's peren- ial rye-grass, 7s. 6d. per bushel. Tussac grass seed and plant, ative of the Falkland Islands. Spurry, used in Flanders, for atumn feeding on stubble. Chicory,' for sheep feeding ; the )ot used as coffee. Burnett, very useful for sheep feeding on lin soils. Sainfoin, milled, the best way of sowing it. Sheep's arsley, much in use for sheep pasture. Camelina saliva (oil lant), seed, and cake for cattle feeding. Flax or linseed, Eng- sh Hnd foreign samples. White mustard seed. Furze orgorse, le variety in use for feeding. Broom. Large cattle pars- ip. Rape, dwarf and tall. Thousand-headed cabbage ; the .>ed should be sown early in ."March; the plant is very seful for ewes and lambs in severe winters. Kohl rabi, r Hungarian turnip: all stock relish this root; it is feed- ig and is very hardy ; it will thrive on heavy land where le swedes will not do so well; it may be sown in March, and lansplanted like a cabbage plant; or it may be sown in drills le end of April or beginning of May, and treated like a swede ; ->ed, ys. 61. per lb. Carrot, large Bel;;ian white; large scarlet iermnn; pale yellow; large Altringham ; large horn, or James's upeib; long Surrey or orange. Mangold wurtzel, long red; ing yellow ; white, or sugar beet ; horn shaped ; orange, or yel- 3W globe; red globe. I Tdrsips. — Ashcroft's swede was raised by Mr. Ashcroft, some i;w years ago ; it has won several prizes in competition with !ther sorts; it is a heavy cropper, of nutrilious yellow flesh, tores well, and will bear sowing later than most other swedes ; sed. Is. per lb. Tankard sweJe : Th s is a pure swede, in form smething like the common tankard turnip ; it is of good quality, nd on some soils is grown to great advantage; seed, Is. 6d. per t). Purple top Nottingham moss swede: oblong in shape, yel- 3w flesh, of best quality, is a heavy cropper, and stores well; eed Is. 6d. per lb. Skirving's swede: this variety is well nown ; seed, Is. per lb. Laing's swede: this is a very hand- ame root, of compjraiively tender flesh, has a peculiar leaf, and 5 of tarly maturity as a swede ; seed, Is. per lb. True purple op swede, G.G : this was selected by <:eorge Gibbs and Co., jrom an excellent stock, and has given general satisfaction; they ecommend it as deserving of notice ; seed, Is. per lb. Matson's |>urple top swede: a very handsome root; seed. Is. per lb. Pain's Kentish green crown swede; a hardy and nutritious root, seed Is. per lb. Oxford green crown swede: very hardy ; coarser in the skin than Pain's; yellow flesh, of best quality; seed. Is. per lb. Hybrid green crown yellow turnip, 6.(J.: an excellent hardy variety to use before swedes; s^eed. Is. per lb. Dale's hybrid yellow ; seed. Is. per lb. Imperial purple crown yellow border turnip, Is. per lb. Purple crown yellow Scotch turnip. Is. per lb. Green crown yellow Scotch turnip. Is. per lb. Yellow tankard, Is. per ib. White, red, and green tankard turnips. Is. per lb. each. White, red, and green globe turnips, 9d. jier lb. each. Early stone, or stubble turnip, 9d. per lb. Wheats. — Red chaft', Russell white, Eley's gisantic, Australian white, Hobbs's red marygold, red Burwell, Le Couteur's Belle Vue Talavera, Chidum white, La'inceston white, red cluster. A variety of wheats in ear and straw. Early Giant Tyrolese St. John's-day Rye. Baklet.— Potter's prolific, provide'ice, Leghorn, winter, Egyptian thick-set, Annat, skinless or barley wheat. Oats in variety. Branck, or buck-wheat. Peas, nine podded, an early prolific kind tor field grciwth. Tares: early lacer winter, common winter, very large spring, common spring, white. Lupins, for field use. Lentils, for field use. W. Augustus Munn, of Throwley House, near Feversham Kent. A pair of lamb cutting scissors, invented by tlie exhibiter, and manufactured by .Messrs. Sorby and Sons, Sheffield. Richard Foster Norton, of Yelvertoft, Rugby, Northampton. A model of a permanent rick yard, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. Freemax Roe, of 70, Strand, London. A ram hydraulic ecgine, invented by Montgcefter, of France, improved and further imp'oved and manufactured by the ex- hibiter; (new implements) deep well fire pumps, and pumps for domestic purposes, invented by Manning and Harrison, of Dover and Ashford, and improved and manufactured by the exhibiter; liquid manure pump, manufactured by the exhibiter; (new imple- ment) a water filter, and (new implement) Glass pipes and Freeman Roe's patent mode of joining them, invented and ma- imfactured by the exhibiter. Captain James Robertson Walker, R.N., of Gil- garran, near Whitehaven, Cumberland. (Xew implement) a model of a permanent rick yard, invented by the exhibiter, and manufactured by Robert Amos, of Gilgarran. John Heaton Hall, of Hatfield, near Doncaster, Yorkshire. (New implement) a self acting ammonia fixer, invented by the exhibiter. William Fowlie, of Redhouse, Hursley, near Win- chester, Hants. a model of a rick yard erected at the home farm, Hursley Park, by Mr. Fowlie. Francis James Graham, of Cranford, near Houns- low, Middlesex. A model of a rick yard, invented by the exhibiter, and may be manulactured by an ordinary tradesman. H. and R. H.wwood, of Brownhill Tileries, near Burslem, Stafford. Improved blue metallic drain pipes, for conveying water, and applicable for the drainage and sewerage oftownsand public and other buildings ; fire proof flue linings, for preventing smoky chimneys r.nd accidents from fire arising therefrom, manufactured by the exhibiiers. George Meynell, of Northallerton, Yorkshire. (New implement) an improved spring bull ring, (new imple- ment) a pair of cattle feet clippers, and (new implement) a York- shire spiked lever harrow, all invented, improved, and manu- facturtd by the exhibiter. Waldie and Hunter, of Kelso, Roxburgh. A cart saddle, invented, improved, and manufactured by the exhibiters; a set of harness for agricultural purposes, ani a riding or hunting saddle, improved and manufactured by the ex- hibiters. Edward J. Lance, of Blackwater, near Bagshot, Surrey. I A hand seed machine for one row of turnips or small seed, in- vented by Mr, J. Bennett, of Farnham, improved and manu- 184 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. factured by the exhibiter; a collection of agricultural soils, arranged by the exhifeiter; a geological map of England and Wales, and a geological map of the British Isles and part of France, invented by J. A. Knipe, of Bruton-street, Pimlico; specimens (if soils, sites of agricultural meetings, arranged by the exhibiter ; specimens of Lance's granulated manures, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter ; specimens of diseased corn and potatoes , grown by the exhibiter; specimens of corn, tlie effects of labour and manure on a poor soil, grown by the exhibiter; the bane and the antidote of English farming ; agricultural biKiks of exhibitei's own writing; a hand dibbling machine, to make the hole and deposit seed at tlie same time, invented, im- proved, and manufactured by Dalrymple Crawford, of Birming- bain ; a pair of hand dibbles, invented and manufactured by Dalrymple Crawford, of Birmingham. Thomas (successor to Abraham) Newland, of Strat- ford-on-Avon, Warwick. (Xew implement) a registered flexible saddle, invented and manufactured by the exhibiter. Mr. PusEY, M.P., of Pttsey, near Faringdon, Berk? a set of draining tools, manufactured by James Rodboum blacksmith, of Stanford, Berks. George Bruce, of Liverpool, Lancaster. A specimen of black japan varnish, a specimen of blue varnis a specimen of red varnish, a specimen of green vainish, and sample of cheap and durable oil, all invented and manufactur' by the exhibiter. James Alexander Kxipe, of 31, Bruton-stree Pimlico, London. A geological map of the British Isles and part of France; geological map of England and Wales, and a map of the conto of the Kingdom, Invented and improved by the exhibiter. METEOROLOGICAL DIARY. Barometer. j Thermometer. Wind and State. i Atmosphere. Day. 8 a. m. 10p.m. Min. Max. 10 p.m. Direction. Force. 8 a. m. 2 p. m. 10. p m in. cts. in. cts. June 21 29.95 29.86 . 58 61 57 S. West fresh ! fine cloudy fine 22; 29.86 ' 29.76 , 54 64 57 S. West brisk fine sun fine 23; 29.76 29.76 1 51 64 56 1 S. West liyely fine cloudy cloud) 24; 29.70 29.70 52 62 57 S. West lively fine cloudy cloud) 25; 29.77 29.88 55 65 60 S. West hvely cloudy fine fine 26, 30.05 30.23 54 65 60 1 W. by North gentle fine sun fine 27i 30.29 30.33 j 57 IP 65 1 W. by North gentle cloudy cloudy cloud) 28| 30.33 30.33 60 65 W.N.W., N.E. gentle cloudy cloudy fine 29 30.33 30.30 59 72 65 : N, East brisk cloudy sun cloud) 30 a0.30 30.31 60 72 65 ! Northerly brisK fine sun cloud) July 1 30.35 30.35 59 72 64 N. by East gentle fine sun cloud) 2 30.35 30.28 58 62 60 j N. East brisk cloudy cloudy cloud) 3 30.22 : 30.14 56 70 65 ] E. by North gentle cloudy sun fine 4 30.11 30.05 58 73 65 1 South East gentle fine sun fine 5 30.05 ; 29.95 56 76 62 ' Every way lively fine sun fine 6 30.— 1 29.95 56 78 74 ; S. Westerly cheerful fine sun fine 7 29.89 \ 29.95 65 74 64 E. by S., W. cheerful cloudy sun fine 8 29.97 1 30.— 60 69 64 S. East cheerful cloudy sun fine 9 30.09 30.20 58 70 63 S. West brisk cloudy sun fine 10 30.20 30.21 61 73 67 j S. Westerly gentle cloudy sun fine 11 30.22 30.23 64 75 70 S. AVesterly gentle fine cloudy fine 12 30.24 30.27 63 81 75 Westerly lively fine sun fine 13 30.30 30.30 63 82 75 W. by North variable hazy sun fine 14 30.30 30.27 63 85 79 Variable gentle haze sun haze 15: 30.27 30.13 67 82 74 N. East lively haze sun cloud) 16' 30.13 30.10 67 81 74 N. East lively fine sun cloud) I7j 30.10 30.06 63 70 66 N. East hvely cloudy cloudy cloud) 18 30.10 30.10 62 68 63 East gentle cloudy sun fine 191 30.06 29.98 57 65 62 E. by North gent.jvar. cloudy i cloudy cloudy 20: 29.97 29.96 59 68 ' 65 Northerly gentle cloudy cloudy 1 cloud) 21* 29.96 30.05 62 70 66 Westerly 1 airy cloudy fine 1 fine estimated averages of JULY. Barometer. \ Thermometer. High. 30.3 Low. 29.30 High. 76 real average temperature Lowest. j Highest. I Mean. 59.26 71.26 66.26 Weather and Phenomena. June 21, threatening, but not rainy. 22, beaui" Mean, jfidly fine. 23, thunder, and rain at noon. 2 6 1 j several genial showers. 25, threatening low cloud j some rain. 26, warm and fine, change of mn OF THE period. ' ^nd rapid rise of the mercury, 27, 28, overeat Low. 42 but the weather settles. 29, brisk cool air, hot «i 30, charming day. THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. m Lunations. — Full moon, 28th, Ih. 23m. afler- loon. July 1, very fine. 2, cold and gloomy. 3, cold ind dark momincr, days improved. 4, fine, and )econung warmer. 5, perfect summer. 6, great md close heat, followed by heavy thunder and rain n the night. 7, early morning rainy, gradually •learing fine. 8, rainy forenoon, very seasonable, ine evening. 9, very fine. 10, 11, 12, fine sun, heat jecomes verj' great. 13, 14, hazy morning and ■vening, red sunsets, heat intense. 15, more ively air, beautifully fine, evening cloudy. 16, ;eat abates, evening more cloudy. 17, thunder fter 1 o'clock, a.m., and heavy showers followed 11 noon by repeated short storms, and some rain luch wanted. 18, cloudy forenoon, then fine. 9, thundery, wavy clouds, with slight attempts at lin. 20, sunny gleams. 21, change of wind, ?ttling, very fine and ripening day. LvNATiox.s. — Last quarter, 5th, Sh. 42m. morn* New, 12th, llh. 38 m. forenoon. First quarter, 20th, 1 h. 20 m. afternoon. Remarks referring to Agriculture. — The very mild and equable condition of the nights has been remarkable : four of the days were too hot. However, the progress of all the corn croi)s has been steady, and most propitious. Mangold, kohl, and turnips are here largely gi'own on 27 inch ridges, over manure ; rain would do these good; but as ever}' shower has been introduced by violent thunder, we fear its approach. Beans have suffered much from drought and black aphis. Potatoes to this day are fine as ever were seen — rain would swell the tubers. A.s yet I judge that all is safe, and trust a speedy har\'est- home to crops superlatively fine. Croydon, July, 22. J. Towers. CALENDAR OF HORTICULTURE.— AUGUST. Meteorological Retrospect. — ^The comparison of !asons is very interesting, if not in a like degree istructive. Since the period when the July dendar went to press (June 20) the weather jsumed a decidedly summer character. A few 3ry seasonable showers occurred, and these ;freshed the ground, but afforded no adequate ipply to the subsoil. In 1846, the tremendous eat of an entire month between May 20th and line 20th parched the surface ; it inflicted as much iss on the potato in bulk and return, as did the isease itself; thus falsifying the calculation, and laking it appear that the malady was productive of lore grave results than in its previous attack. In le present year, the rain has fallen at opportune id seasonable periods, but not early enough to )unteract (or rather pre\'ent) the mischief which as occasioned by the high temperatureandbroihng in of May 27 and 28. "A cold May and a indy" — this old line contains a proverial truth, he word cold did not imply the fierce, biting east ind which has of late years prevailed ; on the )ntrar)', it indicated a temperature of about 55 agrees, a supply of moisture which kept ;getation always in a state of progressive advance -a Uvely fresh current of air, and a sky occasion- ly overcast with a thin covering of stratus that H'ed as a screen to diffuse the solar light. Our :perience has, on several recent occasions, proved iat a blaze of sun in May, with a temperature )ove 72 degrees, has invariably produced blight ' lid torpor. i I In the present year the results are found to be a | loss of most fruits to an extent which completely baffled our rational anticipations. "Who ca« forget the bloom on all the fruit trees during the first fortnight of May r "Who ever beheld such garlands of beauty ? And where is the gardener, who recol- lects the perfect maturation of the wood during the early preceding autumn, that could doubt the fer- tihty of the present year ? Yet, where are the apples, the plums, the gooseberries, currants, and raspberries ? Never to my recollection did I wit- ness a failure more complete after a promise of such profusion. As to aphis, or greenfly, where is it not f — unless we except the potato — from which (so far from being the vastator) its total absence seems as if intended to expose to scorn the wild theories of those who appear to entertain but " one idea," and " that" a ^vrong one. Beans suffer in garden and field ; summer or the round spinach is much attacked, and fruit shrubs are vastly injured. There was no rain in the early part of the year; and even since spring there have been only a few thunder-showers. Hence the subsoil is dry ; a fact proved by the fall of leaves. Some great trees are almost stripped ; and nothing but a volume of rain, which would now compromise the safety of the harvest, could restore the balance. After the prodigious heat of July 12th to 1 6th, a thunder-storm brought a few showers ; and there are signs of more on this 1 9th day of the month, a period somewhat critical. operations in the vegetable garden. In the first days sow cabbage for the main spring 186 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. crops. The varieties are numerous; and none surpass the early Yorks, large and small. A large cabbage is now sold under the name of the " En- field market :" I tried it last year, and found it to heart well, proving sweet and tender, without any of the rankness too commonly experienced. The plants stood the wliole winter untouched in any way. The Vananck is a fine cabbage. Persons vary much in directing the sowing. Some say, sow at the end of July. Lindley's Guide names the 1 2th to 20th August : Abercrorabie is intermediate. We would try the three periods, as soil, its condi- tion, and localities diiFer. But one general summer rule may always be observed. If the season and ground be dry, seeds cannot vegetate; therefore let the seed-bed or border be first soaked with water for three nights, and cover the spot with mats during the day time ; then draw shallow drills, and sow the seed ; rake and smooth the sur- face, and again cover by day : so soon as the plants are fairly up, sprinkle completely over night, and again shade a httle for a day or two by a mat or canvass, raised an inch or two above the seedlings. Make seed-beds for cabbage. Cape broccoli, kale, endives, lettuces, and spinach, at this season, with the same precautions. Winter spinach should not be delayed; and though it is not unusual to mix the seeds of the smooth or round with those of the prickly variety, in order to keep up the supply, yet there is a third sort much more extolled, called by the French Epinard de Flandres a tres large feuilles — Flanders spinach, 'with smooth seeds, double spear-shaped leaves, ten to twelve inches long, six or eight inches broad, very succulent, hardy, and later in running to seed. Strasburg and Welsh onion — sow a good sprinkling, to supply the table during winter and early spring, for salads : also turnips, white turnip and Spanish radish, and mustard and cress. Cauhflower seed about the 14th, and again on the 21st day, in a protected quarter, where a frame and light can be put over it. At the earliest period plant out all the winter greens and celery; sow hardy Dutch, coss, and Bath lettuce for transplanting. Artichoke beds : look over the plants, and remove the lateral small heads, leaving only the best and strongest for use. Onions, if ripe, should be taken up, and laid with their roots facing the sun, under some dry airy shed. The ground is then to be trenched up and laid in ridge : in this way the land after every crop might be brought into a state of preparation, for by deep trenching and forking the bottom a layer of the freshest dung might be deposited and covered with soil, so as to convey to it the gaseous exhala- tions ; while the ridges might remain exposed to the weather. Work done in time lays the founda- tion of future good cropping, and the manure is I thus husbanded in a way most economical. Ever weed ought now to be eradicated, that the soil whether under crop or at rest, may be always clea: during the winter. As potatoes ripen, dig them, and examine ever tuber. I would recommend that the haulm b stowed in a heap, sprinkling every layer with sotD quicklime. What the crop may be when the* lines meet the eye, cannot now be predicted. 0 the 20th July I could discern no sign of " the spot, nor detect any of the oflfensive characteristic odou Many a plot has been condemned, merely becaus the signs of ripeness have been mistaken for thof of disease. Collect all the fragrant culinary and medicin herbs ; and after careful drying, suspend them ie cool and clean store-room. Fruit Department. Wall Trees. — Again examine all the best stQQi fruit trees ; secure the retained shoots to the wal under-net the trees to keep the ripening fruit fro faUing to the ground; suspend bottles of sweetem water or beer, to entrap wasps and flies. Th out grapes, retaining only the best bunches ; c back all laterals to one joint; the waste clustei and the young green cuttings, will make excelle wine, better even than the ripe fruit (see Macullo on wine). Strawberries. — No runner ought ever to prodii more than one young plant, and that should be t first from the parent. If then the plants have be duly attended to, each bearing-plant will have pr duced one, two, or three strong plantlets. showery period of August may be chosen as t best time to prepare new beds or rows. E deeply, manure at the bottom, and when the grou: has become a little firm, plant the runners wi balls, entire as possible, from two or three ft asunder. Then trim the old plots or rows, remc ing the lowest leaves, now out of oflice, by a slar s ing pull. Clear the surface, and scatter manur loam among and around the plants. Bud the fruit-trees, or stocks prepared for t i work. Let the state of the wood and scions (tl is the free rising of the bark) determine the ordc but in general they begin with cherries, to whi succeed plums, peaches, nectarines, pears, and a pies. The Vines now lipening their fruit in the Ia| houses ought to have plenty of air ; but how give it is the question. Sun light, uninterrupted that is, not refracted or decomposed by glass- the primary agent of colour and matured flavou yet if the top lights be dispensed with, wasps a flies wiU ruin the crop. Thin, open fabrics gause, and the hke, may afford the best protectio try all things — " experience teaches ;" but as ; THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. m t has not taught us how to combine protection, hat is, artificial conditions, with natural advantages. Tig-trees in and out of doors. — Train their shoots vhere required in open order, but under every :ircumstance avoid shortening; cut clean out, or retain the entire shoots that are supernumerary, Mal(e all fruit borders clean ; destroy weeds ; and keep the surface level. A neat walk of sand, yc fine ashes, as a convenience to the gardener, :lo8e to the walls, is perfectly admissible. Fruiting pines must have plenty of air ; succes- dons, warmth and moisture. The French treat- nent at Meudon, as described, with very rational ■omments, in the part lately published of the burnal of the Horticultural Society, affords evi- lence of the great importance of growing the plants a heath soil, aboundmg with vegetable matter, and I lunging, if not planting out, in a bed of the same I hat reposes upon, and receives the gaseous exhala- \ ons arising from a deep bed of stable manure. lere is the art ; and greatly am I mistaken if, in 1 the farm as well as the garden, we do not, in le long run (perhaps very soon), discover that 1 le bulk of all our fresh fennenting manures should e thickly deposited in trenches, many inches be- )\v the cropped soil, there to ferment slowly, and eliver their gases to the laborated soil above. ("ow, the products of decomposition pass into the ir, or are carried into pools and drains. We have et much to learn. But in the practice of a liberal conomy, the cultivator vnW surely obtain his best I emuneration. m. ' Ornamental Departments. I Bulbs take up, dry, and secure ; propagate, by ' division of roots, many of the fibrous rooted peren- lials — campions, rockets, double lychnis, gen- ianella, daisies, campanula, and such like — trim eatly, and always give fresh soil about the roots ; hen water freely. The granulous rooted saxifrage |s a pretty plant, and too seldom seen. Cut oflf the rooted carnation layers, and carefully |tlant them in pots of sandy loam, with some chalk .nd thoroughly reduced manure. The same may pe done with picotees, cloves, and pinks. Such plants, when their ball of roots is well formed, may jie most safely transferred to parterres or borders ; l»r they can be retained in a frame during winter. lore carnations may be layered, the shoots to re- lain round the mother stock till the spring. All he pink tribes (Dianthus) afFect chalk. Clip hedges, or rather brush them up, with a harp hook : a clever man can thus bring them into a good regular figure, with facility and safety i-shears crush and destroy many shoots. Cut the |)ox edgings, mow lawns, weed and roll walks. I Gather fiower seeds, and preserve them in the seed vessels after drying. Remove, by scissors, all the old shoots. Let neatness and order be pre- served every where. As a final remark, I distinctly say, that to this hour I discover nothing hke the disease of the po- toto in field or garden. Whole plots are either digged, or are under the spade as required, and the winter varieties seem very promising. The great heats have abated : the days are mostly overcast, air warm. Vegetable produce in the market gar- dens very ample — excepting peas, dried up ; and broad beans, if too late sown, much bhghted. July 21, J, Towers, Croydon. THE " GAPES" IN CHICKENS, — The " Gapes" is the incipient stage of roup. The Rev. Mr. Rham, in his " Dictionary of the Farm," says he had the trachea of a chicken which died of the gapes cut and opened, and he took out narrow worms, half-an-inch in length, which lay imbedded in a serous fluid. He further states that a medical gentleman, in the county of Kent, has frequently cured fowls of the same disease, by putting the upper part of a feather, stripped for the purpose, down the throat, turning it round, and thus bring- ing up the worm. The foUomng is the safest and easiest method of performing the operation : — Let some one take the chicken, holding it in one hand, and placing the other over its back so as to hold it firm. Then let the operator take a small but firm feather from a hen or pigeon, and strip it from the stem, excepting about an inch and a-half from the tip end, ac- cording to the size of the chicken, wetting it a little, except at the extreme point. The operator should then take the head of the chicken in the left hand, placing his thumb and forefinger on each side of the bill, in such a manner as to hold the mouth open; the neck being gently, but firmly drawn out in a straight line. Then observe the opening back in the tongue ; place the feather as near to it as possible, and when the chicken breathes the windpipe will be open, at which mo- ment enter the feather quickly, and push it down gently, but not in a hurry, from two to three inches; then draw it out, and in doing so turn it round ; by which means some of the worms ^vill adhere to the feathers, and others will be loosened that the chicken will sneeze them up and throw them from its mouth. It is not advisable to do it more than twice at the same time ; but, if the chicken gapes the day after, you may be sure there are some re- maining, and the operation must be repeated. — Mark Lane Express. ia« THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. A G R I C U L T U R A ] . REPORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR JULY. Many features of more than ordinary interest in connection with the agriculture of this country have presented themselves to the special notice of all classes of society during the whole of the pre- sent season ; yet we regard the past as one of the most important months we have had to record for a series of yeSrs past. In making these remarks it hecomes necessary that we should enter into a few details in connection with the features above alluded to, and, further, to illustrate the impor- tance of the month just brought to a close. It is, we presume^ a generally acknowledged fact that the produce of last year's wheat crop was by no means abundant, and that the yield of all kinds of Spring corn was miusually small. The position of the consumers became more perilous, from the great extent of the potato disease, the consequent misery and distress in Ireland, and the absolute necessity of exporting largely to that eountry in order to pre- vent absolute starvation there. The all-important question then arose, looking to the fact that France and other continental states were suffering from the effects of scarcity — where w tie w c Lu obtain ade- quate supplies of grain and flour to meet our pres- sing wants, and make good the deficiency in our own produce ? Many were the misgivings and doubts on this head ; and not a few persons, even including many of those intimately connected with the home and foreign corn trade, contended that it would be utterly impossible to procure such sup- plies as would prevent the long continuance of famine prices, and all the evils consequent thereon. But the xiew we have aU along taken of the threatened pressure has been a correct one. We have maintained that, notwithstanding all the diffi- culties which have presented themselves, the energy of those who deal largely in corn — including, of course, the speculators — would, under the influence of free trade, and the suspension of the navigation laws, make good the deficiencies here. But how has this been accomplished ? what has brought us large sup])lies here ? We answer, hiyh value j and it is a most fortunate circumstance for the country that such value was obtained in the early part of the year ; for had it not been, the abundant importations we have had occasion to notice from time to time would never have reached us. At the period wheat was selling at a very high price, that circumstance was regarded as a positive evil ; but how much better to experience a temporary than a continuous difficulty ! We have now, happily, pasaei a most trying season ; and we are looking forwar to the rapidly approaching harvest as a means c once again placing us in a position above want And here we shall endea\'our to show why the pat month has been a really important one. Durin. nearly the whole of it a great variety of rumour has been afloat respecting the appearance and pros- pects of the growing crops ; notwithstanding whicl prices, under the pressure of immense importation of corn and flour and the increased supplies of pu tatoes of excellent quality on offer in our variou mai'kets, have had a downward tendency. Its itn portance has been enhanced by the s])lendid wee ther experienced for nearly all kinds of vegetabl productions ; and we hesitate not to say that upo it has, in a great measure, depended the actu; yield of the present year's crops. So far, we hav progressed quite as favourably as the most sar guine in such matters could by possibility have dt sired ; the population has been fed, and the actu; distress felt by the labouring classes has nc equalled in intensity that pretty generally predicte at the commencement of the year. But we hav now to consider the condition in which w find the crops at this moment — a point, b the way, of the utmost possible importanc to the country generally, as respects th future — and, in doing so, we shall generalize th reports which have been transmitted to us by ou numerous correspondents in our large agricultura districts, and give the public the benefit of our per sonal observation. Although we cannot admit tha the wheat generally is diseased, we have every rea son to know that blight exists in very many quar ters, and which will tend to reduce the value an( quality of the crop. The produce may amount t( a/«n- average ; but we are not sanguine enough tt expect anything beyond it. As to barley, there ap pears every prospect of a good yield. Beans wil unquestionably be very deficient, as the fly bai committed serious ravages in nearly every district , Again the potato disease has in some instances ap- peared, though not to the same extent it did at tlu coiTesponding period last year; and, judging froii the experience of the past two years there is consi- derable doubt whether that portion of it to bt raised in September will prove a good keeping root. Should our antici])ations prove correct, it would, we conceive, be idle on our parts to assume that THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 189 the prices of grain, even though the imports of fo- reign may prove extensive, \vill rule very low during the next six or eight months. I Wheat cutting commenced in parts of Devon- ! shire as early as the l6th; but that operation was by no means general, even up to the close of the month. The condition of the few samples we have yet seen is good, but the weight is by no means heavy. A few patches of land have been cleared of their barley, oats, and peas ; but we regard the har- reet generally at least ten days later than was that 3f last year. I Nearly the whole of the crop of hay has been se- I ?ured in the southern and some of the eastern and nidland counties, and we may state that its produce 138 turned out remarkably good, both as respects laality and quantity. We therefore — particularly ,8 there is a very large quantity of old hay still to be ound on most farms — anticipate low prices for that leecription of produce for some time hence. The crop of grasses is turning out very produc- ive. Several samples of carraway, rapeseed, &c., lave been on otter in our various markets, and lave sold at fair prices. The produce of fruit >as proved a most abundant one. Having elsewhere detailed the state of the cattle rade, we have now only to intimate that our advices rem Ireland and Scotland are much of the same haracter as those to which we have above alluded ; lence it would be unnecessary for us to enlarge ipon them. lEVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. It is now more than six months since we had to eport a very decided advance in the value of both at and lean stock in nearly or quite the whole of be markets in this country ; and, during that pe- iod, notwithstanding the great and almost weekly ncrease in the arrivals of beasts and sheep, as well 1 8 lambs and calves, from abroad, prices have ruled ligher than at any corresponding season for a lumber of years past. This comparatively high ange of value is regarded by many persons as vidence of the graziers' prosperity imder the "peration of our present import laws ; but the fact 3, we have not yet regained the position, in respect 0 supply, we lost in 1844 and in the early part of 84.5. In those years, it will be recollected that mmense numbers of beasts and sheep were sent to narket, and disposed of at home, in less than a lalf.fat state, at a frightful sacrifice of money, 'wing to the want of adequate supphes of food, i'hich, in some parts of England, was selling at an normously high price. When, therefore, the ipringand summer of 1845 set in, many grazing [arms had not a suflScient supply of stock upon them to consume much more than half the available quantity of natural and other food. How was this difficulty to be met? We know of many flock- masters who travelled hundreds of miles to pur- chase sheep without being able to buy a single lot of stores, unless they at once made up their minds to lose several shillings per head by them. The buyers of store beasts found themselves in the same position. The consequence has been that from the period last above named up to the present time the actual number of beasts and sheep fattened for consumption has not eqvialled the wants of the consumers, notwithstanding two somewhat prolific lambing seasons have passed away. Who, then, can feel surprised that the present year has proved what may be justly termed a very dear one ? and who will venture to assert, upon sound data, that the agricultural body are obtaining higher prices for their stock than circumstances warrant ? The large arrivals from abroad are significantly pointed at as a powerful reason why the currencies ought to fall. Had our home supplies been adequately extensive, no doubt the arrivals in question would have had a depressing influence upon value. To solve this question the more readily, we shall draw one or two comparisons of the supplies exhibited in Smithfield cattle market (which undoubtedly governs the value in the provinces), and which will, we think, make it clear to the comprehension of all persons, that the grazing community are not ob- taining more than fair prices for their productions. We will, therefore, compare the numbers shown in the above market on the 26th of July, 1847, with those at the corresponding period in 1846. They were, we find, as under : — July 27, 1846. July 26, 1847. Beasts 3,680 3,176 Sheepand Lambs 35,090 28,420 Out of the supply exhibited on the latter day not less than 800 beasts, and 1,898 sheep and lambs, or a greater number by one-third than was brought forward at the same time in 1846, were derived from abroad ; and we should say that the actual weight of the home-fed supplies was cer- tainly less by one-fourth than last year. Thus it will be seen that the falling oflf" in the supply on Monday last was very great. This remark may be ai)plied with equal force to almost every other mar- ket held during the present year. Aj>ain, Newgate and Leadenhall, owing to the prevailing hot wea- ther, have been very scantily supplied with dead meat ; and it is a well known fact that the supplies of live animals about to be received this year from the northern districts will be small, for the all- important reason that those on most farms are very limited. We have deemed it necessary to make these observations, in order that the public o 190 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. luind might not be misled by the ignorant sophistry of contemporary prints. 'J'he high rates at which stock has ])een disposed of in Smithfiehl and else- where have, doubtless, produced the large arri\'als from al)road, to which we shall presently more par- ticularly allude, and which will be fonnd great beyond all recollected precedent. That those im- ports have paid the speculators in the nr/r/re(/ate is quite certain, although some hundreds of lambs, imported in a very lean state, have been disposed of at no more than six s'lil/ini/s per head, and which have been mostly purchased for grazing purposes. Inquiries have been made of us, what the D utch gra- ziers did with their sujjerfluous stock, prior to the measure passing our Legislature admitting it for consumption here. Our readers must bear in mind that stock on the continent, pre- viously to the passing of the act in question, was never fattened to its present state of perfection, if such a term may he apphed to it, as its quality and condition are still inferior to our own ; because meat is there consumed more frequently in a half- fat than in any other state. The supply actually produced as to weight was, therefore, by no means so large as many jtarties have imagined, and the numbers considerably less than at present; be- sides which, France and Belgium were formerly large customers to the Dutch. The shipment of the supplies, which we have detailed from time to time, has, as might be expected, tended to advance the prices of stock abroad very materially, as it is estimated, on good authority, that they have risen quite one-third since the beginning of last year. Of late several exports of some of our best beasts and sheep have been made to Holland and Germany, the produce of which may be fully expected in the course of time. During the month just concluded the following imports have taken place in the metropolis ; but we must observe that the whole of them, from many cargoes having been sent into l)rivate hands, have not been exhibited in Smith- field :— Head. Beasts :^,304 Sheep 11,391 Lambs 756 Calves 1,458 Pigs 2 Total 16,911 At the outports the arrivals have been as un- der: — Head. Beasts 2,780 Sheep and lambs 4,000 Calvi. 8 .240 Pigs '. ho Total , . . 5^,340 From the above it will be seen that the grand total of the importations into England from abroad since our last month's reriew has been not less than 24, '2 51 head of every kind of stock. At least two- thirds of the supplies have been derived from Hol- land, the remainder from Germany, with two car- goes from Spain. At the same period in 1845 the arrivals were only 2,000, but in 1846 they had in- creased to 5,260. On further analyzing these im- portations we find that in the thirty days ending on the 27th inst. they exceeded those of the first seven months in 1846 by nearly 5,000 head. We regret to state that, notwithstanding the abundance of natural food in our large grazing counties, thf epidemic has been committing seiious ravage.' amongst stall-fed as well as depastured sheep anc beasts ; hence most of the graziers are now wiselj turning their attention to the importance and valm of cattle insurance.* As we have before observed the supply of home-fed stock on sale in Smithfiek market has been small compared with that of for mer seasons ; owing to which, and the great defi ciency in quality, the demand, especially for th( best qualities, has ruled very firm, and m some in stances the quotations have had an upward ten dency, and good clearances have been effected 01 each day. Complaints respecting the mode ii which the sheep die are very general, and not with out a cause ; for the fact is, production, even witl the aid of additional quantities of cake, does no keep pace with the demand. COMPARISON OF THE SUPPLIES EXHIBITED A'. | SMITHFIELD. j; July, 1846. July, 1847..'' Head. Head. Beasts 15,876 15,773 Cows 577 586 ' Sheep and lambs 184,510 153,290 Calves 2,837 3,693 Pigs 1,727 2,228 DISTRICT ARRIVALS. The following arrivals of beasts have takei place at Smithfield from the various grazing dis tricts since our last : — Head. Northern districts .... 2,720 Norfolk, &c 3,200 Western and Midland Counties. . 1,400 ■ Other parts of England 2,050 " Scotland 860 COMPARISON OF PRICES. Per 8lbs. to sink the offals. June, 1846. June, 1847, s. d. s. d. s. d. 8. d Beef, from . . 2 10 to 4 4 . . 3 8 to 5 ' Mutton .... 2 10 — 4 4 .. 4 0-— 5 Lamb 4 8 — 5 10 .. 5 2 — 6 Veal 3 6 — 4 6 .. 4 4 — 5 Pork 3 4 — 4 10 .. 4 0 — 5 ' * See aflvertisement "Farmers' and Graziers' Cattl Insurance Association." I THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 191 Xewgate and Leadenhall markets have been \ery scantily supplied with each kind of meat, the de- mand for which has ruled firm, at very full prices. Beef has sold al. from 3s. 4d. to 4s. 4d. ; mutton, 38.'lOd. to 5s.; lamb, 5s. to Gs. 2d.; veal, 4s. to 'fts. 2d. ; and pork, 3s. Sd. to os. per 8lbs. by the carcass. July2?>th, 1847. NORTH AND SOUTH NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. The quantity of land sown with wheat, including the ! spring sowing, is somewhat beyond the usual average ; but the wintir crops have suffered from the severe w inter and S))ring on strong soils ; still, their luxuriant appear- ance (and more particularly the spring-sown) promises more than an average crop, while those of the forest, and thin soils, show a fine prospect, and a greater yield is expected than for years past. Barley is sown to a greater extent than usual ; the appearance on strong I lands indicates more than average crops, while those of hot and thin soils are treble that of last year (on the fo- I rest lands — say neighbourhood of Worksop and Ret- ford), where only 12 to 16 bushels grew last year, 5 to 7 I imperial quarters are calculated upon per statute acre, '• and, collectively, more than an average crop is antici- i pated. The breadth of land sown with oats is rather under au average extent, yet most prolific in appearance, and full crops on all soils are fully expected. Rye was I sown to greater extent than usual, and the length of straw and corn ears far surpasses last year. Peas were extensively planted, and the green crop has turned out unusually abundant, and those of the maple and grey kind present a most luxuriant appearance, but attacked by the fly, and will only be three-fourths of a crop. Beans are covering the usual proportion of soils, which, fourteen days back, promised a great crop, but are dreadfully at- tacked by the " smother-fly," and notwithstanding the heavy thunder showers, accompanied by lightning, on the 9th instant, the crops have suffered to an amazing extent, and according to present appearances, on the j early planted soils, will not exceed haU' an average crop ; while those of the late planted, not more than one-third of a crop ; and a few instances have occurred a few miles from Nottingham, where the seed will scarcely be rea- lized. One field has been cut down, and the land cleared preparatory to a fallow crop. In fact, the writer had eight statute acres of the present crop of beans offered in Nottingham market last Saturday for three pounds ! Notwithstanding the destruction of beans by the insects before stated, where a mixture of peas was planted with the beans, the insects leave the peas totally untouched. In the North Clays the hops are dreadfully infested with similar insects as the beans, and the growers give little hopes of a crop ; but the ultimate crops of the latter, as well as beans, now depend upon wet or dry weather. Of the crops of corn generally it is necessary to state that, from their present luxuriant state, they possess greater length of straw, and bear an unusual show of flag ; they require a continuance of dry and forcing weather to bring them to proper maturity. Should wet weather take place, and continue for any length of time, it. would prove destructive to the white crops. Even with a continuance of the present fine weather, from the unusual length and strength of sap in the straw in all corn crops, tbe harvest will be protracted fourteen days later than the average of sea- sons, and it will probably be from fourteen to twenty- one days before a general harvest takes place inNotting- liamshire. On the forward lands of this county— say at Fiskerton, Cromwell, North and South Muskham, Col- lingham, near Newark-upon-Trent, &c. — from the pre- sent forcing weather, oat-cutting has partially com- menced, and in solitary instances also on the soils in the neighbourhood of Blyth, Worksop, and some forest lands. Wheat will fall to the sickle by the middle of next week on any hot soils, and is not without a partial blight. The stock of wheat in the farmers' h mds is birger than is generally thought, and they are anxious to sell at present prices. - J. G. — Newark, July 24, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. The wheat crops since our last have rapidly progressed, and it is calculated by some that the sickle will be at work in the course of a fortnight in some of the early districts. The most heterogeneous and conflictmg ac- counts are still current from different parts of the county from the destructive ravages of the " red-gum," and some farmers have been heard to affirm that 20 bushels per acre cannot be adequately realized in districts where it is most prevalent. Every available effort has subse- quently been made to ascertain the real prospect and position of the potato crops, and from an amount of ci'editable testimony, emanating as it does from the most respectable sources, it would appear that the disease of antecedent years has indicated itself in the locality of Nainswick and the contiguous neighbourhood ; to use the words of our informant — " the haulms not only being literally blasted, but the tul)ers being in a rotten and putrescent state." The bean crops are still rapidly ] declining, being now excluded from the probability of ! ever approximating even to the remotest stage of con^ valescence. A respectable farmer occupying a conside- j rable area of arable land in the county informed the writer of this report to-day that he himself had mown down 22 acres of his beans, and that others were follow- ing his example as a necessary expedient. The gi'eat desideratum now is fine and favourable weather for the harvesting of the wheat crops. — July 24. WOOL FAIRS. EPPING WOOL FAIR. This annual fair was held on Friday, and proved itself, as it ever has been, a thorough business meeting. The total number of fleeces oflfered wa.s 6,914, and with the exception of a few lots, these were all disposed of before the close of the day, the price, in many instances, being ^d. per !b. higher than at the Chelmsford fair, tegs fetching 124d. and ewes lO^d. At two o'clock a good party of agriculturists and dealers sat down to an excellent dinner, Mr, W. Kirkby took the chair, and amongst those present were — Messrs. J. Scruby, Thomas Hart, J. Collins, Savill, J. Gray, G. Gingeil, Jas. Gingell, W. Hart, 'I'. Mills, Graves, J, Clarke, G. Hooper, T. F Hart, Bell, Waite, Kybom, &c. Mr. J. Stallibrass acted as vice-president. After the loyal toasts, the Chairm.\n gave " The health of the wool-buyers," who, he said, he had no doubt were anxious to do business, and that they should be able satisfactorily to carry out the object of the day — the fair sale of their wool. (Drunk with cheers.) 102 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The Chairman, assisted bj' Mr. Scruby, then proceeded to business, B. B. Colvin, Esq., Waltham Abbey, 74 ewes and wethers : sold to Mr. Oram at 9Jd. Mr. W. C. Kirkby, North Weald, 110 down ewes, and 250 down tegs. OflFered to Mr. Bell, who bid lOid. for the ewes, and Is, for the tegs. Mr. Kirkby said he wanted Is. all round. The lot was eventually sold to Mr. Bell at 10|d. to Is. Mr. Jonathan Savill, Theydon, 8 down ewes, 88 tegs — 96. Offered to Mr, Waite, who bid lOd. and Is. for them . Mr. Savill said he would take Is all round, and they were sold to Mr. Waite at that price. Mr. T. Hart, sen., North Weald, 152 down ewes. Sold to Mr. Waite at lOd. Mr. W, Hart, North Weald, 45 down ewes. Sold to Mr. Wait at the same price. Mr. F. P. Hart, Matching, 168 down tegs. Offered to Mr. Bell at 12id. Mr, Bell offered Is., which was eventually accepted. Mr. Payne, North Weald, 96 down tegs. Sold to Mr, Waite at Is. Mr. P. Mills, Sewardstone, 32 down tegs. Sold to Mr. Waite at Is. Mr, John Stallibrass, North Weald, 65 down tegs, 75 down ewes, 238 down wethers. Offered to Mr. Bell at lid. all round. Mr. Bell said, if Mr. Stallibrass would give him two sovereigns back, he would give it. There were 15 fo- reigners amongst them. Mr. Stallibrass said he had had foreign wool, and did not want any more. Mr. Bell might have the sheep with them if he liked. Mr. Bell : I will have them. Mr, Stallibras : They are sold — 11 foreign sheep at lid. per lb. (loud laughter). 3 1 was understood Mr. Bell took the wool at the price. Mr. George Gingell, Bobbingworth, 53 down ewes, and 27 down tegs. Mr. Gingell said he would take lO^d. for the downs, and there were 1 7 French that Mr. Waite should have at his own price, Mr. Waite said he would give lOd. altogether. They were eventually sold to him at lO^d. and 8d, Mr. Chilton, Loughton, 80 Cheviot ewes, and 53 half- bred tegs. Sold to Mr, Waite at lOd, and Is. Mr. Wm. Burrell, 21 half-bred tegs, 21 Cheviots, 28 Scots wethers. Sold to Mr, Waite at 9Jd. Mr. Kyborn, 52 down ewes. Sold to Mr. Bell at lO^d. Mr. J. Rickett, 70 half-bred ewes. Sold to Mr. Bell at lO^d. Mr. Humphries' wool was sold to Mr. Waite, at Is. lOd., and 8d. for the Dutch. The lots of wool were gone through again, and the following were sold : — Mr, Gould's at Is. and lOd, to Mr. Waite, Mr. T. Stokes's, at the price of the day, to Mr. Bell. Mr. Scruby's to Mr, Bell at lOd. and 9d, Mr. Collins's to Mr. Bell at lO'd and Is, Mr. Clark's at lO^d. and Is. to Mr. Bell, Mr. Rose's at 12^d. to Mr. Waite. Mr. Church's to Mr, Bell at Is., lOd., and 8d, ■ Mr. Capel Cure's to Mr. Waite, at lO^d. and Is. W. W. Maitland's, Esq., 40 ewes, at lOd. to Mr, Bell, This closed the business, nearly all the lots being sold ; and after enjoying another convivial hour the company separated, EPSOM WOOL FAIR,— On Wednesday last the above fair and dinner took place. There was a very good attendance of buyers, and the number of fleeces offered for sale were about 11,000. The average prices were ewe fleeces lid., and tegs Is. O^d. About sixty gentlemen sat down to dinner, presided over by David Barclay Esq., M.P., and among those present we ob- served Messrs. Robinson, J. Shay, T. Weale, S. Pagden, Jones, Gadesden, Cressingham, W. Everest, Charles Hall, T. Richardson, T. Hall, Weale, jun., Butcher, Kingsford, White, Tubbs (London), T. Pagden, Ike, Mr. D. Maydwell, of Leatherhead, occupied the vice- chair. The buyers present were Messrs. Gibbs, Powell, Moore, Homersham, Newsome, Morreu, &c. After the usual loyal toasts, the chairman gave the business speech of the evening, which we regret want of space prevents our giving in full. We cannot, however, omit the following pertinent i-emarks. He said, "They might, perhaps, look upon him as an inexperienced farmer. He would not assume so perfect a knowledge of that business as, doubtless, many ai-ound him possessed; but he had a taste and inclination for it, and he had ap- plied himself principally to the improvement of sheep. (Hear, hear.) He had purchased his stock from the best flocks in the country, and he would venture to as- sert, however conceited it might appear, that even in Sussex, a better flock of ewes than his could not be pro- duced. (Cheers.) Knowing what might be made of a good flock, he only offered this confirmation of what he had said by stating that upon several occasions his flock had successfully competed with many flocks in Sussex, and next week he should send some to the great agri- cultural show at Northampton ; and if he did not obtain a prize, the sheep would be no discredit to the county from which they came. (Loud cheers.) His anxious wish was that his brother farmers should, as far as they thought it judicious, follow the example he had set them, and to endeavour to improve their flocks by breeding from pure high-bred sheep. (Hear, hear.) He had, consequently, paid large prices for his sheep, and he had been thought very foolish by his neighbours for so doing ; but he was quite persuaded, by experience, that by breeding pure Southdown sheep from the best flocks and the best rams, it was the most profitable sheep breeding that could be followed. (Hear, hear.) There was an old and very common saying that the proof of the pudding was in the eating of it. (Cheers and laughter.) Now, the fact was, he had paid Mr. Jonas W^ebb sixty guineas for the hiring of a ram, and ten guineas a piece to the Duke of Richmond for ewes, and he would assure them that the returns had fully compensated him for the outlay he had made. (Cheers.) He found that the high-bred pure flock fattened much faster than the coarse-bred flock ; and he also found that sheep which were well bred commanded a price which other sheep could not obtain. ' ' After a good share of business was transacted the meeting separated. CROYDON WOOL FAIR.— We could only hear of five buyers being present : Mr. C. Legg, Bermond- sey ; Mr. Powell ; Messrs. Gibbs ; Mr. Lewis; who left early without doing anything ; and Mr. Moore, Epsom, who came late, and did httle. Amongst the sellers were : Mr. Brown, Chelsham Court ; Mr. W^eall, Wood- cote; Mr. Rowland, Coulsdon; Mr. Still, Langhams; Mr. Gutteridge, Beckenham ; Mr. Stenning, Godstone ; Mr. Stringer, Cudham ; Mr. Gould, Merstham ; Mr. Ross, Agent to Sir W. Jolliffe, M.P., Merstham ; Mr. Fuller, Addington ; Mr. Budgen, Merstham ; Mr. Rutley, ' Smitham ; Mr. Walter, Sanderstead ; Mr. Streeter, Sanderstead ; Mr. Washbourne, Godstone ; Mr. Pim, Mitcham ; Mr. Shawcross, Banstead ; Mr. Holl, Ban- stead ; and many other equally extensive flockmasters. The chair was occupied by Charles Bleadon, Esq. On the removal of the cloth, the Chairman, having given the usual loyal toasts, said he thought there was a short supply to-day, and offered his wool (he had only 200 ewes) at ll|d., to Mr. Powell, which was accepted (applause). Mr. Steyning offered 295 tegs and 325 THE FARiMER'S MAGAZINE. 193 wethers, at Is., to Mr. Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs accepted, and hii health was drunk accordingly. Mr. Brown offered 620 tegs, 200 wethers, and 460 ewes, at Is. all round. Mr. Gibbs accepted. It was announced that Mr. Pow- ell had taken Mr. Walker's (Anerly) tegs, at Is. O^d. Mr. Rowland offered 646 ewes and 180 tegs, at Is. Mr. Gibbs offered llfd. Mr. Rowland, as a fair price, perhaps, for the day, accepted it. Mr. Simpson, Cater- ham, sold 200 tegs, at 12^d., and 30 wethers, at lOd., to Mr. Moore. The Chairman then left the chair, and the meeting broke up. During the morning, or at the dinner, almost every fleece offered was sold. LEICESTER WOOL FAIR was held on June 30. The quantity of wool pitched was not so large IS that of last year, and we have heard several gentlemen itate that the quality was rather inferior, which was in lome measure attributed to the late severe winter. There vas a large number of buyers present fiom Yorkshire ind other places. A brisk trade was carried on through- )ut the day, at prices which rather exceeded the expecta- ions of some of the wool-growers ; and in the evening luly six or seven lots remained unsold. The fair upon he whole was considered a good one. Number of leeces pitched, 15,332. as given in (some parties not laving sent in their number) ; fleeces pitched and reighed, 3,181 tods, 141 lbs. ; sold, 2,898 tods 271bs. ; iDsold, 282 tods 15^1bs. The prices ranged from 22s. 0 30s. per tod ; the average price per tod was 25s. I vbout four o'clock a select party of gentlemen sat down I 0 an excellent dinner. Amongst the gentlemen present I ?e noticed the Hon. H. W. Wilson, J. King, Esq., C. 1^ Morris, Esq., T. Miles, Esq., R. Miles, Esq., ■lessrs. G. Kilby, H. Chamberlain, — Simpkin, sen., loby, — Simpkin, jun., R. Carver, sen., R. Carver, an., Wilmore, Johnson, Enderby, T. Johnson, R. Vhattoff, J. Whattoff, &c., &c. The Hon. H. W, Vilson occupied the chair, and Mr. Simpkin, of Hoby, he vice-chair. The Chairman then gave the usual loyal oasts. Mr. G. Kilby returned thanks on behalf of the Stewards, and observed, with regard to the wool fair chich had taken place that day, he thought it was rather iifferent from previous years. At the last fair there was Qore than double the quantity of wool pitched than in he year before last. The reason so little wool was irought this year was on account of the present stagna- ion in trade throughout the whole of the manufacturing listricts, and the depressed state of the money market ; )esides, wool-growers were looking forward to the time vheu trade would be different, and the raw material nore in demand, so as to justify them in offering the vhole of their wool for sale. He had been a wool grower ince this fair had been established, and he must say that hey owed a large debt of gratitude to their worthy Jhairman, for his exertions and the trouble he had taken n establishing this fair (Hear, hear, and applause). The i'air was beneficial to the wool growers, because it es- ■ablished a regular sort of price ; while before its establish- nent many of them, especially the small growers, sold ;heir wool at a great disadvantage. He thought they should not complain of the price obtained for the wool :hatday, although it might be from 10 to 15 per cent, ower than last year, and that they might congratulate ;hemselves, amongst all the vicissitudes that had hap- leaed, that they were not placed in a worse position. The next toast proposed by the Chairman was ' ' Success 0 the Wool Fair." It being now nearly seven o'clock, md the fair not being brought to a close, the company separated. LEIGHTON-BUZZARD WOOL FAIR was ex- :eedingly well attended. The quantity of wool pitched was 49,052 fleeces, being 10,565 less than last year ; but this may be attributed partly to the low ])rices which it wag expected would be offered, and partly owing to the fineness of the weather, which kept a great many farmers in their hay fields. This fair has become one of the largest fairs in the kingdom. It was on this occasion attended by a large number of buyers from Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds, Leicester, and many other places ; all of whom evinced a great eagerness to buy, The whole of the wool brought to the fair in bulk, with one or two exceptions, met with an early sale ; the Yorkshiremen buying almost all they could lay their hands on, and gave even better prices than were anticipated ; whilst many of those who brought only a sample were excluded from the advantages gained by those who brought their lots in bulk. This circumstance caused some little asto- nishment amongst many farmers, who declared they would always again bring their wool in bulk. The fol- lowing list, showing the number of fleeces brought in each year since its formation in 1839, will show the pro- gress of this first-rate fair:— In 1839, 31,580 fleeces; 1840, 49,230; 1841, 37,364: 1842, 39,603; 1843, 71,705; 1844, 58,798; 1845, 58,251; 1846, 59,617; 1847, 49,052. Two pieces of plate were offered to the two largest purchasers at the fair ; one a handsome silver coffee-pot, and the second a beautifully chased silver ink-stand. Mr. Varley, of Leeds, who had pur- chased 5,255 fleeces, brought forward his tickets, and being the only one who did so, the first prize, viz., the coffee-pot, was awarded to him. The second prize, the ink -stand, was not awarded to any one; and was left in the hands of the secretary, to be disposed of in such a manner as the committee of management should think fit. At the dinner, the chaii' was taken by Colonel Gil- pin, the president of the West Beds and East Bucks Agricultural Society ; supported on his right by Lord C, J. F. Russell, M.P. ; P. Dauncey, Esq. ; T. Ben- nett, Esq. ; S, Bennett, Esq. ; and J. D. Bassett, Esq.|; and on the left by B. Disraeli, Esq. ; Rev. W. B. Wroth ; Rev. J. W. Mead ; Joseph Lucas, Esq. ; Messrs. W. Bennett, J. Paine, Paxton, and Osborn. Amongst the company we observed many of the leading agriculturists of the county ; including James Thomas, Esq. ; Messrs. Thomas Procter, Circuite, Rock, Atter- bury, McA.dams, Fole, Ginger, &c., &c. The vice -chair was taken by Mr. John Huit. After several toasts were given and responded to, the meeting separated. HE MEL HEMPSTEAD WOOL FAIR, June 25. — The quantity of wool for sale, both by bulk and sam- ple, was nearly 20,000 fleeces, of which E. F. Whitting- stall, Esq., sent 2,200 ; the Earl of Verulam near 1000; the Earl of Essex, between 300 and 400 ; Mr. N. Hat- ley, nearly 900 ; Mr. Cooley, nearly 800. Trade on the whole ruled rather dull, though there were anxious buyers, but on lower terms than last year, the highest price given for the best sample being 30s. per tod. ABINGDON WOOL FAIR.— The annual fair for the sale of wool took place on Monday, when there was a large quantity of wool exhibited, the whole of which was sold : mixed wool fetching from 25s. to 288. per tod, and teg wool of first-rate quality, from 28s. to 30s. per tod. More than the usual number of dealers were present. A numerous party assembled to dinner ; J. B. Barrett, Esq., one of the stewards, chairman: and Mr. James Tyrrell, the other steward, vice-chairman. There were also present, C. J. Eyston, T. Norris, W. D. Belcher. J. Hai-ris, J. Trendell, J. Hyde, jun., J. B. King, W. Dewe, Esqrs. ; Messrs. Powell, Stone, Robey, W. Williams, J. Williams, and many other gen- tlemen agriculturists present. KETTERING WOOL FAIR.— Owing to the bad state of trade and other circumstances, very little busi- ness was done, at about the same prices as at North ampton. A numerous and most respectable company sat down to an excellent dinner, W, T. Maunsell, Esq., in the chair. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. NAMES OF PARTIES TO WHOM PRIZES SHORT-HORNS. Class 1. — First Prize £30, for best Bull Second do. £15 2.— First Prize £20, for best Bxill Second do. £15 „ 3. — Prize £15, for best Cow . . . „ 4. — Prize £15,forbestIn-calf Heifer „ 5. — Prize £10, for best Yearling do „ 6.— Prize £10, for best Bull Calf. . HEREFORDS. Class 1.— First Prize £30, for best Bull Second do. £15 2.— Prize £20, for best Bull 3. — Prize £15, for best Cow 4. — Prize £15, for best In-calf Heifer 5. — Prize £10, for best Yearling do 6.— Prize £10, for best Bull Calf. . DEVONS. Class 1.— First Prize, £30, for best Bull . Second do. £15 „ 2.— Prize £20, for best Bull . „ 3. — Prize £15, for best Cow. „ 4. — Prize £15, for best In-calf Heifer „ 5. — Prize £10, for best Yearling do. „ 6.— Prize £10, for best Bull Calf CATTLE OF ANY BREED. Class 1.— First Prize £20, for best Bull . Second do. £10 „ 2.— Prize £1 5, for best BuU . „ 3. — Prize £15, for best Cow. „ 4. — Prize £10, for best In-calf Heifer „ 5. — Prize £10, for best Yearling do. „ 6.— Prize £10, for best Bull Calf. . HORSES. Class 1 . — First Prize £30, for best Stal- lion for Agricultural purposes Second do. £15 Class 2. — Prize £15, for best 3-year old „ 3. — Prize £15, for best 2-year old „ 4.— First Prize £20, for best Mare & Foal for Agricultural pixrposes Second do. £10, for next best „ 5.— Prize£10, for best 2-yi-. old FiUy „ 6. — Prize £30, for best thorough- bred Stallion SHEEP — Leicesters. Class 1.— First Prize £30, for best Shear ling Ram Second do. £15 „ 2.— First Prize £30, for best Ram. . Second do. £15 „ 3.— First Prize £10, for best Five Shearling Ewes , Second do. £5 south down sheep. Class 1. — First Prize £30, for best Shear- ling Ram Second do. £15 „ 2.— First Prize £30, for best Ram Second do. £15 „ 3.— First Prize £10, for best Five Shearlhig Ewes Second £5 LONR-WOOLLED SHEEP. Class 1.— First Prize £30, for best Shear- ling Ram Second do. £15 , „ 2.— First Prize £30, for best Ram Second do. £15 „ 3.— First Prize £10, for best Five Shearling Ewes ..... Second do. £5 PIGS. Class 1.— Prize £10, for best Large Boar Second do. £5 „ 2.— Prize £10, for best Smali Boar Second do. £5 „ S. — Prize £10, for Ijest Large Breed iug Sow „ 4.— Prize £10, for best Small do.! '. „ 5.— Piize £10, for best Large Sows „ (J.— Prize £10, for best Small Sows J. W. Peters M. PauU . . . . M. Paull . . . . M. Paull . . . . J. Putland . . , No Candidate , T. Stephens . . , W. Cother . . , T. Freeman'. 1839, 0.\FORU. Mr. T. Bates . . . . Mr. T. Bates . . . . Mr. T. Bates . . . . Mr. T. Bates . . . . Marquis of Exeter Mr. T. Jeffi-ies. . . . M. Paull R, Hortin J. Osborne Not adjudged S. Bemiett T. Inskip . . John Earl R. Archer T. Umbers James Maton James Maton Charles Large , W. Slatter . . , Charles Large , J. Hewer . C. Large . C. S. Lefevre G. Carringtou . R. Smallbones. 1840,C.VMBKIUGE. W. Paul R. M. Jaques T. Bates C. Arbuthnot . . R. I\I. Jaques . . T. Bates 1841, LivEKPOOL.j 1842, Bristol. T. Bates ' J. Parkinson T. Forrest J. Dawson [Rev. C. Mordaunt , Duke of Bedford Sir H. Hoskyns Sir H. Hoskyns F. Hewer Mr. Porter Duke of Norfolk . , T. Umbers Mr. Turner Mr. Turner T. Stepliens Mr. Putland . . Sir E. Kerrison J. Putland J. Putland J. Putland . . . . J. Putland J. BeU , T. N. Catlin .... J. Reynolds. S. Bennett . J. Bennett . Mr. Pawlett. Mr. Inskip . Mr. Pawlett. Duke of Richmond T. Crisp T. Crisp J. Webb J. Webb Rev. J. Linton. . . . E. Smith Mr. Barnard, M.P. J. Booth J. Booth . . . , J. Forrest . , J. C. Etches P. Morris . J. Walker .... Eari Talbot Sir H. Hoskyns J.Walker .... Sir H. Hoskyns C. Gil)bs T. Umbers G. Timier G. Turner J. King . . W. Daniel W. Stace . . W. Ellison J. King . , J. Woolf . , W. Hayward T. Chrisp... Eari Talbot . T. Chrisp.. . Earl Derby . Earl Derby . T. Inskip". T. Inskip". J. Webb . . . . S. Grantham J. Webb . . . . J. Webb . . . . S. Webb S. Webb C. Large , J. Hewer , E. Smith . T. Wells , C. Large , E. Smith . J. Dawson . . 1. Higginson J. Booth . . . , J. Forrest . R. M. Jaques J. Yeomaus J. Price J. Price J. Yeomans Rev. J. R. Smythies J. Walker J. S. Bult . . . C. H. Webber. T. Stephens . . . J. duartley . . . J. Quartley . . . J. Davy T. Child M. W. B. Nugent R. P. Rich R. P. Rich T. J. Pensam .... M. W. B. Nugent J. Neeld, M.P. . . H. Heath & J.C.Gadd R. Daintree . G. Tliomas Duke of Marlboroiigb R. Daintree H. Reeve. J Bennett S. Bennett S. Bennett J. Bennett No Award No Award S. Grantham J. Webb . . . , J. Webb . . . . J. Harris . . . , Webb . Beaveu T. Umbers E.G.Barnard.... C. Large , C. Large . T. Wells , C. Large , E. Smith , C. Large . i J. Tomlinsou E. G. Barnard, M.P. J. Tomlinsou . . . . . E. G. Barnard, M.P. HAVE BEEN AWARDED AT THE SEVERAL COUNTRY SHOWS OF THE SOCIETY. 184o, Dkrbv. fl. G. Barnard (. Forrest I. Cooper. . r. Craftoii r. Craftoii H. Watson r. Jeffries I. Walker W.Perry, r. Jeffries I. Walker W Jeffries ;. Tiiruer . '. Umbers . '. Re)'iiolds. !. Tiiruer !. T)U'ner . '. Turner . . Hextal r. Daniel ■0 Award . Pratt like of Buckingham . . cv. C. Thompson . . . . , HowsLu Gallon . Cutler . [. Ingle . 1 . Bean . . Stokes. Cliester . A. I'awlett . . . . A. Pawlett . . . . P. Stone . P. Stone 11 W. B. Cooke. ir AV. B. Cooke. . Webb . . . . |.Webb .... [i. Saiuburv L Webb ..'. . . Webb luke of Riclimond , 1. Smith . Ixors. W. ;. Smith . .. Smith . . Large . .. Smith . Faulkner I. Cartw-right <'. Pusey, M.P. JV.F. Hobbs .. '.Alkin .Juke of Devonshire. '. B. Shilcock K- F- Hobbs W. Perry .... G. Brown J. N. Carpenter G. Drake T. N. Carpenter J. AValker .... W. Brine T. Jenner T. Dowdeu Hon. 31. W. B. Nugent Duke of Buckingham . . W. J. Calhoun T. Catliu Earl of St. Gennains Lord St. John . 1844, Sot rii VMi'TON. J. Cooper W. G. Havter, M.l'. . . W. Foalds J. Booth Duke of Devonshire . . R. Booth W. Fowle . . . G. W. Roberts W. Fowle . . . R. Curtis . . J. G. Watkuis . T. E. Pawlett . T. E. Pawlett . T. E. Pawlett . J. G. Watkms.. J. Beasley .... J. Weblj Duke of Richmond . J. Beaven, jun S. Grantham Duke of Richmond . . . . D. Barclay, M.P C. Large . C. Large . E. Handy E. Smith . E. Smith Rev. J. Linton Lieut.-Colonel Thornhill P. Pusev, M.P W. F. Hobbs T. M. Goodlake .... 1S45, f!n consignment ; and we must therefore calculate '» further important supplies from the other sid of the Atlantic. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 199 URRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. July 26. 67 67 7a White Wliite , HKAI') Essex & Kent, red Norfolk and Sutfolk., it, ' new jDUaCoitK 43 vBiBV, Chevalier, new — Distilling 44 Scotch 43 ALl'i Brown 68 '^ ware pale 69 xTSt English, feed 28 Irish, feed 27 1)0., Potato 30 Scotch, feed 33 UNS, Tick.. 44 46 Harrow ;»s, Essex and Kent, white boilers, new. Maple, new 48 50 Blue Grey or Hoe; 4.5 48 Do. non-boilers (iru. Town-made and first country marks, per sack Korfolk and SaflToIk • -Stockton and Yorkshire • 44 65 71 32 30 32 35 . 47 48 Extra Malting ... Grinding ., Irish Pale Suffolk & Norfolk Chevalier . . Potato, &c. Xew New Potato . . . Piseon FOREIGN. {f^Xj^T, Danzic and Konigsberg, finest high mixed .... .Do. mixed.. 6.5 69 Saale Marks, Anliault i Silesian and Stettin 64 67 Mecklenburg.. Pomeranian.... 66 71 Polish Odessa .. RtEY, Hamburg Konigsberg, Dantzig, and Russian malting Do. distilling and grinding tSJ Dutch and Friesland, Brew or Poland Danish or Swedish Eussian and Mecklenburg .. lAKB, Small or Pigeon ... 47 51 Egyptian..., lAS, white boiling.. none Grey or hog .. tbUR, Danzic, per brl. of 196 lbs , ., American 32 35 Canadian 66 75 65 69 CO 71 01 93 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. Week ending Wheat. Barley trrejfate avei-n he six weeks which ej^uliitea tlie duty. ' 3Tnparative Averag:e. rue time last year Oats. Rye. Beans. 34 1 67 1 57 8 33 9 76 11 57 5 32 II 64 II 57 8 32 10 65 0 54 0 31 II 61 9 53 0 29 7 67 9 52 1 32 6 67 3 55 5 ; 23 7 38 8 37 4 PRICES OF SEEDS. July 26. There was a good supply of new Carraway and a few mples of Rapeseed, of thi.s year's growth. The price the former may be quoted 38s. to 40s., and of the Itter 30/. to 32/. per last. In other article.? there was I tie or nothing passing. |ipeseed, Sr'l. 32/. nseed, English, sowing 50 inseed, Baltic, 48 50 iiistard, per bush., wliite 8 ' rraway, 88 88 new, 38 |;mpseed, 85 88 per qr. |.nary, t;0 61 tine, 62 61 'nseed Cakes, English \3I. Irish, —I, — I. 60 crushing 46 49 per qr. Odessa, 47 50 10 brown, 9 10 40 Coriander, 18 21 Trefoil, 17 19 Tares, Spring, Os. to Os. 13/. 10s. per 1000 HOP MARKETS. BOROUGH, July 26. The general accounts of the appearance of the new op continue favourable, with the exception of the irnham and Worcester districts ; and some parts of isatx are also much blighted. The demand for all iscriptions of Hops is very limited, and prices still ex- bit a downward tendency. Duty, 180,000/. WORCESTER (Saturday last),— We caunot report any improvement in our plantation during the week. Opinions and bets are freely offered against 5,000 duty for the district. The planters will not sell, nor even put a price upon their liops, and the high duty esti- mated for the kingdom intimidates purchasers, so that we have nothing doing on the market. BUITER, CHEESE, s. s Dorset Butter, per cwt. 98 - Fresh Butter, 126. 6d. per doz. Irish, do., per cwt. Carlow, new 92 - Sligo 80 - Cork, 1st 84 - Wiiterford 80 - Foreign Butter, per cwt. Prime Friesland .... 98 - Do. Kiel 92 - BACON, AND HAMS. Cheese, per cwt. s. s. - j Double Gloucester ..60 68 Single do 48 52 Cheshire SO 78 I Derby 62 66 American 54 60 Edam and Gouda ..48 56 - Bacon, new "6 84 - I Middle — — : Hams, Irish 66 80 ■ , Westmoreland 8H — - ; York 98 — WOOL MARKETS. BRITISH. The state of our trade is healthy, but the manufac- turers are not yet disposed to give the advance that the local dealers have paid to the farmers, in anticipation of a good trade, as a result of an expected abundant har- vest. Many matters are rather out of joint, and so pre- vent a rapid advance in prices ; indeed, the trade has be- come so steady, and transactions are so devoid of unrea- sonable speculation, that sudden rises and falls to any serious extent are not probable for some time to come. A soxind and moderately profitable business, however, is safer, and more likely to be realized in the present state and general relations of this department of commerce. LEEDS, July 23. — We have not any change in these markets. Supplies of new wool come tardily to market, owing to the disproportion between its value here and the rates for which it is held by tlie growers. YORK, July 22. — The market continues steady, with a fair business doing, without any alteration in price. The show was small, and the buyers appear to have de- termined for the remainder of the season to attend every fortnight only. DONCASTER, (Saturday last.) -Although not quite so much Wool shewn, the trade was not brisk, except on fine well-hogged clips. Lincolnshire parcels a shade lower, but we do not alter our quotations. Super, clips, I3s. 6d. to I4s. 6d. ; Lincolnshire, 12s. to 13s.; Locks and Cots, 6s. to lis. LEICESTER (Saturday last).— The price of fleece wools from the growers remains about the same as lait week, 24s. to 26s. per tod. LIVERPOOL, July 24, Scotch. — The accounts from the Scotch fairs say little has been done in Laid Highland ; the state of trade and continued tightness in the money market prevent much going ou here, and late rates are barely supported. White Highland, little doing. Crossed Wool, the selec- tion here is not good : little doing. There having been more doing in good Cheviot at the fairs than in any other kinds has induced holders to ask more money here ; but nothing has been done except at rather under our highest quotations. t. Laid Highland Wool, per 241bs 6 White Highland do 9 Laid Crossed do ., unwashed. ., , 8 Do. do... washed 8 Do Cheviot do... uiiwasliLd .... 9 Do. do... washed 11 White do. do 20 Foreign. — Good clean low-classed useful Wool has } been more inquired for, and more doing, still we are not d. s. d. 0 10 6 9 0 10 e 0 9 0 0 9 6 0 11 0 0 15 0 0 22 0 soo THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. able to quote any advance in prices. In other kinds merchants are inclined to bring forward their stocks for public sale on the 5th August, when about 1,200 bales Colonial, principally Port Philip, and 1,200 bales other kinds will be offered. ~ ~ FOREIGN. The wool market is steady, and there is no feature to notice. In some of the continental markets there is scarcely so much buoyancy, and the prices of wool were lower at the Hanover fair on the 15th inst. Fine sold at 60 to 72 rix dollars percwt., and ord. at 28 to 36 r. d. LEEDS, July 23.— The demand for foreign wools has been somewhat more languid during the past week, without, however, any apparent variation in prices. HIDE AND SKIN MARKETS s. d. M avket Hides, 56 to 641b9 0 2 J to 721bs 0 ef 801bs 0 .3i 64 n 80 Do Do. Do. Do. Do. Calf Sklno Horse Hides 13 Shearlines 1 Lamb Skins 1 881bs 0 96Ibs 0 1041bs 0 4 s. d. 0 -21 0 3A 0 8f per lb. BARK. Per load of 45 cwt. Englisli, Tree £11 0 0 to £12 0 & Coppice... II 0 0 12 0 0 LIVERPOOL (DUTY free)— Quercitron, 87.6s. to fl/.Cs.; Dutch Oak, per ton, 47. to 57.; German, 37. 10s. to 67. PRICES OF MANURES, Subjoined are the present Manure : — Agricultural Salt, 808. per ton Alkalies, -238, and 4ys. per cwt. Boast and Co.'s (Bow) Inor- ganic Manures, from 6s. to lis. per cwt., according t' crop Boast's Guano, 97. 9s. per ton Carbon, 12s. per qr. Chie fou, 2l3. per cwt Chloride Lime, 28s. per cwt. Olarhe's Compost, 37. 1 2a. 6d. per hhd., sufficient for tliree acres Fothergill's Gy^jsum, 35s. per ton. Fothergill'sPhosphateof Lime, 8'. lOs. per ton Graves, 67. iOs. per ton Guano, Peruvian, 107. IOs.; Bolivian, 107. IOs.; African,C7. 63. to 77.!Os. per ton, accord- ins; to analysis and quantity Gypsum, 28s. per ton Highly Concentrated Manure, SOs. per qr. Humus, lis. per qr. Bone-dust, — s. per qr. Half-incli Bone, — s. per qr. Hunt's Stuff Graves, 38.«d. cwt. Hunt's new Fertilizer, I.Ss. 4d. per qr. J, T. Hunt's Artificial Guano, 67. per ton Manure Powder, i6s. per qr. Muriate of Lime, fi«. per cwt. prices of several sorts of Muriate of Ammonia, 21s. per cwt. New Bristol Manure, 8s. per qr. Nitrate of Soda, 19s. per cwt. Nitrate Potash (saltpetre), 27s. to 28s. per cwt. Patent Disinfected Mau'.ire, 07. per ton Petre Salt, 27. per ton Potter's Guano, %< . per ton. Preparation for Turnip Flj , IOs. 6d. per pakt., sufficient for three acres Rags, 47. to 47. IOs. per ton Rape Cake, 77, per ton Rape Dust, 77. 7s. per ton Soap Ashesi, IOs. per ton Soda Ash, 14s. to 14s. 6d. per cvrt. Sulphate Soda, 6s. per cw^t. Sulphur for Destroying Wornj on Turnips, 12s. per cwt. Sulphuric .4cid, !jd. per lb. Superphosphate of Lime, 7s. 6d. per cwt. ; 77. per ton The Liverpool Abattoir Com pany's Animalized Manuring Powder, 27. IOs. per ton The Urate of the London Ma- nure Company, 47.4s. per to:i TVilley Dust, 47. 4s. per ton WolverhamptonComposl(Ali;x ander's), 12s. perqr., subjec to carriage to London, or forwarded from Wolver- hampton TIMBER. £ s. d. 4 5 Baltic Timber, per load of 60 cubic feet Yw. Deals, per standard hundred Deck Deals, per 40 feet 8 in 1 6 Pipe Staves, per mlUe 100 0 £ 8. d. 0 to 4 12 6 16 10 0 .. 18 0 0 0 .. 1 10 0 0 ..ISO 0 0 Lathwood, p«r fm. of 4 feet ........ 0 10 U., S 0 0 Petersburgh, Riga, and Archangel .... ) Yw. Deals, per stand, hundred . . ) White Yw. Battens Riga Logs, for 18 feet cube Stettin Staves, per riiille of pipa Swedish Timber, per load Go'i^cnb.Yw. Deals, per 100 12f. 3in.9in... White ditto Yw. Battens, per hJ. 12 ft. 2J in. 7 in. ChristianiaYw.Deals, perhd. 12it. Sin. 9in. White Quebec and St. John's Spruce Deals.. ) per 100, 12 ft. 3 in. 9in | 1st qual. yw. Pine Deals, per st. hd. Second do. do RcdPine Deals, perhd. 12ft. Sin. 9in. Red Pine Timber, per load Vw. ditto Birch ditto Elm Jiito Oak ditto Standard Staves per mille standard Puncheon ditto MAHOGANY, &c. Mahogany, St. Domingo 6d. Cuba 5^ Honduras 4| African 4 eedar.... Havana 4^ Rosewood. Rio 127, Bahia 10 16 0 0 ., 18 ( 14 0 0 .. 14 K) 16 10 0 .. 18 () 8 15 0 .. 4 11',) 75 0 0 .. 120 Vi 3 2 6.. 3 I() 25 0 e .. 27 (} 23 0 0 .. 96 1) 14 0 0 . 18 It 28 10 0 .. 29 () 26 10 0 .. 27 18 10 0 .. 21 16 10 0 .. la.' 14* 13 10 0 .. 20 0 0 .. 26 ' 4 5 0.. 4t< 3 10 0 .. 3 1 2 15 0 . 4 : 4 15 0 .. s SOO. 7 hi 10 0 . 65 .^ 15 0 0 .. J7 i to Is. 9d .per 1 1 0 1 2 0 h\ 0 6 ; Os. to 207. per t«i 0 14 1 SECURITY OF FIRE ARMS.— The rep(ja recurrence of accidents, most of them attended ti fatal results, from fowling-pieces, rifles, &c,, ba discharged whilst those who carry them are cro ing hedges or making their way through bra and covers, from the fact of the trigger or han^n being moved by a twig or the bough of a tr^« shrub, is too well known to need being much pressed upon the recollection of anybody. Aqi vention of very recent date, and which is importi to all persons, and particularly to sportsmen, that the shooting season is drawing near, has bi patented by Mr. W. Needham, of 26, Piccadilly whose improvements in fire-arms the public aware, by which the accidents alluded to are ef tually prevented, and by means of which it is n to impossible for a gun to go eflf unless broughtt to the shoulder, and levelled for the purpose being fired. It is simple, and can be apphed tci'> gun-lock. This invention, a safety stop-lock, sists in the introduction of an extra sear to the 1^ which acts in unison with the hand-spring of gviard. Immediately the hammer is lifted off 6 nipple, it is caught by the stop or sear in the turn' r of the lock, and it is then impossible to explode e cap unless the gun is up at the shoulder in the - sition of firing, when the weight of the stcol< barrel, &c., ])resses the hand-spring, and the s then so operated upon that upon pulling the tri^ i the cap is exploded by the blow of the hammer's if no extra sear spring existed to prevent it. 'e stop causes not the slightest impediment wl|- ever to the cocking and the firing of the gun. '« whole construction of this invention is so sim r yet so efficacious, that any person who will take e trouble to examine it will at once understand e security from accidents which it aflfords. Printed by Joseph Rogenon, 94, Norfolk-»treet, Strttna, tdti •■ vrs "S -i §1 -^p I * ft* 'W w ^^ ^ .v^ ^ 'J -vN s: r; |v': ^ .^^ V ^^ THE FARMEE'S MAGAZII^E. SEPTEMBER, 1847. No. 8.— Vol. XVI.] [Second Series. PLATE I. The subject of our first plate is the short-horn bull, Walton, No. 6658, roan, calved Dec. 13, 1341 jred by and the property of Mr. C. Whitfield Harvey, of Walton, near Liverpool, got by Locomotive 4242), dam (Olive Leaf, bred by Mr. T. Bates) by Belvidere (1706), g. d. (Lady Barrington, bred by yord Barrington) by a son of Mr. Mason's Herdsman (304), gr. g. d. (Young Alicia) by Wonderful 700), gr. gr. g. d. (Old AUcia) by Alfred (23), gr. gr. gr. g. d. by Young Favourite, a son of Mr. C. rolling's Favourite (252). Locomotive (4242), roan, calved Oct. 5, 1833, bred by Mr. Bates, got by his celebrated Duke of forthumberland (1940), dam (Oxford Premium Cow) by Duke of Cleveland (1937), g. d. (Matchera W) by Mr. Mason's Matchem (2281), gr. g. d. by Young Wynyard (2859). — See Coates's Herd Book. Tliis animal obtained first prizes at the meeting of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at Bever- y, at the meeting of the Highland and Agricultural Society at Dumfries, at the Liverpool Agricultural ociety, and other local shows . PLATE II. The animal which forms the subject of the second plate is a sow of the improved Essex breed, red by W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq., and purchased from him by His Royal Highness Prince Albert, his sow was one of a pen of three sow pigs, which gained the prize of the Royal Agricultural Society Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in July, 1846. The same animal obtained prizes at the West Suffolk, the entral Suffolk, the East Essex, and the Saffron Waldon Agricultural Societies' Meetings, as the best )\v of any age or breed. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. BY T. E. PAWLETT. A commended Essay, written in competition for the premium awarded to Mr. R. Smith by the Royal Agricultural Society, 1847. In offering to the notice of the Royal Agricultu- l Society the following pages on the management sheep, it is not my intention to make any length- .ed introduction to the subject, by way of adding this essay, but at once proceed to detail the lowledge that I have acquired, from close ob- rvation and practical experience, extended over a riod of twenty-five years . It is required to state — ]1. The various breeds of sheep. 2. Mode of feeding and folding the store flocks. 3. The management of the lambs. 4. The age at which the sheep fatted, and mode fatting. i5. Effect of management on the productiveness 'jthe soil. jThe various breeds of sheep in general use in y country may be divided into two classes — the \OLD SERIES.} long woolled breeds, and the short wooUed breeds, each adapted, in a great measure, for different soils and situations ; as it cannot be supposed that any one breed can be best suited for every part of the country. The long woolled class may comprise the Leicesters, Gloucesters or Cotswolds, and the Kentish sheep. The short woolled class may con- tain the Southdowns, Dorsetshire or horned sheep, Berkshire, and the black-faced or mountain sheep. The best of these several varieties have been so changed and improved within the last fifty years from what they originally were, and differ so much, according to the judgment or fancy of individual breeders, that it would be difl[icult to delineate their characters, or define the merits of each sort ; nei- ther does it appear necessary ; and were I to at- tempt it, it would greatly enlarge my paper, without producing any beneficial results. I suppose that p [No. 3.— VOL. XXVII. 202 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. those qualifications which are required to constitute | a good and profitable Leicester, are equally de- | sirable in the Lincolns or the Cotswolds, and the i Southdowns, also for the most part, excepting the | nature and different description of their wool; neither do any of these leading breeds of sheep require a pe- culiar or different mode of treatment to make them fat. On all warm or gravelly soils, from their great pro- pensity to fatten, I consider the Leicesters, if bred with good size and constitution, the most profitable breed ; and I have but little hesitation in coming to this conclusion, having had farms or land in four different counties, the soils varying very much from each other. But on fenny, marshy, clay, or cold soils, or where stone or chalk is underneath, I would decidedly recommend either the Lincolns or the Gloucesters. On light, thin, poor soils, down lands, or open countries, where sheep are generally driven a long distance to fold, and often fare badly, the Southdowns are admirably adapted. Within the last few years in the midland counties (man being fond of novelty and change), crossing the breed of Leicester sheep with Southdowns, or between the Cotswold and Southdowns, has been practised, and is still carried on to some extent. But many of its former advocates are beghming to give way, from the fact that they cannot devise any system of crossing, for any length of time, that will retain the size of their animals as produced from the first cross. It is alleged that a greater num- ber of lambs can be obtained from Down ewes than from the same number of Leicesters, which must be admitted. Suppose the increase to be thirty per cent., or from one hundred ewes thirty more lambs can be reared ; these thirty extra lambs will of course require some more keeping, the cost of which, being deducted from their value at Michael- mas, the balance left would scarcely compensate for the loss in value of the wool produced from one hundred Down ewes, being worth less, from thirty to forty per cent., than the fleeces from one hundred well woolled Leicesters : and experience has proved that four of these will not consume more food than three Southdowns. Other disad- vantages arising from this system could easily be shown ; but I refrain from pursuing the subject any further, as it is not properly within the mean- ing of the premium offered by the society. I will attempt to give some description of the formation of a good made, long woolled sheep, which is gene- rally supposed when made quite fat; and out of its wool, should resemble on its top the shape of a boat, the width behind the shoulders being con- siderably extended more than the other points ; it should have a moderate sized neck, and good fat or clefted back, with a good deep chest, and all the four legs standing near the outside, being well filled out between them, with a wide breast, and good leg of mutton : a good rump also, by many breeders, is considered an indispensable point ; it certainly adds greatly to the beauty of the animal ; but ewes having large rumps, are much more hkely not to breed than others, being more imper- fect in that point, from the difiiiculty the ram often has to serve them. I have had many ewes with large rumps, which the ram could scarcely serve, even with the assistance of the shepherd ; had these ewes taken their chance in the common way, they would no doubt have proved barren. Other quahfi- cations besides a good form are required in a good sheep, viz., a natural propensity to fatten, quality oi flesh, good size, and plenty of wool. Although these are necessary, it but rarely happens that a sheep ex- cels in all of them ; nevertheless, the breeder in se- lecting his rams should always have them in view and take care to have a good animal, as the pro. duce generally take considerably more after th< male than the female ; also, whenever his ewes an defective in any of these essential points, to choosi his rams that excel in them. Many flocks of lon{ woolled sheep, a few years ago, were bred too smal and delicate, especially the Leicesters ; but latterl) breeders have produced them with more size, con stitution, and wool. A good fleece is very requi site, varying from nine to eleven pounds, in ram imder which a good carcase may be obtained but if a greater weight is sought after, the inclina tion of the animal to fatten is generally lessened i proportion. By breeding sheep large, a goo weight of wool is sure to be produced, as thei is more surface for it to grow upon. I must no' come to the next head of our subject, viz.~ 2. MODE OF FEEDING AND FOLDING THE STOR FLOCKS. In proceeding with it, I cannot do better tha begin with the ewes, at the time, or immediate! after their lambs are taken from them, and go pri gressively on, taking up the different parts management required to be noticed, according the season of the year. After the lambs are weaned, the ewes are gen rally turned upon the worst keeping on the fan and obliged to fare very badly on arable Ian where httle else but clovers are grown ; and ofti in dry summers difficulty is found in procurii food for them. A few roots of the mangold-wuij zel, saved from the ])receding year's growth, throv to them in the months of July and August, upi the dry clover stubbles, would be of great adva tage, and the cost be but trifling, as they can produced at a cheaper rate per ton than any otb root crop. Being generally short of keep for ew in the summer, I was induced to try white musta as a food for sheep, having read so much in its 1 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 20S vour : but I must confess that I found it to be the ] however, found some exceptions, and once fed an most worthless crop (us a food for sheep) that ever ewe which weiglied, when slaughtered, forty pounds came under my obserA ation. It requires stocking per quarter, being the produce of a lamb. There early (before it gets into flower), or the sheep mil not is also a loss in the weight of wool from those eat it, consequently the ^^'eight or quantity per acre i lambs that breed, and when the reduced state of is 80 little upon the land, that it is soon consumed, I them, after their young are weaned, is taken into and the value very trifling. I suppose that my consideration, together with the extra quantity and mustard was too high before 1 put my ewes upon quality of food required for the young couple dur- it (as it was approaching to flower) ; they did not . ing the summer, little or no profit is derived from appear to hke it, and ate only the leaves, refusing ! the system. the stalk, which is the bulk of the croj). I left The time of year that rams are put to the ewes home for about a week, soon after they had been ; difliers greatly. Those breeders that intend to make put upon it, and on my return, I scarcely knew my ' fat lambs, put them together as early in the season own ewes, they looked so thin, and sunk so much in ' as July ; and in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and condition; and I believe, if they had not been taken some adjoining coimties, where the lambs are gene- ofF, some would have died in consequence. The ' rally disposed of fat when about a year old, the ram ewe flock at this time, and when they are running 1 is frequently jnit to as soon as the latter end of upon stubbles after harvest, may advantageously be I August, or the beginning of September; but the folded, if there is any good arising from the prac- ' month of October is the most general time in the ;ice of taking manure from one part of the farm to j midland counties. When the ram is put to the nrich another, being consequently attended with I ewes, he is commonly turned loose amongst them i iaily trouble, expense, and inconvenience. The age at which the females are put to breed- ng varies, the usual time being, when they are rem seventeen to nineteen months old ; but some 'armers, in the neighbourhood from whence this )aper is written, have lately })ut their ewe lambs )f seven or eight months old to the ram (of course )eing about the same age); supposing that too nuch time is lost by keeping them round for the purpose until the following year. Some who have ried it, strongly recommend the plan, as is fre- juently the case upon any new invention or divS- :overy. About twenty-five years ago I was in- luced, through the same motives, to breed from ny ewe lambs (being Leicestera), amongst which I umed in the common way some ram lambs ; but •.fter two or thi-ee years' trial, I gave it up, as it did lot appear to answer well with me. My first and freatest objection to continuing the plan was, that lot more than about half the number of lambs put 0 the ram the preceding autumn produced lambs ; he deficiency, I believe, was in part occasioned by •eiug obhged to use ram lambs, which I have re- leatedly proved not to be such certain stock get- ers as older sheep. In the expectation that they /ere inlambed, during the winter months they were adulged mth extra and better keeping than they thenvise would have been fed on, much of which ixtra expense was of course lost by so many prov- ig ban-en. I also found that many of those that rought the lambs, generally took the ram so late 1 the season as not to yean until the latter end of pril, or beginning of May, consequently their pro- the shepherd, however, should be very careful to see that he does his duty, and oft'er him every fa- cility for accomplishing his purpose, by trimming up closely the tails of the ewes ; otherwise, should the ram l)e old or fat, many will prove bar- ren. I think rams ought never to be entirely re- lied on, for I have often proved that they will show themselves stock-getters for two or three seasons, and then fail ; some will do well the beginning of the season, and then stop suddenly getting lambs ; others will be useless for the first two or three weeks, and then prove themselves very good workers. The more certain way to obtain a good number of lambs, is to have the ewes tupped in stocks. This plan is accomplished by taking one or more inferioi- rams, and make what are called " teasers" of them, by sewing some strainering un- derneath to prevent them serving the ewes ; they are then rubbed with ochre, either on the leg or In-east, and as the ewes are marked by them, they are brought to the ram intended to be used, and put into stocks, the shepherd attending during the time and assisting if necessary. Some breeders only allow them to be served once by the ram ; but experience has convinced me that twice is bet- ter, allowing a few hours between each time, I always put down the date, and what ram every ewe is tU]oped by, and I often find that the more work a ram has (even to twelve or fourteen times a day), the better the ewes will stand to him. After a few days have elapsed, the ewes should then be put to another teaser, his mark being different, to see whether any of them go over (which they will almost or nee were very inferior the following Michaelmas, ^ invariably do, if not inlambed about sixteen nd not worth so much by some shillings per head j seventeen days after being served), when they are 3 those lambs that were bred from ewes. I have, again brought to the stocks. The usual jjeriod of p 2 204 THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. gestation is from twenty-one to twenty-two weeks, but sometimes a few clays longer. After the rams are taken away, it is usual in some districts for farmers to dress on line their flocks with ointment prepared with quicksilver ; they think it improves the growth of wool, kills the ticks, and cleanses or purifies their skins. I cannot, however, see much utility in the practice, if the sheep are not infected with any cutaneous disease, which seldom now occurs, since land has become so generally enclosed, and the management of flocks so much improved. I have known great losses arise from dressing sheep (especially young ones) with mercurial ointment when the weather was warm at the time, by being thrown into a violent inflammation, which carried many off. Should, however, the scab make its appearance, the flock must be immediately dressed ; the weather and other circumstances permitting. I believe, even late in the autumn, lambs often take cold from being dressed, and the seeds of disease sown in their young and delicate constitutions. I have known persons lose a great many young lambs fi'om dressing their ewes in the spring of the year whilst they were suckling, their blood imbibing the poisonous properties of the ointment, which, being connected with their milk, destroyed the lambs. Although I am opposed to the general or periodi- cal practice of dressing, I have often deemed it ne- cessary to line my ewe flock in the autumn, from fear of the scab (having to shift my ewes about from one pasture to anothei", as I occupy land in several locaUties), and often very late in the season, sometimes by way of experiment, two or three times over, even within five or six weeks of their lamb- ing, and I never found it produce any injurious consequences to their lambs, or make them cast them before the proper time. There is more hazard in dressing lamb-hogs than older sheep. One of the most important branches in the ma- nagement of sheep is, to take care that the ewe flock is well attended and provided for during the time of gestation ; particularly that their lair be kept clean and dry. Many farmers have sustained great losses, in which I shared myself some years ago, from allowing my ewes in the montlis of January and February to remain on the turnip land when it was wet and dirty, not at that time being suflficiently drained : many of them cast their lambs prematurely, others brought them dead, and those that came alive were so weak and sickly that they were a long time Ijefore they appeared to thrive and go on well. I am the more certain that my loss was occasioned by the above treatment, as I had part of my flock of ewes in the same season in a grass close adjoining the turnip field ; and from these I experienced no comparative loss. In Bedfordshire a practice has arisen of folding ewes in a yard during the wdnter, and breeders often put them into it as early as November ; care being taken to have the yard as open as possible to admit plenty of fresh air, also to have it kept well littered, and the manure taken out very often. They are generally fed either with peas, beans, or barley straw, plenty of water being allowed them; but some farmers cut their straw into chaflf, with a little clover hay, particularly if wheat straw is given. This is, no doubt, a very economical plan of keep- ing a flock of ewes, and will answer, if carried onl} to a certain extent, on farms that have but little grazing land ; even those that have plenty of lant of that description will derive but little advantagf from eating it down very close in the winter months as much injury is done to the next year's crop o hay. It will also, I think, be much extended, a: farmers find a difficulty in keeping their ewe: through the winter, now their lands have becomi tired of growing turnips, and the few swedes the can get in some distiucts are all required for thei feeding sheep and lambs. I think, however, tha if the ewes were turned out of the yard every da; for a few hours, and some turnips could be spared and they were to be driven thereon a short distanc to return at night, they would be kept in a mor healthy and hearty state. Some advocates for th yard and straw system maintain that the ewes wi: do well nearly up to the time of lambing, and suckl well if fed on scarcely any other food than straw o chaflf. This, surely, cannot be correct ; as hn little nutritious or forcing quahties for milk can b contained in common straw. Let the plan of keep ing ewes in the early winter months be what it ma) it is highly necessary that they should have plent of good dry food of some kind, such as clover o hay-chaff", linseed with chaflf or corn, for at leas three weeks or a month before yeaning, to fore their milk and to get them in a proper state for par turition. It is in vain to expect a lot of gooc healthy, flourishing young lambs, howevei' well th ewes may be kept after lambing, if their milk ha not been forced before. This I have proved b sad experience many years ago : before my floe was well kept and attended to, the lambs came wea and sickly, and many died when a few days old. The management of ewes during the lambini season is so common and generally so well undeil stood, that it appears unnecessary to add to tlii paper by entering into its details. I will merel observe that the sheep should invariably be pi| into a warm yard during the night, seen frequentlj by the shepherd, and kept in for a day or two aftei yeaning. Formerly I lost several ewes from thei! being turned out of the yard too soon; the col | March M'inds having caused them to swell behinij THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. and mortification was tlie result. As an external! lbs. dressing after a difficult time, I have found " Whit- ' Voung lambs in the ten's Embrocation" of great use ; also, as a medicine, , r™'^" April . . 9 1 would recommend " Cuff's Farmer's Friend," or jyA . q '• Godfrey's Cordial." These to be used or applied ! j^iy ..',.',]. i j i * 15 immediately, to prevent rather than to attempt to , August 12 cure mortification. , September 12 205 lbs. Lambs in the month of Octo1)er 12 November 8 December 6 January f) February 7 March " 10 3. MANAGEMENT OF THE LAMBS. Having to point out now the various methods in practice for the management of lambs, I cannot do lietter, in attempting to describe the most approved node, than elucidate my subject by enumerating a series of experiments, which were all carried on inder my own observation ; therefore I can not )nly rely upon them myself, but recommend them 0 the notice of others. The value of an experi- nent consists in attending to the minuteness of its letails and the accuracy with which it is conducted, I nd consequently considerable trouble is connected ,'ith it, which but few persons will impose upon hemselves. 1 The following expeiiments were all made with ; heep of the Leicester breed ; and before I pro- eed further (that I may not be misunderstood, as : ome of my statements may appear surprising to lose unaccustomed to make experiments and weigh lieep) I shall state the weight of swedes, &c., &c., lieep and lambs will daily consume ; also the live 'eight they will generally gain in four weeks, ac- ording to their age and the season of the year. I im enabled to do this without much fear of contra- iction, as I have been in the habit of regularly eighing my sheep and lambs nearly every month )r more than twenty years. lbs. ;.n ewe lamb-hog in the month of February I \vill eat of cut swedes in twenty-four hours 1 about 18 ] wether lamb-hog 20 ram lamb-hog - 22 i shearling wether 22 j feeding or breeding ewe 24 sucking ewe 28 I ram above two years old 30 3 other food but cut swedes being given to lem : but if the weather is mild or warm they will >t eat so much as I have stated by about one- urth. If corn or oilcake, or any other dry food used, they will consume less turnips in proportion the quantity given. I have found that by giving leep one pint of beans each per day, they will not quire so many swedes by about Slbs.or 61bs. each. Lambs and sheep managed and fed well, if in jnall lots, will gain in live weight each on the ave- ge per rjionth r— . being about 130lbs. in twelve months of live weight, or about 84lbs. of mutton. Some lambs will, however, greatly exceed in gain the weights that I have stated. The usual method of keeping couples in the spring on grazing farms is, to turn them upon the grass immediately after yeaning, and in some dis- tricts the ewes are never housed, indeed they are suffered to drop their lambs in the fields, there to remain ; but on arable farms, where there is but little grass land, the common way is to take them immediately after lambing to a turnip pen (either swedes or of the common sort), which they are gene- rally made to eat without cutting, and invariably do badly. The lambs get starked and look rough in their skins unless some good dry food is also used ; and frequently it takes the greatest part of the summer for them to get over it. Finding this to be a defective system, and having but little grazing land, I resolved to make trial of, and test the comparative value of different kinds of food for couples during the spring months. In carrying out these experiments, I was obliged, for the most part, to keep them in small yards, a system which I am generally opposed to (for any length of time); believing that sheep and all other animals ought, as far as regards situation, to be kept in a state as near approaching to that which nature assigned for them as possible, provided always that their lair be kept clean and dry, and shelter allowed them from the cold winds. When yards must be used for sheep, they ought always to be kept tolerably free from manure, well littered, and to have plenty of fresh air. Experiment No. 1. — In the month of March, 1845, I selected twelve couples from, the flock; tlie lambs being then about a fortnight old. These were divided into two lots, as equally as well could be with respect to the condition of the young lambs, and put into two separate small yards. Six of them were fed on clover-hay chaff entirely ; the other six couples had 140lbs. of cut swedes, and half a peck of beans daily ; both lots having water. At the end of the trial of about a month, the lambs !of each were carefully compared; and those cer- tainly looked the best and most thriving whose I dams had been fed only on cloyer-hay chaff. IJOO THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. .1. Tiie six ewes fed on cut swedes, ate 140lbs., or 1;} cwt. every day. fit fid. per cwt., cost per week each 8^d. Also half a peck of lieaiis daily for the six ewes, at 4s. per bushel, cost each per week 7d. ; making- the co8t of keeping each ewe ]jer week \5\ The six ewes fed on clover-hay chaff only, ate daily 2 libs., or 3ilbs. each, at 6d. per stone, or £4 per ton, cost per head per week lOj This I regard as an important ex])eriment, and speaks mucli in favour of clover-hay chaff to pro- duce milk ; particularly as it cost so umch less than the other food used. It may be objected that 1 have put the price of the swedes too high ; but I consider that all root crops, if taken from the land where they were grown, ought to be (with respect to the value put on them) regarded as artificial food. There being some difficulty of cor- rectly ascertaining the value of root crojjs, so much depending on the season and soil upon which they are grown, consequently, in the relation of any subsequent trials that I may state, it is not my in- tention to attempt it, only where I may deem it absolutely necessary to show more clearly the value of the experiment. I intend to state facts as they occurred, and leave others to draw their own con- clusions. Experiment Nu, 2. — Being desirous to prove fur- ther the value of clover-hay chaff for ewes and lambs, I again selected twelve couples from the flock, and divided them equally into two lots ; they were also put into separate small yards. On the 3rd of April, lft45, the Iambs lieing weighed alive — Six couples were fed on 9lbs. of bran daily, d. which cost per head for each ewe, per week, 5id.; they had also lolbs. of clover hay chaft' daily at Cd. per stone, cost each ewe per week 7ad., making the total cost of keep- ing each couple per week i;5 The other six couples were fed on clover-hay chaff only, and ate 3ill)s. each ewe ])er day at 6d. ])er stone, cost 10 ^J All the lambs were weighed again on the 1 7th of April, and the result was as follows : — lbs. Six lambs, whose dams were fed on clover- hay chaff and bran, gained each on the aver- age in 14 days 6 Six lambs, whose dams were fed on clover- hay chaff only, gained in the same time. . 4^ A difference is here shown of 1 jib. of live weight per lamb in favom- of the use of bran, but when the cost of it is taken into consideration there does not appear to be much advantage in the use of it. Experiment No. "i.—Muncjnld Wurtzel against Swec/es.~ March 11th, 1846, I drew 12 couples from the flock, the lambs being about a month old ; these were divided fairly into two lot.s, ami put into separate yards ; six of them were fed on mangold wurtzel cut and put into troughs, with a little hay chaff; the other six couples were fed on cut swedes, \v\i\\ a little hay chaff also ; they were all weighed alive when put in on the 11th of March and again on the 2nd of April, when I found the following result : — Lambs gained Ewes lost in each on the the same average in 22 time, days, lbs. lbs. Couples fed on yellow globe mangold and chaff 3\ 8 Couples fed on cut swedes and chaff". . 9^ 3 1 This experiment does not speak much in favoui of mangold wurtzel for couples early in the spring, but my ewes did not appear to like them, and u'ould not take to them well only as they were fresh cut. I foimd upon weighing the food of bott sorts that the ewes ate of mangold about 14lbs. each per day, and those that had swedes 22lbs each, which was a great difference in the consump' tion of food ; mangold being of a softer nature thar swedes they ought to have eaten the most of them but as the contrary was the fact, I suppose madi the great difference stated in the loss in weight o those ewes fed on the mangold over those that hac swedes, whilst the gain in weight of their lamb' was much about the same. Hence, I coneludi that if ewes are fed with mangold wurtzel, the] should have them thrown whole to them, either oi grass land or in the yard, with plenty of goo( clover-hay chaff', or they will not do well ; but thi more particularly applies to their use in the earl; spi'ing months, when they are in a very succulen state; thej', however, lose much of this by keeping towards the summei-, when their value become apparent, as I shall endeavour to show hereaftei From these experiments I conclude that clover hay chaff is the cheapest and best food for couple in the spring before they can be turned out t' grass ; they will, however, do well on swedes i they are cut for them, Avhich pays well for the trou ble, but the lambs always do badly if the ewes ea them on the land without cutting. Now to prov the cost of keeping an ewe on cut swedes, I mus| first get at the value of them per cwt., and I canno show it in a clearer manner than thus : a lamb-hO| will eat of cut swedes 20lbs. per day, or .5 cwt. in month, and will gain in weight in the winter ani spring months on the average 7^1bs. live weighi or say 5lbs. of mutton per month, which, at 6p per lb., gives 6d. per cwt. as the value of the swedej i when eaten upon the land where they are grown, i- < THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, suckling ewe will eat of cut swedes per day, if no other food be given, 2Slbs., or 1 cwt. 3 qrs. per week, which, at 6d. per cwt., gives lOid. as the cost of keeping an ewe per week, being exactly the same price (see Experiment No. 1) as those ewes cost which were fed on clover-hay chaff, bought at the rate of £4 per ton, to be consumed upon the farm, which must improve the productiveness of the soil; whereas, the swedes being eaten upon the land where they were grown, produces no further improvement ; therefore, clover-hay chaff must be the cheapest and best food. \Mien young lambs are about three weeks old they will begin to eat, and should have som.e food a[iven them apart from the ewes, or run upon some jreen food, such as clover, tares, or grass. I ge- I lerally make a yard or fold with common hurdles ' kept very airy and well littered) on my land in- ended the following summer for turnips, into vhich I put my ewes when their lambs begin to !at, and let the lambs run through a hurdle set up ■ndways upon a piece of tares or vetches sown for he purpose the preceding autumn. The couples ] ire kept in this way until the pastures intended for I hem have grown sufficiently high to carry the I lumber required until the lambs are weaned. Al- hough some extra expense is incurred by this sys- em in the use of dry food, a good return is ob- ained by the outlay, as the clovers and grass, by lot being stocked early, carry a much greater num- ler of couples during the summer. The usual nethod is to turn the ewes and lambs upon the lovers and grass as soon as the turnip season is iver, allowing them to range indiscriminately over he whole field, which is decidedly a bad practice, would strongly recommend that part of the field hould be fenced off for the lambs to feed upon part from their dams, which may be done by etting upright some common hurdles. Method of keeping couples during the early sum • xer months. — In the year 1845 I had a field of land, •ne side of which was sown with white clover and refoil, the other side with tares, and a piece of red r broad clover was sown between each. The j.'hite clover and the tares were fed off with ewes [nd lambs in the usual way, the ewes on either lart being kept asunder, but the lambs from each Dt ran together through the hurdles upon the red lover, which was a good pasture ; they had also a ?w split beans every day. To ascertain the value f tares against clover and trefoil, for this purpose, made Experiment No. 4. — From each of the above lots took a few lambs and weighed them alive twice I uring the month of May, and found their increase 1 live weight per month to be as follows : — 207 lbs. Average gain, in weight, of seven lambs, whose dams were fed on clover and trefoil. . 20 The like, whose dams were fed during the same period on tares 16.]? Being a difference of S^lbs. each lamb in favour of the clover and trefoil. In the spring of 1845, having a piece of land which was sown with red or broad clover, and wishing to improve it, I determined to try dry food for suckling ewes in the month of May against others kept in the common way on clover. I therefore put on the piece of red clover 35 couples in the middle of April in a small pen, and allowed them every day about half as much clover as I judged they would have consumed had they eaten what they ])leased. This was managed by giving them a small piece every day, and as it grew high, and the ewes began to waste it by trampling upon it, I used some hurdles of a peculiar construction, made with three bars in each, so that the sheep could reach to eat the clover through them ; they were fixed on feet about two feet long to keep them up- right, and from being pushed down by the ewes when reaching after the high clover ; they were also well tied together ; these were frequently moved forward every day until the piece was finished. In addition to this small quantity of clover allowed, I gave the ewes dry food mixed in the following proportions, and put into a bin to be taken out for daily use. s. d. 1 bushel of beans, at 4 0 1 ditto of oats, at 2 9 3 strikes, or eight bushels, of bran, weight about l61bs., at 5s. per cwt 2 3 561bs. of red clover-hay chaff, at 4s, per cwt, 2 0 11 0 These, when well mixed together, will ])roduce, in measure, about 13 light bushels of stuff, and cost about lOd, each; the 35 ewes had three bushels of this mixture given to them every day on the clover (with plenty of water), which, at lOd. per bushel, cost 17s. 6d. for the 35 ewes per week, or 6d. per head for the dry food only. Their lambs ran through a common hurdle set up endways upon the clover, where the ewes were to follov/, and had also a few split beans every day. Another lot of couples were grazed in the next piece on clover in the common way, having plenty of keep ; these lambs also ran through hurdles on a good pasture of broad clover, and also had a few split beans. lExperiment No. 5. — I took irom each of the lots above described some lambs and weighed them alive on the Gth of May and again on the 31st of May, ■ivhen I found they had increased in weight each, upon the average, as follows : — 208 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. iTa'foh hfi-i a^ lbs. The lambs, whose dams were fed on clover only, gained each I91 Those lambs belonging to ewes that were fed on dry food and clover, gained each in the same time 18 This experiment proves but little between the two methods of feeding, with regard to the lambs, but I consider it a valuable one and very important, which I shall have further to remark upon here- after, when I come to treat of the effects of manage- ment on the productiveness of the soil. In the spring of 1846, having a considerable quantity of the yellow globe mangold wurtzel left on hand, I determined on making a further trial of them as a summer food for suckling ewes, con- ceiving that they would, when bereft of much of their succulent qualities through keeping, feed sheep better than I found to be the case, as related in experiment No. .3. I, therefore, selected from the flock a few couples in the middle of May ; one part of them were folded in the clover field, and fed with plenty of cut mangold wurtzel and a little hay chaff; their lambs ran through the hurdles on a good pasture of red clover. The other lot of ewes were left at large in the common way on white clo- ver and trefoil ; their lambs, also, had a good piece of red clover to feed upon : both lots of lambs had a small quantity of peas. Experiment No. 6. — On the 25th of May the lambs from each of the lots above described were weighed alive, and again on the 22nd of June, when the result was as follows : — lbs. Those lambs belonging to the ewes fed on mangold v.'urtzel gained each, on the aver- age, in 28 days 21 Lambs from ewes fed in the usual way on clo- ver and trefoil, gained each, in the same time 18 Difference each lamb in favour of mangold wurtzel 3 This statement, as well as others preceding, of lambs gaining in live weight of about 20lbs. each in 28 days, may appear starthng to those unac- customed to weigh them alive, but this is no un- common weight for lambs to gain, if well fed and attended to in the early summer months. Those ewes fed on mangold ate about 22^ lbs. each per day, care being taken that their lambs had none of it on those days that the food was weighed, and, unlike those ewes fed on it in March (see Experi- ment No. 3), I found them to thrive and do well with it. It should, however, be remembered that the summer of 1846 was very favourable for the use of mangold, the weather being very dry the whole of the period the above trial was carried on, nnd, consequently, more unfavourable for those ewes fed on the clovers, which towards the end of the time were nearly dried up. From this trial it appears that mangold wurtzel is of great use as a summer food for sheep, and as it will keep a long time, if properly stored the preceding autumn, must be very useful in a dry season for any kind of stock. The value of this experiment, however, ig not half told ; its worth I will endeavour further to set forth when I come to enumerate the effects of management on the productiveness of the soil. The Weaning and subsequent Treatment of Lcimhs. — It is highly important that lambs should be pro- perly weaned and put into such pastures after- wards that will keep them in a healthy and thriving state ; if this is not attended to, in unfavourable seasons great losses will frequently occur, as the lambs are at this critical period susceptible of the very common and often destructive complaint, the black scour, which being attended with much fever so reduces those that are attacked with it to any considerable degree that they are often months before they get quite well. This often fatal malady may, however, be arrested in its progress by the timely use of " Cuff's Farmers' Friend," the value of which I proved during the last autumn. As late in the season as the middle of October, my lambs lying as usual on cabbages, with plenty of clover- hay chaff, suddenly fell with the black scour, and as it was some days before I was acquainted with the fact, several of them got much reduced. I im- mediately caused their food to be changed, and took them to a pasture just by, allowing them to eat nothing else but clover chaff. I gave each lamb, according to the directions, a dose of " Cuff's Farmers' Friend," with some gruel afterwards ; in two or three days I gave them each another dose of the same medicine, and after it some more gruel, allowing them now to have some cut white turnips to eat. In about seven or eight days they appeared for the most part well. They were taken back again to the cabbages, when they went on very well, which I proved by weighing them before they were dosed and a few times afterwards. The general way of weaning lambs is to leave the ewes and take away the lambs to another pasture ; when, not being accustomed to it, it is some time before they will rest and lie quiet. This is a bad plan. The ewes should always be removed, and the lambs left for a few days, and when they have forgotten their dams they may then be taken away to the pasture intended for them ; if it is of the right sort they will generally go on well. I have found lambs to thrive much better on old keeping — as red clover, sainfoin, or grass — than upon what are termed eddishes ; yet I must state that old white clover, or trefoil stubbles, are, when they are seeded and have become dry, the very THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 209 worst of all kinds of food for young lambs. If, how- ever, proper food cannot be provided for them, they should often have their pastures changed to keep them healthy, when a little oil cake or a few split peas or beans (one pint a day amongst four lambs) would do them no liarm. Having proved by many experiments the advan- tage of putting young lambs, after weaning, upon old keeping — namely, pastures that have been stocked from the commencement of the spring — over eddishes or pastures that have been previously mown the same season, I will state one experiment as a sample of the rest. In the year 1834, I put a lot of lambs on some old sainfoin, having a few tares carried to them, and another lot of lambs were put on young sainfoin, or an eddish which had jrown to a pasture ; these, also, had some tares. Each lot was weighed at the commencement, and again at the end of the trial. Experiment No. 7. lbs. jain in weight of a lot of lambs fed on old sainfoin, from July 10 to August 10, each on the average . . . . . . . . 14J Lambs fed on sainfoin eddish, gained each in the same time . . . . . . . . 8 J Difference . . . . . . 6 I think no positive instructions can be given as ,0 the proper time for weaning lambs ; much de- Dends on the season, and the nature of the food ;he breeder has for them. It is, however, certain that no good can arise from taking them from the ;wes, if a better pasture cannot be provided, merely because it is the time of the year for so doing, espe- .•ially if the weather be dry and hot ; I would much rather let them run on imtil I have some stubble ieeping for them. I have weaned lambs with great mccess as early in the season as the 1st of June, ivhen they were only about twelve weeks old, being put upon a good and proper pasture. I have often iveighed them against others that were not weaned, and generally found them to increase as much in iveight, and go on the best during the next winter. Experiment No. 8. — June 10, 1844, ten lambs ivere weaned, and weighed alive, and put on red clover, with some tares and beans given ; on the same day, ten lambs were weighed alive, remaining with their dams on white clover and trefoil, but allowed to run through hurdles upon good red clover. Each lot was weighed again on July 5th, when it was found that they had increased in weight as follows, each Iamb on the average : — lbs. Lambs not weaned gained each, in thirty- three days 17 Lambs, weaned, gained in the same time . . 16 J Expariment No. 9.— June 4, 1845, twelve lambs were weaned and put upon red clover, tares, and a few beans, twelve other lambs lying with their dams on white clover, but run through hurdles upon good red clover. Both lots were M'eighed when put to trial, and again at the end of a month. lbs. Gain in weight of lambs not weaned . . 21 Gain in weight of lambs that were weaned during the same time . . . . . . 20f These experiments are nearly equal ; but I must remark, that many of those lambs that were weaned early wintered the best. Lambs should be immersed twice in the season in a composition made with arsenic and soft soap, to kill the ticks and purify and cleanse their skins j it is prepared by most druggists in market towns, and is of great use, as lambs cannot thrive if in- fested with ticks, which is sure to be the case if they are in low condition. Great numbers may be found upon them as early as the month of May. I usually dip my lambs at this time, and again in July or August; as the expense is so trifling, about one penny per head, and the mode so simple that it needs no description here, only to observe (which is generally known) that the lambs' heads must be kept from getting down into the mixture to prevent poisoning. I cannot omit mentioning, by way of caution to others, that I lost several lambs last summer through this poisonous preparation being used in a way which I will briefly state. Having a farm many miles from my residence, the management of the flock consequently devolves upon the shepherd. After he had dipped my lambs as usual, in the sum- mer, he had some of the stuff left. I had also thirty more lambs some miles off; and knowing these should be dipped when they came to the farm, he took some of the stuff he had left — not the strong poison as it comes from the druggists', but after it is diluted with water, at the rate of 29 gallons of water to one of the composition — and bottled it. When the thirty lambs came home, about a month or six weeks afterwards, either through ignorance or idleness, he took the stuff he had bottled and sprinkled the lambs all over their backs with it, and, strange to say, in a few hours (as I was in- formed) they became so affected that fourteen out of the thirty lambs died, and I believe from no other cause. Those that survived were so injured by the dressing that some of their wool came off. It is surprising that the stuff should have had this baneful effect when only thrown upon them, while no injurious consequences arose to those lambs im- mersed a few weeks before in the same mixture. I was assured of the fact upon investigation of the matter, also that a short time before another or twq 210 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, simflar cases had occurred in the same ndghbour- hood from nearlr the same causes. 4. — THE AGE. AT WHICH THE SHEEP FATTED.. AXD THE MODE OF FATTING. This part of mr subject has much engaged my attention for many years, and I hare bestowed much trouble and expense in making and carrying out a oreat number of experiments to discover the best and cheapest vray to feed and manage sheep, vhich I will relate, at least as many of them as I judge necessary, or that appear the most clear and dedsrve. The a^ at which sheep are made fat varies much ; everv district or locality has its accustomed time when breeders dispose of the produce of their flocks. Not manv vears ago, long-wooUed sheep were kept in Lincolnshire and the adjoining coimties, and fenny districts until they were for the most part nearly three years old before they were deemed fit for the butcher, or at least the London market ; the Ldcesters, which are chiefly bred in the midlana counties, and the Gloacesters or the Cotswolds, were generally kept unul they were two years old. But from the improved state of the leading breeds of Icng-wooHed sheep — care having been taken to get them with as much size and inclination to fatten as possible— they are now generally disposed of at a much earlier age, the usual time being for making off fat the wether pan of Leicester flocks is in the spring of the year; when they are about twelve or founeec months old, they are sent to market out of their wool, and by good common management and feeding they generally for the most part get to weigh at that age from about ISlbs to 20lbs. per qr. C'n some farms, where extra trouble and ex- pense have been incurred, they exceed that weight by srvera! pounds. There are, however, always gome lamb hogs that do not get fat enough for the London market at the age I have stated ; these are generally turned to clover, when they are either sold off dming the sunamer, or kept over to be put to swedes the following winter, and then disposed of. The e^e Iamb hogs are kept through the summer, i when the best are taken for breeding ; and the culls ! are nade off with the culled ewes in the autumn, and frequently, if well bred and kept, will be fat enough for market without going to turnips or other extra keepmg. In the preceding part of this paper I have attempt- ed to describe the best mode of managing young lambs up to the time of year they are gene- rally ?reaned, and their treatment for a few weeks afterwards. I shall now point out the best mode I i-^ =;c:v.nted with for Fifiina Lamls in the Autumn. — The usual time for putting iai to tamips is from the middle to th« latter end 6f October, but where they are in- tended to be made off fiat in the spring of the nex vear they should be put to fatten about the middl or end of September ; the earlier they are put t good keeping the bef.er they will winter. Cabbag? cole, or white timiips, are excellent kinds of foo for them in the autumn, but they gradually los their feeding quahties as the cold season appro ache- Thev are generallv consumed upon the land wher thev are grown, and, too often, much too man lambs are put together in one pen. Rape, or coh is much grown in the fenny districts of Linc4^ shire and Cambridgeshire, the land being rich an deep ; it often attains to such a height, that shee are obliged to eat their way into it. It is a ver feeding, or forcing, food ; but, if stocked too earl in the autumn, before it has had a little frost upo it, very frequently injures the lambs. I have grow but httle rape, my land not being adapted for : but I once had a few acres, and stocked it earl- October with lambs strong and healthy ; •" not been upon it long before their wool part, and they got cracked and sore along tie backs; their ears, also, in part came off, and I wi obliged to alter their mode of keeping. I was '. this was no uncommon occurrence, and that it occasioned by stocking too early in the season. I consider cabbage the best of any kind of f : for lambs early in the autumn ; but let them fed with what root crops they may, they she always have (and they will pay well for it; a 1 dry food also. I do not know of anyt: better than good clover hay chaff; it is in opinion, particularly at this season of the year, ; ferable for them to either corn, pulse, or oilcan- cabbage, cole, and turnip, are so succulent an feeding in the autumn for sheep that they ought xu to have much forcing food while feeding on tbfc roots. I must here observe, that I have found expenence that com, or pulse, and odcake, as br much superior to clover hay for feeding shr have been greatly over-rated. When either be^ or peas are given to lamb hogs in the winter, the should not be allowed more than half a pint a da each ; and if this quantity was mixed with eitbe bran or clover chaff, so much the better. G bred Leicester sheep, possessing much inciini" to fatten, cannot stand much forcing dry food heating nature. I have proved what I here assen two instances. A few years ago, wishing to pus my lambs on as fast as I could in the winte having cut swedes at the time, with half a pint ( beans each daily, after one of the stated c! ;■- '.'■ weighing them I gave them double the qu beans, or one pint each, and when weig'ruag di came again I found, to my surprise, that they ba not gone on so well as they had dune before, an had scarcely, on the average, increased in weight THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, Stl Next to the cabbage, in preference to any other • xrts a? food for lambs in the autumn, I would . rongly recommend (particularly as it is applicable ' ir all Boils I the common or white turnip, cut or iced, and given in trouffhs. Other varieties, such i , the common red or green-top turnips, may be ^ welL and are aU better than swedes, early in the >a9on. I have made several experiments between ! le swedes and common white turnips, and al^\-ays ' •und, if eaten before the 1st of December 'but not j terwards), the latter to be the best. One or more ■ them hereafter I will adduce. The custom, )weTer, of the neighbourhood from whence I rite has been to use swedes in the autumn for | mbs ; but latterly they have rather given place i . the common turnip, and in the present season ! yhite turnips being obliged to be used more than ley otherwise would have been, the swedes being bad crop) I have heard farmers lately declare' 3w well their lambs had done upon them, having ] lem cut '.^-ith some dry food. As I before stated, ; ley lose much of their feeding qualities as the ; )ld weather comes on, therefore they should not • i used for feeding lambs later than the be- . nning of December, to be succeeded by Swedes, [ Skimng's sort for a time, and then the ' _ purple-top .Swedes, which is the best sort '■ lat has come under my observation. 1 have ■ ied carrots, both of the red and white kinds, for \ eding sheep, and made many experiments to test ' leir value against the swedes, which I consider ! ic best and cheapest of the two to use, and have . iscontinued using carrots, as they are attended in ■jeir cultivation with considerably more trouble nd expense. ExperiwuHt No. 10. — In the month oi" October edected two lots of lambs, and weighed them lire. To one lot was given, in troughs, cut wedes ; and to the other \vas given, in troughs, the ummon while turnip, also sliced. At the expira- ton of a month thev were weighed again, and lined each, on the average, as follows : lbs. lie lambs fed on common white turnips cut, gained each 10 Tiose fed on cut swede?, gained in the same time each 41 In favour of the white turnip 51 To show that the white turnip loses much of its ■alue as the winter approaches, agreeably to what have slated. I v.i]! just show the result of another experiment. Etperiment Xo. 11. — On the Sth of November wo lots of lambs were weighed ahve. One lot "^ fed on cut swedes only, and the other lot had 'nly cut white turnips. They were weighed again December 6, and gained each as follows, on the iverage: Um. Lambs fed on white tiirm{>s gained each, in a month 6f The lambs fed on swedes gained, in same tim? 3 The same iambs were continued to be fed as be- fore for three weeks longer, when I found, upon weighing them again, that the white tnmips quite ?ave place to the swedes. Erperiment Ao. 12 'dry food, with swedea, against swedes only.— In IS 33 I weighed two lota of lambs on the 19th of November. To one wa» given cut swedes, with clover-hay chaff and malt- coom mixed ; the other lot had only cut swedes. They were all weighed again on the l6th of Ja« noan*. and arained in weight as follows : lbs. Lot of lambs fed on cut swedes, with clover- chaff and maltcoom, gained each, in two months 14j Lot of lambs fed on swedes only, gained each, in the same time 5 In fevour of drv food oi Erperim^t Xo. 13. — Being again desirous (rf testing the use of dry food for lambs at tnmips, I took sixteen lambs from my flock on February the l?th, 1?46, and weighed them; eight of them were j>enned and fed with ctit swedes only. The other eight lambs had cut swedes, with 2lbs. of dover- hav chaff and 2lbs. of bran mixed together for the eight per day, or half-a-pound each. TTiey were weiffhed again on the I7th of March, wheii the re- sult was as follows: — Ibi. Gain in weight of lambs, on the average, fed on swedes, bran, and clover-chaff, ia a month 7k Gain in weight of lambs fed only on swedes, during same time 3^ Difference in fevour of dry food. . , . Tne cost of drv food was 3* d. 2ib. of bran per day amongst eight lamba ' for is days, or 4st., at as. per cwt., cost • 2 6 j 2lb. of clover per day for eight lambs, daring ; 25 davs, gives 45t., at 4s. per cwt 2 0 9H 6 ' Cost of dry food for each lamb, per month 6| Now, as the difference was ia favour of the dry •food bv 3 1 lbs. per month of Uve weight, this I ! know would be equal to 2|lbs. of mntton gained, 'which, at 6d. per lb., is 15d. Therefore, by expending 6fd., the feeder would have a clear gain of Sid. per head per month, besides a great saving of turuips. as those that had dry fed \ would eat less of them, and great imprcven:ent 212 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. consequently made to the land by the consumption of more food. Experiment No. 14. — Havingusedlinseedforsome years with success in the feeding of cattle, I deter- mined to try whether it would answer equally as well for sheep. I therefore gave a lot of eight lambs, feed- ing on cabbages with white turnips, half a pint of hn- seed each per day. To another lot of eight lambs, also upon cabbages with white turnips, clover-chafF was given, as much as they would eat. They were all weighed on the 27th of October, and again at the end of the trial. lbs. Lambs fed on cabbage and linseed gained each, per month 16 Lambs fed on cabbage and clover-hay chaff gained each, in same time 16 Management of Lambs in the Winter Months. — The usual method of feeding sheep in the midland counties, at this season of the year, is to pen them up on the turnip-land on those soils and situations that will carry them tolerably clean and dry ; and from repeated trials in various ways, I think there is no better plan, the food being upon the spot, and the soil not injured by carting it or taking away the crop. I know, however, that circumstances alter cases ; therefore, should the land be cold or wet, and the lair dirty, the turnips should be consumed in other situations, or the succeeding crop of corn will suflFer from the treading the land with sheep. And where a great weight of turnips is grown by superior management, on the best soils, it is also advisable to take away part of the crop, as from 1 5 to 18 tons per acre is, in my opinion, the utmost weight of food that ought to be consumed upon the land where they are grown, or the following crop of corn mil grow too much straw, get lodged, and the young seeds that are generally sown amongst it suffer or lose plant. When sheep or lambs are penned upon the turnip-land, and intended to be made fat, there should not be put too many together in a pen. The less there are together, the more they will eat, and, consequently, the better they will thrive. Twenty feeding sheep is the most that should be put to- gether ; and it will pay well for the extra expense of buying a few more trays or hurdles for the pur- pose. Sheep at turnips do not require to fall back all over a furlong or field, as is too often the case, but should be put into narrow pens ; and as fresh ones are given them, the back hurdles should be pushed forward. Their manure would then be more regularly laid over the field, which is of great importance. The sheep-troughs and cribs should always be moved into a fresh place every day, to prevent the sheep dropping their manure too much in the same place. I have tried se^'eral experiments in feeding shee] in yards during the winter, on the most approve) systems, against others managed in the commoi way. Although it is strongly recommended b eminent agriculturists, I cannot find any advan tage in the plan. In some cases those fed ii yards have gained a trifle more in weight than th others. I shall, however, state only one experi ment, which will show a very different resuli There does not appear to me to be any utility i this system of management, as a considerable in crease in expenses must be incurred without an adequate return. Neither do I find there is ths difference in the consumption, or saving of fooc as some of its advocates allege. If animals do nc feed well, they cannot thrive. Many new discc veries or inventions appear striking and very plai sible, and look nicely upon paper, which soo vanish when brought to experimental test, or at tempted to be reduced to practice. It may be d gressing from the subject, but I will briefly stai that, having had some years' experience in beas feeding, some being tied up in hovels and some i yards (tied up separately to feed under sheds, bi afterwards let loose again), I generally find th. those get the fattest that are fed in the yards, ha\ ing the same quantity of food as the others. The are in a better state to travel to the London mai ket, and make considerably more straw into mi nure. Experiment No. 15. — Having determined soir years ago to have nothing more to do with feedin sheep in yards, I was, however, last season ir duced, through the favourable representations ( some persons, to give it a further trial. I too some of my best lambs, that I intended to show fc premiums, and put them into a warm, well-she! tered yard, ^vith a lofty hovel to feed under, bein kept well httered with dry, fresh straw ; and the quarters appeared so comfortable, that I thougl they must go on well. They were fed with swede and corn in the usual way. I weighed them aliv when put into the yard, December 4th, 1845, again! some other lambs fed on the same food, but in tli field, kept in the ordinary way. Both lots wei weighed again on February 3rd, 1846. lb.' Those fed in the turnip-field gained each, on the average, in eight weeks 1 Those lambs fed in the yard gained each, on the average, in the same time Against the yard-feeding system 1 These lambs did not appear to like the confine ment of being in a yard, and would take every op portunity of getting out if they could. This sys tern is not natural for sheep, and cannot answer io long-wools, or be depended on. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ziH About fourteen years ago I commenced a series >f experiments between feeding sheep with turnips ipen grass-land, against others fed with turnips n the usual way upon the land where they were Town. The close where the trials were made was livided into pens to hold about eight or ten sheep •ach. I wintered many lambs in this way for three »r four seasons ; but finding no adequate advan- age, ray land being tolerably clean for eating tur- ips oil" upon the land, I at length gave it up. I •ish not, however, to prejudice the minds of thers who may be following the practice (and there re many soils, circumstances, and situations that ill fully warrant any one to pursue it). I shall riefly state a few experiments thereon, one of which laterially differs from the rest; but, upon the hole, my experience is in favour, but in no great 3gree, of feeding sheep wth turnips upon grass nd. Kxnenment No. 16. — lbs. n grass land, lambs fed mth swedes and chaff gained each, on the average, from Dec. 10 to March 5 18 a turnip land, lambs fed in the same way gained each, in the same time 17 Experiment No. 17. — n grass land, lot of lambs fed with cut swedes and chaff, in Dec, Jan., and Feb., 1835, gained each, on the average, in three months 21 n turnip land, lot of lambs, fed in the same manner, gained each, in the same time .... 19 Being only a gain of 2lbs. each during three onths. Experiment No. 18. — n grass land, lambs fed on carrots, swedes, and chaff, gained each, on the average, from Jan. 27, 1836, to March 2 7 n turnip land, lambs fed in the same manner gained each, in the same time 2\ The difference here is greatly in favour of feeding I grass land, but not for carrots (see other expe- inents). Experiment No. 19. — n grass land, lambs fed on swedes, carrots, and chaff" gained each, on the average, from Nov. 16, 1837, to Feb. 10 16 a turnip land, lot of lambs, fed in the same manner, gained each in the same time 1S4 This experiment dift'ers much from the last ; but is the result of three or four experiments that ust be looked to, for I well know that no single ^eriment can be depended on. : Still being anxious to arrive at more knowledge I the feeding and management of sheep, I made jany experiments (some of which I will notice) to ascertain the best kinds of swedes for feeding, and the manner, as to whether they should be got up before the winter, and pitted, or left in the common way in the field, to be taken up as wanted ; also the best kinds of dry or artificial food, such as beans and peas. Experiment No. 20 (Beans against the early Maple Peas). — On the 1 6th of February, 1846, I weighed sixteen lambs, being in two separate pens. To one lot was given, in addition to c\it swedes, half a pint of spht peas, mixed with half a pint of bran, for each lamb daily. The other lot was fed on cut swedes, with half a pint of split peas, mixed with half a pint of bran, for each lamb daily. They were all weighed again on the 3rd of April, when the difference Avas found to be as follows ; — lbs. The lambs fed on peas and swedes gained each, on the average, in about six weeks . . 19i Those fed on beans and swedes gained each, in the same time 16J In favour of peas 2| Experiment No. 21. — Two other lots of lambs, eight in each pen, were fed exactly as above ; and, during the same time, when weighed, proved also the following result : — lbs. Lot of lambs fed on peas and cut swedes gained each, on the average, from Feb. 16 to April 3 174 Another lot of lambs, fed on beans and cut swedes, gained each, in the same time. ... 15 J In favour of peas As the value of peas is generally about the same as the best dry new beans, it appears that peas are the best and cheapest for sheep at turnips. Skirving's Liverpool swede, having lately be- come much into repute, I was induced to give them a fair trial, with respect to then- weight per acre, the quantity sheep would eat of them, and their feeding qualities, against a good sort of the old purple-top kind of swede. Skirving's sort being of a very showy kind, growing much above gi-ound, and supposing that their appearance might be deceptive, I was led to make the following ex- periment. In 1845 I caused to be drilled a piece of land, partly with Skirving's swede, and partly mth the purple-top swede; each piece of land being exactly prepared alike for them (but not richly manured), and in other respects also they were managed in the same manner. In the follow- ing winter portions of each crop were pulled in different places, as contiguous to each other as possible, and after being topped and tailed, and cleaned fit to be given to sheep, I found each sort to produce the folloAving weight per acre ;— &Vi: THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. Experiment, No, 22. tons. cwt. Skin'ing'fei Liverpool swedes produced at the rate per acre , . . ly i Tlie purple-top swede 15 i si Difference in favour of Skirving's sort. . 2 7^ Knowing, however, that they were of a softer nature than the purple-top swede, I pursued my inquiries, and directed my shepherd to ascertain the exact amount of weight a pen of 8 lambs would eat per day of each sort. I cannot, however, give here his report exactly, as it is not to be found amongst my papers ; but I well remember that the substance of it was that the lambs fed upon Skir- ving's sort ate the most weight per day ; and I was led to the conclusion that if an acre of Skirving's 8ort produced the most weight, it would not keep the same number of lambs any longer than an acre of the old purple-top swede j consequently their merits so far proved about equal. To test their feeding properties I made the following Experiment, No. 23. — January 5, 1846, two separate pens of lambs, containing 8 lambs each, were weighed alive ; one lot was fed on Skirving's Liverpool swedes cut, with half-a-pint of peas and half-a-pint of bran each daily ; the other lot was fed on the purple-top swedes cut, with the like quantity of corn and bran. They were all weighed again on the 3rd of February, and each lamb gained in weight, on the average, as follows : — lbs. Lambs fed on purple-top swedes gained each on average „ 8 Lambs fed on Skirving's Liverpool swedes gained in same time 5 Difference in one month's feeding, in favour of the purple top sort , . . , 3 Experiment No. 24. — Two other lots of lambs were weighed Feb. 18, 1846; to each of one lot was given Skirving's swedes cut, with half-a-pint of peas and half-a-pint of bran mixed per day ; the other lot were fed on the purple-top swedes cut, with the like quantity of peas and bran. They were weighed again on April 3, and the follomng was the result of this trial : — lbs. Lambs fed on the purple-top swede, gained each on the average, in about six weeks. ... 18 Lambs fed on Skirving's Liverpool sort of swedes, gained in the same time 16 In favour of the purple-top swede 2 If the results of these two experiments are added together, they show an increase of 5 lbs. of live weight, in ten weeks' feeding of each lamb, in favour of the purple-top swede, or of nearly 4 lbs, of mutton. These are, however, the only two trials I have made, but the conclusion is satisfactory an important. I cannot help observing, that when the trial ( the two sorts was made to ascertain the weight p( acre in 1845, that season was so favourable for tl growth of turnips, that almost any sort produced good crop. The present season, 1846-47, is qui the reverse, the swedes being generally a very be crop, defective in plant, and much diseased, have now some of the above-mentioned sorts, ali the green-top swedes growing in the same fielc the crop is bad, but I must say that Mr. Skirving sort is the best, and appears the most healthy, think they are the best to sow on land that is tin of growng swedes, being more of a change th; any of the old sorts, and may do to feed lambs, succeed white turnips early in the winter, beii softer and milder in their nature than the o purple-top swede, which is, in my opinion, t most feeding root extant for sheep, in the latt winter and spring months. A practice is, or rather has been common, 1 farmers to get irp their swedes in November a December, and put them into large heaps, w covered with inoulds to protect them from fro supposing that sheep will fatten much better up them if secured in this way ; and the two followi experiments which I shall adduce appear to favo the plan in a trifling degree ; yet I think it 1: some objections, which I will endeavour to po: out, Swedes often grow, or swell in size, af November, if an open time ; therefore some weip is lost by drawing them so early. The comm method is to clean them just as if they were to immediately given to sheep, and then thrown ir heaps and covered down, when, if left in that sti for some weeks, they will mould and rot wherei the cleaner or pecker has injured them, and requ cleaning again, making a great waste of food, a causing an additional expense. If, however, th must be got up for the winter, the roots shot never be cut or bruised; but merely ha'^'e the d knocked or shaken from them, the top- ivrung c and then jnit together in heaps : of course they v require cleaning before they are used. If secur in this manner, a great accumulation of roo necks, and manure will be left in heaps, and if t greatest care be not taken to clean them all up a spread them regularly over the field (which C| scarcely be done effectually), the places where t turnips lay will be seen in the barley crop bei lodged and down, and the plant of seeds genera lost. But as the season advances, the tops be^ to grow and run towards the end of February, early in March; they should then be got up, the land will be greatly injured ; the best way that time, I think, is, to regularly clean them I THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 216 hey are not so much likely to rot or mould, the veather at that season being generally dry), and eave their tops and roots about the field ; they iliould be covered down, or they will, through the vinds and sun, get much too dry, and be less eeding. Experiment No. 23. — Early in the winter of .846, I bad some swedes got up and put into heaps ; )eing well covered down they laid some M'eeks lefoie they were used. On February 16, 1846, wo lots of lambs, of eight in a pen, were weighed ; 3 one lot was given the swedes pitted, as above escribed; the other lot had their swedes fresh got p every day : all the lambs had the same quantity f corn. They were weighed again on April 3, nd gained as follows : — lbs. 'he lambs fed on pitted swedes gained each on the average, in six weeks IQi he lambs fed on swedes, got up fresh for them every day, gained in the same time, each , , I7h Two other lots of lambs, fed exactly as the above, ad during the same time, gained each as follows : — lbs. ambs fed on pitted swedes 16J ambs fed on swedes, fresh got up every day, gained IS^ The swedes, at the time these experiments were lade (the season being unusually mild and open), ad run away much to top, consequently were not D feeding as they otherwise would have been in rdinary seasons. j A method of getting up swedes for the winter is iiuch in use in some lordships that are overrun 'ith game (and it appears to answer very well) is, ) take a common plough, and open two deep irrows, and by throwing them contrary ways to ich other a trench is made ; into this the swedes te thrown on either side, having only their tops j'rung off, until it is filled up. Another bout with lie plough moulds them up, and if not perfectly overed, a man follows with a spade and completes lejob. Rows are continued to be made in this 'ay over the field. When taken out for use, they [equire cleaning; but being more dispersed about [lie field than when put together in large heaps, ibe roots and chippings get more regularly spread bout the land. I would recommend that some |Wedes, however, should be got up and secured in |)ecember, for the sheep to eat when the weathei- is rosty, as there can be no doubt that they will go n much better with them then than on those urnips which have been exposed, and become hard ind frozen. A great difficulty is now found by many farmers a the midland counties, of growing swedes, even ipon the best turnip soils, from the plants, after being well set out and hoed, becoming diseased with what is termed graping, or fingers and toes, and their worth is, consequently, but very little. To such an extent are the lands of some persons infected, that they can scarcely grow enough for their feeding sheep. To remedy this evil various plans have been adopted, but hitherto without any beneficial effect. Mangold wurtzel being rather of a different nature to turnips, and as it has been used to some extent for feeding beasts, and for suckling ewes, farmers are now in many places turning their attention to it as a substitute for the swede for feeding sheep. How far they will answer for this purpose, time and experience will prove. As they must in this case be used in the winter, when they are in a very succulent state, and liable to make sheep scour, a good proportion of dry food should also be given, and I vi'ould recommend that they should be used very sparingly at first, by mixing them cut with some turnips, until the sheep have been accustomed to them, and eat them well. Experiment No. 26. — Being desirous, however, of further ascertaining the merits of mangold wurtzel, as winter food for sheep, I selected soma lambs, and put them into two separate pens ; to one lot was giveu yellow globe m.angold in troughs, having them fresh cut four times a day, with as much hay chaff as they would eat ; the other lot was fed on cut white turnips, at the same time having also plenty of hay-chaff. They were weighed January 15, 1847, and again on the 22nd February, when the result was as follows : — lbs. Lambs fed on yellow globe mangold wurtzel, gained from Jan. 15 to Feb. 22, each on the average 3^ Lambs fed on cut white turnips, lost in the same time, each on the average 0| Being a difference of 4ilbs. of live weight in favour of mangold wurtzel. The white turnips were young and appeared goodj the lambs also were good and healthy, and the mangold excellent. Those lambs fed on white turnips ate the most chaff, or their loss in weight would have been greater. They consumed of white turnips each per day 245lbs., and those on mangold 2l|lbs. each per day. This experiment proves that mangold wurtzel is a most valuable root to be grown, and if not so feeding as the swede, which the little experience I have had with it seems to point out (see exp. 12, 20, 24, 26), it nevertheless is a most useful food for store or breeding lamb- hogs, and its cultivation will be valuable, as an immense weight per acre can be obtained under judicious management. This experiment also bears out what I have before stated, that white turnips are of little use to feed sheep in the winter, after they have once been frozen. 216 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. In the preceding pages I have endeavoured to describe the best and cheapest way of feeding kmbhogs in the winter. I corae now to the time of year (April), ^hen they will be made fat, if well bred, and good attention has been paid them. There are, however, always some in all flocks, which do not, from various causes, get forward enough for market ; these are 'generally turned to grass or clover to be made up. I have found tares or vetches at this season of the year of excellent use for lambhogs ; and when a few cut swedes were given also, they have gone oii exceedingly fast. Their feeding qualities, however, vary, accor- ding to the land upon which they are grown. A few years ago I occupied a farm : it was light land upon a limestone rock, the soil being shallow : upon this I found sheep feed faster in the spring on tares with cut swedes than in any other way ; but I have since tried the same manner of feeding with tares and swedes on gravel land early in the spring, and found them not to go on so well as others being left to feed on cut swedes on the land where they were grown. Corn or pulse and oilcake is much used for feeding sheep and lambhogs in the winter, when at turnips ; and the general opinion is, that if it is once given to them it cannot be left off again with- out their suffering loss. This is, to a great extent, erroneous, as I \vill endeavour to show by an ex- periment which I made some years ago. I beheve that corn and oilcake are unnecessary to fatten well-bred sheep in the summer, and occasion, when used at this season, a great waste of food, except under particular circumstances, such as a deficiency of green food, or where the land is poor and out of order, and used for the like purpose, as mentioned Experiment No. 27. — In the year 1833 part of my lamb hogs had been fed all wnter with beans and oilcake, and cut swedes. I had also others, fed on cut swedes, without either cake or corn. In the month of April, to ascertain whether lamb hogs would not go on well if cake or corn was to be dis- continued, they having previously eaten what quan- tity they pleased, I drew three lots, and put them upon a good pasture of red clover. One lot was allowed as much oilcake as they would eat ; another lot had clover only, but up to the day of trial had been feeding on oilcake for many weeks. The other lot was fed on clover only, and had been wintered on swedes and chaflf, without ever having had either cake or corn. They were all weighed on the '29th of April, and again on the 28th of June follomng, when I found each lot had increased in weight as follows : — lbs. Lamb hogs, or sheep, fed on red clover, with- out having had either cake nor corn at any time, gained, in eight weeks, each, on the average 33 Lamb hogs, fed on red clover, and as much oilcake as they would eat, gained, each, in the same time 31 Lamb hogs fed on red clover, having neither cake nor corn, but previously, and up to the day of trial, had been fed on oilcake, gained each, in the same time 28 From the above experiment, it appears that oil cake is of no use to feed well bred Leicester shee whilst eating good red clover in the summer, an that if they previously have had it, there is n( much loss in leaving it oflT. Experiment No. 28. — From much experience an observation, I have often questioned the utility ( using beans to feed sheep in the summer, whili grazing upon good clovers or tares. I therefoi weighed two pens of sheep that were feeding upo fine red clover, having some tares daily carried l them, on the 30th of May, 1844 ; they were weight again July 3rd. lbs Gain, in weight, of eight sheep, fed on red clover and tares only, each, on the average, during thirty-four days 21 Gain, in weight, of eight sheep, fed on red clover and tares, but also had half a pint of beans each per day allowed them 21 Experiment No. 29. — Two other lots of shei feeding on fine red clover, with tares given to the daily, were weighed on the 30th May, 1845, ai again on the 5th of July following ; one lot havir besides, half a pint of beans each every day, provi the following result : — Ibf Lot of eight sheep, fed on red clover and tares, with half a pint of beans each per day, gained each, in five weeks, on the average. . 2( Lot of sheep, fed on red clover and tares only, gained each, on the average, in five weeks. . 1! Sheep feeding upon clovers, as well as upt turnips in the winter, ought to lie thin, and n more than about thirty put together in one pen, it is intended they should remain in it for ai length of time. Or, suppose a small field of ti acres of clover is to be fed off' by eighty sheep ; if was to be divided into three pens, and all the shei put together into one of the pens, to remain f three or four days, and then moved into the ne pen for the same time, and continued so to 1 regularly shifted into each of the pens as tb' followed in rotation, they would do well, and pi, for the extra expense of fencing; besides, their m nure would be more regularly laid about the Ian a consideration that is not suflficiently attended by many farmers, ITie time for sheep shearing vai-ies greatly in tb country. I well remember, that about thirty yea ago, many flocks in Lincolnshire and adjoinir counties were suffered to remain in their wool u; THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 6iy til July ; but in the more midland districts, where long woolled sheep are generally kept, they were shorn about the second or third week in June, Flockmasters, however, seing the evil of this system, liave latterly taken off their wool much earlier in the season; and many flocks are now seen naked by the middle of May, which is decidedly an ad- vantage to the sheep, and I should suppose that there is not much, if any, loss in the weight of wool. By shearing the ewes always about the same time every year, they of course produce a year's growth of wool. Some breeders think that the ivool weighs better, as it gets more greasy or oily, f the sheep are left in their wool until the Aveather jecomes hot. Suppose a trifle is here gained, vhich I much question, as many ewes peel at their lecks and underneath, and some lose their wool intirely ; a much greater loss will arise in the •ondition of the sheep, from their being attacked vith flies on their breasts, flanks, and heads, which arly shearing wiU in a great measure prevent, and nable all sheep to thrive much faster. The various diseases to which sheep are Hable, nd the best method of treating them, I confess las puzzled me more than any branch of manage- aent. I have paid much attention to sheep, and ised many remedies, but rarely have I been suc- essful. Sheep, generally, do not appear to be ill atil the complaint gets too much hold on the onstitution, so as to batfle the use of medicine and ther means. For the most part, whenever a sheep alls and appears very ill, if it has sufficient con- lition upon it, the best way is to send it to the lutcher. The scour, or running out in sheep, a very pre- alent disease, especially among lambs, may, how- ver, be arrested in its often fatal consequences by oany medicines ; but I prefer " Cuff's Farmer's •"riend" to any other that I have yet used for this omplaint; its good effects were strikingly pro- luced. The foot halt, or foot rot, is a very com- aon, but very troublesome complaint to cure if not aken in time. Caustics are the general remedies, uch as aquafortis, butyr of antimony, vitriol, verdi- ;ris, &c. The method for applying them is so com- Qon that it needs no directions here. It being a con- agious disease (and prevention is better than cure), hepherds would do well, and often save themselves vast deal of trouble, if they would but remove a neep from the flock, as soon as they perceive it to e lame ; whereas, too often is the case, they suffer '' to remain for days, when the complaint is soon ommunicated to others, and spreads throughout tie flock. These remarks also apply to the pre- ailing complaint (generally called the epidemic), /hich appeared in this country about seven or eight jcars ago, and is unfortunately raging to a serious extent at the i)resent time. I am peisuaded, from my own experience, that although it makes its ap- pearance in a flock which has not been near any infected sheep, yet it also is a contagious disease, and as soon as a sheep falls it should be immediately removed from the others. I will mention one cir- cumstance to prove this. In May, 1846, my shepherd found one sheep very lame with this complaint; he took it directly from the others, to a distant part of the field, and not one of them became infected, although the sheep was afterwards so bad that his hoofs° came quite off. Many of my sheeiJ have suffered severely from it the present season; and sometimes the disease was so rapid in its progress that it could not be arrested; out of one lot of a hundred and twenty sheep I think not ten of them entirely escaped. I had also about fifty ewes in a lot by themselves that were attacked, but my shepherd, like many others, overlooked it on its first appear- ance ; but as soon as I discovered the fact, I caused the lame ones to be removed, and only about fifteen of them suffered from this serious malady. The best remedies that I know of, as dressino-s for the feet, are verdigris mixed with vinegar, tincture of myrrh, and common mercurial ointment. They require to be used eveiy two or three days, and where the disease has taken such hold of the sheep as to force off their hoofs, care must be taken to cut them away by degi-ees. "When they have in a measure got over the complaint, I have used, as a medicine " Cuff's Farmer's Friend," to restore their appetites, which appears to answer very well. 5. THE EFFECT OF MANAGEMENT ON THE PRO- DUCTIVENESS OF THE SOIL. Having extended my paper to a much greater length than I at first expected, I must be as brief as possible in the remarks which I may deem neces- sary to state in connexion with this part of the subject. I apprehend that it is only required that the superior effects produced, or that may be ex- pected would be produced, on the productiveness of the soil, arising from any new discovered system of management should be pointed out, and that these pages should not be filled by explaining those effects produced from good or ordinary feeding and management which most farmers are acquainted with. I will now recall attention to the facts stated in a former part of this paper, (experiment No. 1,) wherein is shown that ewes fed on red-clover hay- chaff only, fed their lambs better than those ewes which were fed on cut swedes and beans; the cost of keeping them on clover, although bought at £4 per ton, was only lO^d. each per week, being exactly the same price as an ewe suckling her lamb would cost 218 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. feeding entirely upon cut swedes, which I have shown also in a previous page. If I can thus keep a fiock of couples through the spring upon clover- hay (chatt'} hought in the market at an equal price with what I can keep them on swedes grown upon the land (to say nothing of the superior thriving of the lambs, whose dams are fed on clover), must it not be of great importance to have this extra quan- tity of food brought upon and consumed on the farm, and consequently be greatly beneficial to the productiveness of the soil ? The advantages to be derived from the next ex- periment which bears upon this subject will be found in No. 5, which proves that ewes feed their lambs as well during the latter spring months, when fed on a mixture of dry food and clover, as others fed wholly upon green clover. This being a novel mode of feeding couples, which I have but recently discovered, to the extent that I have carried it, will meet, doubtless, with some ob- jections ; but, be that as it may, I proceed to state that great benefit must be given to the wheat crop where a large quantity of dry food has been consumed upon the clover leys preceding it, particularly if the land is in poor [condition ; and were it otherwise, and be olyected that too much straw will be grown and the crop get lodged, it may be answered — Then use less seed wheat per acre, and no injurious, but greatly beneficial, con- sequences would arise. The particular merits of the plan of feeding I am describing not only con- sists in aiding the productiveness of the soil, but secures to the farmer who adopts it a greater amount of profit from his clover crop than if he al- lowed it to be eaten with couples in the common way. Suppose a small field of seven acres of red or broad clover were to be stocked from the second week in April until the first week in June, or for seven weeks, with thirty-five cou^^les, being at the rate of five per acre, the usual number allowed for an average crop (where the land is in moderate condition), which they would keep under, if put on as early as the beginning of April in ordinary sea- sons. Again, suppose that the same piece of broad clover of seven acres had not been eaten oiF with sheep, but left for mowing, taking the average of seasons, if cut the first week in June would yield thirty cwt. per acre when made into hay, the profit would stand thus : — £ s. d. Seven acres of clover, producing 30 cwt. of hay per acre, at £4 per ton, the usual selling price 42 0 0 Deduct expenses of cutting, making, and getting, at 8s. per acre 216 0 39 4 0 Or value per acre . . . £5 12 0 Should it be objected that the clover, supposec to be a good crop, would keep more than five cou pies per acre, then I should answer — The sam clover, if mown for hay, would cut more thai thirty cwt. per acre. Now, supposing thirty-fiv couples would eat the seven acres in seven weekf taking the value of the clover as made into hay e £39 4s., they would cost 3s. 2:Jd. each couple pe week keeping, causing an amazing sacrifice c broad clover by eating it with sheep before a cro of hay has been taken. Some will here say — Yo have been advocating the consumj^tion of dry foo on clover leys, and now recommend mowing then how can this benefit the soil ? I answer — Certain] not directly, but indirectly it improves the gener condition of the farm. My first recommendatio; however, chiefly applies to the use of artificial foe on land in poor order, and the other to show mo clearly the value of clover for hay. I state the a( vantages of both, that others may pursue whic' ever their incUnation and circumstances dire them. It may also be objected that £4 per ton too high a price to be put upon the clover hay, it must generally be consumed upon the premise but before such a conclusion is come to, we mu remember, what I have before stated, that clov hay at the price I hare named is equal in value swedes for ewes and lambs. To show how this system could be reduced practice, suppose a person had seven acres of r clover, and had thirty-five couples which must kept thereon, instead of letting them run over t whole of it for seven weeks, he was to allow the to eat only one-half, or three and a-half acres, giving them a small portion every day, as previous directed and making up their suflSciencyby artific food, and mowing the remaining three and a h acres, the difference in profit woidd be as follows £ s. Three and a half acres of clover mown for hay, at £5 r2s. per acre, being the value before given 19 12 Deduct from this the cost of dry food to make up the sufficiency of keep for thirty-five couples, as related in experiment No. 5, at the rate of 1 7s.6d. per week for seven weeks, amounts to 6 2 £13 10 Therefore, by expending £6 2s. 6d. for dry foodi be used upon the clover, and thereby having th) and a half acres to mow, I get a clear gain of £ 10s. 6d. on seven acres, my couples thriving as av and the land getting greatly benefited. The land upon v/hich these experiments W( made being in poor condition, through the previc bad management of the tenant, I did not mow t clovers, but fed them off with sheep by putti THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. about double the numljcv thereon as I judged they would cany, and made up v.ith dry food as before described. The following autumn the land was drilled with wheat, at the rate of about seven pecks per acre, which produced me at harvest in 1846 a splendid croj), part of which I measured oft', having some wheat experiments thereon, and found that I liad full forty-seven liushels of wheat per acre. The same piece of land (then in low condition) was ;own with wheat after turnips early in the spring if 1844, when it only produced me at han'est about werity-five bushels per acre. Although I cannot )Ositively say that my system brought me this ex- ess of twenty-two bushels per acre more of wheat, et I am confident that I can fully lay claim to the reatest part of it ; therefore it must add greatly to lie productiveness of the soil. I will now revert to experiment No. (3, which learly proves that yellow globe mangold-wurtz.el, dth chaft', is of excellent use as summer food )r couples, and proceed to point out further ad- antages from the use of it. I must, however, pre- lously, but imperfectly, attempt to show the price can be grown at per ton, as something must be ated for our guide. I will suppose that an acre ' land, producing any root crop, when carted oft' le land, be laid at £10, which sum will produce nple profit to the grower, and that this acre of nd was to be sown with mangold-wurtzel pro- .icing twenty-five tons (and I know, by extra good lanagement, a much greater weight can be ob- ined on land adapted for their growth), which, ilued at £10, would give Ss. per ton as the value the mangold-wurtzel. An ewe suckling her mb would eat in June, daily, 22ilbs. I see experi- .ent No. 6), which, at 8s. per ton, amounts to ily 6^d. per week; to this must be added lib. of lafF daily, which, at 4s. per cwt., amounts to 3d. ;r week, making the cost of an e^'e keeping jjer eek Osd. The lambs, as before observed, belong- g to the ewes thus fed must run upon good over or other green food, or they would do badly. ;t this cheap way of feeding be compared with e common practice of alloNving the couples to nge indiscriminately over the whole field (which, ,' being continually cropped and kept down, the 111 penetrates into the land, and the produce the crop is consequently much lessened), accord- g to the statement I have made, the value of '■. acre of clover hay is £5 12s.; and if this acre clover was to be eaten with couples in the spring, jey would cost at the rate of £5 12s. per acre — . 2|d. each per week keeping. I have not, how- fir, as yet allowed anything for the keej) of the 'Ting lambs allowed to run upon good clover, the •ni of which was fed on mangold and chaft"; I II therefore put it down at 5d. per week, which. if added to 9^d. (the cost of keeping the ewes), makes Is. 2^d. as the price for keeping the couples per week on mangold-wurtzel; deduct this from the 3s. 2]d. as above stated, leaves a clear gain of 2s. per couple in favour of the method I am now advocating, and stamps highly the value of man- gold-wurtzel as .summer food for sheep, I am aware, however, that it cannot be practised to any great extent, but I think that I have shown enough to awaken inquiries into the subject, and must therefore leave others to carry it out, according to their various circumstances and situations : many ways might be mentioned, but it would take up too much time and sjxice here to mention them. I will only just observe that, upon all strong soils, where root crops cannot be eaten oft', and which generally grow mangold pretty well, this system is admirably adapted, particidarly where the mangold is eaten upon the clovers, will prove very beneficial to the wheat crop succeeding, and much improve the land. Even upon the best soils this very useful root may be used in the same way with advantage, its produce being often very great ; and, after from fifteen to eighteen tons per acre have been con- sumed upon the land whete it was grown, there is often a great surplus left to be eaten, which conse- (juently improves the general stat3 of the farm. The utility of using some kind or other of dry food for sheep, when eating off turnips or other root crops upon the land, being so universally acknowledged, but little comment is here required. A good return is often found for the outlay in a saving of vegetable food— the increased weight of mutton put thereby upon the sheep (which is clearly shown in experiments Nos. 12 and 13), and the great benefit which is conferred upon the soil. Before I conclude I must again urge the use of clover hay cut into chaft' for all kinds and condi- tions of stock, as I beheve its worth is not yet sufl^ciently known to any great extent. On the other hand, I cannot help again stating that, in my opinion, the value put upon corn or pulse and oil- cake for feeding sheep and cattle has been greatly overstated. I think the time is not far distant when they will give place (in the state they are now used), in a great measure, to nearly equally feeding, but more economical food, as clover hay, prepared linseed, and other compounds. From the little experience and knowledge in these matters that I have yet attained, I am con- vinced that much yet remains to be discovered, not only in the management of stock, but in other branches of agriculture. I must now conclude the subject that the pre- ceding pages have exhausted, which were written 2-20 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. at intervals as I could snatch an hour from the hurry of business ; and, should it meet with the approbation of the Royal Agricultural Society, and be productive of any good to the community, I shall feel amply rewarded. Beeston, Bigglesivade, 1847. THE ECONOMY OF MANURING. BY CUTHBERT W. JOHNSON, KSQ., F.R.S. In my observations upon the economy of ma- nures, in a previous number of this valuable maga- zine, I chiefly confined my attention to " the manure cost" of the farmer's ordinary root crops. There is another valuable portion of the inqmry, howevei', viz. — the comparative influence of ma- nures upon the production of seeds and straw in the case of the cereal grasses. Upon this important question I propose now to make a few observations ; first remarking, that since the date of my last paper one or two ad- ditional reports of experiments have appeared, upon the application of certain manures to the ordinary field root crops, confirmatory of the principles of economy in the application of manures to which, at p. 14 of this volume, I had occasion to refer. In one of these, by Mr. C. Barclay {Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, vol, viii., p. 57), it will be noted by the farmer, that in some trials with the red round turnip at Merriden, in Surrey, the economy of using artificial dressings was very evident. In the very first trial, for in- stance, the cost of the dressing per acre (eight bushels of bones at 2s. (3d,, and sixteen bushels of ashes at 5d.) was £1 Gs. 8d; the jiroduce of turnips, on the same space, about twelve tons : here the manure cost of the turnip, per ton, was about 2s, 2d. In the next experiment (8 bushels of bones, IG bushels of ashes, ^ cwt, of soda, and ^ cwt, of potash) the manure cost £2 14s, 8d. ; the reduce was about thirteen tons; costing, thei'efore, for manure, per ton of turnips, about 4s, 2d, In the third experiment (4 bushels of bones, 84lbs, of sul- phuric acid, 1 6 bushels of ashes, and 1 cwt. of guano), the cost of the manures being £l 7s. id., and the produce of turnips about fifteen tons, the manure, cost, per ton of turnips, was only about Is. 9d. In the fourth experiment the manure-cost, per ton of turnips, with the same fertihzer, was about 2s. 6d. These four trials, be it remembered, were made with artificial dressings only. In the next four trials, eight cart-loads of farm- yard manure, at 4s. per acre, were used in addition to the same artificial manures, and then the outlay for the manure produced as follo\vs : 1 st, £3 5s, lOd. outlay yielded eighteen tons, being about 3s. 8d. for "each ton of turnips; 2nd, £4 13s. lOd produced seventeen tons, or about 5s. 8d. per ton 3rd, £2 6s. produced ten tons, or about 4s. 7( per ton ; 4th, £3 4s. lOd, yielded fifteen tons ( turnips, or about 3s. lOd. per ton of turnips. "W see, then, that in these trials the average cost /( manure for each ton of turnips, dressed with art ficial fertilizers alone, was in four diflferent expei ments, about 2s. 7|d,; but when the farm-yai manure was also added, that then, in four simil trials, the average manure-cost for each ton tm-nips was increased to about 4s, 5jd. Are n these facts well worthy of the practical farmei earnest attention ? And in a subsequent page the same journal (p. 225) another witness pi sents himself in the same important inquiry, J we there find Mr. E. WagstafF, of Westerton, m Huntley, giving a plain and practical accoii of a new and economical addition to farm-ya manure, as a dressing for each acre of turnij of which the follo\ving is the conclusion : — ^T old way cost, in 1845, 20 loads of dung 3s. 6d., 8 bushels of bones at 3s. =^ £4 14s. T neiv way, in the same year, 20 loads of dung at : Gd., 2f bushels of bones at 3s., 63lbs. ofb vitriol at lid. = £4 4s. 7d. ; being a saving, per ai of 9s. 5d. In 1846, the old way, as before, ci £4 14s. The Mew w«y, viz., 15 loads of dung 3s. 6d,, 5 bushels of bones at 3s., 115 lbs. of vitr at lid. = £3 19s.; being a saving, per acre, 15s. The benefit, too, did not end with the sa^^ in the outlay for manure, since Mr. Wagstaff^ ad( " In every instance in 1844, '5 and '6, my turn have been declared by good judges, to be a guii an acre better by the new than by the old ; and ' crops following the new process, particularly gra have been earlier and better than those follow the old." I Such is a portion only of the more recent c ■ dence which has appeared in favour of the stef ' consideration and careful estimate of the com rative advantage of employing the manure of farm yard (either by itself or mixed -with ot artificially prepared fertilizers) or from using th ; new dressings by themselves. The same course ' examination next presents itself, in the case of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 231 iianures applied to the cereal grasses. Here, hoo- ver we must avoid an error far too cominon in he busy time of harvest — a neglect, in such aluable comparative trials, of the balance and the lushel. This is the more to be lamented, since, /ithout these strict tests of the apparent results, lany an otherwise valuable experiment is rendered f little use to agriculture. The erroneous con- lusions, in fact, arising from a too careless exami- lation of the results of a practical course of cultiva- on, are, as I have elsewhere remarked {Be/Ts lessenger, No. 2662), much more common, much .ore extensive, than the young farmer is always I illing to believe. The same remark, indeed, ap- ' ies to many experiments with different manures : ' the eye, success seems attained to an extent which e after-admeasurement of the corn produced, or ! quahty in such comparative trials, does not I ivays support. To the correctness of this remark ' have, amid that of many other experienced •mers, the evidence of an excellent and successful actical farmer of a midland county, who in a re- nt discussion on this subject remarked to me, th perfect confidence in the truth of his obser- tion, that he was quite sure that many of his ighbours in Bedfordshire produced, it is true, cellent crops of straw, l)ut that many a farmer it more corn to market per acre, by growing jps which, although they did not appear so I furiant, yet yielded more corn. He was quite rtain, too, that certain fertilizers, which he had refully tried, very often induced the production of aw rather than corn, and were better adapted for ^ production of grass than of seeds. These ob- vations are of a class so peculiarly interesting to ; practical farmer, especially at a period when irvest time determines many a doubtful trial, that [can perhaps hardly devote an essay to a more \il\A theme, than to an examination of the action I one or two modern fertihzers upon the produc- 1 11 of straw and seed, and upon the quahty of the !!d so produced. It is well in the outset of our •sen'ations to remember that the beneficial action I a manure is almost always to be ascribed to its iistituents being also that of the plants, whose ^)wth it is found to promote, and that the chemi- i composition of the straw and seeds of a plant f nmonly differ very materially, if not in their in- gidients, at least in the comparative proportion C those ingredients. To give an example : the > aw and seeds of wheat being analyzed by Spren- { , were found to contain, of inorganic matters, in 00 lbs. weight:— The Grain, The Straw. Potash .. .. 2.251b. .. 0.201b. Soda . . . . 2.40 „ . . 0.29 » Lime . . . . 0.96 „ , . 2.40 „ T he Grain. The Straw Magnesia 0.90 lb. . . 0.32 lb Alumina 0.26 „ . . 0.90 „ Silica . . 4.00 „ .. 28.ro „ Sulphuric acid . . 0.50 „ . . 0.37 „ Phosphoric acid 0.40 „ .. 1.70,, Chlorine 0.10,, . . 0.30 „ In this brief inquiry into the result of the dressing of the cereal grasses, leaving the exact comjjara- tive cost per quarter for the subject of a future essay, let us, in the first instance, confine our at- tention to some of the researches upon, perhaps, the two most extensively employed of modern fertilizers— cubic petre and the salts of ammonia ; this last involving also in some degree the chief ingredient in guano, a still more extensively em- ployed and recent introduction into the list of ma- nures. In my own trials and observations the effect of cubic petre has always appeared to me to be of the most uncertain description ; and that in the generality of cases, the result of top-dressing corn with it had the effect of more frequently im- proving the colour and size of the growing plant, than of adding materially to the quantity or to the quahty of the seed. The remarks of many farmers have been to the same effect. But this is not always the case ; thus Mr. Raymond Barker, in his trials on a poor, thin, Ught soil, on the stonebrash, by using 42 lbs. of nitrate of soda on a quarter of an acre of white Hereford wheat, obtained, per quarter of an acre, the following result {Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vol. ii., \). 133) : — Drilled at nine inches. Grain. Soil simple. ... 6 bixsh. 0 pecks — with cubic petre 8 „ 2 „ Drilled at six inches. Soil simple. ... 6 bush. 1 peck — with cubic petre 8 „ 3 ,, Here the increase of straw was attended by a similar increase in the amount of the grain. The general varying effects of this fertilizer have, how- ever, in this respect, been remarked by many very skilful farmers. Mr. C. Stevenson, of Redside, in East Lothian, observes with regard to cubic petre {Transactions of the Highland Society, \o\. ix. p. 329), after detaihng the results of a series of experi- ments with wheat, " The produce was in favour of no application, as other exjjeriments showed that nitrate affects the straw more than tl-.e grain." In the ex- periments, however, of Mr. Pusey {Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society., vol. ii., p. 120), a dif- ferent result was obtained ; the produce of the grain and straw pretty nearly corresponded in amount, the nitrate in this case being sown by hand in the second week in June. "Tlie dark Straw. 3 cwt. 22 lb. 4 „ 39 „ 3 cwt. 87 lb. 5 i, 56 „ 32g THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 1 . Soil simple — nitred •2. Soil simple — nitred 3. Soil simple — nitred green which the nitrate produces," ohserves Mr. Pusey, " showed itself within four days ; the blade soon became liroader, and the superior vigour of the corn which had been dressed might be seen from a great distance. This appearance, however, might jje delusive ; at harvest time, however, a clear difference still showed itself Ijetween the dressed and the undressed wheat on each side of the boundary furrows. It was not that the corn stood thicker where it had received the nitrate, which had been applied too late to make it tiller out : but on the undressed side there were many short, or underling straws, as they are called, with shoit ears. On the other side there were none of these ; all the straws were of equal length, and all their ears were evidently longer." The ref^ults obtained, per acre, in six trials were : — Grain. Straw, •27 bush. . . 2760 lbs. 39 1-9 . . 3858 21 3-4 .. 2260 26 1-1 n .. 2856 20 1-3 .. 2252 24 4-5 . . 2732 " I must admit, however," continues Mr. Pusey, " that when some of the corn was ground, the yield in flour did not bear out the equality of price for which it had sold. A Inishel of the wheat which had not received nitre weighed 62^ lbs., of the other wheat only 6O-4: lbs. ; and this difference of weight told in the produce of four bushels of each which were sent to the mill, as appears by the fol- lowing account: — Flour. Pollard. Bran.Waste. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. . 176 .. 17 .. 40 .. 8 . 197 . . 13 . . 33 .. 8 The nitred wheat yielded less than its proportion of flour, not only according to measure, as might have been expected, but even according to weight ; for the 241 lbs. of wheat should have given 189 lbs. of flour, but they gave only 176 lbs., a further serious deficiency of seven per cent. So that the l)ushel of wheat not nitred gave 49t lbs. of flour; that of nitred wheat, 44 lbs. only — nearly ten per cent, less of flour, according to measure. One miller, who ground some of each wheat, stated to me, that the condition of the two parcels was very different ; one appearing to him to l)e so very soft, that he had no doubt it had been badly harvested. They had grown, however, on neighbouring ridges, and had been cut and carried together. It was the nitred wheat, of course, which was soft, and, as the miller stated, gave out its flour ill. The same miller in- formed me, that even in the golden drop wheat, he had found this defect. He also stated, generally, that wheats which are grown on farms where that croji occurs oftener than every four years, though well farmed superior soils, yield less flour than corn pr( duced upon poorer soils, on which the four conn ] rotation is observed. Hence it appears, th whether we increase the produce of wheat b)' ni nure, by improved seed, or by a more rapid su cession, we have to contend against this deduction- that the produce of flour does not increase in t' same proportion ; still, in the present case t' ]n'oduce of wheat per acre tiu-ned out favourabl Bush, of Wheat, llis. of Floi Acre with nitre.. .30 at 44 lbs. .. 1320 Do. without nitre 24 at 49ilbs. . . 1077 Not only, however, did equal measures of the t' wheats give imequal weights, and equal weigl unequal measures of flour, luit even the sai quantities of flour did not give precisely the sa weight of bread. In six successive bakings 9 1 of each flour were separately made into bread ; th was always a deficiency, more or less considerable the bread produced by the nitred flour. The 1 trial may be taken as an average one. Nine poui of each flour previously dried were made into dou according to the process of Colonel Le Couteur Dough. Bre lb. oz. lb. 13 8 . . 11 13 10 . . 11 Weight, lbs. Wheat, nitred.. 241 . Do., not nitred 251 , 9 lbs. of nitred flour gave . . 9 lbs. of unnitred flour gave "The bi'ead of the nitred wheat," adds Pusey, " I must say seemed the best and n , agreeable, resembling the common white br 1 made in the south of Spain, the wheat of wl 1 coimtry abounds, I believe, in gluten," It is wortliy of remark, that the effect of tl ' manures, such as putrid urine, the refuse of js • works, soot, guano, &c., when applied as top dr • ings to a growing crop of the grasses, is to prod 2 a dark green colour ; and, as Mr. Pusey rema I, they have "a tendency to lengthen, but weaken, t straw; to increase the bulk, but diminish 6 weight of the grain." Now all these fertili s agree only in one common property, that of c • taining ammonia, which is a compound of nitro n and hydrogen. We know, t^lso, that nitron enters into the composition of nitrate of soda, d that this salt produces the same effect upon e common and cereal grasses as the ammoni il fertilizers. We may further note, too, thattlie are supposed to increase the proportion of ghn in flour, and, moreover, that gluten is the ly vegetable substance in which nitrogen is fou!; that from wheat flour containing, according to^ie analysis of Boussingault (Farmers' Almanac, vol •> p. 263)— Nitrogen . Cai'bon Hydrogen. Oxygen 13.9 7.5 24.4 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 223 Bran . . Gluten. . Starch . . Albumen Extract. Loss and water Unnitrated. 24.0 19.0 55.5 0.625 0.25 0.625 That the action of cubic petre, when used as a top dressing for wheat, is to increase the propor- tion of the gluten in its seeds, is a conclusion sup- ported by the following results of two examinations given by Mr. Hyett, of Painswick, of some wheat grown on the cornbi'ash {Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vol. ii., p. 143). He found in the wheat from Nitrated Soil. 25.0 23.25 49.5 J. 375 . 0.375 . 0,5 knd this peculiarity of action, as to the proportion 3f gluten found in wheat, is not confined to nitrate 3f soda ; it has been shown that 100 parts of wheat , ?ro\vn on the same soil, but manured with different I fertilizers (also abounding with nitrogen) contained :be following proportion of gluten and starch 'Farmers' Almanac, vol. ii., p. 237.) : — Human urine (dried) Bullocks' blood (dried) Nightsoil (dried) . . Sheep's dung Pigeons' dung Cows' dung Vegetable humus . . Soil not manured . . The crop, then, dressed with these fertilizers con- tains an increased proportion of nitrogen ; an in- crease, however, which has been shown by Professor Johnston (Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry) to be generally much greater in the case of either corn duten. Starch. 35.0 . . 39.1 34.2 . . 41.3 33.1 . . 41.4 22.9 . . 42.8 12.2 . . 63.2 12.0 . . 62.3 9.6 . . 55.9 9.2 . . 66.7 or hay, than that which was contained in the nitrate with which the field has been dressed. One or two other facts bearing on this proportion of nitrogen found in plants have been noted. That the proportion of gluten or albumen found in different wheat varies very considerably has been showmby Professor Gregory {ibid, vol. ii., p, 4 ; Agricultural Gazette, vol. xi, p. 618), he found, per cent., in Coal wheat .. .. ..21.8 Tremois . . . . . . 14.4 Silesian . . . . . . 12. 1 Talavera .. . ..11.0 Wolgost . . . . . . 9.3 Hunter's . . . . . . 9.2 Ducksbill . . . . . . 9.2 Sir H. Davy found that the proportion of gluten was less considerable in autumn-sown than in spring wheat. He found in some varieties of the first only 1 9 per cent, of gluten, but in spring wheat 24 per cent. He noted, also, a greater proportion of it in the wheat of the south of Europe than in that of the north; and to this he ascribed the greater fitness of the former for m.aking macaroni and vermicelli. These researches, too important to the interests of the practical farmer to require any apology for their repeated discussion, I propose, at an early period, to resume in the pages of this work. They all tend, I trust, to the same practically v.seful end, which I have carefully endeavoured to bear in mind, in all the observations which the farmers of my country have long so indulgently received, the safe and profitable increase of the farmer's invaluable and very diflficult occupation. ON THE PRESERVATION OF POTATOES, BY M. M. M. The great utility of the potato, and its very ex- tensive cultivation, have induced growers to turn their attention to its culture and preservation, per- haps more than any other root or vegetable in ex- istence. The very serious failures which have taken place for some years past have caused it to be a subject of anxious and interesting inquiry, whether their cause is to be attributed to some de- teriorating princii)le in the vegetable itself, or to some unskilful management either in the culture or storing of it. Much riiay be said on the former part of the inquiry, as to its general and repeated cultivation, the extremely artificial state of the root, arising from the effects of the cultivation, and the probability that such cultivation will in time defeat it^ object. The writer of this essay is in- clined to think that many of the failures in the crop may be attributed to igno- rance of the principles of storing them pro- perly. If we for a moment think of the state of the principal part of the sets (tubers) v/hen taken from the pits or cellars in the spring — generally grown to the length of x"rom three to nine inches, and soft, shrivelled, and heated — it requires no great degree of discernment to perceive that the vegetative powers are weakened and its vitality im- paired ; and it is no wonder if the growth of half of the crop is prevented. But this is not all the injury sustained from the evil of improper storing. So soon as germination commences, the flavour of the ])otato is destroyed ; and ^ve have ^t at our ta.bles discoloured and distasteful for two mp^t^?,yj,n the 234 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. year, as well as being deprived of a veiy consider- able portion of its nutriment at a time when it is most in request for our cattle, and when our stock require their nourishment the most. It is surprising that after so many years, and after so many difierent trials — generally the mere caprices of ignorant persons, and not founded on any correct principles of organic matter, or, indeed, on any principle at all— so little real advancement has been made, or so few successful plans have been adopted for their preservation. One reason for it, perhaps, is this — few persons have attended to all the precautions necessary for preserving so highly succulent a root, so many nice points being neces- sarily involved in effecting it. If the corn crop, for instance, be stacked in tolerably good condition, and protected from the wet, it may be huddled together in any manner convenience may dictate, and it is safe ; but here it requires power of discri- mination to determine upon seven main circum- stances. Our first object shall be to specify the causes of deficient preservation ; next to review the different methods in use, and their defective com- parative methods ; and lastly, to lay down the prin- ciples of successful storing. We must never aim, when storing potatoes for feed either for men or cattle, to keep them in a natural state. Naturally they will begin to vege- tate about the latter end of the month of March ; but our efforts must be exerted to retard vegetation at least three months longer, or we shall lose the nutrition and flavour of the tuber. Certain of growth as those generally are which remain in the ground the winter, no one would think of placing them in that situation to ensure their fitness for the table, or for cattle in the spring, because they generally germinate before those in the cellar. Having a supply of everything necessary to vege- tation, they germinate as soon as the season will admit. Heating in the pit, the cellar, or in the ground, may be placed amongst the first causes of a defectiv^e preservation ; place them in any situ- ation, no matter how protected or how adjusted, if heat be evolved theymustgerminate at any season of the year. But how does this accord with the practice of thousands of agriculturists ? nay, with the gene- ral methods of prevention ? Seldom pitted pro- perly dry, generally disposed in large heaps, and no attention paid to the situation in which they are placed as facilitating or retarding fermentation, it is not to be wondered at that this process should commenceandgo on rapidly, and heat and carbonic acid gas be evolved, and the vegetative principle be thus stimulated into premature and active opera- tion. Connected with this view of the subject is the injurious practice of taking up before the tubers are fully ripe. In this case, as we witness every October in thousands of instances, the cuticle c the jjotato is partially or totally displaced by th operation of carrying ; in this state they are place in the pit or cellar. The juices necessarily exud from the parts where the cuticle is damaged. Th moisture favours and excites fermentation ; heat i evolved, and precisely the same train of evils occu as in the preceding cases. Of course the same ob servations will apply to damaged potatoes, whic may be put into the storehouse or pit ; but it i unnecessary to carry it out, as the same principl apphes as to the former. To prevent trouble, tli large farmer piles vast quantities in one pit or heaj perhaps dug several feet in depth, very capaciou in diameter, and piled up to a considerable heighl the lower layers are actually bearing the weight ( tons, and some necessarily are injured by the supei incumbent pressure ; and indeed, apart from thi it is worth while to know that a large quantity much more liable to " heat" than a small one, i any succulent plant or root. Now the pressui produces decay of the lower layers, heat and moi: ture and carbonic acid gas are evolved, and evei circumstance not only necessary, but favourable, 1 vegetation, is produced ; and the mass is opened i spring, not only grown together, but of an intole: able heat, and the tubers are deprived both of ni trition and vitality. Another defect in the methods for pn servation is the free admission of air. Tl eflfect of the atmosphere upon the expose I^lant is to dry and shrivel the tuber, and deprive of its juices ; and though it may not cause it 1 germinate when below a heat of 45 degrees, yet will effectually prevent it keeping. So soon, hov ever, as the atmosphere begins to be warmed b the return of spring, vegetation will be excited the vitality of the tuber be not destroyed by expc sure ; and if it be destroyed, its utility is destroye also. Exposure to the air under any circun stances, provided no damage be sustained by tb potato, must cause it to germinate as soon as thei is sufficient warmth in the atmosphere to admit c it ; a period beyond which the agriculturist is d( sirous of preserving his potatoes, if he be anxiou to preserve them at all. The last cause of defective preservation arise from the existence of moisture, the third great ex citement to fermentation and putrefaction, as we as germination. While the attention of the agri culturist must be directed to protect the tuber from the over-drying eflfects of exposure to the aii he must also be on his guard lest they are rottei by excess of moisture. If the pit or cellar be de fectively drained, if the winter rains be allowed t percolate, he has not at spring to open a mass c living vegetable fibres, but a cohesive heap of pu THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 225 ridity fit only for the dung-hill. Let him not, how- :ver, either blame his potatoes or his servants : he iholild have attended better to the principle which roverns organic matter. I have not alluded to 'rost J it must be so obvious that the action of rest upon the tubers, in any situation or under any •ircumstances, is destructive to all plans of preser- 'ation, however well arranged, as to need no men- ion whatever. Having given an outline of the principles which ver ought to guide the farmer, and an infringe- lent of which is sure to produce a failure, we now ome to apply the different methods of jjreservation ) the tests laid do^vn, in order to decide upon their oniparative merits or defects. They may, with ne exception, be classed under the heads of sur- ice storing, and pitting. The exception referred D is that of immersing the tubers in boihng water s soon as they begin to show signs of germination, 'he manifest impropriety of this renders it unneces- ary to expose the results which must follow when 16 tubers become thus exposed to the laws of in- rganic matter. For planting, this is evidently out f the question ; for the table, it will not effect the bject for any considerable period of time, and thus efeat the object. Out-house and cellar storing re never attended with beneficial results, unless :iey are protected from frost in the one case and amp in the other ; and then they have the fullest xposure to the air, and all the injurious results of reat pressure when disposed in considerable quan- tities. I have found it to be invariably the case that the potatoes in the cellar or out-house, no matter how protected, were the first to germinate, and to lose their flavour even previous to germina- tion. In pitting, decidedly the preferable plan of the two, there are many circumstances to attend to which, seldom being regarded, are sufficient to account for failures. Either they are pitted wet, and damaged by the gripes or shovels, imperfectly covered and exposed to the full action of the sun, or are heaped in large quantities, and therefore no wonder that fermentation and premature germina- tion, or rotting, or even natural vegetation (a cir- cumstance we have previously observed the storer must ever guard against) is induced. The opinions expressed in this paper ai'e quite distinct from any reference to the peculiar disease in potatoes of the last two years. Believing this to be a merely temporary visitation, beyond human control or remedy, and which will in a few years wear itself out, the writer has merely applied his remarks to the proper principles of preservation, quite irrespective of that visitation. Much error generally prevails on the construction of the pits. They are generally so arranged as to secure the greatest possible pressure upon the lowest layers instead of the least possible. We shall be better understood by the accom- panying sketch of the general construction of the pits. Here we find the layer at AEB sustaining the )res6ure of the whole mass, owing to the perpen- licular action of the sides of the pit AC and BD. The potatoes in the lower stratum are frequently ndented in the ground, pressed upon by the whole veight, perhaps tons of superincumbent strata; and jherefore no wonder that decay, fermentation, and jonsequent heat and prematuve germination, are excited. Of course the same rule applies to either cellars or any situation where large quantities are stored, and where the side walls are perpendicular and the floor horizontal. If we have been somewhat brief in our enumera- tion of the usual methods of preservation, it ^vill be compensated by a scientific view of the proper principles to be attended to in storing; as any de^ 226 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. parfcure from them tnust be attended by unsuccess- ful results. To preserve the root for the longest period possible in the best possible condition must ever be kept in view, for there is a stage beyond which there is no artificial checking of the process of vegetation. From the above view, and from others which will be developed in the course of this essay, it will be seen that we give preference to the practice of pitting as being the easiest, simplest, and, as experience has proved, the best plan of pre- servation, and the most in accordance with correct views of vegetable economy. Di'yness at pitting is the first object to secure. It sometimes hai)pens that, owing to the wetness of the season, it is impos- sible to dig the potatoes in a dry state, or even to secure them from their coating of dirt ; the latter is, however, of little moment — a coat of diit will protect them if it be only dry. To effect this they should be exposed for a few hours, or days if ne- cessary, in a shed where the air ha.s free access, fre- quently turning them, only being careful not to al- low them to I'emain after they are dry. The next necessary precaution is that they must be thoroughly ripe. This may at any time be determined by the degree of firmness which the cuticle has attained ; so long as it will rub oflf by the josthng necessar in carrying or pitting, they are unfit to place in th store pit, for reasons before laid down. Care mus also be taken that they are undamaged. A very fe\ j damaged potatoes, either cut by the shovel, c I gripe, or plough, or bruised by the cart, or othei j wise injured, may defeat all other plans of protec ] tion, and render your pit a mass of putrescenc( \ And then the most important concern of all is tb \ quantity to be pitted together. It is useless to te the majority of farmers that they must not pit moi j than a few bushels together, because it is utter! j useless to recommend a plan which is impract cable. The gardener who wants but a few for see j would do Avellto attend to this; itis— otherprecai j tions attended to — a certain way of preserving the) well. But the farmer must have his ten or tweni cart loads together ; and more he certainly mu not have, if he cares for their opening in spring and therefore we must adopt some plan to lesst tlie pressure of this mass, or we say in effect th \ nobody but the gardener must attempt to presen \ them. This may be effected by the constructic I of the pits in the following manner (see Fig. 2 where it must be seen that by the oblique directk •it : E ;-^t ,{v. of the sides of the pit the lower strata are protected from excessive pressure, because it is divided and extended on the whole length of the line CAD; and therefore, in proportion as the lines CAEI ar^ longer than the line AB, so will be the ratio of the pre: sure, on any given point, on the lowest stratuin <| potatoes ; besides the advantage of the pressui being upon an oblique instead of an horizontal on THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 227 divided as it thus is, the pressure must be greatest on the hne AB. A small portion of some elastic substance will remedy this to some extent, pro- vided it be nothing calculated to contract damp, or j easily decompose : a little very dry straw \\'il] eftect the object ; but it is a question whether this would not be altogether obviated by making the pit bot- tom end in a point, as at A. The depth of the pits must depend upon circumstances ; from two to three feet will be found most ad\-antageous and practical, but greater depth is a desideratum when the dryness of the soil will admit of it. The upper heap must of course be lessened in proportion to the depth of the pit, and by constructing pits upon the plan recommended, they may be extended con- siderably in their diameter. DiTness is quite essential to preservation; and be it where it may, this must be obtained. We know an instance of ash-topped kidneys being })reserved >mtil the latter end of April, by placing the pit near the root of a very fibrous-rooted tree, and when taken out they were as fresh as when first put in, and not even the slightest traces of vegetation were perceptible, and the soil by which they were sur- rounded was like diy dust, partly owing to being sheltered by the trees, but more especially by being deprived of moisture ])y their roots. Coolness is in reality of the greatest importance ; and during a very backward spring potatoes generally do not ve- getate, except in cases of extreme mismanagement, imtil three or four weeks after the usual period. We have witnessed tubers pitted on a mountain side, where the temperature is much below the general degree of heat, and these were im\-egetated at the latter end of the month of May. This is the ]mn- cipal point to be attended to, but perhaps the most difficult to insure. When an elevation admits of the pits being made on the north side of a hill, this is the best way of securing it ; but when it cannot be obtained, the shade of a tree or row of trees will he serviceable, even when they have few or no leaves to keep the sun's rays from penetrating; but a tile or slate building is an imfavoui'able situation for making the pits. The next great desideratum is to prevent the ac- cess of oir. If we want them to germinate we may place chimneys in the pits, as some writers recom- mend ; or if fermentation were going on in the pit, we might open it, if the tem])erature were between 40o and 42 -^ ; but otherwise, even for this purpose, the chimney M'oidd be useless. To prevent the ac- cess of air, it is necessary to cover the cone raised above the surface of the ground with earth from six to fifteen inches in thickness, twelve inches being best under general circumstances. In situations where the frost is very intense, a covering over the earth of the jjotato stems wiU have a wonderful ef- fect in preventing its access to the potatoes within, being bad conductors of heat. Between the pota- toes and the soil it is desirable to introduce some- thing to pre\'ent the latter mixing with the former, or it will place them precisely in the situation cal- culated for growing. Dry straw is perhaps the best covering ; but anythmg green, as turf, rushes, &c., can only do injury by decaying, and evolving heat and gases. With respect to the cpnstitutional qualities of the potatoes, &c., I have stated my general views, and so far as the different varieties are concerned, this simple remark will be found correct in practice. The latest kinds will be the last to germinate. If there are any other peculiar circumstances attend- ing the preservation of the tubers, to which I have not alluded, a simple reference to the plain princi- ples previously laid down will furnish a ready indi- cation of the course to adopt. I have not stated what degree of coolness should be aimed at, be- cause it is quite impracticable to regulate its degree in the majority of cases ; Init as germination will not take place under 45'-"', every care should be taken to keep the heat of the pits below that point, 35° to 40° being the best medium. Snwerhij, Any. I3fli, 1847. AGRICULTURAL SUGGESTIONS. {Continued from page 138.) NO. ir. At the time when I commence this article, the of the operation ; it was ploughed in the ordinary ingathering of haiTest has made great progress, manner, to no great depth ; and at wheat season, and we are enabled to trace the effects of the | (about October 1 .'ith to 20th), being brought to various modes of treatment the land has been sub- ; what the farmer conceived to be a pi'oper condi- jectedto. When I resided in Berkshire the farmers I tion, the presser was in many instances employed were little inclined to make any alterations. The ! in preference to the drill ; or, not unfrequently, re- ip.nd about Maidenhead was ill-drained — few thought | course was had to the more simple and squandering S28 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, method of broadcast, the quantity of seed being averaged at about ten pecks pei- acre. The drills made by the presser were six inches apart ; and almost every one thus practically worked upon the principle that " a sparine/ of seed was the worst of economy." Now, what were the ine\'itable consequences of this blind adherence to old usages ? If the autumn and early wnter proved mild and favourable to growth, the surface of a field was covered — ab- solutely studded with young and richly luxuriant plants — perhaps ten in a space not three inches long. I have seen fields of wheat at Christmas, rich in promise to the inexperienced eye, six inches high, verdant as in a showery April ; yet, in that month of April, these same fields, under the paralyzing influence of parching east winds, three or four night frosts succeeding to a scud of snow, became destitute of every appearance of health; their growth arrested ; the delicate green tinting of the leaves changed, first to dingy red, and then be- came blotched and striped with russet brown, in- dicative of the decomposition of the tissue to a very great extent. To those who have been close ob- servers, and whose dehght it is to see the advance of British husbandry, it will suffice to allude to the winter of 1842-3, and to the beauty of all the wheat fields prior to the wintry visitation of the second week of the following April. But not to dwell upon first appearances, which but too often prove fallacious in the extreme, let us consider the future progress of the plants from the time when the secondary series of roots are formed, and tillering from the collar or crown ought to take place. Mr. Davis has stated his views in the following hues, to the accuracy of which my experience bears satisfactory testimony. " At first, no matter how much seed has been sown, nearly every grain vegetates, and finds space to grow ; the air and soil at that season being moist, the earth unexhausted, and the plants small, there is food for them all. But as the plants increase in size, a struggle for room and nourish- ment must commence, and can only terminate in the destruction of the weaker by the stronger plants. That this struggle must take place is shown by calculation of the number of straws that rise into ear, compared with the grains sown, and is seen in the yellow, sickly colour of thick wheat in the spring, when all other vegetation puts on its greenest tints." To follow up these remarks by the results of actual observation : I came to Croydon on the 8th of May, just two days after the weather assumed its first " spring" character. Everything was in ar- rears. The corn in many places— from Berkshire Either— was patchy, short, " the plant" scarcely visible. But a gentle rain fell as I entered Surrey and about the 10th day I first saw Haling Part The oats, barley, and wheat were low and thin ; th drills — twelve inches apart — were fully exposed with the intervals, however, clean as high-kep gardens. The 'question arose : What will be th result ? Can such spaces of land be covered Two days after, I went along the Epsom line ; am then, far as the eye could command the prospect, could perceive the rapid advances of the crops, oj each side of the road. In thickness of plant the abundantly surpassed those of Haling Farm, ani afforded evident proof that, however late a winte might extend into spring, a few days of warr stimulating weather would effectually redeem, ap parently, lost time. Gradually Mr. Davis's crop began to thicken ; tillering came into full activity and then commenced that change of tint whicl marked their progress throughout the entire perio of growth. The oats, in particular, assumed a blu green, so intense, that the whole immense plot wa perfectly distinguishable from every point of th extensive amphitheatre, which, for miles to east ani south, commands a view of the sloping ground o which they grew. The land is chalk — more or les loamy — in some parts wretchedly poor ; but dee tillage, and constant movings of the surface, hav supplied moisture, and maintained a steady pro gress to absolute perfection, notwithstanding season of local aridity, which could only be rivallei by the drought of 1844. These oats, the Chevalie barley sown in November, the peas in row twenty-seven inches apart, are now harveste( (August 8). They surpass in every quality that ap pears to constitute healthy and remunerative pro lificity. Beans, also, have been harvested perfectl; clean — no smother fly — thickly studded with pods Where do we find anything to compare with them ir this season of insect predominance ? I find n( beans elsewhere, that are worthy the name of? crop, unless it be at Spring Park, where the samt treatment has been equally productive of similai results ; and now, in addition, these fields, whicli two or three weeks ago supported the ripening beans, are covered with turnips, the seed of whicli had been duly sown between the ranks of the leguminous crop ! Under ordinary modes oi sowing, the ears of wheat rarely contain above thirty grains, at a full average. From forty-five to fifty, sixty, or even a greater number of seeds are contained in the ears of tillering wheat sown ini spaces ample enough to permit the plants to de- velop their full complement of lateral stems. Without, however, dwelling further, or insisting upon the necessity of thin sowing — a question which has been raised, and is now under debate- it must be evident that those principles which. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 229 ;gi(ily enforced, have converted deplorable lands ito an arena of preeminent fertility, ought to be enerally received and adopted by all agriculturists 1 every locality, be the soil what it may. Landlord nd tenant are equally and mutually interested in lieir adoption ; for that which brings the greatest emuneration to the growei', with the most abun- ant supply to the consumer, must tend to insure n improved rent to the proprietor. These principles are, 1st, a Zaiom^iow and com- inution of the land to the utmost depth that the atxu-e of the subsoil will allow ; premising efficient rtificial draining in every case where springs or stag- ant waters are traceable. This loosening of the soil rovides a supply of ground moisture — a provision 'hich our local experience now clearly shows to be f vital importance. 2nd, distance of drills ; leaving intervals so wide s to permit the use of horse or hand-hoes at any nd every time, so as effectually to disturb and re- love weeds, and also to impede the ravages of in- jcts. Another great advantage derivable from lese frequent hoeings is observable at the time of arvest, when the absence of weed and rubbish — articularly in catching weather — facilitates the safe arvesting of the crop. Again, if the advocates of beral or thick seed-sowing succeed to malte good their theory, a saving of seed, so far at least as con- cerns increased width of space between the rowy, must still be eftected ; since to sow drills only six inches apart must require twice the quantity of seed that will be deposited when the rows are twelve inches distant from each other. 3rd, comparatively early sowinc/. Mr. Davis's beans are sown between September and Novem- ber. Late sowings are ever doubtful. Peas in December to February ; wheat in September and October ; oats in the first quarter of the year; barley from January to April, inclusive. How often have I seen the spring corn fail to come up till June, and then unequally ? Early sowing, wherever the soil will permit the operation, will generally be very be- neficial. 4th. A rigid observance of a rotation that pro- hibits the repetition of grain crops, without the intervention either of turnip, mangold, kohl-rabi, or swede ; which green crop, whatever it be, must receive the manure in sufiicient quantity to extend through the entire course of rotation, A few other essentials suggest themselves on the subject of manure, but these will form the subject of another article. Park Place, Croydon, John Towers. I THE POTATO DISEASE. At a time when this calamity is exciting the atten- ion of men in every situation of life and in every lart of the globe, it may not be uninteresting to ay before your readers the results of an inquiry nade over the whole of France by the Royal and Central Society of Agriculture, aided by the Minister •f the Interior. Time of attack. hi 1845. — One case only is reported in May, ome few in June ; the greatest number in July, Viigust, September, and October. In 1846. — From June to October. First symptoms of the disease. In 1845. — Reddish brown blotches on the leaves md stems, which afterwards died and fell to the P'ound. Phenomena generally rapid ; sometimes sudden, according as the vegetation was more or ess vigorous. Occasionally these symptoms ap- peared when the vegetable had arrived at perfection. In 1846. — Very generally the leaves were first attacked, and became brown and withered ; yet in many situations the tubers were attacked, whilst the stems continued upright and green. Varieties affected and non-affected by disease. In 1845. — The early kinds have been generally less aiFected than the later varieties, except in two locahties. In 1846. — The early varieties, especially the St. John's, have again suffered least. The potatoes raised from seed were slightly less affected than the others. Progress of disease. In 1845. — It appears tolerably cAddent that the disease continued to spread so long as the crop was in the ground ; and that very large pits, or moist cellars, were unfavourable to the preservation of the potato. Where plenty of air was admitted amongst the potatoes after they were stored, the disease appeared checked. In 1846. — A similar answer returned. Proportion of crop destroyed. In 1S45. — Accounts differ in describing the loss between one-tenth and nine-tenths of the crop. Many have lost from a quarter to half of their potatoes. In ] 846,— A similar answer. ws THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Tetnperaitire at the time of attack. In 1845. — Generally moist and cold. In three places only moist and warm, and in one only hot and dry. In IM6, ivith state of the haulm. — In general the stems were in full vegetation when attacked. The temperature generally warm ; but when the atmo- sphere was dry, or even sometimes moist, tempes- tuous weather occurring at the same time was observed to check the disease. Nature of the soil. In 1845. — The disease has shown itself on every species of soil in France ; though least virulently in dry situations, or those with a good descent. In 184.6. — In many cases the dry, elevated situa- tions which had escaped the previous year were first attacked in 1846, though the moist and low situations were generally the most diseased. Every geological formation has been attacked in different localities. Effect of manures and previous culture. In 1845. — The different kinds of manures, such as fold-yard, stable, cow-house, goats', calves', sheep's, sea-weed, parings of horn, bones, animal charcoal, aramoniacal water, were without influence on the progress of the disease. The most abun- dant and most directly applied manures coincided principally with the greatest intensify of the evil. The pre\ious crops had no appreciable influence on the progress of the disease. Irt 1846. — Little or no effect could be observed from previous culture or manure. In some cases, however, gj^psum, ashes, and charcoal lessened the evil or preserved the crop. State of the soil when the jwtato was planted, and after cultivation. In 1845.— Under every variety of management, by ploughing, horse and hand hoeing, &c., &c., both before and after planting, no difference as to the extent of the disease could be detected. According to the opinion of some growers, the tubers nearest the surface suffered the most. In 1846. — A similar answer. Use made of the diseased potatd. In 1845. — The worst were thrown away; but the greater part of the diseased potatoes were given to pigs, and in some localities employed in making starch. Very few were used as food for man. In 1846. — After February the potatoes could no longer be used in the starch manufactories, as at that time the inside of tlie tubers became red. Proportion of starch in diseased and sound potatoes. In 1845. — As in ordinary years, the sound pota- toes yielded 14 to 24 per cent, of starch, whilst those diseased gave only 7 to 15 per cent.; show- ing an average loss of a quarter to half. Tb tubers which were completely diseased gave scarce! any starch at all. In 1846. — The sound potatoes yielded rather let starch than in the previous year, and those disease showed a loss of one-third to a (juarter as compai^ with the healthy tubers. Effect of diseased potatoes on the health of man an animals. In 1845. — Fifty-three answers say that no ev effect was observed. Fourteen replies state th; unfavourable symptoms were remarked. Tl animals did not thrive, and never seemed to fi themselves. In 1846. — A similar answer with regard to cattls and where the diseased potato was vised as food f( man, considerable injury to health was the resul It was also observed to be unfavourable to the pn duction of milk in cows. What is to supply the deficiency. In 1845. — The only recourse is the grain cro, cabbages, carrots, beet-root, turnips, peas, lentil haricots, and buckwheat. In 1846. — A similar answer I'eturned. In son places the crop of chesnuts was so large as to proi a seasonable relief. Precautions recommended for the future. In 1845. — By most it is recommended to plai sound tubers only, in the driest soils, and with tl best manures. Some recommend lime, and othei to plant at so great a distance apart, as to lea\ room for another crop between the drills. A thir recommends deeper planting. In 1846. — Similar advice given; and a mixtui of soot and charcoal recommended. — Translated and abridged from Annaleri d'Agr culture. After recommending for future cultivation tl; driest soils, and such manures as will --ccure mo; vigour to the vegetation of the earliest pjtatoes, tli reports express considerable fear respecting tl crops of 1847, and conclude with the followin sensible remarks : — " Thus, in every part of tti country, in every change of the weather, whether ( heat or cold, rain or drought, in spite of every liw teorological change during the three or four montl;' that the disease lasted in each year, in the presenc of the most varied soils, manures, and top-dressingi the specific characters of the evil showed their selves in the same form. They produced the sam phenomena, penetrated and consohdated the tissii of the plant, and ended in producing the sam REDDISH BROWN SUBSTANCE, which dcstroye the starch by transforming it into water and tai THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 9Bt idflic acid. This mysterious substance apparently oncentrated to itself the azotized, fatty, and mineral latters ; and maintained and developed itself with he characters, properties, and elementary compo- ition of certain organic parasites, the seeds of ifhich have hitherto escaped our researches." The translator cordially agrees with the above tatement, though he is scarcely prepared to coin- ide *ith the opinions recently expressed in many irmers' clubs, that we must in future plant all our otatoes in autumn : — First. Because in the north- -n part of England and Scotland there is not time ) do so after harvest. Secondly. Excepting on dry ibsoils, the potato would certainly not bear the ost of winter. If we are to trust to this advice ir a remedy to this serious evil, the cultivation of 16 potato must be entirely abandoned on all strong )ils. A neighbour of the translator's,in theautumn of 1845, planted three acres of diseased potatoes; and the crop was as good in every respect as where sound seed had been used. This encouraged him to try the same experiment in the autumn of 1846 ; but this year he has been disappointed, as a great many of the diseased potatoes perished during winter : to use his own words, " their constitution failed.'' There was Httle other difference between the autumn and spring plantings ; as in this case both were very slightly affected ^vith the disease. As far as the writer is concerned, he has escaped unhurt amidst destruction ; and the only way in which he can account for it is, that his drills are nearly three feet wide. There are little or no symp- toms of a serious failure (though there will be a partial loss) this year. It seems probable that the disease will become every year less virulent, and finally disappear as unaccountably an it appeared. A LESSON FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. A popular writer on agricultural subjects, who adopts e signature of " One who has Whistled at the Plough," is contributed an interesting paper to the Manchester xaminer, in which he describes his visit to the cele- ated farm of Mr. Skirving, at Walton, near Ijiverpool. 'e give the following extract, which will be found well iserving the attention of both landlords and tenants : — Perhaps we could not see in all England better than in .e parish of Walton, the good effect of agriculture being derated from legal bondage and traditional restrictions, id the bad efi'ect of its being retained in legal bondage id traditional restrictions. Some of the best farming in ic kingdom may be seen there, and some, which if not 'bad as the worst in the kingdom, is bad enough. The )od is not old : it is the result of the enterprising spirit ' commercial Liverpool forcing itself into the antiquated jriculture of Lancashire. Six or seven years is the date ■ its improvement ; it arose in this way : — A merchant of Liverpool was the owner of some farms Walton parish, and one of them about seven years ago as to let. A gentleman skilled in the cultivation of nd, and possessed of capital, offered to take it on con- tion of getting it on lease. The landlord was sensible lat no tenant could farm well without a lease, and was illing to grant one ; he was pleased with the prospect : having such a tenant, and said he hoped the farm would jfore long become one of example to everybody who ight see it. On a certain day appointed, the tenant and landlord et at the office of the lawyer at Liverpool, who had the ase written out in the usual form of such documents. conversation ensued upon it to this effect : — Tenant (reading it) : "What is this ? Do you ex- ect me to sign this ?" Lawyer: " Of course ; it must be signed, else it is ot a lease." Landlord: " What is the matter with it ? Did you not say that you could only occupy the farm and do the improvements which you intend to do with a lease ?" Tenant: "Yes; but this prevents me from doing anything : it binds me hand and foot not to improve the farm. I am not, according to this, to plough biit as this gentleman (the lawyer) directs me to plough : I am only to put manure on the land as directed by him. Pray, sir (to the lawyer), are you an agriculturist ?" Lawyer : " No, I am not ; I do not profess to be ; I only drew up the lease, and made it a copy of the old leases on the estate." Tenant : " The old leases on the estate ! Is Liver- pool a copy of what it was when a poor village in the parish of Walton ? This lease is a copy of those which are as old as the village days of Liverpool. If commerce is to have liberty to extend itself, why should not agri- culture have the same liberty ?" Landlord : " What do you object to in the lease ? I am desirous to meet your wishes and defer to your opinions: for I wish the farm to be improved by your judgment and science." Tenant : " I object to every part of it save that which binds me to pay a certain rent at certain periods of time ; beyond that you should not seek to control me in any way ; beyond that I shall not be bound." Landlord : " Will you not be bound to put a cer- tain quantity of manure on the farm every year, as herein specified ; how can you improve the farm if you do not manure it .''" Tenant : " I shall not be bound to put that quantity upon it as specified there ; that is not the tenth part of the manure I shall put on it." Lawyer : " That being the case, you can have no ob= jection to sign the obligation which only binds yof. to the lesser quantity." 2S2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. " Texant : " But I shall not submit to be bound at all. If you let a shop to a baker, you do not bind him to sell loaves and not biscuits, to make his loaves of a certain shape, or to bake at certain times. If I take a farm I shall plough it when I please, how I please, and sow on it what I find to be most profitable. How am I to put manure on the land and improve it all, if I am not to be allowed to plough it all .'" Lawyer : " You are to top dress it, of course : you are to lay the manure on as a top dressing." Tknant : " As a top dressing ? What benefit is that to a farm ? What benefit would it be to you, sir, if we were to take your dinner and rub it over your body outside of your great coat, instead of letting you follow your natural desire to eat it ? Besides, I am ex- pected to drain the land, and I can do nothing with it without draining it. How am I to do that, if I am not to break it up ?" Landlord: "Hold there; say no more: take the farm on your own conditions ; draw up a lease yourself, and I will sign it." The tenant did so : and instead of rolls of parchment and a redundancy of words and legal network, it con- sisted of about six lines. He has had the farm six years under crop. It had al- most everything which is unsightly and unprofitable upon it when he took it ; stagnant ditches, cumbrous masses of bushes running zigzag, with the ditches on each side for fences. The enclosures were small and irregular ; foulness grew up everywhere, a good crop grew nowhere. Now, there are large and evenly. shaped fields ; nol weed is seen ; turnips, wurtzel, and potatoes, grow the fields us if every field was cared for by a garden While the crops of wheat, the ears shot and in bloc promise, should the weather be favourable, not 1 than seven quarters per statute acre. One field of I was cleared on Thursday last. On Friday last it \ ploughed by seven ploughs, and the same even: sown with turnip seed, which is already above groni and which will produce a heavy crop of turnips, by 1 aid of a sprinkling of guano on the first moist day. Such is a glimpse of Mr. Skirving's farm and style farming. Some of those who occupy land near hi and who are the tenants of landlords less just and o siderate than his landlord, are struggling with foul wee feeble crops, and rents which are too high for th( though, I believe, lower in amount than he pays. I ! some of their foul meadows, which they are bound by legal traditions, older than the village days of Liverpc not to break up and purify and fertilise, yielding to scythes of the mowers a crop of hay, of which it was ficult to tell whether grass or foul weeds, docks, thist and such like predominated. They do not hold on lei but they have all the absurd covenants in their am . agreements which are common to leases. No men ' capital will have anythhig to do with land on such c ditions ; consequently the tenants are in most cases i . who cannot carry on ther farming operations but a . loss of profit to themselves, at a loss of rent to the la ■ lords, and at a grievous loss of food to the nation. THE COMPARATIVE PRICES OF PROVISIONS AND OF WAGES AS CONTRASTEI WITH WHAT THEY WERE SEVENTY-SIX YEARS AGO. I Sir, — On looking back to what were the prices of pro- visions and the scale of farmers' expenses seventy-sLv years ago, which are very clearly stated in "Arthur Young's Farmer's Tour through England," a consider- able change appears to have been made in the advance in provisions, in relation towages, rent, tithe, and rates, and the question arises, why should such higher prices for the produce of land have now become necessary when no proportionate advance has been made in the scale of farming expenditure ? The following tables, which are taken from Arthur Young, show what was the average of the various districts he visited, and may be said to give the average of all England at that period, viz. : — PRICES OF PROVISIONS IN 1771. Of Meat 3H-perlb. Of Cheese 3fd. „ Of Butter G^d. ,, Of Bread lid. „ OF LABOUR. At harvest, man per week, 13s. Id. . .Woman, 7s. 3d. At haymaking, ditto 9s. Ud Ditto . . 4s. 9d. In Winter.... ditto .... 7s. lO^d... Ditto.. 3s. 3d. CHARGES ON LAND. Poor-rates were 2s. 8d. in the pound. Rent was 14s. per acre. Tithes were 3s. 4d. per acre. If a comparison be drawn between these rates and those of the present day, provisions will be found to have advanced to nearly double, whilst farm wages, r . rates, and tithes have risen only about a fourth. J comparative small advance in wages is remarkable i showing that the labourer's means to purchase nece ■ ries are less now than they were seventy- six years i • Nor do landlords appear to have equally benefited t i the greater rise in value of the produce of land. I ? is all this to be accounted for ? Has the heavier exj • diture upon the large proportion of poor land, wi > high prices have fostered into cultivation, assisted to • IJress labour and rent ? and if so, what will result f: i the produce of the richer soils of the world comini ) our use ? I confess, with the aid that science has gi i to farming, both to lessen the costs of cultivation ani ) increase the returns, very different results might 3 looked for, and an explanation of the causes that havi ) disturbed the old scale of prices would be highly • structive and important to those farmers who, like i • self, are tenants of the inferior soils of Britain. In Sj- plying British markets, British farmers are about to • ter into competition with the richest countries in 3 world ; and with free trade, and improving steam c( ■ munication, there can be no question that prices in ' country will be controlled by foreign markets ; t much protection against the changes that are probf 5 would be afforded could we come to some conclusior } to what will be the effect generally on farmers, labour i and the community, and some abler pen I hope may ' called forth to assist in opening to view the future • rizon. Hewitt Davis THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ROVAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. A Monthly Council was held at tlie Society's House, ill Haiiover-square, on Wednesday, the 4th of August ; present, the Earl of Yarborough, Pre- sident, in tlie Chair; Hon. Captain Howard, Sir Mat- thew White Ridley, Bart., Mr. Raymond Barker, Mr. VV. R. Browne, Mr. Burke, Colonel Challoner, Mr. Clifford Cherry, Mr. Garrett, Mr. Kinder, Mr. Tiisey, \1.P., Professor Sewell, Mr. Thomas Tiunei, Profes- ior Way, and Mr. Henry Wilson. Financen. — Mr. Raymond Barker presented, on the lart of the Finance Committee, the Report of the So- iety's Accounts for the month just ended, from which t appeared that, on the 31st of July last, the invested apital of the Society stood at ,£'8,999 stock, with a urrent cash balance of £2,116 in the hands of the ankers, such general balance being made up of the )llowii)g ei)ecial balances, namely— Northampton sub- oription, X613 ; arrears of subscription received, .'308; life-compositions, ^'166 ; and available balance M- current purposes, £1 ,029. The Council confirmed jis report, and the special recommendation it contained, lat immediate steps should be taken to ascertain the roper means of proceeding, through the county courts, lid under the powers of the charter, against such par- ' es as are in arrear of their subscriptions to the Society. Ir. Barker laid before the Council the quarterly re- irns connected with the current accounts and funned roperty of the Society. Fla,v Prizp. — Mr. Pusey, M.P., reported, on the lit of the Journal Committee, the motto of the .5s.iy to whicli the Judges liad awarded tlie Society's I'i'/.e of ^'20 and the Marquis of Downshire's addition f i,'30, for the best Essay on the Cultivation and Ma- lagement of Flax, which, on being opened by the Presi- lent, was found to contain the name of Mr. James Mac j.dani, jun., Secretary to the Royal Society for the iromotion and Improvement of the Growth of Flax in reland, as that of the author of the winning essay in uestion. Mr. Pusey also reported that the Judges ad "commended" the Essay bearing the motto, Weave truth with trust,' and recommended that the Jthor should be requested to allow its publication in le Journal, along with the essay gaining the prize. Implement Prizes. — The Council agreed to the foU iwing Schedule of Prizes for Implements at tlie York leeting, subject to such conditions as they may at a iture meeting adopt in reference to their competition, imely — Heavj litiiil ploMgii . . J-iglit-laiid plough (•eiicral drill Turnip flat drill Tuniip rid^e drill Haiid diilliug-uiacliiuo ^•^caritier, or gruljbcr . . Urttuiiiig pipe or tile luachiiie 10 10 1.5 10 10 5 10 :eo Harrow . . . . £ 5 General steaming appaialus . . 10 Skiui or paring plough . . . . ?i Horse sccil-dibbler . . , . 10 Oiic-horse tart . . . . . . 5 Waggon . . . . . . 10 Thrashing-inacliiiic . . . . 20 Steara-eiigine . . .50 Coni-dresshig niacliiiie . . .10 Gorse-bruiser . . . . . . .5 Manure-distributor . . . . . . 10 fi rinding mill . . . . . . 15 Cottage grate or stove . . . . 5 Miscellaneous award.<, not e.xceeding 20 silver medals. The Council decided that the conditions affecting these Prizes should be taken into consideration at their Monthly Meeting in November next, on the Report of a Committee consisting of Mr. Garrett, Colonel Chal- loner, Mr. Pusey, Mr. Miles, Jlr. Shelley, Mr. Thomp- son, Mr. Shaw (Northampton), Mr. Shaw (London), and Mr. S. Bennett ; to whom a'so should be referred the regulations under which stock or implements should be conveyed to and from the Country Meetings of the Society. Communicalions. — The following Communications were received by the Council : Documents connected with M. Crepet's plan for the preservation of Corn after cutting, from his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby. A Paper on tlie Management of WHieat, with remarks, calculations, and diagrams on the subject of Thick and Tliin Sowing, from Mr. T. R. Tweed. Suggestions from Mr. Miles, Tilr. Shelley, and Mr. Shaw (of North- ampton), on Prizes for Implements, Resolutions passed at a meeting of exhibitors of steam-engines, at North- ampton, on the Prize awarded by the Society to Mr. Cambridge's engine. Letters from Mr. Howard, of Bedford, on his claim for the trial of his Harrow in competition for the Society's Prize. A letter from the Earl of Hardwlcke, on the guarantee under which exhibitors of Implements engaged to exe- cute orders given them in the Yard. Suggections from Mr. Graham, on attendance required at the Show-yard in reference to the unpacking of implements, and on the prize for model of Rick-yard having been withheld. Suggestions from Mr. Lance, on regulations for the Show- yard. Notice from Mr. Daw^son, of the wantof a good pug-mill for the preparation of clay for making tiles, pipes, tVc. Statement from Mr. Roe that the failure in the action of his water-ram at Northampton arose solely from a deficiency in the supply of water to be obtained. Descriptive statement from Mr. Hill Dickson, of the be- nefit resulting from the use of machinery for dressing or preparing flax, in ju'eferencc to working it as formerly by hand dressing. Letter from ?ilr. Davies, on circum- stances which, in his opinion, infiuenced the drcision of the judges of Hereford Cattle at the Northampton Meet- R 234 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ing. Letter from Mr. Townsheiid, on tlie conditions under w'liich cheese was allowed to compete for the So- ciety's Prizes. Invitation from Capt. Stanley Carr to the Meeting of German Agriculturists in September next, at Kiel, in Holstein, and his offer of services to promote the comfort and convenience of the President or any of the Members of Council who might attend on the occasion. Corroboration of the views of Sir Harry Smith in reference to encouragement being given to the breed of the old English hunter, by Col. Du Boisdc de Ferrieres, an ex-oflScer of cavalry. Statement on the same subject by Mr. Cherry (principal Veterinary Sur- geon to the Army), and his intention to submit to the consideration of the Council a detailed communication on the advantages with which such encouragement wouIgI be attended, not only in a military, but also in an agricultural point of view. Documents from Mr. Guenon on ascertaining the relative value of dairy cattle from the inspection of external marks and their propor- tions on the body of (he animal. An offer through M. Shelley, from the Count Gersdorff, to present to the So- ciety a small flock, consisting of a ram and a dozen ewes, of Saxon Sheep, for exhibition at the York Meet- ing next year (an offer which the Council accepted with their best thanks, and requested the President to favour the Society by taking charge of the flock on its arrival until the time of the Meeting). Letter from the New York Agricultural Society, on the favourable state of agricultural jjroduction in that part. of tlie world. Ap- plication, through Mr. Cherry, from Gen. Campbell, of Montreal, for the Rules and Regulations of the Society. A collection of Swedish Grasses, with a work on the fo- rage plants of that country, and a particular reference to the value of Alsike clover and yellow lucerne. Work on English Grasses (with natural specimens) from Messrs. Binns and Goodwin, of Bath. The Council then gave instructions for Mr. Manning, the Society's Contractor of Works, respecting the ar- rangements for the York Meeting, and the work required on the Society's House, according to the terms of the Lease ; and granted the usual vacations to the officers o the Society. The Hon. Capt. Howard gave notice that he shoul move at the Monthly December Council " that in futur in Class L jiedigrees form part of the Certificate ;" ani Mr. Pusey suggested that in future no list of award should be given to the public without an appendage t the " commendations" made by the Judges. The Council stands adjourned to the 3rd of November NEW M E M B E R S. Viscount Feilding, of Dowing, near Holywell, Flint shire, was elected a Governor of the Society. Allen, Seymour, Cresselly, Pembroke Barnes, Rev. J., Leek, Stafibrdshire Brickwell, John D., Saldeu, Leightou-Buzzard, Beds Buggius, John, Suttou-ColJfield, Birmhigham Cakhvcll, H. B., Hilborowe Hall, Braudon, Norfolk Clarke, Henry, Haddon, Stilton, Hunting Jon shire Clarke, R. Trevor, Welton Place, Daventry, Northaniplou Garnctt, William James, Bleasdale Tower, Garstang, Lane. Gilbert, W. A., Cantley, Acle, Norfolk Goldsmith, Thomas, Dairy Farm, Ixwortli, Suffolk Gulliver, John, West-Haddon, Daventry, Northampton Hazlerigg, Sir A. Grey, Noscley Hall, Leicester Heanley, William, Croft, Wainfleet, Line. Hilton, Stephen Musgrove, Brainblingham, Wingliain, Kent Hilton, Thomas, Neckington, Canterbury lies, John, Binl)rook Hill, jMaiket Rasen, Line, ^lac Nicoll, John, Craig-Alyth, Forfai'shire Monson, Rev. John, Rectory, Bedale, Yorkshire Morris, Henry Bebb, Ramsgate, Kent Pearce, William, Poole, Dorsetshire Pomfret, Earl of, Easton Hall, Towcester, Northampton Lavender, William, Biddenham, Bedford ' Lock, Thomas, Dorchester, Dorsetshire ilauchester, Duke of, Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdonshire ^' Seagrave, Rev. S. Y., Barton Rectory, Woodstock, Oxou • Thompson, Leonard, Sherilf-Hutton Park, York "\'ansittart, George Henry, Bisliam Abbey, Berkshire Wilson, Henry Corbett, Broughton Castle, Banbury, Oxou '\^^yvill, Rev. Edward, Fiugall, Bedale, Yorkshire. MEETING OF THE YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AT SCARBOROUGH. TUESDAY, The discussion " On the growth of Flax, and the best method of pi-eparing the seed as food for cattle," took place at ten o'clock this morning, at the Town Hall. The company was not very numerous, but highly re- spectable. The chair was taken by the Right Hon. the Earl of Harewood, who called upon Professor Johnston to open the discussion. Professor Johnston then presented himself to the meeting. He said that before they commenced the treatment of the subject which the council had selected for the discussion that day, perhaps he might be allowed to state what were his views with regard to the object for which they had assembled. Probably some of those now present had attended thelafe meeting at Northamp- ton, and had attended to the lectures which were de- AUGUST 3. livcred there. He himself had no share in those pub! meetings, and therefore he was more ready to listen what other persons had to observe in regard to the rrn ters discussed. It appeared to him that the object such meetings and discussions was, not to find out o or two things to which they might object in the spec of the person who addressed them, and draw therefrd a sweeping condemnation of the principles advance but rather that they should come to hear somethi which they had not heard before, to pick up some grai of practical information useful to them all (hear). 1 did not state this in order to procure indulgence to 1 own observations, because they were always received those assemblies with the greatest attention ; but th( were others not so accustomed as he was to public spea THE FAIliMER'S MAGAZINE. inff, and who were therefore entitled to their particular attention. He hoped that whatever miglit transpire at these meetiugs, they would go away, forgetting all that was objectionable, and remembering all they could that was useful (hear). The importance of the cultivation of Haxto the manufacturing industry of Great Britain and Ireland was now every day more and more apparent. The value of flax, too, as an agricultural crop, yielding a good return, made it of much importance ; and as affording employment to a vast number of people, flax exceeded all other crops, for proof of which he would re- fer them to the books published by Mr. Warnes, Mr. Dixon, and the Irish Flax Society. It was important in a national point of view, as supplying the raw material of one branch of manufactures. That animosity which formerly existed between the agricultural and manu- facturing classes was becoming daily further and further removed ; and nothing was more calculated for its en- tire removal, and to encourage a good understanding be- tween them, than the effect of their being able to raise sufficient flax for their own use. The saving to this country would exceed £^6,000,000 annually, which was the amount now paid to foreigners for flax, seeds, and oil. And if this £6,000,000 were devoted to the en- couragement of the manufacturer, the prosperity of the farmer, and the comfort of the labourer, it was obvious that the cultivation of flax would be very beneficial to this country (hear). But he would now address himself to one or two objections which were made to the cultiva- tion of flax. Tlie first was that the cultivation of flax would abstract too much land from the growth of corn. Now, if one country was bound to produce all that that country required, w-e should be very badly clothed and as ill fed. And if again they considered that the farmer held land by which he had to live, they would probably concede that he ought to make the best use of the land which his knowledge and his means enabled him (hear). A young child required leading strings, and at first it was necessary that it should be in swaddling clothes ; but when a young man was about to start in life, it was necessary that he should be at liberty, and freed from those clothes : he should have his energies unfettered. It was thus with the farmers. They ought to be able to till the ground, so as to produce for themselves the greatest amount of remuneration. He would make here one reserve, and would quote from a book which he had published some time since. It was this : — " The object of a practical farmer is to raise from a given extent of land the largest quantity of the most valuable produce at the least cost, in the shortest period of time, and with the least permanent injury to the land.'' In this pas- sage the interest of the farmer was clearly pointed out ; whilst tliat of the landlord was as distinctly marked out, and its having been frequently adopted by writers and speakers was, he flattered himself, a proof of its general correctness. That being the case, viz., that the land should be cultivated with the greatest profit to (he farmer and the least injury to the huul, there arose on the subject two questions. If a given crop was so cultivated by the farmer as to uijure the land, the landlord had a right to take it from him. But then a landlord .should rather instruct the farmer in the growth ()f a crop, tlum alto- gether prohibit its growth. Some years ago there was not a lease without a clause prohibitory of the growth of flax ; but a better spirit had now risen up, and the land- lords acted much more wisely in adopting the course which this society was pursuing, viz., the difl'usion of more knowledge — knowledge which showed that the farmer whose land was best cultivated had not only done the best for the landlord, but also for his own interests (hear). And the time would come when all such pro- hibitory clauses as he had referred to would be done away with, and when science and practical farming ■vvould teach both landlords and farmers that the best system was the best for both (cheers and " Hear, hear"). The second objection was that flax cultivation would not only abstract land from the growth of corn, but that it would diminish the quantity of manure. He would revert to this in the next instance. This was true ; and the reason of it was that the seed, stem, root, and everything was pulled up and taken away. With corn it was difl'erent ; as the straw, which formed a con- siderable bulk of the produce, was returned to the ground in the shape of manure. Flax, therefore, was an ex- hausting crop. Common sense and experience had taught this, and it was no use denying it. There might be a fine crop of wheat after flax ; but still in the long run the exhausting character of flax would manifest itself. Now with regard to the rapidity and degree of exhaus- tion, this depended on a variety of circumstances. First, there was the condition of the soil ; secondly, the rotation adopted would materially aiTect the rapidity of exhaustion. This was well understood by the farmers present, and therefore he need not dwell upon the sub- ject. Thirdly, there was the amount of waste in con- nexion with this crop. It was a question which had engaged the attention of the Flax Society in Ireland, which kind of soil was best adapted for the growth of flax ; and in order to obtain data they had sent over persons to Belgium, one of whom was here to-day to tell them what were the facts he had collected. He (Professor Johnston) had obtained samples of soil from Belgium, from Ireland, and from the neighbouring county of Lincoln; in one district of which — the Isle of Axholme — flax was grown. His own opinion was that it did not matter what soil was selected, provided the mechanical condition of it were suitable to the crop. By suitable mechanical condition he meant the open loamy state of heavy soils, and the requisite solidity of the light soils. They ought to grow flax without ex- hausting the land ; and he did not think there was any soil which was not capable of being brought into these neces- sary conditions. The soil in Ireland and Lincolnshire was peaty. He found flax grow well in sandy soils ; and in Belgium it was best on such. — The learned professor quoted tables, and then proceeded to show the character of these soils. The skill of the Flemish husbandman did not consist in the application of useful implements, for he had not to contend with the difficulty as to variety of soil whicli the English farmer had to overcome. The skill of the Flemish agriculturist consisted in the manner in which he managed his manure and applied it, at the R 2 236 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. proper seasons in proper form and proper quantities. He believed the best flax crops grew on a loamy soil, on a strong clay sub-soil. He had no doubt, however, that they would receive some good information from a gentleman who had been to Belgium, and who would address them to-day. It was nevertheless important for them to know that the quality of the soil had very much to do with the rapidity of exhaustion as regards the rota- tion of crops. It would be enough for him to say that if any scientific question arose he should be very glad to give his opinion on it. The waste that was allowed to take place very much affected the rapidity of exhaustion ; and this, in fact, was the gist of the whole question, for, as he had said, the seed, the stem, and the very root were carried oft' from the land. If they rippled it, and returned the seed to the ground in any form, they di- minished the amount of exhaustion. Then, again, there was the steeping process. If tbey took the water in which the flax had been steeped— the same process being that of the tea which we used daily— and applied it to the land, they would thus also diminish the amount of exhaustion. Some years ago Sir Robert Kane, at the request of the Flax Society of Ireland, examined the flax in a dressed state, the water in which it had been steeped, and the waste chaff'; and the result was that the flax contained very little, the scutch some, but the water contained much more ; and, therefore, if they could re- store the steep-waters to the land, they would prevent the land from being exhausted. This was a very beauti- ful arrangement ; inasmuch as the fine flax produced was so produced with very little exhaustion to the land. He had shown the practical difficulties in the way of restor- ing the exhausting qualities. The flax was generally scutched at a distance ; and in Scotland he had seen heaps as high as houses of the chaff", produced from the flax. And with regard to the steeping, that process was generally done in a pond or ditch, where the essential qualities of the steep-water were lost ; for it would not do to lead it oft' in carts to the land which required it. The question then was, how were they to diminish the exhaustion ? Science taught them how to do this ; science taught them how to prevent it. Most of them knew that a plant consisted of two kinds of earth — one like ashes, and the other combustible. That which was left as ash was taken from the soil, and the combustible part consisted of vegetable and animal or organic matter. Here was a number of analyzations which showed the nature of the substance which the flax plant derived from the soil ; — Esca Potash Soda Chloride of Fodium . Lime Magnesia Oxide of iron Alumina Oxide of manpianese Sulphuric acid .... Phosphoric acid . . . Carbonic acid Per c('nl;ij:e of ash Heestert Ci'urtrai District. 7.697 19.186 8.213 l.'i.STO 5.446 4.501 0.444 trace. 6.-2S0 11.200 20.599 100.0".7 4.237 maffles Courtrai District. 29.857 8.701 16,483 3 332 l.f.24 0.438 trace. 6.174 11.802 25.235 ;)9.554 5.454 Hauime •o Antwerp District. o 22.30 18.41 14.12 10.91 4.59 5.65 18.33 18.37 3.33 3.02 I.IO 2.36 0.72 1.44 trace. — 6.83 9.f8 8.81 11.06 16.38 13.75 99.99 99.98 3.67 5.15 Near Dublin. 9.78 7.70 3.99 12 53 7.79 6.08 2.05 1084 16.95 9.).40 5.00 After a few remarks on this table, the learned profes- sor went on to say that as in medicine a knowledge ol the disease was half the cure, so in agriculture a know- ledge of the disease — for they might call that a diseast which was an exhaustion of the soil— enabled them tc supply to the soil that which was taken from it by the crop. As a means of doing this he showed that if the seed and bole and husk were mixed, it formed excellent food for animals ; and in proportion as they saved these things they increased the quantity of manure. He need not explaui how the seed was used in fattening cattle, He would only say that the seed and the bole contained the combustible matter of plants, that which by a won- derful process of chemistry was transformed into bone, muscle, and flesh. This finally escaped from the animal, and enabled them to grow richer and richer crops (cheers). The subject of the employing the seed he would leave tc those who had to follow him ; and with regard to the increased value of the manure, he referred to Warnes system of box feeding, which was designed to insure nol only a larger quantity of beef, but to increase the qua, lity of the manure by the manner in which it was made As far as he understood it, he thought that manure was more valuable than by the ordinary system. He hac prepared a recipe to restore to the soil its mineral ingre dients which were taken from it in the growth of flax It was as follows — lbs. Bone dust (or bones dissolved in sulphuric acid) 25 Gypsum 10 Pearl ash - 20 Soda ash (dry) 20 Slaked magnesian lime 2o Or for the last may be substituted crude sul- phate of magnesia 20 And quicklime mixed with it 5 1501bs. of this represents 150 of the ash of the plant, oi 2001bs. of the dry plant, say a ton of dry flax. An ave- rage crop is 8001bs.— -50 stones dressed flax, or 6,400 (3 tons nearly) flax plants, containing 3201bs. of mineral matter. 4 cwt. to 6 cwt. of the above must be added to the land to supply the loss, or 3 cwt. and good half- manuring. The Flax Society of Ireland stated that ex- perience showed that a flax crop was best after wheat ; but the practice varied according to the district, and something must be left to the discretion and judgment of the agriculturist. Flax of good quality should be pulled before it was dead ripe. Very great care was in- deed i-ecjuired in the management of flax. The times of steeping, and pulling, and grassing, must be carefully attended to ; as if left a day too long under these opera- tions, the quaUty of the fibre would be aff'ected. It | should be cultivated by persons who could look after it themselves, and not left to others. The seed should al- ways be saved ; and there should be but one crop m seven years. He did not say that chemistry would not enable them, in time, to have more crops ; but they must depend upon the mechanical condition of the soil. It they used implements as the means of improving the mechanical condition of the soil, and chemistry for its THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 237 chMiical improvement, he believed the time would come when they would grow any crop they pleased on any soil they liked, with profit to the farmers and without loss to the landlord (loud cheers). Mr. H. S. Thompson, of Moat Hall, said the ques- tion had been so fully and so ably discussed by Professor Johnston, and he had touched on so many points bearing on the subject, that he should endeavour to be as brief as possible in the remarks he had to make. There were a few points connected with the use of the seed when ck of every description (applause). He would ob- !*ve, on the part of that neighbourhood, that they, hough situated in a distant part of the county, were ceedingly obliged to the society for meeting at Scar- jrough this year. They had the Wolds on one hand, i the moors on the other ; and he trusted the e.xhibi- ■n which they had witnessed would have the effect of ging thera forward in the march of improvement leers). Mr. Cayley then proceeded to speak of the vantages of draining, Sec, observing that draining irtainly ought always to be undertaken on the part of |5 landlord ; and he was confident that if the landlord |)wW not drain the land, there was no management so cheap to the farmer as to drain himself (applause). He alluded to the late scarcity and dearness of provisions, hoped that the promise which now appears of an abun- dant harvest would be amply answered, and that the country would be again filled with plenty, prosperity, and peace (cheers). He would again thank Lord Fever- sham for his kindness in proposing the toast they had just drunk (applause). Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P., said the coim- cil of this society had assigned him to be the organ of proposing the next toast foi their attention, and he ac- cepted the task with very great pleasure, inasmuch as he could at the fame time fulfil a pleasing duty, and also satisfy his own feelings of personal regard towards the noble individual who presided on that occasion (cheers). At their last anniversary in the West Riding, it was al- lotted to him (Sir J. Johnstone) to propose the health of the nobleman who then officiated in the place of Lord Wenlock in the chair, and he had to give the health of Earl Fitzwilliam. On this occasion he should have to propose the health of one who, along with the other noble earl he had mentioned, were the representatives of families who might formerly be called " The Rival Roses," and were the watchwords of the different par- ties in this great county (applause). He only mentioned this to show that if any proof were wanting of the im- partiality of the proceedings of this society, this was one (applause). With reference to the noble lord now in the chaii-, he might say that he had always shown a grea* desire to forward the interests of agriculture (cheers). He remembered, when at Goldsborough, seeing a neat little farm which the Earl of Harewood had himself cul- tivated, and had been successful in cultivating a moor in the vicinity of Goldsborough. He had also been a suc- cessful exhibitor of stock ; and from what he had seen in the papers, he (Lord Harewood) proposed to do in his district what was instramental in producing good farm, mg and good tenants, viz., to have an agricultural show of his own at Harewood (cheers). The noble earl had, therefore, a claim upon them as an agriculturist, and he thought they ought to drink his health in a bumper (cheers). He congratulated them upon the fact of the noble lord presiding over them, remarking that although there was not a very large attendance, yet that there were as many present as on ordinary occasions — in fact there were nearly as many present as at Wakefield last year, although they were then in the midst of a great population (applause). The district in which they were now assembled would feel much gratitude towards this society in having done them the honour to come into the district, and he felt satisfied that the farmers, who are zealous and good farmers in a great many points, would yet feel that it v.'as a great benefit to be mixed up with so much intelligence, that they would find out many implements existing in the world which might be made useful in that district (ap- plause). There was one remark which fell from Mr. Cayley to which he would make an allusion, viz., that in reference to landlords draining the land for their tenants. He perfectly agreed with Mr. Cayley on that point (cheers). He thought that, in general, there was upon 244 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the whole too little capital invested in the land for the production of the crops which were expected from it (applause). Few farmers had more capital than could be beneficially employed, but if landlords would under- take the draining, and charge five per cent, to the tenant on the outlay, he thought he would be greatly benefited. That was a course which he had himself en- deavoured to follow, and the plan had met with the ap- proval of his tenantry (ajjplause). The noble earl's presidency had occurred at a time when the combined handiworks of nature and man were exhibited, in a town which, for natural beauty and grandeur, he should say stands unrivalled in this county among the numerous and beautiful towns which exist in it. He hoped every gentleman present could bear witness to the salubrity of its breezes, and tliat every one would return home with renewed vigour and renovated health (applause). He would no longer detain them from fulfilling a i)leasing duty, and he would laow ask them to fill their glasses, and drink the health of their noble president (loud cheers). The Earl of Harewood said, before he returned thanks for the enthusiastic manner in which his health had been drunk, he wished to make a few remarks upon what had fallen from a previous speaker. His friend Sir John Johnstone had alluded to the drain he cut on Goldsborough Moor, a drain which had been formed without having recourse to the use of tiles. Now if this plan were adopted in many parts of England, severa millions of money expended in tiles might be saved, but at the same time he must say that the plan would not suit all soils (hear, hear). The improvement of C4olds- borough Moor was not to be entirely attributed to him- self, but to his late steward, Mr. Maughan — a most sci- entific man — who made the suggestion of draining the land without tiles. His steward was tliought to be a madman at the time, and he (the Chairman) certainly had some doubts respecting his sanity (laughter). The experiment, however, was tried, and it had succeeded so far, that the land, which had never before been culti- vated, now produced wheat, turnips, beans, clover, and potatoes (applause). He wished to impress upon land- owners the great necessity of throwing down their fences, not for the sake of gentlemen riding after the hounds, but for their own good (hear, hear). By having so many hedges they had less land on which to grow their produce, and in a dry season sparrows and other birds which they sheltered took up half the seed (applause). On tiie previous day they had had a discussion on the growth of flax, but for his own part he should like to see tlie crop before he encou- raged its growth on his own property, for it appeared that if it was not gathered at the proper time it was a failure, and if steeped too long or too short it was a failure (laughter and applause). He felt much gratified at the show of stock which he had seen that day ; he was, however, disappointed as to the quantity which had been exhibited, but probably this arose from the fact of their being afraid of being beaten (hear, hear). This was not the object of these societies ; the farmers should bring to the show the best stock they^had, and let them be shown (applause). The noble Chairman then r verted to the rate of wages the agricultural labourers i ceived. He observed that in some parts of the count where the farmers had been receiving 120s. or 130s. j qr. for their corn, the labourer, with a wife and fam of children, had only been paid something like 83. or per week. In his opinion this was not a sufficient muneration for the duties they had to perform (lie hear). He urged that if they were better paid the suit would tend not only to their comfort, but to 1 greater welfai'e of their employers. He enforced 1 duty of farmers educating their children, and concluc by returning thanks for the great compliment which \ been paid him. The noble Chairman then sat do amidst much cheering. Lord Morpeth, on rising, was received with Ic and long continued applause. lie said : My lord f gentlemen, I am permitted by the President — indeed see tiiat I am announced in the list of toasts as bei intrusted with the charge and honour of proposing next toast to you. I can assure you it is always a s gular pleasure to me to be present at the meetings this institution (cheers). The noble lord in the cb lias told you what is periiaps the ti'uth, that the pres exhibition has been more remarkable for quality than quantity ; at all events I think that is the point m l>referable to secui-e. Tlie noble lord has told you t some of the farmers have kept away from a dread competition and a fear of being beaten. That is an ■< prehension which they may share with their masters least those of them who have to go through the heat contested elections (cheers and laughter). I really ft gentlemen, that with respect to myself I have bi cooped up so long in a city that I am less competi even tlian usual to offer to you anything worthy the tention of an agricultural society. The only mat which has at all brought me in contact with agricultu interests and pursuits is the circumstance that, by viri of the office I hold, I have been placed at the head 0 commission entrusted with sums of money granted the liberality of the last parliament, just defunct, for 1 encouragement of draining in England and Scotlai And I hope, by faithfully following out the liberal intt tions of the legislature, and by providing judicious a trustworthy superintendents to superintend the expen ture of the sums granted and the works which are to thus carried out, we shall be able to give a most con derable impetus to that most important of agricultu operations which it is intended to encourage. The si at our command is a limited one, and therefore v cliiefly be to enable persons to watch the proceedings their neighbours and to test theory by practice, and establish the expediency of draining by finding what i' turns they will obtain. I hope we shall be able to effi much good, and on a more extended area than is repi sented by the mere sums laid out by the legislature, is true the sum provided for England and Scotland « but two millions, and already Scotland has proved its farther north than even Yorkshire by being more forwa in applying for the money granted ; and it has alrea |, appropriated the lion's share of the grant, having THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 245 ink obtained three-fourths of the whole sum set apart, owever, I hope the people of this country will keep ir eyes wide awake to what is going on amongst 3ir northern neighbours. There are parts of Eng- id, and of Yorkshire itself, which will admit of eat improvement (hear). It is not (or me, commis- mer of drainage as 1 may be — (laughter) — to offer such n meeting as the present, composed of scieu- c and practical men, any suggestion on drain- You have heard your President give, what is J ays satisfactory, the practical results of what he has I'lertaken. I have not been myself successful in the at- ( ipts I made last session to effect an improvement in ti sewers of towns, and therefore I have still less right t alk of drains in the field (laughter). I may without r :h rashness observe, it may be said of draining as of 1| ning — a little draining, or rather a shallow draining is 'l dangerous thing" — (laughter) — drain deep or touch n (laughtei'). All I can say is, that the department Til which I am connected has proved that it is its in- t ion to practise what it preaches (hear). They have a idy determined upon putting two considerable tracts 0 erritory belonging to the crown under the superin- t« ence of Mr. Josiah Parkes, to be drained by him, T the New Forest in the south of England, and the P mix Park in Ireland (cheers). Perhaps it will be tl ght that Ireland for some time past has been drain- ir IS ; and that it is only fair that we should now try our hi Is at draining her (laughter and cheers). Before I li '6 the toast with which I shall have the pleasure of c( luding my observations, I wish to make one or two i!c| 3 serious remarks. We have now come to the close ot parliamentary year, a year which has been dis- ti- lished in an agricultural point of view by several m lorable circumstances. We have witnessed in that y(j almost the total failure of one large article of human suiistence, and also the high price of most kinds of gi 1 (hear). And this especially in one part of the et^ire, where, notwithstanding all our boasted civiliza- ti(| and all the sympathies of humanity which have be s9 largely called forth, yet true it is that great m bers have died from sheer want of food. Fever and fai ae have done their desolating work , and the death so has been heard in a thousand hearts (hear). I eaijstly trust that the harvest which embrowns our fifji, and already fills the southern part of the country wi! luxuriant sheaves, gives promise of a better pros- l>ei for the coming year (loud cheers) . But what has pajid will be sufficient to convince us that there is ra^i in the vicissitudes of nature, and in the dispensa- lici of Providence, which we cannot control. And the sail events will teach us at the same time that by dihntly observing the process of nature — by humbly 'ol,Ting out the indications of divine Providence — by wving ourselves of all the lights which reflection and exrience and science can bestow — by adopting the 'n«j efficient and the most economical methods, instead •^fj lose which are cumbrous and expensive— by dis- cing one kind of crop when it is not suited to the 'bout us, for those which are more adapted to the mstances, and of more certain promise— by all these patient methods of inquny and of research, you will all of you do much, very much — I will not say to prevent the recurrence of such evils, but at all events to mitigate their severity, and to shorten their duration (hear, hear, and loud cheers). Among other metliods— among the most promising methods, I cordially join in what has been said by the two noble lords who have pre- ceded me, that it is of paramount importance to look to the education of the children of our neighbours (hear). I hope that you will make all your lads as good farmers as you possibly can. This perhaps is rather a favourite hobby of mine— 1 mean the yeoman school to which Lord Feversham has alluded, and his sentiments on which have given me great pleasure. I cordially concur with the noble lord in thinking that that establishment is incomplete until there is annexed to it a model farm (applause). If that subject could be taken up, a very slight contribution— too slight almost to be mentioned coming generally from the agriculturists and farmers of Yorkshire— would admit of that indispensable accompani- ment (hear, hear, and cheers). That is all that is wanted in addition to the system at present adopted in York. And I wish that both in practice and theory everything in Yorkshire should be indeed " first- rate" (cheers). And thus, by combining theory with practice ; by draining your fields of all their stagnant moisture, and draining your intellects of all their ob- solete prejudices ; by manuring j'our fields with ferti- lising substances, and manuring your understandings with useful knowledge ; by storing up in your garners the rich produce of the year, and by storing up in your minds the goodly fruits of intelligence, inquiry, enter- prise, and science, the farmers of England and York- shire will assume that position in our social system to which they were so well entitled, and will be not only sharers in, but cofttributors to the general welfare of a thriving people ( loud applause) . His lordship concluded by proposing, in very complimentary terms, " The Mayor and Corporation of Scarbro'." The toast was drunk with cheers. J. Hesp, Esq., said, in the absence of the Mayor, he begged leave, as one of the members of the Corporation of Scarbro', to thank them for the honour they had con- ferred upon the Mayor and Corporation. No one felt more deeply the importance of institutions of this de- scription than the Mayor, and no one took a deeper in- terest in the welfare of agriculture generally (cheers) . Mr. MiLBURN being called on, read the following list of prizes : — AWARD OF PRIZES. SHORT-HORNED CATTLE. JuDGts.— Mr. Aiitliouy Maynm-d, Martoii, Topclifte ; Mr. John Wriglit, Romeley, Cliestei-Hekl ; uiid Mr. Thomas Ciofton, Holl- well, Durham. Best bull of auj age, first prize £30— Tlios. Bates, of Kirk- leaviugtou, Yarm ; second prize £15 — John Parkinson, of Leytields, Newark. Best yearling bull, first prize £25— William Linton, of Sheriff Hutton, York ; second prize £10— Thos. Bates, Kirkleaving- ton, Yarm. Best bidl calf, first prize £10— Thos. Bell, Kirkleaviugton, U6 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Yarra ; second i>rize £5 — Henry Lister, Maw of Tcttley, Crowle. Best cow of any age, first prize £20— Richard Booth, of Warlaby, Northallerton; seconil prize £10 — Thomas Bates, Kirkleaviugtou, Yarm. Best three-year-old cow, prize £15— Richard Booth, of Warlaby, Northallerton. Best two-year-old heifer, first prize £10— Richard Booth, of Warlaby, Northallerton ; second prize £5— Thomas Bates, of Kirkleavington, Yann. Best yearling heifer, first prize £10— Richard Booth, of Warlaby, NorthaUertou ; second prize £5 — John Parknison, of Layfields, Newark. Best heifer calf, first prize £10— Thomas Bates, of Kirk- leavington, Yann ; second prize £5 — John Hutton, of Sow- ber Hill, Northallerton. CATTLE OF ANY BREED. Best cow for dairy purposes on an upland district £10 — E. S. Cayley, of Wydale, Pickering. Best fat ox £10 — Benjarahi Crossland, of Milford House, Perry Bridge. Best fat cow or heifer (any age) £10 — John Robinson, of Lcckly Palace, Thirsk. LONG WOOLLED SHEEP. Judges.— Mr. Thomas Short, Martin, Bawtry; Mr. Charles Clarke, Aisthorpe, Lincoln ; and Mr. John Kendall, Ness, Malton. Best shearling ram, first prize £20 — John Borton, of Barton- le-street, Whitwell ; second prize £10 — Percival Richardson, of Horkstow, Barton. Best ram (any age), first prize £15 — Thomas Beal, of Scray- iugham, York ; second prise £7 — John Borton, of Barton-le- street, Whitv^ell. Best pen of five ewes, first prize £10 — William Linton, of Sherriff-Hutton, York ; second prize £5 — Thomas Kell, of Bramham, Tadcaster. Best pen of five shearling wethers, first prize £10 — W. Jordan, of Low Caythorpe, Burlington ; second prize £5 — George Walmsley, of Rudston, Burhngton. Best pen of five shearling gimmers, first prize £10 — George Walmsley, of Rudston, Burlington; second prize £5 — Thomas Hopper, of Kellythorpe, Driffield. PIGS. JUDGE3.— Mr. Thomas Short, Martin, Beverley ; Mr. Ciiarles Clark, Aisthorp, Lincoln ; and Mr. John Kendall, Ness, Malton. Best large boar, first prize £(J — Henry Bentley, of Oulton, Leeds ; second prize £3 — William Flinton, of Newby ill, Scarborough. Best large sow, first prize £6 — JosephTuley, of Exley Head, Keighley ; second prize £3 — Richard Hobson, of Park House, Jjceds. Best small boar, first prize £6 — John Raper, of Keighley; second prize £3 — John Simpson, of Hunmanby. Best small sow, first prize £6 — George Hutchinson, of York; second prize £3 — Richard Hobson, ]\LD., Park House, IjCeds. Best three store pigs, prize £6— Richard Hobson, M.D., Park House, Ijeeds. HORSES. JunGES.— Mv. Dickinson, London ; Samuel Harrison, Everlon, Bawtry ; Richard Nainby, Barnet le Beck, Grimsby. Best stallion for hunters, first prize £10— George Holmes, of Thirsk; second prize £5— J. J. Harrison, of Devonshire House, High Harrogate. Best stallion for coach horses, first prize £10— Thomas Mos.s, of Scargill, Greta Bridge; second prize £5 — WiUiii Johnson, of Bingham, Driffield. Best stallion for agricultural jmrposes, first prize £1[ Thomas Ramsbottom, of Billiam Grange, Doucaster ; seco . prize £5 — Henry Eddison, of Gateford, Worksop. | Best Cleveland bred stallion, first prize £10— Christop' ' AA^ood, of Kirkby Moorside ; second prize £5 — Jonathan Sh of Aeomb Hall, York. Best mare and foal for hunting, first prize £5 — Peter f venson, of Rainton, Thirsk ; second prize £2 — William Ho son, of East Ayton, Scarborough. Best mare and foal for coaching, first prize £5 — Bottc Johnson, of Prodingham Bridge, Driffield; second prize £ George Holmes, V.S., Thirsk. Best roadster mare and foal, prize £5 — Robert Pcarosi Sherburn Malton. Best draught mare and foal, prize £5— John Simpsoi : Hunmanby, Burlington. Best Cleveland mare and foal, first prize £5 and second i i £2 — both awarded to Henry Watson, of Walkeringham, Bav . Best three years old hunting gelding, £5 — John Dalln f Hutton, Cranswick, Driffield. Best three years old hunting filly, £5 — Francis Midgle f Bugthorpe, Stamford Bridge. Best three years old coaching gelding, £5 — James Hal f Scorborough, Beverley. Best three years old coaching filly, £5 — John Smitl f Marton Lodge, Burlington. Best two years old coaching gelding, £5— James Ha 'f Scorborough, Beverley. Best two years old coaciiing filly, £5 — Sir R. F. Russ( if Thirkleby Park, Thirsk. Best three years old hackney gelding, £3 — John Kirb if Skii-penbeck, York. Best three years old hackney filly, £5 — Botterill Johi i, of Frodingham Bridge, Driffield. Best pair of horses for agricultural purposes, first priz 5 — John Simpson, of Hunmanby, Burlington; second piii 2 — John Smith, of Weaverthorpe, Sledmere. Best yearling gelding or filly for agricultural purposes 5 — William Nesfteld, of Lebberston, Scarborough. I EXTRA STOCK. Cattle. — First prize, silver medal — LordBagot, ofBl e- field, Rugeley ; second prize, silver medal — Richar 1 Boo of Warlaby, Northallerton. Sheep. — First prize, silver medal — John Foster, of S »■ burn, Driffield; second prize, silver medal — George Wa!i of Rudstone, Burlington. Pigs. — First prize, silver medal — Richard Hobson, of Park House, Jjceds; second prize, silver medal— IMarshall, of AA'relton, Pickering. Horses. — First prize, silver medal — Luke AValters, of Hunmanby Field, Burhngton ; second prize, silver iii< - W. Hancc, of Garton, Driffield. Mr. John Outiiwaite, of Bainesse, near Richii idi after the premiums for cattle had been read, was 'I-«<1 upon by the noble chairman to propose the health i ^ successful competitors in that department. He sa h' had pleasure in rising to discharge the duty whicl devolved upon him, because he considered that the try at large was greatly indebted to that body of g men he was about to introduce to their notice (appl And, as a tenant-farmer, he "felt that he and those'"' larly situated ought to hail this toast, for he could ; '''' THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 247 bem that this society, which had been the means of ringing those gentlemen so prominently before the ublic, as breeders of stock, had also been the medium r great advantage to him as an individual, and he oubted not also to other members of the company then issembled (cheers). A few years ago the meeting of lis society was held at Northallerton, and on that occa- ' on two animals (twins), bred by Mr. Lax, of Ravens- ortli, were exhibited. One of them obtained the first id the other the second prize; and being struck with the jjrfection of their breed, he and other two tenant-farmers I ere induced to hire the use of them, and he meant to tell , em, as the result, that whilst they might not be able to hat Mr. Lax, Mr. Booth, or Mr. Bates, still they had iproved their stock so greatly by the introduction of ose animals upon their farms, that, so far as he was ncerned, whereas his father used to hold his bullocks :til they were rising four years old, he never kept his jre than two years (applause). And further, before 5y attained the age of two years and six months, they nerally averaged sixty stones each, and that too with- t any food beyond the produce of his own farm — tur- )S and straw, with perhaps a little bean meal to finish ;m oft' in the spring. He believed that the reason why !re were not so many cattle exhibited at these meet- :s as might he expected was that gentlemen were aid of coming into competition with those individuals 0 had been so successful upon this and upon other lasions ; but, although he and others could not boast being able to compete with them, they could boast 1 congratulate each other upon the fact that through improvement which had taken place in the breed of tie, they could now bring their stock to maturity at earlier period than they formerly could (cheers). He jged to be allowed to avail himself of this opportunity expressing concurrence in the very excellent senti- J nt made use of by the noble chairman in reference to 1: cutting down of fences — (Hear, hear) — not as his Idship observed, for the purpose of galloping after the hnds, but in order to clear the land of rubbish and rmin. He was the occupier of a farm of 485 acres, ijl since the year 1839 he had by the consent of his Idlord, Mr. Sackville Fox (the finest man he believed ithe world) — (cheers) — taken down eight miles of old cing ; and he could assure them that it was the interest every tenant farmer, if he could get the consent of landlord, to adopt the same plan, for he was satisfied t hedges were nothing more nor less than a great lisance, and anobstacletoallimprovementinogriculture (jiplause). They could not have good cattle without ^en crops, and if turnips in particular would not, as (tiy undoubtedly did not, grow near a great fence or ,lke trees, surely the adoption of this plan v^^as most ^sntial to the welfare of the tenant-farmer (cheers). J er encouraging the unsuccessful competitors, Mr. * thwaite concluded by proposing " The health of the Acessful competitors in cattle," whi('h was drunk with flthe honours. ^Fr. Bates, of Kirkleavington, responded, and in ' course of his remarks he noticed the history of the ' e^ling of the shorthorns, and stated that the first agricultural society was established in this country in 1/82. The Hon. Octavius DuNCOMnE proposed the next toast. In rising to propose this toast — the health of the successful candidates in sheep and pigs— he felt that he could not offer to the meeting any remarks half so valuable as the two noble lords who had preceded him ; nevertheless he was peculiarly anxious that they should do honour to those who had been successful in carrying off the prizes this day, both for sheep and pigs, feeling as he did that they were deeply indebted to those gentle- men who turned their attention to the breeding of what might fairly be termed two of the most valuable animals which we knew in this country (chee.s). He said most valuable, because the sheep produced that meat which was one of the necessaries of life to the higher and mid- dle classes of society, and the pig supplied that absolute necessary for their poorer neighbours — bacon. And this being so, it was of the utmost consequence that the breeders of sheep and pigs should, through the instru- mentality of this and other kindred societies, be enabled to get their stock fat in the shortest time and with the smallest quantity of food (applause). It had been stated that the number of cattle brought to the show yard that day was limited ; but, assuming that was the case, they must not lose sight of this gratifying fact, that the quality was peculiarly good. They had had in the field to-day an animal which had carried oft' the first prize at North- ampton, and in the same yard they had had a bull which had beat him. Yorkshire, therefore, had beat all Eng- land at Northampton, and Yorkshire had beat York- shire in the exhibition they had witnessed that day (cheers). He would detain them no longer, but asked them to drink with all cordiality ' ' The health of the suc- cessful candidates in the sheep and pig department of the show" (applause), Mr. J. BouTON returned thanks. Mr. W. Linton, of Sheriff'-Hatton, proposed " The health of the successful candidates in horses." In doing so, he expatiated upon the useful qualities of that noble animal, observing that it was of little use this or any other society awarding prizes to implements, however excellent, unless they also encouraged the breeding of horses (applause). The farmer could carry out hardly any part of his occupation without the horse ; nor was he the only member of the community to whom the horse was essentially necessary : the military man coidd not dispense with the use of this noble animal ; and this remark applied not only to our own, but also to the French army, which was supplied to a great extent by this country, the most valuable animals found in London and other places being bought in Yorkshire (cheers). After speaking of the importance of education for the rising generation of farmers, Mr. Linton urged the necessity of agricultural pursuits being based upon scientific principles, and of those principles being tested by practice, and he concluded with repeating the toast "The Health of the Successful Candidates in Horses" (cheers). Mr. Watson, of Walker'mgham, brieily aoknow- ledged the compliment. •:?48 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir George Caylev, Bart., proposed the next toast, ^^hich was " The directors, who have brought stock and implements to and from the show free of expense," to ■whom he was sure this society wasindebted, although he did not doubt tliey would otherwise receive tlieir (inklpro quo. Reference had been made to those gentlemen who had been successful in showing cattle at the Royal society, and who had brought their stock to this show ; and he begged to suggest tliat this society would best consult its own interest and that of the public by confining its attention to the county of York, as he believed a greater number of competitors would be thereby secured. After referring to the absence of Mr, Hudson on this occasion, who was very properly attending to his constituency, Sir George proceeded to notice the fact of his being in some measure connected with mechanical inventions, and ad- verted to the implement called a drop drill, which he had exhibited, and to which a prize had been awarded ; and he submitted that the use of such an implement, simple though it be in its construction, was highly useful in the case of sowing turnips. It appeared to him that the great object of the society at present was to apply capital to agriculture, and the great difficulty was to find that capital (hear, hear). They all knew that little could be done by the tenant farmer in improving his land by aid of chemical knowledge without capital, and therefore it was he urged the necessity of every landlord fully in- demnifying his tenant when he expended capital upon his farm (applause). Whilst he would place a proper value upon chemistry, lie also wished to pay that atten- tion to the results of experience which they demanded, for it was in that way the farmer was to come at the truth (applause). Sir George concluded by proposing the toast. H. S. Thomi'son, Esq., in the absence of George Hudson, Esq., returned thanks, and then proceeded to the next toast. Although they had not a very large quantity of implements in the field, he believed there were none but what were excellent in quality, and pos- sessed some improvement, as would be visible to every one who minutely examined them. And he doubted not but the society would agree with him that they were much indebted to the spirit and enterprise manifested by the implement makers for tliose valuable articles which were exhibited in their show-tields from time to time. He therefore with great cordiality proposed " The suc- cessful competitors for implements" coupling therewith Mr. Barrett's name (applause.) Mr. Hknry Barrktt returned thanks, and felt proud that his humble efforts had been crowned with such success as to enable him to obtain the Society's gold medal at this show (applause). W. Shaw, Esq., of London, said — My lords and gen- tlemen— I did not anticipate being called upon to ad- dress this meeting, but having been requested by the Council of the Society to propose a toast, I felt it to be my duty to obey that call. The toast which 1 shall have the honour to submit to you is one which will not yield in importance to any which has preceded it, not even to that which is generally considered the toast of the even- ing, viz., " Success to the Society," inasmuch as with- out the assistance of judges the objects toi which tb Society has been established could not be attained, hold that the office of judge is an lionourable oftice. know it is an onerous office, and I think you will agn with me that it is an important office. It is an honoui able office, because no man is appointed to fill that offi( unless he possesses an established character for uprigh ness and integrity of purpose, and unless it be kaov that experience has matured that knowledge which essential to the accurate ])erformance of its duties, is an onerous office, because a more than ordiua: amount of attention and perseverance is requisite going through the labours incidental to it ; and I fe persuaded you will concur with me that it is a most in portant office, when you look at the results, viz., tb the animal or implement to which the award of t judge is given, goes forth to the agricultural pub stamped with the order of merit, as possessing t necessary character, quality, and usefulness of animal or implement, as the case may be. It scarcely possible that the judges should be success in satisfying all the competitors ; but, under any and circumstances, I am quite certain, however m>ich unsi ce^sful competitors may feel disappointed, they will b consult tlieir own interests as well as those of the coui by respecting the decisions of the judges (applause), feel persuaded that no judges would wilfully make unjust award. They are men possessing their pecul views ; and if in carrying out those views, and decid according to their honest judgment, they do not acl accordance with the views of others, it is but comu justice to ascribe it to another cause than that of feel or favour on any side. It is but an act of charity pronounce it an error of judgment. Gentlemen, bef I sit down I am anxious to say a few words on a subj in which I take much interest, but at this advaa period of the evening I will not occupy more than ( or three minutes. Allusion has been made by a ): ceding speaker to a hobby which he has ; and I, 1 him, have mine ; and when 1 came into Yorkshire I termined, if an opportunity were aflbrded, of riding hi I consider him to be a most useful hobby for " agriculti purposes," more useful than any shown in the class that description to-day. I find, however, that au fluential landed proprietor has seized my hobby, has mounted him before me. I shall nevertheless be n happy to let him or any other landed proprietor have : full use of him, being convinced that the result will be m ' more satisfactory than any I can produce from using b ■ My hobby is, " security to the capital of the tenant mer" (applause). Sir G. Cayley has expressed his opir i that " the landlord should fully indemnify his tenant w > he expends his capital upon his farm." Allow me I A to express the high gratification I feel at the so* and valuable principles in reference to the duties ,i landed proprietors which I have heard enunci: from the upper part of the room this day. I hav> casion frequently to attend agricultural meetings ; in no case have I experienced so much plea8ure||i from what I have heard at this meeting. The d " culty of finding capital to cultivate the soil has 1 ' THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 249 lUuded to. I have ever been of opiiiiou that there is n abnndance of capital in this country for that purpose, nd that the proper employment of it will create a vastly iicreased amount of praduce and an ample supply of rtbonr for the population. This is no theoretical lotion, but may be illustrated in practice. Those who re members of the Royal Agricultural Society are well ware that Mr. Pusey, to whom we are so much in- ebted for his able superintendence of our Journal, made journey to Scotland, for the express purpose r determining whether English or Scottish agricul- ire were the best. Having gone over tlic Lo- lians, he returned through England to Lincolnshire, id found that the comj)etition rested between the Lo- ians and Lincolnshire. Having carefully examined tth, he awarded the palm to Lincolnshire (applause) naturally occurs to us to inquire how it happens that ese two districts should be so much better cultivated in other paits of the kingdom. The answer is simple, t all-important. The Lothian farmers enjoy leases ; ; Lincolnshire farmers enjoy agreements, which give ;m compensation for unexhausted improvements upon itting their farms. Security to the capital of the te • at is embraced in both systems. Let this system be Dpted, and no apprehension as to a want of capital to tivate the soil well and properly need be entertained ; I further, the anxiety so continually expressed for the ourer will be set at rest. Give security to the capital the tenant farmer, and he will speedily find full and nunerative employment for every labourer in the I mtry. Recent changes, to which I will not more ; ticularly allude — and indeed the present appear- i res, even after almost a famine in Europe — lead ine persons to apprehend that the country will be de- ]ei with foreign grain. Be assured the only mode of inventing this country from being deluged with corn Im abroad is to deluge it with corn of home-growth, I I that can only be effected by giving security to the nital of the tenantry. I have now to give you " The .Iges" (applause). Wr. Thomas Crofton returned thanks, and con- Itulated the society upon the exhibition generally, but a he same time he hoped that farmers would not at- tipt to fatten breeding cattle for the sake of making t m look well, as he was sure that was the way to spoil their breeding entirely, and he hoped to see the day when that practice would cease to exist (applause). The noble Chairman, in highly complimentary terms, proposed the health of the local committee, to whom he was sure the society were greatly indebted. He gave them the " Local Committee" (loud applause), J. WooDALL, Esq., responded, and said the local committee had been most anxious to secure the society's good wishes, and he hoped that the district of Scarbro' would be greatly benefited by this visit of the society. He did not consider that the thanks of the meeting were due to himself, as he had done but little ; their thanks were due to Mr. Tate, Mr. Denison, and two or three other gentlemen, who had exerted themselves to the utmost (applause). R. Creyke, Esq., said he had the honour to be in. trusted with the next toast, and it was with considerable pleasure that he entered upon the discharge of his duty, as he was sure that no great powers of oratory were re- quired to render it acceptable— it was " Tbe agricultural labourers" (applause). The wealth and vitality of this great country depends upon the application of its labour. What would become of it were it not for the operative ? and what would become of the proud position of England were it not for the agricultural labourer (applause) ? Something had been said about farmers not giving their labourers sufficient wages ; but, as far as Yorkshire was concerned, he believed the labourers had better wages than in any other part of the country. He believed that they were better clothed and better fed than any others, and he hoped that ere long they would also be the best educated (applause). He felt quite sure that these agricultural societies were advantageous to the labourer, and that machinery had not injured the labourer as had been expected at first, because it enabled the farmer to extend his labour beyond what he could before do. Mr. Creyke then adverted to the practice of hiring farm servants at the statutes without inquiry into their cha- racter, and be hoped that agricultural societies would take up the subject and endeavour to bring about a change. He gave them, " The agricultural labourers" (applause). This being the last toast, the company separated ; and thus terminated most successfully another anniversary of this most useful and excellent society. BRAMHAM PARK AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 'he annual exhibition of the Bramham Park Agricul- tld Society, composed of the tenantry of G. L. Fox, \, was held in a portion of the Park opposite the r IS of Bramham House, on Wednesday, July 26. The B w of stock was better than last year, particularly the 8^;p. A very fine ox, the property of the Misses Gas- c ;ne, of Parlington, exhibited as extra stock, only tjJe years old, and standing upwards of seventeen kids, excited much attention. The prizes were all •jrded by two in the afternoon. The following noblemen and gentlemen were on the ground : — The Earl of Harewood, Lord Thynne, the Hon. Arthur Lascelles, the Hon. Algernon Lascelles, Sir J. Radcliffe, Bart., G. L. Fox, Esq., G. L. Fox, jun., Esq., Col. Thompson, Bolton Percy, Colonel Markland, Captain Somerset, Quintin Rhodes, Esq., T. Kell, Esq., Rev. J. Chaloner, Rev. C. Hudson, Rev. E. Dun- combe, &c. The judges of the show were Mr. W. Burton, Water Fulford, York ; Mr. W. Wetherell, near Durham ; and g 250 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. G. Walmsley, Bempton, near Burlington. Mr. Hannon, Mr. King, and Mr. Whincup, were judges of the crops. The following is their award of prizes : — BULLS. Best btiU of any age, £3— Mr. Kidsdale ; second best, £2— Mr. C. Wright, Oglethorpe. cows. Best cow in calf or milk, £3 — Mr. Dolby. HEIFERS. Best two-year-old heifer, £2— Mr. John Jackson, Bramham. Best yearling heifer, £2 — Mr. J. Jackson, Bramliam. HORSES. Best brood mares for hunters, £3 — Mr. T. Prince, Grira- ston-smithies. Best brood mare for agi-icultural purposes, £3— Mr. W. Hick, Walton. Best three-yeavs-old colt or filly by a thorough-bred horse, £2— Mr. J. Noble, Wilton. Best two-year-old colt or filly by a thorough-bred horse, £2 — ^Mr. J. W. Redsdale, Rowley. Best tliree-year-old colt or filly for agricultural purposes, £2 —Mr. J. Innian, Walton. Best two-year-old colt or filly, for agricxdtural purposes, £2 — Mr. W. Mithorpe, Bramham. Best yearling colt or filly, for agricultural pui-poses, £1— Mr. E. Jenkiuson, Bramham. SHEEP; Best shearling ram, £5. — Mr. J. Tliackray, New York Farm. Best ram of any age, £3. — Mr. W. Ridsdale. Best tup lamb, £1 10s.— Mr. J. Thackray. Best pen of five ewes, that have suckled lambs this season, to 16th July, £2 10s.— Mr. C. Wright.' Best pen of five shearling gimmers, £2 10s. — Mr. C.Wright. PIGS. Best boar, large breed, £2.— Mr. T. Wilkinson, Well Hill. Best boar, small breed, £2.— Mr. J. Hardcastle, Scavcroft Mill. Best sow, small breed, £2.— Mr. J. Hardcastle, Scarcroft Mill. Best sow, large breed, £2. — Mr. J. Atkinson. SWEEPSTAKES. Best yearling tup, 5s. each.— %[r. T. Thackray. Aged tups, 5s. each. — Mr. J. Kell, Bramham. Tup Lambs, 5s. each. — Mr. J. Kell. Best pen of five ewes, that have suckled lambs this season, 5s. each.— Mr. T. Kell. Best pen of five shearling gimmers, 5s. each. — Mr. Kell. Best pen of five shearling wethers, 5s. each. — Mr. C. Wright. Best pen of five gimmer lambs, 5s. each. — Mr. W. Ridsdale. Best pen of five wether lambs, 53. each. — Mr. W. Ridsdale. Best bull calf, 5s. each.— Mr. W. Ridsdale. Best yearling heifer, 5s. each. — Mr. J. Jackson. Best two-year old heifer, 5s. each.— Mr. J. Jackson. Best kit heifer calf, 5s. each. — Mr. W. Ridsdale. Beat Bramham Moor sow, 5s. each. — G. L. Fox.. Esq. Best sow, small breed, 5s. each.— Mr. T. Hardcastle. Best boar, small breed, 5s. each.— J. Whittaker, Esq., Bram- ham. THE DINNER Took place shortly after three o'clock, in a tent which was erected near to the exhibition-ground, G. L. Fox, Esq., presiding. He was supported by several of the gentlemen whose names are mentioned above, and al- together upwards of two hundred persons were presen G. L. Fox, Jun., Esq., was vice-chairman. After the usual loyal toasts had been drunk, The Rev. C. Hudson gave " Success to the Bramha Park Agricultural Society." He said meetings of tb kind tended to cement the bond of union which ougl always to exist between landlord and tenant (hear), such meetings were more frequent, they would be bett appreeiated. He trusted the founder of the Bramha Park Agricultural Society, their chairman, might loi be able to preside over it (cheers). The Rev. J. Chaloner, in proposing "The heal of the Chairman," said he was rejoiced to see him thf to-day. He (Mr. Chaloner) had experienced gn pleasure in riding over Bramham farm to-day. He b known every acre of it for thirty-five years, and he v astonished to see what industry and good cultivati would do — not with good land, but with bad (hear). believed more corn was now grown just round the Pi than was produced in the whole parish thirty years i (hear, hear). He had seen good crops of wheat grow on land which formerly produced nothing but stun bits of ling, where there was not shelter for a partrid The time had now come in which every agricultu must put his shoulder to the wheel, and do his utmos order to insure his prosperity (hear). He remembe stating three years ago that the very best protecl which a farmer could possibly have was in the resou of his own industry, activity, and energy of mind ; such qualifications were superior to any enactment could be devised in his behalf (hear). He repeated opinion now because it had been proved correct, am would only say, the farmers must not complain till t had tried every method within their reach, and four : to be a failure. What, he would ask, would have 1 i the result to the manufacturing interest if they 1 chosen to reject all improvements and all advances 1 i of science and mechanical skill, and had adhered to i same system that existed forty years ago } Why, i result would have been bankruptcy. And if thej s agricnltiarists, so closely followed their ancestors witl t paying due regard to the improvements which were ( y springing up around them, and the superior advant a which science and industry combined, had placed wi n their reach, he had no hesitation in saying to t e agriculturists who chose to stand still, they would i themselves much in the same state. He saw nothii " what had occurred (alluding to the repeal of the n laws) to encourage the slightest feeling of despair ; 't on the contrary, he saw much to encourage. He ha lO hesitation in saying that if the same persons who iJ removed agricultural protection would further the < ^^ of agriculture by removing its disabilities, and in r( ' for free trade principles would 'give the farmers from the malt tax, with a further reduction of don taxes, especially the window tax, in the course of : years they would see agriculture raising its horn of : perity and strength. After the customary toasts had been drunk the '■ pany separated. —Abridged from the Leeds Mercury. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 251 SfTOStflff NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The eleventh annual meeting of this society was held at Spilsby on Tuesday, the 27th July ; and although in consequence of the late prevalence of the epidemic in the leighbourhood the show was much smaller than might )therwise have been expected, the animals exhibited re- lected great credit upon their respective owners. The day ras beautifully fine, and above 1,600 persons visited the round ; and we are happy to say, so excellent were the rrangements of the local committee, that nothing un- jward occurred. Several prizes were given to servants, agricultural la- ourers, shepherds, &c., &c. The following was the award of prizes :— SHORT-HORNED CATTLE. To the owner of the best bull above one year old, Richard adding, of Panton, £15. To the owner of the best bull three years old or upwards, raes Topham, of West Keal, £5. To the owner of the best two years old bull, George Win- ngham, of Willougliby, £5, To the owner of the best yearling bull, T. C. Maidens, of inkhill, £5. To the owner of the best bull calf under a year old, Wm. lith, of "West Rasen, £2. To the owner of the best cow, more than four years old, ring produced a calf at its natural time within nine calendar ■nths of the time of showing, John Kifkhara,o Hagnaby, £5. To the owner of the best heifer, three years old, having pro- ced a calf at its natural time within nine calendar months of ! time of showing, J. B. Stanhope, Esq., of Revesby ,£5. To the owner o the best two years old heifer: J .B .Stan- ?e, Esq., of Revesby, first prize— £4 ; Jolm Kirkham, of gnaby, second prize — £2. To the owner of the best one year old heifer: J. B. Stan- lie, Esq., of Revesby, first prize — £4; ditto, second prize £2. To the owner of the best she-calf under one year old, Wm. ! ith, of West Rasen, £2. COWS OF ANY BREED. Premiums offered by the Earl of Yarborough. .0 the farmer occupying not more than 100 acres of land, £l deriving his mcome solely therefrom, who shall exhibit the It cow, having produced a calf at its natural time within nine > nths of the time of showing : Joseph Taylor, of Toynton •- Peter's, first prize — £4 ; Henry Astrop, Mareham-on-the- ll, second prize— £2. 'o the agricultural cottager occupying not more than 10 a;a of land, who shall exhibit the best cow, having produced a 'If at its natural time within niue calendar months of the J 3 of showing : WiUiam Frith, of Asterby, first prize— £3 ; < rge Ely, of West Keal, second prize— £1. SHEEP. 0 the owner of the best ram of any age, Israel Brice, of liy-house, £10. .0 the owner of the best shearlmg ram : William Abraham, o|lametby-le-wold, first prize— £5 ; ditto, second prize— £2. '0 the owner of the best two-shear ram : Edward Clarke, of Canwick, first prize— £5 ; Israel Brice, of Risby-house, second prize — £1. To the owner of the best aged ram, William Abraham, of Barnetby-Ie-Wold, £5. To the owner of the best pen of five ewes, having suckled lambs up to the 20th July : James Topham, of West Keal first prize — £4 ; ditto, second prize — £2. To the owner of the best pen of five shearling gimmers, Robert Dennis, Greetham, £4. HORSES. To the owner of the best stallion for getting hunters, Thos. Grantham, of Stixwold, £5. To the owner of the best staUion for getting roadsters, Richard Dudding, of Panton, £5. To the owner of the best stallion for getting draught-horses or horses for farming purposes, C. W. Starmer, of Hoga- thorpe, £5. To the owner of the best hunting gelding or filly, three 3'ears old, got by a thorough-bred horse, Tliomas Brooks, of Croxby, a whip, value £5 (offered by the Earl of Yarborough). To the owner of the best mare for breeding hunters, with a foal at her heels, or having been put to the horse in the season of 1847, Philip Meredith, of Tathwell, £5. To the owner of the best mare for breeding roadsters, with a foal at her heels, or having been put to the horse in the season of 1847, G. F. Heneage, of Hainton, £5. To the owner of the best mare for breeding draught-horses or horses for farming purposes, Jonu Hewison, of Harring- ton, £5. To the owner of the best cart filly, two years old John Smith, £3. To the the owner of the best foal by " The Brownie :" G. F. Heneage, Esq., of Hainton, first prize — £5 ; Thomas Ward, of Baumber, second prize— £2 (offered by G. F. Heneage, Esq.) PIGS. To the owner 0 the best boar, large breed : R. E. Ducker- ing, of Barkworth, first prize — £3 ; Charles Fountam, of Car- rington, second prize — £2. To the owner of the best boar, small breed : Richard Sten- nett, of Carrington-house, first prize — £3 ; Philip Meredith, of Tothwell, second prize — £2. To the owner of the best sow, large breed, having had a litter since the 1st of January, 1847, John Paine, of Bag En- derby, £3. To the owner of the best sow not exceeding one year old, R. E. Duckering, of Barkworth, £2. To the owner of the best sow, small breed : J. B. Stanhope, Esq., Revesby, first prize— £3 ; W. B. Umbleby, of East Kirkby, second prize — £2. EXTRA LIVE STOCK. The judges had power to award premiums for extra live stock not qualified to compete in any class, if deemed of siifli- cient merit, not exceeding in the whole £10, and they rewarded the following : — John Rinder, of Skendleby ,for two steers, £2. Thomas C. Maidens, of Brinkhill, for two cows, £2. John Hewison, of Harrington, for a bay horse, £1. George Topham, of Candlesby, for a chesniit lills , f! . « 9 252 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. William Richardson, of Great Limber, for an aged ewe and lamb, £2. F. Whiley, of Wainfleet, for five three-shear wethers, £1. SWEEPSTAKES. Sweepstakes of one sovereign each, in addition to a silver medal to be given by the society. No. 1. — Draught geldings for farming purposes: William Barnard Wingate, of Hareby. No. 2. — Ponies under 13 hands, the property of the exhibi- ter : Thomas Kirkham, of Biscathorpe. IMPLEMENTS AND UTENSILS IN HUSBANDRY. To the person who shall exhibit the best one-horse cart for agricultural purposes, simplicity and cheapness considered, James Banks Stanhope, Esq., of Revesby, £10 (oifered by R. A. Christopher, Esq., M.P.). For other new or improved implements or utensils in hus- bandry, simplicity and cheapness considered, a sum not ex- ceeding £40, was awarded in the following manner; viz. : — John Kirkham, of Hagnaby, for a horse scarifier, 15s. William Ouzman, of Wainfleet, for a plough, £1. J. Grounsell, of Horncastle, for a blowing machine, £1. James Banks Stanhope, Esq., of Revesby, for a farm building ventilator, 10s. W. B. Wingate, of Hareby, for a bean splitter, 5s. Ditto for a horse hoe, 15 s. William Grounsell, of Louth, for a dressing machine, £1. Ditto for a scarifier, 10s. John Greaves, of Hareby, for a swing plough, £1 5s. Justus Shelton, for a tile machine, £1. Thos. Graves, of Old Bolingbroke, for a swing plough, 10s. Thomas Tupholme, of Horncastle, for a wheel roller, £4. Ditto for a patent plough, £1. Richard Hornsby, of Grantham, for a drill for general purposes, £7. Ditto for a dressing machine, £3. Ditto for a chaff cutter (3 knives), £3 10s. Ditto for a cake breaker, £1. Thomas Walker, of Wootton, for iron harrows, £1. Joseph ]\Iiller, ofBarnetby-le-Wold, for a drag harrow, £3. Smith and Co., of Stamford, for a patent chaff cutter, £2 10s. Ditto for an iron horse rake, £1. William Hunter, of Binbrook, for a Norwegian harrow, 10s. Ditto for a horse hoe, £1. William Torr, of Riby, for an iron grubber, £1. E. H. Soidsby and Co., of New Bolingbroke, for a pipe and tile machine, £1. John Needham, of Horncastle, for a dressing machine, £1. In this class the judges are of opinion that there is great room for improvement. THE DINNER. J Lord Willoughby de Eresby, the Earl of Yarborougl and Bankes Stanhope, Esq., each sent a good supply < venison for the dinner. Lord Willoughby also sent a donation of £2b. Mr. Chaplin (chosen vice-president) sent a donatio of £10. Sir E. Brackenbury sent a donation of £5. Mr. Stanhope also sent a donation of £b. Sir John M. Brackenbury was chosen vice-president The dinner, which was of a first-rate character, w provided by Mr. Marshall, of the White Hart Inn ; ai was served up in a large tent erected for the occasion a field occupied by Mr. Stainton. Nearly 300 gentlem sat down, and, after grace had been said by the R( Thomas Holloway, did anople justice to the good thir placed before them. Among the company were t Right Hon. the Earl of Yarborough, president oft society ; Sir John Macpherson Brackenbury ; Sir E ward Brackenbury ; Sir Charles Anderson ; R. Christopher, Esq. ; J. W. Yorke, Esq. ; Joseph Hu Esq. ; Grant, Esq. ; W. B. Stanhope, Esq. ; a the principal agriculturists of Lindsey, as well as so from the other divisions of the county. The cloth hav been removed, The Chairman proposed the usual toasts, which w drunk with all the honours. After which Mr. HuTTON gave " Success to the North Linco shire Agricultural Society." The Chairman gave " Lord Willoughby de Eresb Mr. Heneage gave " The President of the Societ; Lord Yarborough responded. Mr. Garfit gave " The Judges of the Show." Mr. Stokes responded. Mr. Holloway proposed " The Vice- Presidenti the Society." Mr. Yorke returned thanks. Mr. Christopher gave " The Successful Ca dates." Mr. Bankes Stanhope returned thanks. M. Richardson gave " The Local Commitee, the Town and Trade of Spilsby." Mr. Wingate responded. Several speeches were made, which we regret wa space precludes our giving ; and after spending a pi sant evening the meeting broke up. BROMLEY FARMER'S CLUB. At the meeting of the above association held on Tuesday, July 27, at the White Hart Inn, Bromley, G. W. Norman, Esq., in thechair, alecturewas delivered by Mr. William Higgs, on " Manure, and the application of the Sewage of Towns to the improvement of our agri- cultural resources." The lecturer commenced by observing that we are the inhabitants of a world subject to incessant changes— that the elements of matter are contmually entering into new combinations and assuming various forms— that i are dependent upon vegetables primarily for supl and that vegetables are indebted for the constituenj; which they are formed to the soil and the atmospheii that the maintenance of the conditions necessary to|_ welfare of the animal world, though in an enlaid sense it becomes every human being to attend to, is ^ the particular business of the farmer— that although 't ages the operations of agriculture were carried ony THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 253 empirical rules, yet now a spirit of observation and re- search is prevailing, by which agriculture is becoming an art based upon truly scientific principles. A brief description of the elements usually entering into composition to the formation of vegetable substances was then given, distinguishing those supplied from the soil from those obtained from the atmosphere. An inalysis of a fertile soil was then exhibited, in order to Drove that it contained the very principles necessary to he formation of vegetable being. The very obvious con- ;lusion was then drawn that, when a crop is raised, a Dortion of these constituents is removed from the soil, .nd the equilibrium destroyed : if, then, some means for icstoring the matter be not resorted to, sterility must of ecessity ensue — that the means of keeping up the fer- ility of a good soil, or of improving a bad one, is biiefly by the application of manure. Manures were, by Ir. Higgs, considered as forming three divisions: 1, egetable manures or green crops, enriching the soil by 16 addition of organic matter derived from the atmo- jhere, but adding nothing of the inorganic constituents ?cept the small portion contained in the seed sown. , Manures intended to effect a change in the soil by rtue of their chemical action, thus enabling the soil to ve up its otherwise locked-up treasures : these are liefly of the mineral kind, of which lime will afford an ample. These, though exceedingly useful, are ulti- ately of an exhausting character. 3. Manures which J to the soil both the organic and morganic princi- es necessary to the formation of plants. A large num- r of substances will come under this description ; in ct, all that we are in the habit of denominating waste atter, both vegetable and animal. Of the former we ive malt-dust, oil-cake, and even saw-dust, which, ider certain management, may be converted into an ef- ctive manure ; the ashes of bark, wood, and coal ; with e result of imperfect combustion, soot. Of animal anures, farm-yard dung is pre-eminently useful, es- icially if proper care be taken to preserve the nitrogen Dm dissipation in the form of carbonate of ammonia. sh, when in great abundance, is frequently employed ar the coast with great effect. The efficiency of hair d wool must not be overlooked, nor the value of bones r supplying the phosphates. The universally acknowledged utility of guano ren- rs it unnecessary to enlarge upon its merits ; but it is question which deserves consideration, whether, while we are bringing this substance from remote regions, we are not neglecting matter equally efficacious, and lying at our very doors. The lecturer then adverted to the col- lecting and employing the refuse of our towns, hitherto not merely wasted, but suffered to become the source of fever and other forms of human suffering, but, being of a very fertilizing character, capable of forming a most valuable addition to our agricultural resources, and aiding in the production of a larger amount of food. He traced the changes through which matter passed, from the soil to the formation of proximate principles in plants, ca- pable of being at once assimilated in the bodies of ani- mals ; that having there performed their office, they are removed by respiration, transpiration, or otherwise, as excreta, but that before they can again enter into com- position to the formation of vegetable being, they must undergo decomposition ; that it is the ordination of na- ture that this decomposition take place in the soil : if we suffer putrefaction to take place in or around our dwell- ings, we taint the very air we breathe, and incur a just punishment for our negligence. The lecturer then adverted to the arrangements for draining the metropolis and other towns, shewino- the present means to be most wasteful and ineffective • and after detailing various plans which had from time to time occupied public attention, he proceeded to illus- trate one of which he is the author, and which has during the last session, received the sanction of Parlia- ment, who have authorized its being carried out in Ber- mondsey, where it is intended to erect works for the purpose of collecting the matter now discharged into the Thames by the Duffield sluice. The matter so collected (a specimen of which was shown) is a dry solid sub- stance, in the form of a fine powder, almost devoid of odour, and containing the very elements of which food is formed. Being in a concentrated condition, it is ca- pable of easy transit to wherever it may be required. Great care is taken in collecting this matter, that nothing of an offensive nature shall characterize the operation. Whatever ammoniacal vapours may arise, will be care- fully condensed, to the formation of sal-ammoniac. The lecture was illustrated by a model and appropriate ex- periments, shewing the mode of precipitating and col- lecting the manure, and of condensing the elfiuvia. The approbation of the members present was testified by an expression of thanks to the lecturer at the conclusion. PROPOSAL FOR ESTABLISHING AN AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION. Having taken a warm interest in the establish- ent of the Agricultural Chemistry Association Scotland, and having been a member of it from 1 commencement, we regard with lively satis- 2tion the announcement of a proposal for es- blishing a similar institution for England. We ve now before us a prospectus, which has already 2eived the sanction and promise of support of several influential and active members of the Royal Agricultural Society. The leading objects of the Association are thus set forth : — " A sense of the advantages likely to accrue from the more especial application of chemical science to practical agriculture, in the analysis of manures, soils, and pro- ducts of vegetation, together with the desire of diffusing more generally amongst the farming classes suth in- '254 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fi formation as already existed on these subjects, led, ie the year 1843, to the establishment in Scotland of an Agricultural Chemistry Association for the attainment of these important results. " The objects of this Association were carried out by the appointment of a chemist, in whose laboratory the members could upon the payment of a small fee obtain accurate analysis of limestones, soils, &c., and more es- jiecially of the manures which they were about to pur- chase. Whilst at the same time the additional funds of the institution were devoted to the prosecution of sci- entific researches in agriculture, and to the diffusion of knowledge by lectures delivered to farmers in different parts of the country. " The Scotch Association has now been in operation four years, during which time it has not only preserved its members from the loss and disappointment conse- quent upon the purchase of inferior or worthless ma- nures, but has also tended materially to check the frau- dulent practices so frequent in their preparation. " And, as the publications of the Highland Society fully show, it has been the means of adding to our know- ledge of agricultural chemistry by many invaluable re- searches conducted in its laboratory, and by its encou- ragement. "A somewhat similar society has lately been esta- blished in Ireland, and bids fair to be of essential ser- vice to the agriculture of that part of the kingdom. "The daily increasing employment of artificial ma- nures, and the total impossibility that the farmer him- self! should ever become of competent judge of the genuineness and value of any particular specimen, render it very desirable that some steps should be taken to facilitate his access to the professional chemist, and that the agriculturists of England should obtain the same advantages in this respect as their neighbours in Ireland and the north. With this view it is proposed to form an Association, to be called the ' English Agricultural Chemistry Association.' "The objects of the Association will in the first in- stance be :— "1. The analysis of soils, manures, limestones, ve- getable productions, dairy produce, &c., at fixed and very moderate charges. "2. The prosecution of scientific investigations in any direction where it is expected that chemistry may tend to enlighten or improve agricultural practice. " Though both of these points will be kept in view, the first will, in the infancy of the Association , vt- ceive the greater share of attention. The objects of the institution will, at the discretion of the committee ap- pointed by the members to conduct its affairs, be open to extension at any future time." How far the advocates of an Agricultural Chemistry Association for England may be war- ranted in their expectations of the advantages of such an estabhshment may, in some degree, be gathered from, the progress of the Scottish Asso- ciation. Without, therefore, relying upon an arguments which we might be able to advance, W' wiU content ourselves with giving an extract fror the " Report of the Agricultural Chemistry Asso ciation of Scotland" for the year 1846. Speakin of " the benefits which the Association is capabl of rendering," it states : — "In the advanced state which the agriculture of th country has attained, and in the urgency for further im provement, arising from the extended competition whic recent political measures are calculated to produce the supply of the great articles of human subsistenc such an institution as the Association acquires fre importance, and becomes more than ever nece sary to the prosperity of the agricultural interei Chemical analyses of soils and plants throw much lig upon the arcana of nature in the departments of l kingdom to which they respectively belong ; they ilk trate the I'elation which subsists between them, as i gards the processes of vegetation ; and they aff"c essential aid in ascertaining the kind and quantity of su stances that are required by given soils for the prodi tion of specific crops. The known principles, too, chemical action, in resolution and composition, serve explain facts which experience establishes in practi husbandry ; while they elucidate the causes of the versified, and more rarely opposite, effects which sor times follow similar applications, and which, withi the explanation that chemistry furnishes, would likely to issue in discouragement and perplexity. The vantages of chemical analyses have been extensively perienced in the prevention of imposition, and in right appreciation to which analytical investigations h led with respect to diff'erent articles off'ered for salt potent manures, and they have likewise been conspi ous in showing the absolute and comparative value divers descriptions of food for use in rearing and fatten cattle. " It ought never, however, to be forgotten that researches of the laboratory alone will not yield suffic: ■ data for the formation of a sound theory, either of aj cultural management, or of feeding stock. There m' . in addition, be an accumulation of carefully observed I accurately recorded facts, derived from experience of ; actual occurrences which take place in the conduc f the farm and of the feeding house. It is from thec< ■ bined results of practical observation and scientific ■ search that just systems of practice may eventualh ' deduced ; and the reali2ation of this desirable const ■ mation will largely depend upon the assistance w) i able and scientific men shall receive from intelligently of practice." These are sentiments in which we think aln t all will concur; and to such as do, we say — Id your aid in establishing another institution for e cultivation of "science with practice;" for « promotion of British agriculture. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 355 SMALL ALLOTMENTS IN RUTLAND, EIGHTEENTH ANNIVERSARY. On Tuesday and Wednesday the 3rd and 4 th August, Jr. Baker, of Cottesmore, attended by many of the eighbouriug agriculturists interested in the small allot- lent system, proceeded with their examination. The idges were Messrs. Cutbush, Cheetham, and Ilawley. j I^p, Uppinghaji. — Stamford Road Field. s. d. id. Edward Chffe First prize 10 0 1. John Coulson Second ditto 7 0 12. George Nutt Third ditto 5 0 Commended. 2. Michael Cant 1 0 9. John Foster 1 0 19. 23. 16. 11. 13. 14. 7. 12 Uppingham. — Church Laud. Thomas Larratt First prize . James Nutt Second ditto. Edward Roberts Third ditto . Commerided. John Hudson George Tilly 10 0 7 0 5 0 1 0 1 0 Uppingham. — Leicester Road Field. John Mould First prize . . . John Page Second ditto. . . Thomas Nutt Tliird ditto . . . Commended. William Hudson William Baiues 10 7 5 1 1 Ridlington. — Old Allotments. John Harris — disqualified under rule 14. Thomas Page First prize . , Edward Russell Second ditto William Wright Third ditto . , Commended. Wilham Russell, jun ExTON. — Allotments. 64. Charles Speede First prize . [ 32. Luke Hibbitt Second ditto 51. Daniel Buckle Third ditto . , 10 7 5 Ridlington. — New Allotments. 1. George Webb First prize 10 0 4. Joseph Bryan Second ditto . . 7 0 6. Joseph Barfield Third ditto .... 5 0 Highly commended. 8. William Muntou 2 0 1 0 Highlji commended, and were put in competition with any eleven allotments in any one field. 61. William Bullimore 5 Q 1 19. William Hibbitt 5 0 : 36. William Cross 5 0 37. John Martm 5 Q 38. Robert Williams 5 0 ,41. John Freeman 5 0 1 50. George Woodward 5 0 1 53. Amos Hibbitt 5 Q 56. John Cross 5 o 62. Edward Lee 5 0 63. Griffin Cross 5 0 19. 25. 23. 9. 11. 4. 3. 10. 4. 5. 6. 2. s. d. 10 0 7 0 5 0 10 0 7 0 .5 0 1 0 10 7 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 7 0 5 0 1 0 CoTTKSMoRK.— OW Allotments. John Preston First prize . George Smith Second ditto William Cox Third ditto . Cottesmore.— iNTfjo Allotments. John Kettle First prize . , Robert Plowright Second ditto WiUiam Burton Third ditto . . Commended. Amos Hibbitt Barrow. — Allotments. Edward Clarke First prize . . Henry Naylor Second ditto John Leatherlaud Third ditto , . Highly commended. Francis Symonds 2 Commended. Henry Stubbs , William Foreman Whitwell. — Allotments. John BoUand First prize . , John Woodward, jun Second ditto John Hibbitt Third ditto . , Commended. Daniel Smith Field with field, comparative merits, quality of the land, situation, clean and useful husbandry, general ma- nagement, and the number of years under the system, Awarded to Barrow, One shilling each to the eleven occupiers. The Ransome prize, one sovereign, for the best cul- tivated allotment in any of the fields. No. 64 In Exton Charles Speede. The prizes are principally given by the Earl of Gains- borough. There are 198 allotments, let to persons in Rutland, that are annually inspected ; and it is supposed that each occupier averages six in family, consequently about 1,188 persons are benefited. Rule 4 states that the land be occupied in the follow- ing manner, viz. : — One third (half a rood) and no more with potatoes ; one-third cabbages, peas, beans, onions, carrots, or any green crop ; one-third, and no more, with wheat, barley, or any kind of grain. The judges commended the cultivation generally, and considered that the wheat and barley were great crops ; the potatoes pretty good ; beans and peas partial crops. During the progress of examination, the following dis- tinguished persons joined the party : — The Earl and Countess of Gainsborough and the Dowager Lady Grey, Viscount and Viscountess Campden, the Lady Louisa and Mr. Agnew, Lady Catherine Noel, the Hon. Gerard and Henry Noel, the Hon. and Rev. A. G. Stuart, and the Revs. Dalton, Ellicott, Minniken, Alford, Moody, &c. At the conclusion of this interesting and useful work, Mr. Baker entertained at dinner most of tbe above noblemen and gentlemen, the judges, and several of the leading agriculturists of the neighbourhood. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fmrf iBTft rioMw absat ad oi bb tsiouiianoa 08 bna ,isl HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW AT ABERDEEN. Wednesday, August 4. EXHIBITION OF IMPLEMENTS, ROOTS, SEEDS, DAIRY PRODUCE, &c. This day, at noon, the show-ground was opened for the display of implements, machines, dairy produce, seeds, roots, and plants. Some disappointment was felt as to this exhibition, which was inferior in the number of implements exhibited, when compared with similar shows in the south. But it is hardly to be expected that, in the article of implements, useful and novel inventions can be brought forward in equal numbers at every suc- cessive meeting of the Society. Nevertheless, a great proportion of those shown to- day combined much ingenuity with excellent workman- ship, and attracted their proper share of attention. One of the most prominent objects of interest was Ainslie's tile drain machine, at work upon the ground, and which by the labour of a man and boy, turned out a continued succession of pipe tiles with great rapidity and in admirable condition. The cost of the machine we un- derstood to be about £Z0, and in these times, when the subject of draining is attracting so much attention, the possession of an implement, by which he can supply him- self with an infinite extent of drain tiles and pipes, must be an object of moment to the enterprising agriculturist. It seems fully worthy of the strong recommendation given to it by Mr. Smith, of Deanston ; samples of drain tiles and pipes were also exhibited from the Aberdeen Brick and Tile Company's Works, at Clayhills, sub- stantial in quality and of excellent construction. Crosskill's clod crusher or roller is also deserving of individual notice. For this roller, a special gold medal, the highest mark of distinction conferred by the Royal Agricultural Society, was awarded to Mr. Crosskill, and we cannot do better than refer to a report on the sub- ject, which states that this implement is effective in crushing clods, compressing soft soil, and rolling culti- vated land, even when the crop has attained a height of two to eight inches. Its action also arrests the ravages of wireworm, destroys the slug, and is equally service- able when used on any description of soil. The imple- ment consists of a number of serrated wheels, revolving on a separate axle, and forming altogether a roller two and a half feet in diameter. It can be had at an expense of about £20. Many specimens of wheel and swing ploughs were shown, very neat in appearance, and apparently embody- ing the principle on which they were designed — namely, ease of draught conjoined with efficiency of work. Those especially, exhibited by Messrs. George Sellar and Son, Huntly, deserve attention. There were three ploughs, each of which cuts different shapes of furrows; and either of them can be made with the greatest ease to cut fur- rows of any shape. On two of them is an improved mould board which had been severely tried at a number. of ploughing matches throughout a wide district of cot try, and has almost invariably carried the first prizi and at a trial by dynamometer, held by the Strathi Farmers' Club, one of them was found to be, on average, of 5 stones less draught than any of ele^ ploughs tried. Price £-i. The grubbers, shown by Messrs. Sellar, are improi in the manner of constructing the raising and depress apparatus, whereby they follow the horses better turning, so that no time is lost at the ends of ridj The tines are made on a self-cleaning principle, and wheels of a large diameter, which effectually preve choking in the foulest fields. Cost, £6 to .£10. The other implements exhibited by Messrs. Sel whose implements displayed a superior style of wo manship, were a drill harrow, greatly improved in position and construction of scufHers, whereby no we can clog their cutting edges, and which can be expan or contracted to suit any size of drills with ease, ex dition, and exactness. Their turnip sower is likewise a very perfect machi it will always sow on the centre of drills, however m they may vary in width ; and the supply of seed can regulated with the greatest nicety. We believe that machine is an original invention of some person in south of Scotland, but the Messrs. Sellar were uidu to exhibit it, in order that farmers in this neighbourh might see it, thinking that it would be to their advant to adopt it. The price is six guineas. A cart axle, with arms steeled and case-hardened, also shown by Messrs. Sellar, adapted for being u without a stock in the centre, as it is found that ala ■ every case of axles breaking is caused by the use of tl '■ stocks. There were on the ground several subsoil ploughs different sizes and modes of construction, adapted ' two or six horses, and varying in price from £b to , • That of Mr. John Gray, Glasgowego, possessed g '■ merit. A double-boarded plough, shown by Mr. A . Moir, Udny, also deserves notice, possessing the p perty of forming single drills at one furrow, and cap; ' of performing the work of common plough, harrow, ' drill plough. The subsoil plough made by Mr. Jo • ston, Balquharn, and shown by Mr. Wilson, Newk'i was also much admired. Two gangs of harrows, shown by Mr. Johnston, 1 • zlehead, deserve to be noticed for their strength |l lightness ; as also specimens of improved grubbers, > bibited by the same party, combining great simplicit; f structure, with power of action. Some notice may also be taken of Mr. Johnstd^ double-cylinder field roller, as not bejpg liable to get ' THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. f order, and so constructed as to be readily taken to ieces or repaired by the labourer who works it. Prices, •om six to fifteen guineas. A drill machine, of Mr. Johnston's, constructed holly of cast iron, was brought forward, as warranted, cm past trial, to sow bone dust or guano along with imip seed. It can be made to sow either the seed or lanure separately or together, at a price ranging from 'A to ^8; The other implements of importance may be hastily immed up as follows : — Peg thrashing machine, shown f Mr. Ferguson, Lylsland, Paisley, price i?20 to ^£'40 ; rigating roller, for top dressing corn and hay crops, ex- bitedby Mr. Smith, Craigend Castle, £"'10 10s. j lever )wer milk churn (a very neat article), shown by Mr. lien, Bodachra ; sheep dipping apparatus, by T. Bigg, ■ London ; several varieties of barn fanners — that of ir. Barclay, Cults, being very much admired ; im- •oved winnowing machine, exhibited by Mr. W. Di- )rty, Midmill, Kintore, £7 to ^^9, for winnowing, idling, and sifting simultaneously ; furrow drain ller, for pressing down soil on furrow drains ; a self- gulating liquid manure cart, of very superior work- anship, made by Mr. George Walker, Port Elphin- 3ne, ^9 : this machine, exhibited and invented by r. John Marr, Balquhain, is intended for distributing ine, by means of radiating open spouts supplied by a imp, worked by wheel and pinion, impelled by the otion of the machine ; the supply is regulated by ifting the bolt in the walking beam of the pump, so as alter the lever distance or relative lengths of the arms, cording to the greater or less supply of liquid manure quired. The spouts being tilted up at a certain angle, sure a certain flow ; a turnip-sowing machine, with- it motion in seed boxes ; together with many speci- ens of gates, fences, hurdles, sheep-racks, and other '• iscellaneous implements, and articles of rural conve- I ence. I In answer to numerous enquiries why the premiums varded for the implements have been omitted in the therto published reports, we have it in our power to !ate that a sum of 100/. has been allotted generally to liat department of the exhibition. Various articles have pen recommended by the judges as worthy of premium, it the final award has yet to be made by the Directors I Edinburgh. I In the department of seeds, roots, and plants, the jief contributors were Messrs. Lawson and Son, of dinburgh, nurserymen and seedsmen to the Society, he marquee devoted to this department was tastefully tted up, and an extensive collection of native and fo- iign shrubs, trees, grasses, and grains, were arranged ong the different tables. There was also shown a )lendid and extensive display of coniferse, suitable for le climate of Great Britain, for which the gold medal f the Society was very properly awarded. Numerous ,)0t8, seeds, and legumes were disposed in classified or- jer, with specimens of the plants they represented. Al- Ogether, the exhibition was extremely interesting — more ), perhaps, to the botanist, the herbalist, or the stu- jent, than the practical agriculturist. There wag likewise a Mr display of dairy produce, which was visited throughout the day by good house- wives, all of whom, we hope, will strive to emulate its excellence. After the labours of the day, in effecting preliminary arrangements, the committee and others, to the number of more than 100, dined together at 5, p. m., at a public ordinary in the Royal Hotel. Thursday, August 5. THE GENERAL SHOW OF CATTLE, HORSES, SHEEP, &c. The cattle brought forward at the exhibition was scarcely so numerous as at some former gatherings of the Society ; but while the principal specimens were less enormous in bulk than on former occasions, the average quality was decidedly better, and the stock exhibited belonged altogether to a higher and juster order of merit. Indeed, the quality of the stock was such that Mr. Guerrier, of the firm of Guerrier and Giblet of London, pronounced it to be superior to anything of the kind he had ever previously witnessed. The classes to which the cattle chiefly belonged were the short-horn, the West Highland, the polled and horned Aberdeenshire breeds, and many valuable cross breeds. The short-horns were perhaps the best show ; but it would really be invidious to particularise any class where the general excellence of the whole was so striking. At the same time we can- not omit special notice of Mr. Pirie's (CoUithie) heifer, of the polled breed, which was generally admitted to be the finest of her class, and particularly excited the admiration of the English judges. A large sum was refused for her. The first prize pull, of the short-horned breed, Fairfax Royal, the property of Mr. A. Cruickshank, was pro- nounced by eminent breeders the most perfect animal ever seen in a show-yard, and fully sustained Mr. Cruickshank's celebrity. He was bred by, and purchased of Mr. Torr, of Riby, Lincolnshire. Tempting ofi'ers were made to purchase him ; but we understand his ser- vices will be continued in the district. The best of the stock shown, as will be seen from the list of premiums awarded, have been reared in the north of Scotland, and it is no less encouraging to find that the successful competitors are mostly farmers in the district, and not large proprietors as was formerly the case. It is a re- markable fact, and highly creditable to the enterprising character of our local breeders, that Mr. Watson, of Keillor, was the breeder of no fewer than four of the prize bulls of the polled breed. It is also gratifying to find that, as the Earl of Aberdeen stated at the dinner, a great many animals that got prizes at our local show last year, had prizes awarded to them on Thursday, in competition with all Scotland. In horses, there was a numerous show, exhibiting some fine symmetrical figures. A considerable number of sheep were on the ground, of Leicesters, Cheviots, and Southdowns. All the prizes for the blackfaced breed, with one exception, we believe, went south ; and, in fact, the great proportion of the prizes for sheep were carried off by competitors from sheep-rearing districts- Of pigs there was a tolerable show, as there generally is at exhibitions in this district ; and nvimerous coop* of i 258 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. poultry claimed the attention of many, and were pro- nounced as fine specimens as could possibly be desired. Those of the black Spanish and Sussex breeds were par- ticularly good. The dairy produce was also of a superior order ; and in one department only could any deficiency be said to exist, namely, in the exhibition of farming implements. Truth to tell, Scotland has hitherto de- pended largely on the brawny arms of her sons — a species of implement more come-at-able by the small farmers than any other, though not in every case so economical ; and therefore there is the greater necessity for attention to so important a branch of agricultural art. The extra stock was the subject of universal admiration, and con- tained some of the finest animals ever exhibited in Scot- land. THE GRAND DINNER. Lord Aberdeen occupied the chair, and was supported on the right by the Lord Provost, Sir Thomas Burnett, Sir James Ramsay, Sir John Richardson, Mr. Sheriff Gordon ; and on the left by Sir J. Stuart Forbes, Sir M. Bruce, Sir John Maxwell, Sir J. Macpherson Grant, and Mons. Nathorst. On the right hand of the Croupier (Mr. Grant of Tillyfour) sat Admiral Gordon, Major Gumming Bruce, Captain Fordyce, M.P., Mr. Farqu- harson, of Invercauld, and Dr. Forsyth ; and on the left, Mr. Hope Johnston, Master Hope Johnston, Hon. A. Gordon, General Byres, and General Hunter. The number of gentlemen present at the dinner was about 700. On the removal of the cloth, Lord Aberdeen rose, and proposed ' ' The Q,ueen. ' ' (The toast was drunk with all the honours.) " Her Majesty Queen Adelaide," (cheers). *' His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the royal family." "The Army and Navy." General Byres, of Tonley, returned thanks for the army. Admiral Gordon returned thanks for the navy. The Chairman : Gentlemen, in proposing to drink " Success to the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland," it is not necessary for me to trouble you with many words ; upwards of sixty years of useful existence have been sufficient to prove the great advantage which the country has derived from the exertions of this so- ciety. It is rare that the efforts of patriotic men to benefit their country have been attended with such con- tinued success as those of the founders of this society. This is owing to the judgment and discretion — the sound principles — upon which it was first established, and the admirable good sense and prudence with which it has been since administered (cheers). It is true that, in the present state of the world, every exertion will be required to perpetuate and preserve to the British farmer that superiority to which he is so well entitled by his skill, his industry, and his integrity. Great, gentlemen, are the advantages wkich this society has been enabled to confer upon agriculture and the country. I venture to say, that a new and more extensive field now lies before them. Agriculture, which hitherto has been a profes- sion, is only now become a science — a science, too, in which the most wonderful discoveries are being made from day to day. I cannot doubt that this society v approve of and encourage this spirit of improvement £ inquiry, from which so much may be expected (cheei Gentlemen, in proposing to drink to the success of society, I would connect with it the name of its Pre dent, the Duke of Montrose, whose absence on 1 occasion we all lament ; and certainly no person ' more reason to lament this than I have, insomuch a has been the means of furnishing you with a very » worthy chairman (" No, no," and loud cheers). The toast was received with applause. Major CuMMiNG Bruce : My lord, were I to ap to your lordship for permission to propose this toast might perhaps encounter a refusal. I will, therefc take the liberty of deposing your lordship, for a lil while, from the high position which you now occi as chairman of this great meeting, and will appoint vice-president my honourable friend beside me, whil propose the toast entrusted to my care. That to; gentlemen, has but to be mentioned to ensure a m cordial and enthusiastic reception, and I call on all fill a brimming bumper to the health of our no chairman (cheers). Happily, all subjects of a politi tendency are, by the constitution of this society, eluded from its discussions ; but that exclusion does prevent allusion to the benefits which the noble lord conferred on his country (cheers). Men of all polit principles join in acknowledging that happy combinat of national dignity, with the enjoyment of the blessi of peace, which has resulted from the administration the noble lord, who, rising superior to the little arts old diplomacy, has pursued a course which has gaii the confidence of other nations — (cheers)— and has spired his own countrymen with the assurance, t while the interests of the State will never be sacrifici they will enjoy the results of what has ever been lordship's great aim, namely, the peace and prospei of the nation (cheers). I cannot forbear making ref ence to the motto and device which I see displayed c against me, of " Peace and Plenty," as suggesting to that no one has contributed more than his lordship the preservation of the one, and none, I am sure, can more desirous than he is of securing the blessings of I other (great applause). I have already spoken of broad and firm basis of honourable peace on which ( noble lord has placed this country during his successive, ministrations of the foreign department of Governmet and it is not for me to speak of his lordship's qualit as a landlord, convinced as I am that there are many his lordship's tenantry here present who could bear m( eloquent testimony than I could offer to the kindm and liberality of their noble landlord. Many years a — more than I could wish to name — I was honoured partaking of the hospitality of Haddo House ; and, int' journey thither, I could not fail to be struck with t appearance of comfort which the tenantry on the dom; then exhibited ; and now, after the lapse of many yea the same evidences of comfort on the part of the tenant: and liberality on the part of the noble landlord, were possible, still more conspicuous (cheers). In evf capacity in which he stood before them, whether as statesman of distinguished ability and uaimpeachable i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, (169 rrity, or as a landlord of judicious liberality, or as a iitt highly gifted, independently of the advantages of 1th and fortune, I feel assured that the numerous and i)St intelhgent assembly I now address will feel that they J conferring upon themselves a distinguished honour I drinking the health of the ' ' Noble Chairman, the irl of Aberdeen" (great and continued cheering). Lord Aberdeex, in rising to return thanks, was e- ived with prolonged cheering. He said : I return my icere thanks to my honourable friend for the honour has done me in proposing my health, and I grate- ly acknowledge the very kind manner in which you i-e been pleased to receive it. I make claim to no ler qualification to fill the honourable situation I now ,j oy than an anxious desire to promote the prosperity I this society ; but while I take credit to myself for is quahfication, I must say that it is with some satis- I tioa and pride that I see so many near me who are imected with this district, and who are so justly cele- I ited for the excellence of their stock and their agri- 1 tural skill. It will be necessary for us to unite all J : energies to promote the improvement of the present j te of agriculture. A great moral writer has said — I ie is a benefactor to his country who has made two ides of grass grow where one grew before." If so, 1 may all of us be of some use to our native land, and I lost cordially trust, that laying aside all differences of i nion, we shall do our best, by united etfort, to pro- • te the interests of our common country (cheers). The Chaieman again rose, and said : I have now the j lour to propose a toast, for which I request you to I a bumper. Among the different societies to which s institution has given birth, none are more distin- I ished than the local society of this district, to whose jsperity I wish you to drink success (cheers). It is only I :essary to refer to the show which that society held I X about this time last year, for proof of the success of 1! association, and the honour it does to the parent lOse anniversary we are now met to celebrate (cheers). )eg to couple with this the name of my honoured and, the Duke of Richmond, who requests me to com- micate to this meeting the regret that he feels in being 'liged to be absent from indisposition, but whose heart ipresent with us, and whose constant desire is to pro- ')te the interests of the association (cheers). Captain Barclay returned thanks for the toast on half of the district society. The Croupier gave " The Lords Lieutenant of the )unties connected with the Show." The Chairman acknowledged the toast in suitable •ms. He then begged to propose the health of his ex- Uent friend on the right, the Chief Magistrate of the ty, with the other Magistrates and Town Council of )erdeen (cheers). Provost Blakie responded to the toast. The Chairman then rose and said — If anything could ove the importance of this society, it must be the great ccess of the sister institution recently established in Qgland. That society, he might almost say, had been tablished under their own auspices, and, by a careful ddj aod practice of the rules of our society, it had prospered much. He trusted it would still go on and prosper, and that it might, along with the High- land and Agricultural, and the Irish Society, continue to represent the agricultural interests of all parts of the kingdom. He would now propose " The Royal Agri- cultural Society of England," joined with " The Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland." Mr. Fisher Hobbs said he regretted exceedingly the absence of the Duke of Richmond, and that no dis- tinguished member of the Royal Agricvdtural Society of England was present to return thanks for the honour which had been done to that important body, because they were indebted to its example for the existence of their national institution (cheers). They were success- fully following the steps of the Highland Society. Every year improved upon its predecessor. They had a jour- nal published by the society, 7,000 copies of which were distributed among the members, containuig articles and all manner of practical information upon agricultural subjects (cheers). He expressed the astonishment with which he saw some of the animals exhibited to-day. The Angus breed, he said, were most splendid animals. He was certain he expressed the sentiments of the Coun- cil of the society of which he was a member, when he said how deep was their interest in the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, not only from the benefit conferred by it upon the nation, but on Scotland especially. One thing that struck him particularly in agricultural matters in Scotland, was the excellence of the turnip and green crops. He could not but ask him- self, between the Tweed and Edinburgh, how this dis- trict was richer in this produce than any great district in England ? He, however, did not ascribe all this to en- terprise, but to that fixity of tenure that gave men secu- rity for the capital that they might invest in the soil. They were not, however, perfect in this respect, nor would be till they had some security for the repayment of improvements at the close of their leases (cheers). The English farmer would, however, be very glad to en- joy the same advantage with the Scotch farmers, and which, he believed, they would at no distant period ob- tain (cheers). The Chairman then proposed " The health of the Duke of Wellington." (Drunk with all the honours.) The Croupier, in very appropriate terms, gave " The Tenantry of Scotland," dwelling on the virtues, energy, intelligence, and industry that characterize them as a class. (The toast was drunk with much cor- diality.) Mr. Finnie (Swanston) returned thanks. He said — My lord, I have just had the honour unexpectedly and undeservedly done me, of being called upon to reply to the toast that has now been given, and so cordially wel- comed. I could have wished that some farmer had risen on this occasion, and responded to it in'more adequate terms than I can do. It would be presumptuous in me to intrude upon this large assembly's notice any imper- fect observations ; but I may safely assert that the tenantry of Scotland will duly appreciate the honour now done them. My lord, the profession of the farmer is a peculiar one — noae has passed oftener from fattier THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to son. From the capital we expend in the proper cultiva- tion of the soil we can only expect to make a return once in the twelvemonths; and, from the nature of the invest- ment, it cannot be otherwise than that, when we quit possession, a proportion of it must permanently remain with the land. The anxieties and cares, as the honour- able Croupier has justly observed, necessarily connected with the cultivation of a soil unfertile by nature, and in a climate notorious for being variable, are neither few nor small ; and, even when we employ our capital libe- rally, and apply our skill freely, it often happens, as every one in this assembly is aware, that the produce, upon which we depend for our exertions, is destroyed by a calamity which no skill nor energy can avoid. But, notwithstanding, my lord, that we labour the land under such disadvantages, we, thetenantryof Scotland, are proud to think that our mode of management maintains so pro- minent a position among that of the countries of Europe; and it is not for me, a practical farmer, to say whether the encomiums that have just been passed upon that class, to which I consider it my pride to belong, are justly merited. In conclusion, my lord, I would just observe that, from the intimate relationship that exists between landlord and tenant, it must necessarily happen that the progression of agriculture is dependent upon the combined exertions of those two important compo- nent parts of the community. On the part, therefore, of those whom I have now the honour to represent, that, with a fair consideration from those with whom we are allied, as already referred to, I may safely advance that, if ever Scottish agriculture recede from the high position it has already attained, no blame shall be found attachable to the tillers of the soil." Mr. Hope Johnstone proposed " Tiie health of the Croupier," pronouncing a high eulogium upon his character. The Croupier (Mr. Grant) returned thanks. The Croupier then gave " The Members of Parlia- ment connected with this District." Captain Dingwall Fordvce, M.P., returned thanks. Sir Michael Bruce proposed " The health of the Deputation of Directors ;" and he hoped that, as they had expressed themselves gratified to-day, they would report favourably in Edinburgh. With the toast he de- sired to couple the name of Mr. Home. Mr. HoRNE, in reply, said : It is my duty, as Con- vener of the Deputation of Directors, in name of the Directors and of the Deputation, to return our thanks for the notice your lordship has been pleased to take of them ; and though I am anxious not to intrude myself on the numerous, influential, and intelligent meeting, looking at the position in which I stand, I feel that I should take some notice of the proceedings at the great show ; and therefore I trust you will bear with me for a very short time. My lord, this is the twenty-sixth ge- neral show which has taken place under the auspices of the Highland Society. The first five or six were held in Edinburgh : afterwards they were extended to the dif- ferent great towns and agricultural districts. This is the third time the exhibition has been held in this city — namely, in 1834, 1840, and now in 1847. At first, the directors were of opinion that it was their duty to de • lope the capabilities of the different pure breeds I crosses for feeding, without even a restriction on the j of the animal, with the view of showing what it was j . sible to produce ; but by degrees they limited this bi-a i of competition, and left it very much to the pract 1 breeder to follow the course which made the best retu j and, as the premium list of this year shows, the comp . tion has been mainly directed to the breeding animal f pure and established breeds. Experience very s • taught the directors that restrictions, both in age feeding, were necessaiy ; and they imposed them ; their instructions to the judges have been carefully j pared on this footing : and when the directors find i the Royal Agricultural Society of England have adoj similar precautions, they cannot doubt the propriety ' the course they have followed. In their future sho it is the intention of the directors even still more clo to confine the competition to the breeding animal. established breeds. I think I may venture to say t the exhibition of this day establishes the soundness of directors' views ; for no less than 49 bulls, 26 cows, 44 heifers of the pure Teeswater breed have been tered for competition ; while in this district, in lir only 16 bulls, 7 cows, and 6 heifers were entered. Leicester sheep, too, the number of tups exhibited just been doubled ; and, my lord, can any one dc that the district is under deep obligation to Mr. E clay, of Ury, who may here be considered the father well as the nurse of those two breeds (applause) ? I i that in 1834 he got the second premium for his b and the first in all the other classes ; and all pres know that since then he has not been idle or inattem to them. Indeed, I believe that I may likewise consi him as the founder of the local agricultural associat of this district, to whose exertions must be ascribed rapid improvements which have taken place. That g lant and indefatigable veteran takes a prominent place our prize list. The polled Aberdeen is now an es blished and deservedly favourite breed ; and I have sanction of the judges in saying that they deserve ev possible attention and care (cheers). But, my lo while we thus deem it to be our duty, at general she to encourage the pure established breeds, do not let be supposed that the directors undervalue crosses different kinds, both of cattle and sheep ; but they thi that crosses are fitter objects of competition at distr shows ; and the society's premium lists prove the anxi' of the directors to encourage these district shows, cannot allow myself to detain this meeting any long I shall merely remark that our premium lists exhi equal attention to the growth of seeds and green cro] and to the scientific departments of the agriculturis. life ; and from the notice which has been given of tl discussion which is to take place at the breakfast of t Chemistry Association to-morrow morning, I anticipi; that our attention will be beneficially directed to tj growth of flax as a profitable crop in this district. T thorough and scientific drainage of land has recently i tracted so much attention, both from the legislature ai the agriculturist, that we are warranted in anticipati THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 5261 i'. most beneficial results. The legislative measures of ]|t session received every consideration from the di- 1 tors when before Parliament, with the view of their l| ng made as workable and practically useful as pos- ile. My lord, we feel the great responsibility de- ved upon us at the present emergency. I can only ', that we have a most efficient and energetic staff ; i our individual attention shall be bestowed upon •ry subject which can tend to the success of agricul- ■e. My lord, I have again, in name of the directors 1 their deputation, to return their thanks for the no- ; taken of them ; and permit me to add my own uble acknowledgments for the patience extended to (applause). The Chairman then gave "The Judges." They I had a difficult task to perform, and they had acted ler great responsibility, owing to the extent, quality, I excellence of the objects which they had had to ge. It required the utmost skill, patience, and im- tiality in a judge ; and that this had been realized on present occasion, he had no doubt. (Drunk with )lause.) Mr. ToRR — My Lord Aberdeen, it now becomes my j asure, as well as my duty, to return acknowledg- ; nts, on the part of my colleagues and myself, for the y handsome compliment just received at your hand ; I I assure you, that if any exertions on our part have ■n conducive to the interests of the society, we are ply repaid by this expression of your kind feelings, the very onerous duties we have had to perform, we re done everything to the best of our ability, and with : greatest impartiality of which we were capable. If ire is any dissatisfaction experienced with our de- ions (as there must of necessity be), it must be im- ted to that common failing in human nature — a want judgment, and not to any desire of acting otherwise m to the best of our ability. I wished it had fallen to ae more able individual to pay those high compli- ints to the show which it deserves ; but I cannot re- in from applauding the good judgment which the riculturists of this part of the country have shewn, in osecuting the breeding of short-horn cattle. I cannot fficiently compliment the specimens of that descri]ition stock exhibited at this show ; but I would earnestly ge on breeders still to give their attention to the breed black cattle, the native cattle of the country. I am re this recommendation will meet with some attention )m intelligent Scotsmen. I hope, however, they will extremely careful not to lose sight of the purity of the .tive breeds of the country. It is, of course, ray linion, in common with most other agriculturists, that t breed of cattle is to be despised. Any breed, I be- !ve, may be brought to perfection, if the proper rules r the rearing and breeding of stock are adhered to ; but am convinced few breeds excel, if indeed any rival, the eed of which I have spoken. With regard to sheep, I ,»pe, if you introduce sheep from other localities, that im will see to their constitutions — that they are healthy, I'Und, and not delicate, otherv^nse it is certain that they ust fail. Again, I would allude to the importance of pesorvmg the purity of breeds. Some gentlemen bad referred to the bad effects of crossing in sotne instances ; but I will go a step farther, for, from what I have seen and experienced, I am against crosses of any kind what- ever. The English and Irish Agricultural Societies at one time gave large premiums for crossing ; but they have since virtually acknowledged that they erred — for the animals of many crosses are merely mules of them- selves, and not to be compared with the pure and true breeds of the country. It had been rather strangely as- serted that crossing would not hurt, but would improve the native breeds. But where would cross-breeds end at length ? Why, they would run riot in their breeding in the course of two or three generations, and be neither one thing nor another. I shall say no more on this sub- ject ; but I hope you will take these observations in the same good spirit in which they are offered. In con- cluding, I must be allowed to say that I have felt very great pleasure in this show, and altogether in my journey to Aberdeen, although it is not the first time that I have visited Scotland. Every time I do so, I feel my plea- sure increase in witnessing the improvements in all re- spects which are going on around. I really think the turnip culture of this country is nearly arrived at per- fection ; but, perhaps, if Scotsmen would imitate their southern neighbours, they might improve their system of making hay in the north (laughter). It must be ad- mitted that such gatherings and societies as those of to- day do much good, by removing the prejudices that arise from living continuously in one part of the country. In respect to climate, I may observe that in England the cold clays and coal measures of the county of Dur- ham and other parts, are more naturally ungenial than the fertile parts of the northern county of Fife ; added to this, the Scotch farmers have some considerable advan- tage of ploughing up all, or nearly all, the best grass lands, whilst in England such was not allowed to be done. This, I think, is a serious hindrance to farmers generally. In conclusion, I have again to thank the secretary and directors for their admirable arrangements, and as an Englishman, will at all times be glad to offer the same hospitality I have experienced in Scotland (much cheering). Sir Thomas Burnett, Bart., of Leys, proposed "The Honorary Office-bearers of the Society." Mr. Hope Johnstone returned thanks. Provost Blaikie gave " The Strangers," and ex- pressed the pleasure with which the citizens of Aberdeen saw so many from other parts of the country visiting the place, and their anxiety to do everything in their power to promote the interests of both the Highland and local societies. Sir John Maxwell returned thanks. Mr. Lumsden, of Auchindoir,in rising to propose the next toast, said, that though the strangers had been drunk to generally, he thought it was highly proper that one so distinguished in the annals of agricultural science as Professor Low should have a special bumper to his health (cheers). He (Mr.Lumsden) regretted thatthetoast had not been put into the hands of some of the gentle- men of the deputation from Edinburgh, who had the benefit of frequent opportunities there for personal com- 262 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. munication with the learned Professor. But the fame of Professor Low as an eminent author and lecturer on agriculture had reached many districts of the empire more remote than Aberdeen, and well entitled him to every attention and respect from such a meeting as the present. In former days, whatever may have been the anxieties or success of such authors as Lord Kaimes, Dr. Anderson, and others, to benefit this country by their writings, still agricultural matters were at that period in a very backward state. As it had been well said by the noble chairman this evening, agriculture was then but a profession, now it had become a science ; and Mr. Lumsden congratulated the society that it had been reserved for a man of Professor Low's high talents to explain and unfold the modern important discoveries for the benefit of the landed interest, and which he had so ably done, not merely in theoretical science, but, what was far more important for the farmer, in a useful and practical manner. He proposed " The health of the Pro- fessor of Agriculture in the University of Edinburgh." (This toast was received with great applause.) Professor Low said : I beg leave to express my gratefal sense of your kindness, and to assure you that you render me the honour which I covet the most, when you associate my name with the cultivation of that great branch of national industry in which we have all so deep an interest, and of which I see around me so many dis- tinguished supporters. We all know and feel, gentle- men, how many interests our national agriculture affects, how vast a branch of public industry it concerns, and how many minds (of which I see the multiplied proofs around me here) are directed to its improvement. My especial province is to instruct the youth of my native country in the science and practice of agriculture ; and in doing so, I have to show them that science is not op- posed to art, but is the handmaid of arts. Art and science exercise the one upon the other a happy action. Science, without art, could not move the humblest boat from her haven ; art, without science, could not draw that knowledge from the heavens which is required to travel through the ocean. I have to tell the youthful farmer, then, that the pursuit he is to follow is no ignoble art, but one which the proudest may be proud to know. I have to tell him that he will have duties to perform as well as interests to regard ; that he will be connected on the one hand with the labourers of the arm, whose interests he will be bound to care for with a gene- rous feeling ; and that, on the other hand, he will be connected with the landlord, with whom the bond ought to be one of mutual amity and confidence. Again, I have to teach the youthful landlords of the country that property will have for them its duties as well as its rights ; that the most solid basis of the prosperity of the landlord is that of the tenant, and that it will be fitting that he establish and maintain enlightened and liberal re- lations between himself and those to whose capital and skill he will owe so much ; and finally, I have to explain to him how much of the future advancement of Pritish agriculture must depend on the well being, the ntelll- gence, and the independence of the tenantry. Captain Dalrymple had been on duty all day, and only learned a very short time before dinner that a toai had been assigned him to propose. Fortunately th; toast required no preface nor apology to ensure its bein received with enthusiasm. His toast was, " The Ladies (cheers). He was at a loss whose name to join withth toast, but, as it had been put into his hands without ti servation, he would name Mrs. Macleod, of Macleoi the mother of him who, with Lord M'Donald and oths noble gentlemen, had stood forward in a time of famim with the means of relief, to an extent which had reduce themselves to a state from which it must take years t be relieved. True, they were nobly assisted by tl country ; but their own exertions were an honour hot to themselves and their country. He would, therefore couple with "The Ladies," the nameof "^Mrs. Macleoc of Macleod" (applause). The Chairman then in appropriate terms propose " The Successful Competitors," which was acknowledge by Mr. M'Combie, Tillyfour, who in turn gave "Tl Unsuccessful Competitors." The Chairman then begged to propose atoast, whic he felt quite incumbent on him to give with all honou and which he was sure they would feel it necessary 1 receive with enthusiasm and respect. He need scarce! say that in a society like the present all depended on i secretary. Any one would do for a president, bat secretary required to possess zeal, intelligence, urbanit; and ability ; and these attainments were possessed I Mr. Hall Maxwell in a very eminent degree (receive with loud cheering). Mr. Hall Maxwell returned thanks for thehonoi just conferred on him, and expressed his gratitude th; the meeting should feel satisfaction with the manner i which the duties attendant on this show had been pei formed. If any success had attended his exertions, must be mainly attributed to the various gentlemen wh had acted on the committees ; to whom he offered h best thanks for their assistance. The Chairman then called for a bumper, and said Gentlemen, I am afraid I must now remind you that tl ladies by this time await you in another place ; and shall, therefore, conclude this very happy meeting b calling on you to join me in wishing a good meeting t the society next year in Edinburgh (cheers). The company immediately after broke np. THE SALE. Mr. Wetherell, of Durham, the celebrated auctioneei disposed of the stock for sale. The following shorthorn bulls were put up, and Co' Dalgairn's, from the Keillor breed, realized ^28. Mi Geekie's pure bull, 68/. ; Mr. Gordon's was offered i thirty guineas, but did not find a purchaser ; Mi Stewart's, from the Ury stock, brought thirty-eigl) guineas ; Messrs. Turnbulls' Dumbarton bull, offered a forty guineas, did not go off. Mr. Cochrane's yearlin bull brought twenty guineas; Mr. Gibson's, 16/. 10s. and, for Messrs. Turnbulls,' there were no bidders a twenty guineas. A number of bulls were either with drawn or sold by private bargain. In the short horned heifers, the three handsome animals belonging t( THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. jilr. Douglas, of Athelstaneford Mains, brought res- 'lectively thirty-one, forty, and twenty-five guineas. In the polled breeds, Mr. Machray's yearling bull old for 11/. A number of the West Highland and other breeds put ip were apparently bought in by the owners. In the horses, the strong third premium entire horse, lelonging to Mr. Barr, brought sixty guineas ; and that lelonging to Mr. Formest, 56/. Two brood mares went or 25/. and forty guineas, respectively ; Mr. Bisset's illy for 31/. 10s. ; and Mr. Ledingham's two, 73/. In sheep, two of the Leicester tups brought 8/. and even guineas, respectively. LIST OF PREMIUMS AWARDED. CATTLE. SHORT-HORNED BREED. Best bull of any age, 25 sovs., to Amos Cruickshank, ittyton of Fintray, near Aberdeen ; second best, 15 ovs., to Robert Barclay AUardice, of Ury ; third best, le silver medal, to his grace the Duke of Richmond. To the breeder of the best bull, the silver medal, to \^illiam Torr, Riby, Lincolnshire, as the breeder of the est bull. Best bull, calved after the 1st Jan., 1845, 15 sovs., to rUham Tod, Elphinstone Tower, near Tranent, Had- ingtonshire ; second best, 10 sovs., to John Duncan, lewseat of Tolquhon, near Tarves. Best bull, calved after 1st Jan., 1846, 10 sovs., to .rthur Hutchison, of Tillgreig, near Sommerhill, Aber- eenshire ; second best, 5 sovs., to John Hutchinson, lonyruy, near Peterhead. Best cow of any age, 10 sovs., to William Hay, ihethin, near Tarvis ; second best, 5 sovs., to Arthur iarvey, of Tillygreig, near Summerhill, Aberdeen ; bird best, the silver medal, to Amos Cruickshank, Sit- yton of Fintray, near Aberdeen. Best pair of cows, 7 sovs., to William Hay, Shenthin, tear Tarvis, Aberdeenshire. Best heifer, calved after 1st Jan., 1845, 7 sovs., to Villiam Hay, Shenthin, near Tarvis, Aberdeenshire; econd best, 4 sovs. , William Tod, Elphinstone Tower, ■ear Tranent, Haddingtonshire ; third best, the silver nedal, to William Hay, Shethin, near Tarvis, Aberdeen- hire. Best pair of heifers, calved after the Ist Jan., 1845, ' sovs., William Hay, Shentin, near Tarvis, Aberdeen- hire. Best heifer, calved after the 1st Jan., 1846, 5 sovs., 0 William Hay, Shethin, near Tarvis, Aberdeenshire ; econd best, 3 sovs., to J. Douglas, Athelstaneford Mains, Haddingtonshire. Best pair of heifers, calved after 1st Jan., 1845, 5 ovs., to Amos Cruickshank, Sittyton of Fintray, near Vberdeen. VBERDEEN, ANGUS, AND GALLOWAY POLLED BREEDS Best bull of any age, 25 sovs., to Hugh Watson, Seillor, near Cupar-Angus ; second best, 15 sovs.. Sir rhomas Burnett, Bart., of Leys; third best, the silver nedal, Patrick Grassick, Glenlogie, near Alford ; to the breeder of the best bull, the silver medal, Hugh Watson, Keillor, as the breeder of the best bull. Best bull calved after the 1st January, 1845, 15 sovs., David Carnegy Arbuthnott, of Balnamoon near Brechin ; second best, 10 sovs., Alexander Morrison, of Bognie near TurifF. Bejt bull, calved after .lat January, 1846, 10 sovs., William M'Combie, Tillyfour near Alford ; second best, 5 sovs., William Ruxton, Farnell near Brechin. Best cow of any age, 10 sovs., Robert Scott, Balwyllo near Montrose ; second best, 5 sovs., James Walker, Wester Fintray near Kintore ; third best, the silver medal, William M'Combie, Tillyfour near Alford. Best ox, calved after 1st January, 1844, 10 sovs., to Lord Panmure, Brechin Castle ; second best, 5 sovs., to Lord Panmure, Brechin Castle ; third best, the silver medal, to William M'Combie, Tillifour, near Alford. Best ox, calved after 1st January, 1845, 7 sovs., to William M'Combie, Tillyfour, near Alford ; second best, 4 sovs., to William M'Combie, Tillyfour, near Al- ford. Be^t pair of cows, 7 sovs., to James Walker, Wester Fintray, near Kintore. Best heifer, calved after the 1st January, 1845, 7 sovs., to William M'Combie, Tillyfour, near Alford; second best, 4 sovs., to Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys, Bart, ; third best, the silver medal, David Carnegy Ar- buthnott, of Bolnamoon. Best pair of heifers, calved after 1st January, 1845, 7 sovs., to Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys, Bart. Best heifer, calved after 1st January, 1846, 5 sovs., to James Pirie, CoUithie, near Huntly ; second best, 3 sovs., to Robert Walker, Mains of Portlethen, near Aberdeen. Best pair of heifers, calved after 1st January, 1846, 5 sovs., to William M'Combie, Tillyfour, near Alford. ABERDEENSHIRE HORNED BREED. Best COW of any age, 10 sovs., to James Pirie, Col- lithie, near Huntley ; second best, 5 sovs., to Robert Bruce, Heatherwick, near Keith Hall. Best heifer, calved after 1st January, 1845, 7 sovs., to John Ferguson, Coynach, near Mintlaw ; second best, 4 sovs., to Robert Bruce, Heatherwick, near Keith Hall. Best ox, calved after 1st January, 1844, 7 sovs., to George Knowles, Flesher, Aberdeen ; second best, 4 sovs., William M'Combie, Tillyfour. Best ox, calved after 1st January, 1845, 5 sovs., to Alexander Keith, Neitherthird, near Turiff; second best, 3 sovs., to Robert Walker, Mains of Portlethen, near Aberdeen. WEST HIGHLAND BREED. Best bull of any age, 10 sovs., to his grace the Duke of Sutherland ; second best, 5 sovs., to his grace the Duke of Sutherland, as the breeder of the best bull. Best cow of any age, 7 sovs., to his grace the Duke of Sutherland ; second best, 4 sovs., to William Grant, Ruthven, Tomintoul. Best he'fer, calved 1st Jan., 1845, 5 sovs., to Mr. Grant, Rathven, Tomintoul ; second best, 3 sovs., to his grace the Duke of Sutherland. Best ox, calved after 1st Jan., 1844, 5 sovs., to his grace the Duke of Richmond ; second-best, 3 sovs., to his grace the Duke of Richmond. CROSS BREED. Best heifer for fattening, of any cross, calved after 1st January, 1845, 10 sovs., to W^illiam Hay, Shethin, near Tarves ; second best, 6 sovs., to William Knox, North Ythsie, near Tarves ; third best, the silver medal, to Ar- thur Harvey, of Tillygreig, near Aberdeen. Best ox, of any cross, calved after 1st January, 1844, 10 sovs., to W. F. Lindsay Carnegie, of Boysack, near Arbroath; second best, 5 sovs., to John and James Martin, fleshers, Aberdeen; third best, the silver medal, to John and James Martin, fleshers, Aberdeen. Best ox, of any cross, calved after 1st January, 1845, 7 sovs., to John Gordon, Mill of Ardlethan, near Ellon; second best, 4 sovs., to Robert Moir, Tarty, Logie Bu- mi THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. chan, near Ellon ; third best, the silver medal, to Robert Simpson, of Cobairdy, near Huntly. ANY BREED. Best dairy cow of any breed, 10 sovs., to the trustees of the late William Fraser of Kinaldie, Aberdeenshire ; second best, 5 sors., to James Benton Aerlie, of Keig, near Whitehouse. Best heifer, showing most symmetry, fat and weight, calved after 1st January, 18-14, 10 sovs., to Robert Simpson of Cobairdy, near Huntly. Best ox, of any age, 10 sovs., John and James Martin, fleshers, Aberdeen ; second best, 5 sovs., to Marr and Milne, fleshers, Aberdeen, HORSES. Best entire horse, for agricultural purposes, 30 sovs., to Joseph Tait, Auchmillie, near Portsoy ; second best do., 20 sovs., William Wilson, Whiteside of Tulleynessle, near Alford; third best do., 10 sovs., to John Barr, Barangry, near Bishopton. Best draught (entire) colt, 10 sovs., John Wilson, Tochineal, near Cullen ; second best, 5 sovs, John Cruickshank, Cloves, near Elgin. Best breeding mare for agricultural purposes, 10 sovs., to Alexander Milne, Mill of Allathan, nearUdny ; second best, 5 sovs., to James Walker, Wester Fintray, near Kintore ; third best, the silver medal, William Taylor, Mains of Gight, near Fyvie. Best fiUy for agricultural purposes, 7 sovs. to William Hay, Shethin, near Tarves ; second best, 4 sovs., to Robert Moir, Tarty, Logie-Buchan, near Ellon ; third best, the silver medal, to Alexander Keith, Netherthird, near Turriff. Best filly for agricultural purposes, 5 sovs., to William Hay, Shethin, near Tarves; second best, 3 sovs., to William Hay. Best draught gelding, 7 sovs., James Walker, Wester Fintray, near Kintore ; second best, 4 sovs., to John Va- lentine, Nether Afflock, near Skene. Best draught gelding, 5 sovs, to James Hay, Little Ythsie, near Tarves ; second best, 3 sovs., to James Paterson, Newbigging, Keig, near Alford. SHEEP. BLACK-FACED BREED. Best tup, 5 sovs., to WiUiam Tod, Elphinstone Tower, county of Haddington ; second best, 3 sovs., to J. Falconer, Balnakettle, near Fettercairn. Best pen of five ewes, 5 sovs., to John Smith, Coyna- chie, near Huntly; second best, 3 sovs., to John Collier, Panlathy, near Muirdrum. Best five Gimmers, 5 sovs., J. Falconer, Balnakctt' near Fettercairn. Best pen of five Wethers, 5 sovs., to Sir John Gla stone, of Fasque, Bart. CHEVIOT BREED. Best Tup, 5 sovs., to Donald Home, of Langwel second best, 3 sovs., to Donald Home, of Langwell. Best pen of five ewes, 5 sovs., to Donald Home, Langwell ; second best, 3 sovs., to Donald Home, Es( of Langwell. LEICESTER BREED. Best tup, 5 SOVS., to Thomas Watson, Esperston, ne Tuslice Bridge ; second best, 3 sovs., to his Grace t Duke of Richmond. Best shearling tup, 5 sovs., to William Smith, Burto near Belford ; second best, 3 sovs., to Thomas Espj ston, near Fuskie Bridge. Best pen of three ewes, 5 sovs., to Hugh Watso Keiller, near Cupar- Angus ; second best, 3 sovs, to Jo Wallace, Banbeath, near Leven, Fifeshire. SOUTHDOWN BREED. Best tup, 5 sovs., to his Grace the Duke of Richmon second best, 3 sovs., to John Hutchison, Monruy, m Peterhead. Best pen of three erves, 5 sovs., to Hugh Watsc Keillor, Cupar- Angus ; second best, 3 sovs., to 1 Grace the Duke of Richmond. Best pen of five fat wethers of any cross or age sovs., to John Cruickshank, Cloves, near Elgin ; seco best do., 3 sovs., to William Darling, Farm Managi Stirkoke, Wick ; third best, the silver medal, to Jo and James Martin, Fleshers, Aberdeen. SWINE. Best boar, large breed, 4 sovs., to His Grace the Du of Buccleuch ; second best, 2 sovs., to Isaac Machri Tony Farm, near Aberdeen; third best, the sili medal, to David Robertson, Royal Hotel, Aberdeen. Best boar, small breed, 4 sovs., to Sir Thomas B\ nett, of Leys, Bart. ; second best, 2 sovs., to Isi Machray, Torry Farm, near Aberdeen ; third best, i silver medal, to W^illiam Dawson, Kinclune, Towie, ni Mossat. Best sow, large breed, 4 sovs., to David Robertsc Royal Hotel, Aberdeen ; second best, 2 sovs., to An Cruickshank, Sittyton of Fintray, near Aberdeen. Best sow, small breed, 4 sovs., James Nicol, Milldf near Aberdeen ; second best, 2 sovs., to William WiUc Whiteside, Tullynessle, near Alford ; third best, ( silver medal, to Sir Thomas Burnett, of Leys, Bart. ON THE ADVANTAGES OF STEEPING THE FOOD OF CATTLE IN WATER. BY M. BOUSSINGAULT. Many farmers make a practice of steeping their dry fodder before gi\'ing it to the cattle; in the opinion of these practical men, hay and clover ac- quire, by imbibing water, more nutritive properties. Twenty-five pounds of clover hay will absorb enough water to make it weigh lOOlbs., after an infusion in water for 12 hours. It is therefore thought that by this means the dry fodder is again in some measure restored to the state of green food. It has been t general opinion that in the warm and dry state which cattle are usually kept, moistened foi would be more profitable than the dry hay wi which they are usually fed when grass or fresh el ver cannot be obtained. It was the wish to decide this question which i ducec} ra? to make a comparative trial for the pii THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. t!85 pose of observing the effect of steeping the food. I entrusted the details of this experiment to M. Eu- gene Opperman, whois studying practical agriculture under my care at Bechellbronne. Four heifers, aged 1 7 to 1 9 months, were divided into two lots ; the one of these (No. 1) was fed with new land hay, No. 2 received the same food previously steeped in water 12 hours. Each lot received besides 3lbs of old and hay for each lOOlbs. of hve weight. The fol- owing is the result of a trial of 14 days. Weight Weight at com- Grain in Gain per Weight of food Food. mence- weight. day. after 14 con- ment. days. sumed. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. Steeped 1604 51 3^ 1655 624 )rj'... 1715 45 H 1760 693 This experiment was then repeated, invei-ting the rder of the lots, so that the moistened food was iven to the heifers which had previously received le dry food. The result again obtained did not iflfer materially from that given above. It was as •llows : 1st lot, which had dry food, gained in 14 lys 5 libs ; 2nd lot, which had steeped food, gained . 14 days 49lb8. This slight advantage gained by oistening the food is so small as to cause a doubt at it may not be the result of an error in the ex- triment, and should it prove a real gain it is too oall to repay the manual labour and trouble caused r steeping the food. In the course of the experiment M. Oppermann )8erved that the cattle eat the moist hay more ra- dly than the dry. The one lot consumed the 2eped food in 45 minutes, whilst the other occu- ed an hour in eating their " ration " of dry hay. reater rapiditj' of consumption may possibly in me casesbe an advantage; for example, in fattening, len it is necessary to give as much rest as possible. J doubt also the soft moist food, by its easy mas- ation, may be of advantage to very young calves len the milk is taken from them. In a word, dry y, after it has absorbed two to three times its weight of iter, ought to give the same advantage which we ve in green food : the latter, if not more feeding m hay, is at least eaten more greedily. It is known that an animal on green food generally does better than when receiving only dry hay ; and there may be instances in which similar results may be obtained ])y steeped fodder, if given under similar circumstances. Curious to knowthe influence which moistened food would have on milk cows, I engaged M. Oppermann to try an experiment on two cows as nearly alike as possible ; which received (as in the prenous experiment) 3lbs.of dry fodder, to each lOOlbs. of live weight in addition to the other food. The one cow received hay steeped as before ; the other, hay in its natural state. After 15 days' perseverance in the above regime, no difference could be perceived in the quantity of milk. — Annalen de Chemie. It may not be out of place to remark that the author of this valuable paper has devoted himself with great earnestness to scientific agriculture. He has a large farm at Bechellbronne, in the south of France, where with ample command of capital, aided by his extensive chemical knowledge, he pursues ex- periments in every branch of farming, and gives his results to the world, in papers such as the above. His statements are received with great credit over the whole of Europe, second, only to those of Liebig, With due respect, however, for such an authority, we were not prepared for results so totally at variance with the increasing practice of the best farmers and cow keepers. It is difficult to understand how a practice involving both trouble and expense can spread, if it be useless. Connected with the improved farm buildings in the north of England and Scotland, is now always found a steam engine ; the waste steam from which is used to steam turnips for the feeding of cattle. In many i^laces apparatus has been erected for the express purpose of preparing the food, by boiling or steaming. In the Lotbians of Scotland, rye, grass is commonly allowed to stand for seed, and whatever portion of the crop is considered unfit for market is mixed with cut hay or straw, together with linseed cake, and then steamed. This is found to make an exceedingly rich food for cattle. Where many cows are kept, the steaming of all kinds of food is almost universal. COURSE OF EXPERIMENTS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT PRODUCED ON THE GROWTH OF CATTLE BY MIXING SALT WITH THEIR FOOD. ^ BY M. BOUSSINGAULT. it^ my previous paper, " On the effect of steeping j! food of cattle," the results of which I had the lonr to lay before the Academy, I mentioned that the animals received at the rate of 3lbs. of hay per day to each lOOlbs. of live weight. This ex- periment has been continued without any changPj T 2G6 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. P except that the two lots of young cattle were not at all limited in their supply of hay, and received, be- sides, a moderate quantity of beet-root, daily. The weight each animcJ consmned was ascertained by placing a large quantity of hay within their reach every morning, and weighing the residue the next morning before giving them a fresh supply. In this case the weight of each animal is kept distinct, and the results shown as under by the letters A, B, C, and A', B', C. On the 13th November, 1S46, at the conclusion of the expeiiment described in the previous paper, the weights were as follows : — Lot No. 1. | Lot No. 2. A weighed . . 330 lbs. ' A' weighed. . 292 lbs. B 316 „ B' 30S „ C 314 „ C 304 „ Total., 960 lbs. Total.. 904 lbs. The experiment was commenced November 13, and was continued until the morning of the 11th of March, 1847. During these 117 days between the above dates, Lot No. 1 receiving a portion of salt with their food, and Lot No. 2 receiving their food without salt ; each lot consumed as follows ; — Lot No. 1, with salt, received of Hay lbs. 1,584 Aftermath 1,8S0 Beet-root, 2,500 lbs.=hav.... 624 Total. . 4,088 Lot No. 2, without salt, received of Hay lbs. 1,406 Aftermath .... 1,740 Beet-root, 2,320 lbs.=hay. . . . 580 Total. 3,726 As in the previous experiment, there was great difference in the quantitj' of water consumed by each lot :— Lot No. 1, with salt, drank everj' day eleven gallons of water. Lot No. 2, without salt, drank every day seven gallons of water. This result, as well as the weights given in this paper, was ascertained by ^L le Bel, who, during my absence from the farm, had the charge of the experiment. On the 11th of March, 1847, the fol- lowing weights were obtained : — Lot No. 1, having consumed 24 lbs. of salt. Weighed 13th of March. A,..., 330 lbs. B,.... 316 „ C,.... 314 „ Weighed 13th of May. A, 420 lbs. B, .... 400 „ C,.... 416 „ Gain in 117 days. A,.... 90 lbs. B,.... 84 „ C, 102 „ 960 lbs. 1,236 lbs. Lot No. 2, without salt. 276 lbs. Weighed 13th of March. A' 292 lbs. B' 308 „ C 304 „ 904 lbs. Weighed 13th of May. A'.... 342 lbs. B'.... 428 „ C... 410 „ 1,180 lbs. Gain in 117 days. A' . . . 50 lbs B'. ... 120 „ C. . . . 106 „ The average weights between these dates being — For Lot No. 1, with salt, 1,098 lbs. ; and haj consumed per day, 352^ lbs. For Lot No. 2, with- out salt, 1,042 lbs. ; and hay consumed per day 32 lbs. It follows, that 100 lbs. of live weight have takei in fodder : — In Lot No. 1, with salt, 3"2 lbs. L Lot No. 2, without salt, 3*1 lbs. This result, when the cattle had as much food a they could eat, shows the correctness of the est mate of 3 lbs. to each 100 lbs. of live weight, whic was the basis of the first experiment. Indeed may say, after several years' observation, that tl above has always been the result when the catt have a full supply of food. To resume. In this experiment we find that L No. 1, with salt, for each 100 lbs. of hay consumt has produced in live weight 6"8 lbs. That Lot N 2, without salt, for each 100 lbs. of hay consum has produced in live weight 7*2 lbs. We may, the conclude that salt added to the food does not pi duce any appreciable effect in the growth of you animals ; a result which, after all, ought not to si prise, even admitting the value of salt in foe since, by analysis, it was found that all the food t cattle received contained a certain portion, so tl the animals were never without it. By the analysis of the ashes of the food c( sumed by Lot No. 2, without salt, the follow quantity was detected ; — In the hay, 9'5 lbs. were .... 3"8 oz. Troy In the beet-root, 7'5 lbs. were 0'96 „ In 2 '2 gallons of water were 0"32 „ 276 lbs. Total 5-08 oz. Tro) Thus each individual of that lot had in its fod r 5 oz. of salt every day, which appears to be a si - cient quantity for the purposes of digestion, &( - From Annalen de Chemie, May, 1847. It is from such experiments as the above that e are to look for useful practical information. ' e conclusions, which are arrived at from acil weight or measurement, are such as to strike e^ V one, and can scarcely admit of contradiction. A few years ago farmers were very strongly rec > mended to use large quantities of salt amongst le food supplied to their cattle. If any reliance i W be placed on the above experiment, it is unneces 7 to do so, as nature has herself furnished a suflScot supply. As we have no reason for thinking at the farm on which this experiment was tried w: ^ all pecuhar in this respect, we may conclude at the addition of salt to the food of our cattle ia O" necessar)'. Liebig is of opinion that an excei « salt is injurious to the digestive organs of all h ^'' THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 287 v'orous animals. On the other hand, it is only right to remark that the writer is acquainted with I verj' extensive farmer who has for several years •egularly supplied his sheep with salt mixed in heir food. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER S MAGAZINE. Sir, — Ha^-ing just obsers-ed a paper on " Com- non Salt in Feeding Animals," in your January umber, in which there are some remarks giving a ifferent view of the subject from the original, a , :anslation of which I last week sent you, I think I but due to myself to point them out. 1. There were six oxen, and not ten, employed I the experiment. 2. In the " Annales de Chemie," from which I ade the translation, there is no such result as n\T paper states — namely, that " the experiment owed that the salt excited a greater appetite ;" nor it inferred " that salt added to the food, hy ex- 'ing the appetite, exerts any influence on the fat- ting of beasts" On the contrary, it is ex- ! pressly stated that salt added to the food '*' does i not produce any appreciable eflfect on the growth of young animals." 3. It is also distinctly stated by Boussingault, there was only a difference of one-tenth of a pound to each lOOlbs. hve weight in the quantity of food each lot consumed, which only gives a daily difference of three-tenths of a pound between the animal mth salt and without. We are not, therefore, justified in presuming "that a larger quantity of food was consumed" as your corre- spondent has done. 4. Boussingault, hanng thus ascertained the non-effect of salt added to the food, and finding by analysis that his cattle were actually recei\'ing in their hay and beet-root five ounces of common salt daUy, is justified in concluding that to be suf- ficient for the purposes of digestion. I hope you vn]l excuse the hberty I have taken, as I was really sorry to see Boussingault's very plain and intelHgible paper so metamorphosed. I am, sir, yours, with great respect, Thomas L. Colbeck. East Denton, July 24, l84r. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF WHEAT. BY EDWARD ROBERTS, JUX. PRIZE ESSAY. —Preparation of the Land according to variety of Soils. Wheat, the most valuable of grains, is gro'mi on nearly every description of land; but the Is best adapted for its culture are those which '- more or less clayey : indeed these hea^T' soils ; so pecuharly fitted to its production that they J '. frequently distinguished by the appellation of I ;ood wheat-land." It is well known, however, 1 it wheat will grow to high perfection upon al- i »st every soil, when the land is properly prepared 1 it. ^'hatever may be the nature of the soil, it should i 'ays be the aim of the farmer to grow full crops : 1 tial and sometimes extensive failures wiU even ' n but too often occur : but to neglect making the > it-known preparation, or only to prepare for half ' rop, is an ill-judged notion, and has a direct ' dency to unremunerating farming. u order to prepare for luxuriant crops, the land, " en of a wet nature, must be hberated from all 'I plus water by proper under-draining ; it must be clean from couch-grass and all other kinds of rubbish ; not tired out by cross or improper crop- ping; must be judiciously manured, but not over- done with it, inasmuch as too much manure causes the growtli of an unnaturally large quantity of straw, which, if the season happens to be wet or stormy, will be crippled and flat on the ground before the ears could come to perfection. When this happens, it both lessens the quantity, and very much deterio- rates the quahty of the grain. The land being othenvise well prepared, it is perhaps upon the whole more desirable to have a httle deficiency of manure than too much, as, if necessarj', a paitial top-dressing may always be added in the spring. The land must not be wheated oftener than the soil will admit : some soils will bear it more frequently than others, and it is essentially necessary that the kind of seed should be adapted to the description of soil upon which it is to be propagated. An entire change of seed from hot land to cold, and from cold land to hot, will always be found advan- tageous, and especially from hot to cold soils, in T 2 268 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. which case it will frequently bring the harvest nearly a week earlier. In both cases it is generally allowed to increase the yield, improve the sample, and preserve the stock in greater purity. It has now become very general to sow wheat after clover upon all classes of soils. This is doubtless one of the best systems of growing wheat ; the roots of clover after becoming decomposed afford much nutriment to the growing wheat, and the firmness given to the land is another great re- commendation. It has been frequently observed when the plant of clover has been deficient that the wheat-plant fails also. This, however, is not always the case : at the same time it serves to show a pe- culiar adaptation, on many soils, to the growth of wheat alter clover. There are several other methods of preparing land, varying according to the nature of soils, which oftentimes produce crops of the first order. Some of these are as follows : — 1st, Upon clayey soils, a full summer's fallow is occasionally resorted to as a preparation for the wheat-crop on much of the land in Essex, Hert- fordshire, Bedfordshire, and other counties, parti- cularly when the land becomes foul with couch- grass, &c., and cannot very well be brought into a thorough clean state of cultivation by partial fal- lows, connected with the growth of green crops. Considerable benefit is also derived from summer fallowing upon this kind of soil, as it causes a more perfect decomposition of its constituent parts. This latter effect has been proved in many cases by ex- perienced farmers, and has come under the obser- vation of the writer. For instance, when this kind of land has been repeatedly dunged, better crops have frequently been obtained after a full summer's fallow without dung, than after a good dressing of dung without a full summer's fallow. In illustra- tion of this statement. Professor Liebig, in his work on the ' Chemistry of Agriculture,' says — " In the effect produced by time, particularly in the case of fallows, or that period during which a field remains at rest, science recognises certain chemical actions which proceed continuously by means of the in- fluence exercised by the constituents of the atmos- phere upon the surface of the soil ;" and in another place he says — " It is quite certain that careful ploughing and breaking up of the soil, by produc- ing the change and increase of its surface, exercises a very favourable influence upon its fertihty." At no ver}-- distant period farmers generally considered systematic summer fallowing to be one of the most important points of agriculture ; and there are some in the present day who have proved its peculiar suitableness to a few of the wet clayey soils ; though many speak of it as an unnecessary waste of labour, and a sacrifice of the produce of the land. In some parts of the midland counties, upon the heavy soils, where a summer's fallow is the prepai ation for wheat, about July or the beginning ( August, when the soil has been thoroughly cleane and pulverized, it is formed into two bout stitcht one yard wide, and manured in precisely the san way as for turnips, putting on from eight to tf cart-loads per acre : others spread the dung on tl surface and plough it in, forming their land in stitches from two to eight yards \vide. In bo cases the land should remain untouched from tli period till the time of sowing. In the latter ca the seed is drilled in rows from six to ten inch asunder. When labour is plentiful the dibblii process is oft_gn adopted, and then a less quantity seed is suflficient. The horse-hoe is sometimes us to cut up the annual weeds immediately previo to sowing, which frequently grow very strong, a would be too much for the harrows to eradica When the former plan is adopted — namely, that ploughing the land into two bout stitches— 1 plough is sufficient, and there is no necessity the horse-hoe. The seed is sown under the furr in the " spraining " method ; one seedsman to t ploughs, which merely reverse the ridges that w made when the land was dunged. Small Uj seed-ploughs are kept for the purpose, which ]ea\ . narrow furrow. Many farmers object to this metV because of the numerous furrows ; but this is erroneous idea, for when wheat is drilled or dibb i the space between each row is often more than : width of one of these furrows. Others object tc because the wheat comes up similar to the bro • cast system, and they cannot very well hoe it in ■ spring ; but this is no valid objection, for i i fallow has been properly managed the wheat ^ 1 scarcely require hoeing, since, by continually m - ing the land during the early part of the sumn , most of the seeds of annual weeds have been brou t sufficiently near the surface for germinating ; i i the land being left quiet from the end of July u 1 seed-time gives every encouragement for the we s to grow ; there are consequently but few seeds r r enough to the surface for vegetating in the spri ;. Three men with two ploughs and four horses, Q put in by this system about three acres per t '■ Last year upon an extensive farm known to e writer, more than half the wheat was sown in i s way, and proved remarkably fine, even more o than that sown after clover. In some parts of Scotland the wheat is sown v li a drill-plough, which drills the seed, and cove) it in with the furrow turned by the plough : le crop, of course, comes up in drills, and this met d is considered to prevent the wheat losing plani n wet and loose soils. It is well known that wheat should be sown w n the land is c/m??^, and it is considered better to wait d THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 260 have a late season of sowing then to put it in when the soil is in a dusty state ; which, upon some land causes the wheat to become root-fallen, and upon soils of a closer texture, where this does not occur, the wheat seldom flourishes so well as when put in after rain. The land is never too wet for sowing wheat, irovided it works at all kindly, and the seed can be >flectually covered. There are, however, some :oils of a peculiar mixture of sand and clay, which, !" stirred when very wet, will run together, and fterwards in dry weather form a hard crust, which if course checks the growth of the plant. The best period for sowing wheat on cold clayey oils is from the last week in September to the liddle of October, as it seldom becomes winter- roud upon such land. Many think that water-furrowing may be en- rely dispensed with whei-e the land has been loroughly under-drained, but this opinion is not ome out upon very heavy tenacious clays. I have jserved that upon such soils the surface-water has ot gone ofl:" sufficiently quick without it. When this or any other kind of land has been 'eviously got into a high state of cultivation, it is equently cleaned and made ready in the autumn I dunging in the spring, and then sown with irnips or mangold, which are usually carried oft' in e autumn and the land sown with wheat. But iinetimes the roots cannot be removed till late in e season ; the time of sowing is then sometimes clayed till January or February, when spring-wheat ' generally sown. Upon ordinary heavy soils that ive a dry subsoil and do not require draining, white mips, grown upon the fallows and fed oft' with leep during the months of October and November, e an excellent preparation for wheat. When this an is adopted, wheat is generally grown three nes in a double four-course system of eight years, imely — 1st year, fallow forturnips; 2nd year, wheat; d year, beans or peas ; 4th year, wheat : the next und being — 5th year, fallow for swedes ; 6th year, irley; 7th, clover; Sth, wheat. Upon some soils 'heavier and better sample is produced after tur- Ips than by any other preparation. Wheat is often sown after beans. In this case ing should be applied for the beans, which if kept ?an w'lll be a good preparation for wheat. This preferable to dunging immediately for wheat^ ^lich often occasions blight; but, by having an termediate crop of beans, blight is generally pre- tnted, and better crops, both of wheat and beans, J3 produced. If farm-yard dung cannot be ob- iiled for the beans, rape-cake drilled in at the jae of sowing the wheat at the rate of from eight I sixteen bushels per acre will generally be found I fficient to produce a crop. On the heavy clay lands of Norfolk and Suffolk, 1)arley has taken the place of wheat after fallow, and the wheat either follows clover or beans and peas ; the rotation commonly adopted being — 1st year, fallow; 2nd, barley; 3rd, half clover, half beans or peas ; 4tli, wheat. The dung is applied to the pulse by the best farmers, and the crop is well hand or horse-hoed. Wheat is drilled after beans, though hand-dibbled by many after clover. Farm- yard manure is used heavily on clover- layers, either on the young seeds during winter, or a short time before ploughing the land for wheat. The former method is preferred by many, because the clover has the benefit of the dung, and the wheat comes " kindlier. " This system of exposing the manure to the atmosphere will appear to tell against the generally-approved method of ploughing it in : at the same time, admitting that much of its virtue evaporates into the air, yet the clover absorbs a por- tion of that part of the manure which suits its growth, leaving such properties to be taken up by the wheat which are peculiarly beneficial to it. The system of growing grain-crops on the retentive clayey soils of the eastern counties is one that might be followed with some advantage on much of our heavy wet land, jjarticularly that which is ploughed in " high-backed " lands. In travelling through aheavy land district how often doweseethese wide and round lands laid up to an enormous height by repeated ploughings in one direction, under the fallacious idea of dra'ming the land ; but how seldom does it answer the intended purpose ; though it has this disadvantage, that the crop in the furrow bears no proportion to that on the ridge. There is also great injury sustained in the cultivation of the land, par- ticularly in the operations of drilling or sowing the wheat-crop ; for there is not only the inconvenience, which arises from the rounded form of the land, in carting and tillage, but there is also a very great amount of injury from the treading of retentive land. This is in a great measure prevented by the system of clay-farming more particularly adopted in the eastern counties, Norfolk and Suftolk, which are the acknowledged seat of the origin of drill-hus- bandry. In those counties we see the width of lands, or " stitches " as they are termed, adapted to the size of the drill, either for one stroke or for a bout of the machine ; and the horses, in drilling, harrowing, rolling, and other tillage operations, in- variably walk in the furrows without trampling the soil. Upon most of the light chalky or gravelly soils wheat generally succeeds clover or trefoil ; but in cases where the plant of clover fails, early peas are occasionally substituted, and as soon as the peas are removed the land is sown with either coleseed, white mustard, or tares, which are fed off" with sheep as a preparation for wheat, and generally succeeds 270 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. perfectly well. The clover or trefoil is ploughed flat and shallow, the land rolled with a heavy roll. The grooved drill-roller and Crosskill's clod-crusher are both excellent implements for this purpose, though the drill-roller can be used when the land is too moist for the clod-crusher to make effective work, and it raises a greater quantity of mould for the drill. Rolling after the seed is sown, treading or folding with sheep, are means adopted for the purpose of consolidating the soil, and by that means preventing the plant being thrown out, and also for the stopping the ravages of the wire-worm. The process of claying light sandy or gravelly soUs is essential for the production of a good crop of wheat ; it supplies materials that are wanting in the soil, improves its mechanical texture by making it more adhesive and less liable to be acted upon by continued drought. It is commonly found that a greater quantity of seed per acre is used on the light soils than on any other kind of soil ; the end of October is considered the best time of sowing. Upon rich, deep, dry, loamy soils, wheat is success- fully cultivated after potatoes, the potatoes being re- moved at the latest in October, It is no uncommon thing on some tracts of land— such as are extensively found in the neighbourhood of East Ham, Barking, Romford, Edmonton, Enfield, and other places — to grow wheat and potatoes alternately for many years together. But in order to carry on this sys- tem successfully, dung must be liberally used for the potatoes ; no dressing beyond this is required for the wheat] the potatoes yielding from three hundred to five hundred bushels per acre, and the wheat from thirty to forty bushels. Of course, as above hinted, to carry on this kind of farming, manure must be made rich and applied abundantly, or be obtained plentifully from large towns. Upon this description of land four pecks of seed are am- ply sufficient, and it should never be sown tUl the end of October or the beginning of November ; if at all earlier, it becomes winter-proud and produces too much straw. I have witnessed the large yield of full fifty bushels per acre throughout a field of thirty seven acres in the parish of East Ham, in Essex, where the seed was not sown till the middle of December, after a full crop of potatoes. Upon other strong yet rich loams, containing a larger pi'oportion of clay, wheat and beans are successfully cultivated alternately. The beans, being kept per- fectly clean, frequently supersede the labour of ploughing for wheat ; in which case the land is harrowed previously to drilhng or dibbling the wheat. Peat soils are of so loose a texture that they re- quire to be rendered as sohd as possible by a good drainage — for peat holds water like a sponge, and when the water is carried off it contracts in a simi- lar manner — by the admixture of clay or other in organic substances, and by rolling and pressiU; before and after planting, to insure a mediur quality of grain. As these improvements go on i the fens of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, &c. &c the quality of grain brought to market approache nearer to that grown on sandy and loamy soil: while the quantity greatly exceeds the corn grow on light sands or gravels. The fen-farmers ha\ one advantage with respect to the growth of a goo quality of grain, which is the absence of hedges an of hedge-row trees. A preparation which appea: adapted for peat-soils is to plough the land shallow drill-roll, and hand-dibble the seed in the groovi formed by the roller, and then cover the seed wii the harrow. The solidity given to the soil by tli method is what is absolutely necessary on tl spongy peat-soils. The rolling, and treading, ai depth at which the seed is deposited prevent tl plants being thrown out by alternate frosts ai thaws ; and, giving the root a good hold of the so in some measure prevent also the crops beii lodged or becoming root-fallen. With respect dibbling, we may observe, that it is acknowledg to be the means of obtaining a stiffer straw ; a: hence the propriety of hand- dibbling at a cost seven or eight shillings per acre on a loose peat. On freshly broken up grass-land oats are pi ferred to wheat ; though, after the surplus ve^ table matter of the soil has been reduced by bui ing, tillage, and the mechanical apphcation of sii able earthy matter, wheat can be grown of go quality. Of course these remarks on fresh broke up land are general, though not applicable to ev( case. It is an acknowledged fact, applicable to ev( description of soil, that the land prepared for wh cannot be too stale or solid, provided it be f from weeds, and the surface sufficiently mouldy cover the seed. 2. The application of Dung or Artificial Manur . If a sufficiency of farm-yard manure coidd be i ■ tained there would be httle necessity for any otb , inasmuch as it contains all the ingredients requif ! for producing every kind of crop. But let it J understood that the dung should be composed f the excrements of animals well fed under cover. It has been before observed, that when dung s to be apphed in hberal quantities for the benefit f wheat, it should, if practicable, be put on the h 1 previous to sowing a preceding root or pulse ere ; for thus those ingredients of the dung, which o / tend in their first eflfect upon the land to force i over-abundant growth of straw, will have been - tracted, leaving the land in a good state for whi • Where root or pulse crops are not grown the di J THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 271 should be applied to naked fallc.vs for wlieat as early in the summer as possible. TTioiigh the practice of manuring immediately before sowing the wheat is objectionable, it is still adhered to in many parts of the country. A compost of earth and dung is highly beneficial on light chalky and silicious soils. Four or five loads per acre of farm-yard manure and half a folding with sheep are a good manure for wheat, and frequently adopted by the farmers jf the midland counties. A veiy large proportion of land is manured for ivheat by means of the sheep-fold alone, especially ipon dry soils where great benefit is derived by its iolidifying the ground ; it has also a tendency to till the slugs and other destructive insects, or at east to put a stop to their ravages. Folding upon allows is likemse adopted with advantage ; upon oose light soils, folding after the wheat is sown is if advantage. Some farmers adopt the plan of ploughing green rops in ; but others consider it a better plan to onvert all green crops into animal manures, by jeding off with sheep or by soiling. Pigeons' and hen-house dung are frequently sed as a top-dressing for wheat, and are almost ure to be beneficial on any soil. From thirty to )rty bushels are used per acre. Like all other ght manures, it is best covered by means of har- ■ymag or hoeing, or it may be drilled between the jws. Soot is much used as a top-dressing for wheat, nd is commonly found very beneficial. From forty ) sixty bushels per acre are generally applied. It as a tendency to increase the quantity and improve 16 quaUty of the wheat, without forcing an imdue uantity of straw. It should be sown in Febniarj', r March at the latest. It is however frequently )\vn as late as the month of May ; but if a dry sum- ler follows, it is in that case of little or no value. s ammonia is the principal ingredient of this lanure, it should be covered by means of the hoe ■ harrow, being liable to waste by evaporation ; !id, as it is a very light substance, calm and showery eather must be chosen for applying it. This ianure is found to be peculiarly suited to the j}unty of Hertford, and consequently a very large '"oportion of the soot made in the metropolis comes to this county. It has been used in Essex, Kent, '■.iddlesex, and other counties, but in most cases ithout general beneficial results. Rape-cake is a valuable manure for wheat. It ] ay be applied at the time of so^^dng the seed, or "illed between the rows in the spring. From eight sixteen bushels per acre are generally found jifficient. It is best adapted to ordinary heavy I'ils that are well drained, or have a dry subsoil. Malt-dust, to the extent of from thirty to fifty bushels jier acre, is occasionally used as atop-dress- ing for wheat. Bones may be applied with much advantage upon dry soils previous to sowing the wheat, at the rate of from sixteen to thirty bushels per acre. Guano, at the rate of from two to three cwt. per acre, is sometimes advantageously used at the time of sowing the wheat. This manure is found most beneficial on poor loamy soils. The nitrates of soda or of potash are occasionally used at the rate of from one to three cwt. per acre, and applied broadcast in March or April. Chemi- cal analysis has proved that wheat always contains a much larger proportion of potash than of soda ; hence we may suppose that nitrate of potash is the best of the two : it is, however, the most expensive. As to the application of nitrate of soda to wheat when it has a yellow or sickly appearance in the spring, if finely pulverized, and sown in moist wea- ther, it will in a few days alter the sickly hue to a luxuriant green. As it increases the quantity of straw, it is best suited to poor loams and gravelly soils. Common salt is sometimes applied before sowing the seed, at the rate of from ten to twenty-one bushels per acre, and is often beneficial in bringing the ears to perfection : it also causes a greater weight of grain, but seldom increases the quantity of straw. These are the principal manures that have been proved to be useful for wheat. There are many others ; but even a bare enumeration would occupy too much space. 3. The time of Sowing. The time of sowing wheat varies with the nature of the soil. Upon very strong clays or cold soils the plant has been known to flourish best when sown as early as the middle of September. It takes a firmer and deeper hold of the soil before the frost commences, and there is no danger here of its be- coming " winter-proud." Sowing early on this class of soils not only insures a better crop, but brings it much earlier to harvest. Wheat seedtime upon these soils begins about the twentieth of Sep- tember, and lasts till towards the end of October. Wheat soTATi at the former period has been known to be nearly a fortnight earlier to harvest than that which was sown a month later. Upon warmer soils, as before observed, the best period of sowing is from the last week in October to the last week in November. If sown earUer, the plants get too forward, and do not mat on the ground ; the plants become weak, and spindle into a long slender stalk, and frequently lose their healthy appearance in the spring. Varieties of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. spring-wheat are sown in February and March, and succeed on good land, though a productive crop is rarely seen on inferior sands and gravels. Observations having been made on the time of sowing in treating of the preparation of the land, any further remarks are uncalled for. 4. The Quantity of Seed. The necessary quantity of seed varies from four to ten pecks per acre. It depends entirely upon circumstances, as the time of sowing ; the manner of sowing, whether broadcast, drilled, or dibbled ; when sown early, it requires less seed than when sown late ; the nature and condition of the soil, the variety of wheat, and the quantity of vermin that consume the grain before or after it vegetates, — all have some effect on the quantity of seed required. The poorer the land, the more plentiful must be the seed. On a poor gravelly soil, where an abundance of manure is not attainable, ten pecks are requisite, drilled at from six to eight inches ; and we find, from observation of both wet and dry seasons, that when this quantity is at all sensibly decreased, or the intervals between the drills increased to a mate- rial extent, the crops suffer a diminution both in quantity and quality. When the land is good, very little seed is required^ for it always branches out in the spring ; but on poor land, when sown late, many of the plants die, at the same time that others on good land are pre- paring for numerous branches. Nothing definite, therefore, can be named as to the proper quantity to be sown. Upon the broadcast system, where 2^ bushels per acre are sown, it is generally allowed that, if drilled, two bushels would be equivalent. and if dibbled five pecks. As an instance of th< effect of time, I may mention that upon a pooi heavy soil, if we commence in September with twc bushels, by the middle of October we increase it t( 2 1 bushels per acre. It has been repeatedly proved that upon land o the best quahty, and in high cultivation, if dibblec and put in perfectly regular, four pecks of seed pe acre are better than more, inasmuch as it leaves roomy and healthy space between the plants, encou rages branching, and produces stifFer straw, wit plumper ears, than when sown thicker, and upo the whole gives the most certain and fullest pro duction that the land is capable of. Thickly-sowi wheat on rich land grows much weaker strav smaller ears, and is liable to fall down long befoi the usual time for coming to perfection. We have heard of transplanting wheat, and I ca assign no good reason why it should not be moi generally adopted. It is true it would be a somi what tedious operation to plant many acres in th way ; but when it is considered what a small po tion of seed would be required, it might repay tl farmer for his trouble and expenditure. Varieties of wheat differ in their tillering prope ties. The following experiment was made in 184 October 28th,T.843, planted thirty kernels of s varieties of wheat, with a view of testing their tille ing property, and the time at which they arrive maturity. The wheat was dibbled, one kernel in hole, at equal depth and distance, on a piece loamy ground. The varieties each formed a ro distant from each other ten inches, and from pla to plant in the rows four inches. The table giv below will show the result of the experiment : — Variety. Number of seeds vege- tated Time of com- ing into ear. Number of perfect ears. Number o ears from o grain. Bellevue Talavera white . . , . Marygold or Rattling Jack red . , Spanish Talavera white .... Spalding's prolific red .... Jonas's seedling white .... Shirreff's Hopetoun white .... 26 26 26 27 26 25 June 3 M 14 „ 8 » 14 „ 12 „ 12 234 134 203 155 168 191 9.0 5.1 7.8 5.7 6.4 7.6 i The Spalding's and Marygold are the most pro- ductive of the six varieties, though in this case they tillered less than any of the other kind. 5. The varieties of Seed and the change of Seed. The variety of wheat must be suited to the soil and chmate; and the knowledge of the varieties best suited to a particular soil can only be obtained from the experience of the farmers who cultivate that soil. It is, however, bad judgment to be so far prejudiced in favour of one sort as to cultivate it to the exclusion of all others. The best kinds dete- riorate in course of time : new varieties are c( • stantly being introduced, some of which would i all probability be found superior to the old. More wheat is now produced per acre, bygrea* attention being paid in choosing the most prol ; kinds. It should, however, be borne in mind 1 1 the most prolific are also very frequently of a coa ' quality, and commonly lose in price what they g ' in quantity. At the same time it is admitted I those who have put the question to a test, that ' most productive are often the most advantageou ) THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 37a le grower. Instances, indeed, have occasionally ccurred where heavy white wheat of the finest qua- ty has been tried by the side of a coarser descrip- dn, and has equalled it in quantity ; but this must e considered an exception to the rule, and not the de itself. On rich soils, where an abundance of straw is reduced, short and stiff-strawed wheat yields the est crop, as the weak and long-strawed wheat is able to be spoiled by being laid. Such varieties 5 Spalding's ProUfic and Piper's Thickset are suit- )le for rich land. On very productive wheat-land 1 Norfolk, Piper's Thickset produced such abund- it crops, that on its introduction into that county at once obtained the name of Protection Wheat, n the contrary, short-strawed wheats, like Piper's hickset are very inferior to long-strawed wheat on nd that yields a light crop. Mixed wheat (red and hite) is sown in some parts of the country, care being ken to select two sorts that ripen at the same time, is considered that two varieties are more likely to oduce a certain crop than one alone ; for undoubt- Uy it frequently occurs that one kind produces the javiest crop one year, and another the next; id when equal portions of red and white wheats e sown together, sometimes the white and some- ,-nes the red predominates in the sample that is ■educed. It is well known that a mixture of red id white wheats commands a higher price in the larket than red alone. During the last few years many new sorts of wheat have been introduced, though some are but new names for varieties long well kno\vn. Some are noted for the earliness of their growth — among these are the Bellevue Talavera, Mexican Vicario, and the bearded April wheat, which are all recom- mended for spring-sowing ; but it has been confi- dently asserted, from observation, that the two former, though of superior quality, do not on a gravelly soil, in a dry climate, produce an average crop, if spring-sown ; besides this, the grain adheres with such tenacity to the chaff, that there is extreme difficulty in thrashing them with the machine. Among other faults which some varieties possess is an incapability to withstand severe weather, liability to shell when harvested, or to grow in the ear, to which very chaffy kinds are more especially subject. The advantages to be derived from a change of seed from a hot to a cold soil, and vice versa, has already been mentioned. Plants removed from one climate to another will in some measure continue in the same habit of growth. Thus seed brought from a warm country will produce an early crop, though it will be inferior in hardihood to plants grown from seed brought from a cold climate ; and it will be found, that, whilst the latter improves by cultivation, the former deteriorates. The following is the result of an experiment tried last year upon red wheats by Mr. J. B. Brown, Elms Hall, Colne Engaine, given to the public, which will be found to contain valuable information : 1 . Colne white chaff . . 2. Bristol .... 3. Sharp's, Goody's, or Crabb's 4. Spalding's . . . 5. Seyer's. . > . 6. Smoothy's , . 7. Kent red . . 8. Sewell's . . . 9. Piper's thickset . 0. Kent red Quantity per acre. Weight per bushel. Weight of straw per acre. Bushels of chaff per acre. b. p. p. lbs. lbs. 42 3 4 62 3250 90 39 2 12 63i 3515 75 39 0 14 64 3415 70 38 2 1 65§ 3765 80 37 3 4 65 3860 75 36 2 14 64i 3985 65 36 2 4 64 3755 65 36 0 6 63^ 3535 65 33 3 0 63^ 2550 100 36 2 14 64 3780 50 N Weight of grain per acre, 1. Colne white chaff . 2. Bristol 3. Sharp's, Goody's, or Crabb 4. Spalding's 5. Seyer's 6. Smoothy's 7. Kent red 8. Sewell's 9. Piper's thickset 10, Kent red , Proportional weight of straw in compari- son with grain. lbs. 2654 2520 2510 2522 2458 2368 2340 2291 2142 2350 Proportional measure of chaff in comparison with grain. 1-22 1.39 1.36 1.49 1.57 1.26 1.60 1.54 1.19 1,60 2.09 1.88 1.78 2.05 1.98 1.77 1.77 1.80 2.91 1.36 '274 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The vvTieat to which the above tables refer was sown on the 28th of October, 1845, at the rate of 5 pecks per acre, with the exception of No. 10, and that was at the rate of 10 pecks per acre. The reader will of course draw his own conclusions as to the merits of each kind of wheat ; and also of thick and thin sowing. 6, The Treatment of the Crops in Spring as to Pressing and Hoeing. Pressing in the spring during dry weather, and before the wheat becomes too forward, is generally productive of good, though especially required on soils that are naturally loose and light in their texture, and on those soils which require draining; for where water saturates the surface soil, it becomes increased in bulk during winter by its conversion into ice in frost, which, of course, raises the soil, and when the frost goes away the plants are partially thrown out. This is accounted for thus : — The frost causes the ground to swell, and, as it rises, the root of course rises ^vith it ; when it thaws, the ground shrinks, but the root remains in its elevated posi- tion, and, by the action of alternate frosts and thaws, is at last thrown entirely above ground. This must occur to the greatest extent on soils containing superfluous moisture, though it will occur on any soil, particularly those of a calcareous nature, when frost happens to follow immediately after rain. Therefore, when the soil treads loose in the spring, it is very important to use the heavy roller, or some other means of consolidating the soil. Crosskill's clod-crusher is highly beneficial for this purpose, but can only be used in very dry weather. Treading with sheep is also an effectual way of fastening the roots. On the loose soil of the fens the wheat is trodden by gangs of men and women, each treading along one drill; by this means the soil is consolidated effectually : it is not an expensive operation, and on the loose vegetable soil of the fens is more efficacious than rolling. The feeding off wheat with sheep in the early part of the spring, when likely to run to too much straw, is useful on rich soils. If the land be foul when the seed as been sown broadcast, it must be cleaned by hand-hoeing, but, if drilled or dibbled, the horse-hoe may be successfully used. In many places the practice is to hoe wheat, whether foul or not. As a general rule hoeing should be begun as early in the spring as the weather permits. Harrowing is occasionally found beneficial, par- ticularly when the ground is crusty and the root lies deep in the ground : it has the effect of loosen- ing the surface, and, whether that be done by the hoe or harrow, an improvement will be seen in a few days by the fresh vigour of the plants. Harrowing light sands and gravelly soils oblique' across, or at right angles to the drills, is peculiar advantageous, as it destroys the red-weed or popp and other annuals that infest light land. For tl destruction of the poppy it is recommended • harrow when the soil is slightly crusted wil frost. When, from the extreme luxuriance of the ere in the spring, there appears a probability of i being laid, the process of flagging is resorted to ; a preventive. Flagging is executed by means the bagging-hook or scythe, separating the flag ( blade from the stalk. This should be done abo; May, before the formation of the ear ; and in doir it the stalks will require examination, that the ea may not be cut off. 7. The Diseases to which Wheat is liable. The principal disease, and one which can 1 completely guarded against by the seed imdergoir preparation previous to its being sown, is th which is commonly known among farmers by tl name of smut. This disease was formerly very common, b now smut-balls among good farmers are seldo seen ; when they are found it may be attributed carelessness in preparing the seed. TuU inforr us that ; — " Brining seed-wheat to prevent smut was fir practised about the year 1660, when a vessel wheat was sunk near Bristol, and the grain so mu( injured by salt water, that, though it wou vegetate, it was considered to be unfit for brea It was taken out of the vessel at low water, ar sown in difl^erent parts. It was free from disea at the following harvest, when wheat in gener happened to be smutty. This accident led to tl practice of brining." Salt water of stiflScient density to float an egg still extensively used. A quantity of salt ar water of the above density is prepared in a tub, tl wheat is put into the pickle, and, when stirred, : the diseased or light grains will rise to the surfac which are skimmed off. The wheat is then takf out of the brine, and a sufficient quantity of ne slaked lime sifted upon it to dry the who quantity. Some farmers wet their seed by throwing ov it, when lying in a heap, a quantity of urine ; it then well mixed, and dried with lime, as in tl former case. Water poured on caustic Mme, and then throw on the wheat while effervescing, is a plan adopte by many. But the cleanest, and perhaps the most effic; cious, preparation is that of blue vitriol (sulpha of copper) : /our ./juartg of boiling water poured c THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 375 lb. of blue vitrol is sufficient for three bushels of heat; this is well mixed upon the floor with the •ain, and thrown into a heap on the night previous ■ the day the seed will be wanted. Others prepare a solution of blue vitriol in a tub, r adding double the quantity of cold water to the lOve mixture ; the wheat is put into it, and the jht grains are skimmed off". The seed is then ken out and laid in a heap to dry. A con- nient apparatus for wetting wheat, is a tub suffi- ;iitly large to wet four bushels at once. The liition is first put in, and then four bushels of leat; this is well stirred, and skimmed with a mmon fleeting-dish for ten minutes. The hquor then drawn from the tub into an under tank, and 3 wheat thrown out with a shovel. As soon as IS is completed the solution is returned to the b, and we proceed in like manner with another ir bushels. Another method is to have a " skep " basket, ;o which the wheat is put, and plunged into the lution contained in a tub. When the seed has been prepared, and cannot be 3d on account of the weather, care must be taken spread it thinly over a floor, and give it an casional turning. There are many other diseases to which wheat is ble, as the rust, blight, mildew, &c. &c. Some these are owing to the growth of parasitical ints, " fungi, " which arise from a want of the Dper constituents in the soil for the growth of 3 wheat plant to perfection, from an unfavourable ison, or from a feebleness of constitution inherent the plant. Disease and havoc are also caused ■ insects. But to describe fully the diseases to lich wheat is liable requires the pen of a man who s made that subject his peculiar study, rather an of the farmer : the latter may know from dear- lUght experience how to guard, in some measure, ainst these diseases, but cannot so well describe eir cause. Those who are curious on the sub- :t, and wish for further information, will do well consult the articles by Professor Henslow and r. Curtis in the Journal of the Society, also ixter's ' Library of Agriculture,' 4th edition, and r J, Sinclair's ' Code of x\griculture.' 8. The Time and Mode of Cutting. When the grain of red wheat can be squeezed tween the thunb and finger without any moisture ing forced from it, cutting may always be safely mmenced. The sample is never better than when it in this state : when cut later the wheat is sel- )m so good in quahty; in addition to which, rious loss is sometimes sustained during high nds when it is standing in a riper state. White lieats should stand somewhat longer. With respect to the colour of the straw as a sign of maturity, we may observe that, if in a healthy state, the ear generally ripens before the straw ; the yel- lowness of the chaff' and upper part of the straw shows that the crop is fit to cut ; and the uniform yellow colour of the straw shows that the crop has arrived at maturity, and, if standing in the field, is liable to be shaken out by the wind. Those who wish for further information respecting this subject will find an interesting account in Baxter's ' Li- brary of Agriculture,' vol. ii., 402, 4th edition. The methods of cutting are either by mowing, bagging, or reaping. The latter mode leaves a large proportion of straw in the field ; a system in many parts superseded by the practice of mowing, and the sooner it is generally superseded the better it will be for those who cultivate the land — reaping being the most expensive mode of harvesting the corn, and the most destructive to the straw, as the stubble generally becomes rotten, and two-thirds of it lost before it can be carted home. " Bagging, " which is performed with an instrument known as a bagging hook, cutting the straw close to the ground, is rather more expeditious than reaping. The cost is Is. per acre less. Reaping wheat, when per- formed by the piece, is in England chiefly done by the acre ; but the Scotch method of reaping at a certain price per stook, or shock (the sheaves being made of a certain size), is preferable where the stubble is required to be left low ; for there is an inducement for the reapers to cut as low as possible, as the lower part of the straw, being the largest, fills the sheaf quickest, and another advantage of this method is, that the sheaves are never made too large. The cheapest and most expeditious way of cut- ting wheat is by mowing. This is done with a scythe, on which is fixed a high bale for laying the corn in one direction. One method is to cast the swathe towards the standing corn, the other from it. The general plan in those parts where the system is adopted is for the mower to cut enough for a sheaf, after which he returns to gather it, and then ties it up. One man will mow, tie, shock, and rake three roods per day. There is a very obvious loss of time in this method in laying down and picking up the scythe. In other parts of the coun- try the practice is rather different ; the best method appears to be as follows : — A company of men, say four, are employed mowing ; four strong lads will gather with their hands and bind the wheat as fast ! as it is cut ; and a couple of men, with a boy, can I stook the sheaves, rake the stubble, and bind the I rakings. The great advantages of mowing wheat are — 1st. Cheapness and dispatch. 2nd. A breadth of wheat can be cut down early 276 THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. in the morning, while the grain is damp, and tied up and shocked without injury in the middle of the day. 3rd. It is allowed that mown wheat is sooner fit to cart, and sustains less injury than reaped in bad weather. 4th. It leaves the land clear for the commence- ment of tillage. 5th. The securing a greater quantity of straw, and hence the making more manure. The objections to mowing hold good only on such land as produce very bulky crops. These are — 1st. The loss of gleaning to the poor, which is no valid objection, and only to a certain extent correct. 2nd. The crop is more expensive to carry and thrash. The extra expense of thrashing mown wheat, by four-horse machines, has been estimated at 2s. 6d. per 10 quarters; by flail the expense is doubtless considerably increased ; and where this method is still in vogue, mowing wheat is rarely prac- tised. 9. Thrashing and Dressing. These operations are, by the majority of en- hghtened and economical farmers, generally pe formed with machinery, frequently at a cost of le than one half what is usually paid for thrashing 1 hand; the straw left free from grain, the gra sacked in better condition, whilst it is not expose to so much danger from pilfering. Yet, notwitl standing these advantages, the flail is extensive used, particularly in the southern counties. But must be admitted that, where the straw is saleahl and is carried to market, it does not make so goc a price from the machine as it does from the fla The best method of dressing is undoubtedly by well constructed machine, such as those made 1 Cooch, Hornsby, and others. Very few farraei however prejudiced against machinery generall are now to be found without one for dressing. Thrashing and dressing during dry weather ha a material effect on the sample, restoring a dan sample to better condition, and enhancing its pric whilst, if these operations be performed in w weather, the wheat, though previously dry, spl handles cold and damp. j^ Kingswood, Baldock, Herts, 3/ May 20th, 1847. ^i- — Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society. '^ IMPROVED PLAN OF KILN FOR BURNING DRAIN-TILES AND PIPES. We believe we are correct in saying that in almost every tile-yard where the present plan of burning pre- vails, in large covered kilns, very great inconvenience and delay are often experienced by the difficulty, and in most cases the impracticability, of burning the tiles so as to keep pace with the moulding. And this difficulty is increased by the adoption of machinery, and during the earlier and later parts of the season, when the more fickle state of the weather prevents the tiles and pipes from drying, and the sheds soon become surcharged. We have been led to these remarks in consequence of our attention being called to a model of a tile-kiln, exhi- bited at the meeting of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, by Mr. Charnock, of Wakefield ; which, as it appeared to us, promises to obviate the inconvenience we have just alluded to. Instead of the present large kilns, the model consisted of a series of small compartments, placed alongside each other ; each compartment, or kiln, being fifteen feet long by four feet wide, and eight feet high, and holding about 4,000 two-inch pipes, besides the bricks at the bottom. The plan of operation is to burn every alter- nate compartment, and at the same time to have each compartment between those that are in process of burning, set with either dry or half- dry tiles ; so that by the time the tiles oneither side are sufficiently burnt, those between are dried up to oven-heat, and the fires may be put under them as soon as the other compartments are ready to draw. Thus, with a kiln containing such a numbw these compartments as may be found suitable to the r quirements of each yard, a constant and regular succe sion of burning may be kept up simultaneously with t. process of moulding, and an opportunity be therel aflForded of clearing the sheds of tiles in an incomple state of dryness. We were ourselves stnick with the novelty and tl manifest advantages of the proposed plan ; and mai competent and practical men concurred with us thinking it at least deserving of proper trial. And Mr. Charnock expressed his readiness to afi'ord eve: information to parties desirous of adopting it, we sb be curious to learn whether our opinion of its merits confirmed in practice. Mr. Charnock stated to us that his experience hi led him to the conviction that it was more economics and eertainly more convenient for the systematic coi ducting of the works, to burn the pipes in two kilns ' a smaller size, rather than in one large one containin the same number ; and it was on this conviction he b( lieved the extension of that principle might be mo beneficially adopted in the form we have endeavoured i describe. The first cost of these kilns will be very much le: than that of those now in use, holding the same numbi of pipes. — Mark Lane Express, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. S77 YORK FARMERS' CLUB. PLEURO PNEUMONIA IN CATTLE. The Chairman, (W, Ware, Esq., of Skirpen- leck), after some routine business had been dis- osed of, called upon E. Allen, Esq., of this city, urgeon, to address the meeting upon this very nportant subject. Tlie disease, he said, had een very fatal in the district in which he re- ided, and he hoped that the result of that day's iscussion would lead to the discovery of some ;medy. Mr. Allen said he regretted that the committee ad not committed the task of lecturing upon this Abject to some one more practically acquainted ith it than he was ; nevertheless, as he had under- iken to address them upon the natui'e, &c., of the isease, he should endeavour now to fulfil his en- agement to the best of his ability. He proceeded • observe, in the first place, that the name — pleuro neumonia — was derived from the parts of the ings affected ; and he then noticed the history of le disease, which does not appear to be of recent ate. An epidemic is described, he said, by the oet Silvius Italicus, which was strikingly similar ) the disease which now prevails. It raged in icily 212 years before the Christian era, and fol- )wed a long-continued and excessive drought. In 693, the principality of Hesse lost the greater part fits cattle by a malignant inflammation of the lungs, 'here the winter had been wet and cold, and the pring which succeeded was as hot as summer. It I also said that an active and corrosive dew fell, •hich tinged the linen of a yellow hue. The symp- )ms, as described by Mr. Youatt, are as follow : — 'he beast hangs his head ; there is dryness of the luzzle ; the mouth and breath are hot ; the flanks lore or less agitated ; there is a dry, hard, and fre- uent cough ; the appetite is gone, but the thirst is xcessive ; the excrement is solid and black, or liquid lack and foetid ; the coat rough ; the horns and ears ot, or alternately hot and cold ; there is languor and pparent weakness, and sometimes dried lameness, ad more frequently of one of the hind legs. To jaese rapidly succeed other symptoms — tenderness loiig the spine and lumbar region, which appears 3 be characteristic of almost every inflammatory dis- ase of cattle : the head is now stretched out; the jyes are unnaturally bright ; there is grinding of the petbj the mouth and breath become hotter; a mucous, or sometimes ])urulent, discharge runs from the mouth and nostrils, at first clear, but soon becoming brown, red, or bloody ; the flanks heave more violently ; the nostrils dilate or contract with spasmodic violence ; the cough is more unequal ; the animal no longer lies down, or, if he does, rises again immediately ; sweats break out on different parts of the body ; the temperature of different parts varies, and very curiously changes ; the secretion of milk is suspended ; shivering, partial or total, suc- ceeds ; tumours appear on various parts — the latter may disappear, but they speedily rise again, and are more jDermanent ; towards night an increase of fever comes on, which does not subside till morning. * * * The prostration of strength increases ; the belly is tucked up and corded ; the flanks heave \\ith greater violence ; the back and loins become bound ; the limbs are drawn together ; the stools are liquid and foetid, and accompanied with much straining ; the sensibility of the loins has subsided ; the sensibility, generally, is almost gone ; the flies collect about the beast, and he makes no effort to drive them away ; every irritant ceases to act upon the skin ; the respiration is quickened, and more and more laborious — it is accompanied by a gurgling noise in the chest, distinctly heard without the ap- plication of the ear to the chest ; the nostrils become yet more dilated, and the mucus flowing from them varies in colour, but exhales a cadaverous infec- tious odour ; the breath has become cold, and is as offensive as the discharge ; the pupil of the eye be- comes dilated, an offensive secretion proceeds from the lid, and the animal is evidently becoming Wind; the prostration of strength goes on ; the beast falls ; he perhaps rises again for a httle while, and then falls and dies. The disease is sometimes rapid in its progress, and the animal is destroyed in twenty- four or forty-eight hours after the first attack. This is particularly the case with young cattle, and those that are in good condition : at other times, the beast hngers on six or seven days. On examination after death, the lungs are found gorged with blood ; they are softened, and easily torn. They, however, contain some spots of hepatization, or condensed substance, and often abcesses filled with pus. In many parts gangrene has begun, and chiefly about the anterior portion of the lungs. The pleura peri- cardium and the diaphragm are black, thickened, and disposed to gangrene ; traces of inflammation are found in the abdomen, but not of so intense a cha- racter, The rumen; or paunch, is filled with dry 278 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. food; the contents of the manyplus, orthu-d stomach, are so hardened, that they may be broken and re- duced to powder ; the fourth stomach is more or less inflamed ; the liver is enlai'ged, and of a yellow colour, and the bile is thickened. There is a chronic disease which affects the lungs and their investing membrane — the pleura — somewhat in a similar man- ner to the disease we are considering. It was first, I beheve, described by M. Lecoq, one of the teachers of the veterinary school at Lyons. In this disease, the first stage sometimes continues during a month or more, and then the animal may recover for a time ; the appetite may return, and the beast acquire a little flesh ; but the malady, however it may be paUiated for a while, usually reappears with greater intensity. After death, M. Lecoq says, the lungs are found adherent to the sides and to the dia- phragm by numerous bands, evidently old and very firm. The substance of the lungs often presents a reddish-grey hepatization throughout almost their whole extent. The portion of the lungs that is not hepatized is red, and gorged with blood. Besides the old adhesions, there are numerous ones of re- cent date. The pleura is not much reddened ; but by its thickness in some points, its adhesion in others, and the effusion of serous fluid, it proves how much and how long it has participated in the inflammatory action. With regard to the causes and nature : Over driving of cattle appears to be a common cause of the chronic form of the disease to which we have just alluded. When cattle are quickly driven, rupture of some of the minute blood vessels of the lungs takes place, and the effusion of blood consequent thereon acts as a foreign body to the dehcate tissue of the lungs ; a minute quantity of blood, having escaped in different parts into the substance of the lungs, there acts as an irritant, and becomes the focus of inflammatory action. That this condition often arises from the quick dri\dng of cattle on long journeys, I have been assured by gentlemen who have had frequent opportunities of examining the state of the lungs immediately after death. M. Lecoq mentions this as a common cause of the disease in France, where the cattle are driven many leagues, and have very improper food given to them ; so that over driving of cattle may be looked upon as a fertile cause of the disease, as it occurs in the chronic form : but I think where the disease manifests itself as an epidemic, and attacks exten- sive districts, we must look to an atmospheric agency ; and I think it is probably an inflammatory fever showing its chief virulence on the lungs and their investing membrane. Youatt appears to be of this opinion. Concerning the nature of the disease he says " it is evidently inflammation ofthe lungs, asso- ciated more or less with that typhoid form of disease to which cattle are so subject," The question as to the contagiousness of the disease is an importai one. Of its epidemic character there appears to I no doubt. It has so many times devastated diffe ent parts of the continent and also of this countr that its epidemic character appears to be fully ac mitted by all observers. But with regard to i contagiousness there may be greater doubt. If v have taken, however, a correct view of the nature ■ this disease, we shall have httle difficulty in admi ting its contagiousness ; for although, as Mr. Youa observes, no other variety of pneumonia, with whic we are acquainted, is contagious — at least, under o dinary circumstances — yet, if we regard the disea; as a fever, accompanied with inflammation of tl lungs, we shall have every reason to think the ol servation of those correct who regard the disease ; contagious. Professor Abildgaard, of Copenhage speaks of a species of pneumonia which he cons dered to be contagious, and which spread throuc the establishment of the King of Denmark. Tl contagiousness of the chronic form of the disea may be open to some doubt; but M. Lecoq sa; that the farmers of France consider it to be coi tagious, and he is partly of their opinion. T! treatment of the acute disease is usually unsati factory, and conflicting statements are made 1 different writers with regard to the effects of bleei ing. These discrepancies of opinion are, I thin to be reconciled, by looking upon the disease : different in its constitution in different years. It well known that the same species of epidemic di ease varies in different seasons ; hence the treatme) which one year might be successful, may not h equally so the next or succeeding years. There is tl following strong testimony borne by Mr. Lord, intl Veterinarian for July, 1841, to the benefit of fn bleeding. He writes : " In the latter part of lastyei the Earl of Kingston sent for me, and said h cows were dying very fast from some disease th: had been in his farm for the last year, and whic his steward beUeved to be incurable." After di scribing the symptoms, he says — " In the early staj I bled largely, notwithstanding the pulse was smal as I consider this arises from pulmonary congestioi which bleeding reUeves. I next fired and bhstere the sides, and gave white hellebore half a drachi night and morning, as long as they could bear i and changing it afterwards for tartarized antimon and nitre, keeping the bowels open with occasion: laxatives. With this treatment I cured four out c five beasts, which the steward and attendants cor sidered as sure to die, and I have more recovering. He also says : " A gentleman who lives near me, an who had lost seventeen cows from this disease, ha tried a great many remedies, and not saved one of hi cattle. He asked me to look at the best two of hi stock, which were ill with the same disease, tellini THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. m i at the same time, I might try any experiment I ed upon them, as he was sure they would not ;over. To his astonishment, with the above treat- 'nt I had them well in a few days. " Bleeding," > > Youatt, " is the sheet anchor, and should be ed to its full extent." After the bleeding, two ruples of the farina of the croton nut should first I given as most likely to operate speedily, and )Som salts and the injection pump should be in ]uisition till the bowels are fully opened. If the lamraation still continue, digitalis, tartar emetic, i nitre should be given. When the fever is a Dd deal subdued, half an ounce of nitric aether y be administered with the greatest advantage, is, I beUeve, to be the most rational plan of treat- nt, and that which is most successful — bleeding the early stages, followed by sedatives, and re- \ing nitric aether for the depression which suc- ds the subsidence of the inflammation. As we •e found the disease when fully estabhshed to be fatal, any measures which can be taken for its vention demand our earnest care ; and in think- on this part of the subject, we must again re- • to the causes of the disease, and first we found t over -driving of cattle has been a fertile source at least one form of the malady. But as the fa- ties of conveyance by railway are now so great, cannot think that this will continue to be a fre- ?nt or common origin for pleuro-pneumonia. ; posure to wet and cold is probably also the cause naany of the inflammatory chest affections of cat- and many of them might no doubt be prevented better protection being aflforded to cattle from inclemencies of the weather. Cattle-sheds hav- ; ; more attention paid to them woidd amply repay 1 •■ farmer, by exempting his stock from any of the • eases which now affect them. When the epi- ' nic disease has made its appearance on a farm, t al separation of the diseased from the healthy j tie is the course which common sense at once j.nts out; and if death occur, the place should be ' iroughly washed with chloride of Ume and water : i the carcass buried. There is a recommenda- 1 n of Mr. Youatt, in his admirable article on this 1 5ease, with which I cannot agree, viz., that on the pearance of disease amongst your stock, the I ind animals, every one of them, should be bled '■ i physicked ; which treatment, he thinks, will re- 1 »ve the predisposition to disease. Now it is well 1 own to physiologists, from the experiments of ijendie and others, that to bleed an animal, and is reduce the quantity of circidating fluid, ren- 's it more liable to the absorption of poison ; and it the opposite state, that of vigorous and high ilth, is the condition in which it is least likely to affected by the poisonous influence of epidemic 'ease ; and, therefore, I believe the recommenda- tion of Mr. Youatt in this respect is quite unneces- sary, and perhaps worse, absolutely injurious, in rendering the cattle more liable to the inroads of the disease. There is but one other subject to which I would direct your attention. Since we have found, from our examination of this disease, how fatal and destructive its progress is, and how liable the farmer is to this unwelcome visitor, and probably will ever continue to be so, we may ask, what means can be adopted to meet the evil, and mitigate the loss which the farmer and grazier sustain from it ? I would point to the Cattle Insurance Societies, founded, as I believe they are, on a fair and equitable basis, as the best safeguard against the sudden loss which may arise from epidemics and other diseases which destroy the live stock of the farmer. With these observations, I beg to leave the subject in your hands, hoping you will be able to treat it more practically and efficiently than I have done. (Ap- plause.) The Chairman said, from what he had seen, the veterinary surgeons did not bleed cattle which had been attacked with this disease, but placed a bUster on the side at the back of the shoulder. Mr. Allen observed that there being a differ- ence in the nature of the disease, in different sea- sons, the treatment ought to be modified accord- ingly. Mr. Raimes, of Acaster. — A great deal must de- pend upon the strength of the animal, I suppose. Mr. Allen. — Yes. The Chairman said, when the disease was taken in time the animals generally got better. A case occurred last \vinter where the disease was not taken in time, and the cattle died. Mr. Nalton, of Coymanthorpe, stated that he had adopted a similar plan recommended by Mr. Allen, which had proved successful. One cow in particular had become so much reduced that she could scarcely rise from the ground. He thought the disease was contagious, and that, therefore, when it made its appearance, the diseased should be separated from the healthy animals. Mr. White expressed a similar opinion, and in cor- roboration of a remark which had been made by Mr. Allen, gave an illustration of the effect of over-driv- ing of cattle. Twenty Irish beasts had been lately driven all the way from Liverpool, soon after which the epidemic broke out among them with great virrulence ; and out of the above number there died either thirteen or fifteen, he could not exactly say which. Mr. White then said the following mode of treatment of this disease had been communicated by Mr. Lord, veterinary surgeon, of Doncaster, who says that eighteen out of twenty animals have re- covered under it in that district, whilst nineteen out of twenty have died under the usual application 280 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. of depletion, sedatives, counter-imtation, &c. This being the case, the treatment is specially recom- mended for adoption in all localities where the dis- ease has appeared : — " Remove the animal affected into a large box or stall ; take a couple of thick horse rugs, saturate them well with the coldest spring water, and place them on the body of the animal. Pat five or six other rugs, or other thick coverings upon these, and give four ounces of nitric ether in a little water. Place a bucket of cold water before the animal (in some cases it will drink two or three buckets fuU.) If in half an hour the animal is not perspiring profusely, give four ounces more of nitric ether ; and if the bowels are at all torpid, give one and a half pound of linseed oil, though in the majority of cases this is not found necessary. In five or six hours remove the cloth- ing from the body, and place around it a couple of dry rugs, which keep on for two days, and cast them gradually. The diet should be a little thin gruel and sloppy bran mash, and hay tea for a few days. If the animal is not reheved by this treatment in ten or twelve hours, repeat it — in some cases three applications of this kind have been found necessary." Mr, Allen said that although the plan he had recommended to be adopted might not always suc- ceed, yet he thought it was the most rational on. and would give the animals the fairest chance of n covering. The suggestions of Mr. Lord were cei tainly entitled to respect; but he thought the questio was open until further trials had been made of tl remedies he (Mr. Lord) had prescribed. Mr. White observed that a friend of his ha cured three or four beasts in the manner recon mended by Mr. Lord, and he -wished that fact to I made known. Mr. Allen said it was exceedingly desirah that the plan should be further tried. In answer to an observation made by Mr. Naltoi Mr. Allen said that unless the disease caused a alteration in the structure of the lungs of the anima which it did in many cases, he did not see an; thing to prevent cattle fattening after recovei from the acute disease. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks Mr. Allen for the great pains he had taken to affoi them information relative to the subject on whic he had treated. Mr. White seconded the motion, which w; carried unanimously ; andMr. Allen returned thank A vote of thanks having also been given to tl Chairman, the meeting separated. — YorkHerald. PATENT SELF-ACTING C HEESE-PRES S. For cheapness and simplicity of construction strength, power, durabiUty, and the perfect mann in which this implement does its work, we think will eventually supersede every other cheese-pre in use. It is so constructed, that by means of tv pair of double-acting levers, the cheese presses i self, by its own weight, and this, in ten-fold pr. portion. Thus, if a cheese weigh 20 lbs., it w exert a constant pressure on itself of 200 lbs, ; ar whenever a greater pressure is required, for evei pound added, a power of ten pounds is gained ; > in other words, if it be desirable to exert an add tional force, on a cheese, of 1000 lbs., it will only I necessary to put on the press a parcel of stones i any other material weighing 100 lbs. The advantages of a press of this kind must 1 obvious to every one, as it serves equally well give the gentle pressure required for the delica cream-cheese, as for the thorough and more pe feet condensation of those made of milk. The c gives a tolerably good idea of the appearance oft) machine ; but the manner in which it acts cann intelligibly be explained without the article itse. Price 7 dol. 50 c— American Agriculturist, (N.Y THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY OF IRELAND, 2f81 The annual meeting of the society took place at Lon nderry on Tuesday, the 10th August. The influx of •angers into the ancient citadel of the 'prentice boys, t now the peaceful scene of less warlike and more aeficial pursuits, has been very great. Among the )st distinguished arrivals were the Duke of Leinster, ;sident of the society ; the Earl of Clancarty, one of ! most progressive agriculturists in Ireland ; the Earl Erne ; and the Marquis of Waterford. The show- •d is a large plot of ground admirably calculated for purpose. \.t one o'clock, on Tuesday, the show-yard was thrown ;n to the public. Of the stock for competition the ries in round numbers were 45 short-horned bulls, cows and short-horned heifers, 90 head of cattle of er breeds, 56 head of sheep and pigs, 13 stallions, 15 res, colts, and fillies, 40 cages of poultry, 47 parcels butter, &c., &c. Large contributions came by steam n Portrush, Glasgow, and Liverpool. )n Wednesday the show commenced with a public akfast in the town-hall, at which the Earl of Erne sided. Several lectures were afterwards delivered to rge audience, and some pertinent questions put to propounders of agricultural information, which vc the Derry farmei-s to be shrewd and practical I. Doctor Hodges, the Johnston of Ulster, delivered cture on agricultural chemistry on Thursday, AWARD OF PREMIUMS. UDGES OF SiioiiT-iiOENS. — Mr. Thos. Wethcrall, Fairy- I Durham; Mr. Watsou, jun., Keillor; and Mr. Wilham ] 'ertsou, Ladyrig. UDGES OF THE OTHER StOCK CLASSES. — Mr. Weir, ^ Jffal; Mr. Stevenson, Redside; Mr. Fulton, Ayrshire. Short-horned. or the best bull calved after the 1st of Jan., 1842, and I ions to 1st of Jan., 1845, 30 sovs., to Lord Dufferin and ( leboy, Ballyleidy, Hollywood; for the second best do., 10 S •, to W. Todd, Elphiustontower, Tranent, Scotland. J or the best bull calved in 1845, 20 sovs., to W. Todd ; ^ :he second best do., 5 sovs., W. D. Ferguson. I or the best bull calved after the 1st of Jan., 1 84G, 10 sovs., t' lOrd Bishop of Kilmore ; for the second Ijest do., 5 sovs., t' [. M. Richardson, Rossfad, Enniskilleu. For the best bull II le above sections, the medal, to Lord Dufferin and Claneboy. or the best cow in-calf, or that has had a calf in tlie year 1 /, 10 sovs. to Lord Dufferin and Claneboy ; for the second ^ do., 5 sovs. to Lord Dufferin and Claneboy. or the best heifer, in-calf or in milk, calved in 1844, 10 si. to J. M'Calmont, Abbeylands, Belfast; for the second fc do., 5 sovs. to W, Frith, Cross, Enniskilleu. or the best heifer, in-calf or hi milk, calved in 1845, 10 • to J. M'Calmont ; for the second best do., 5 sovs. to Todd. jorthebcstheifer, calved after 1st of Jan., 1846, 10 sovs. t', . Stevenson, Redside, North-Berwice ; for the second best d 5 sovs. to J. C. L. Carson, M.D., Diamond, Coleraine. LONG-HORNKU. No merit. DEVON'S. For the best bull calved after the 1st Jan., 1842, 10 sovs. to W. Reilly, Belmont, MuUingar. For the best cov/, in calf, or that lias had a cah in 1847, 5 sovs., to W. Reilly. For the best heifer, in calf or in milk, calved after 1st Jan., 1845, 5 sovs., to R. Thompson, Ballyleck, Monaglian. No merit. Herefords. Ayrshires. For the best bull calved after the 1st Jan., 1842, 10 sovs., to A. W. Buttery, Iron Works, Airdrie, Ayrshire bidl. For the beat cow, in cab", or that has had a calf in 1847, 5 sovs. to Messrs. Tunibull, Bonhill-place, Dumbarton. For the best heifer, in calf or in milk, calved after 1st of Jan., 1845, 5 sovs. to G. Dunlop, Peacock Bank, Kilmarnock. Polled Angus and Gallow.^ys. For the best bull, calved after tlie 1st of Jan., 1842, 10 sovs. H. Watson, of Keillor, Cupar-Angus, N.B. West Highl.^nds, or any other Mountain Breed. For the best cow, in calf, or tliat has had a calf in 1847, 3 sovs. Sir H. Bruce, Bart., Downhill, Coleraine. Fat Stock, any Breed or Cross For the best fat ox, calved after the 1st of Jan. 1843, 5 sovs., Mrs. Gage, Bellarena, Newtownlimavady ; for the second best do., 3 sovs., to Sir E. M'Naghten, Buslmiills. For the best fat animal in the above class, the medal, to Mrs. Gage. For the best of all the prize bulls exhibited at the show, the gold medal, to Lord Dufferin and Claneboy. To the breeder of the best prize bull exhibited at the show, the medal, to W. D. Ferguson, Esq. For the best of all the prize cows or heifers exhibited at the show, the gold medal, to Lord Dufferin and Claneboy. To the breeder of the best prize cow or heifer exhibited at the show, the medal, to R. ChaUoner, Esq. The Agricultural Challenge Cup, value 100 sovs., given by the late P. Purcell, Esq., for the best animal in the neat cattle classes, possessing most merit of its kind in the estimation of the judges, to Lord Dufferin and Claneboy. The above cup is liable to be challenged every year, at each animal cattle show of the society, the holder to give security that it shall be forthcoming and delivered up to the secretary seven clear days be- fore the day of meeting. To be won three years successively by the same person before it become the property of the winner. Horses. For the best cart staUion over three years old, and foaled since the 1st of Jan., 1840, 30 sovs., to S. Clarke, Manswrae, Kilbrachan, Paisley ; for the second best, 10 sovs., to S. Clarke. For the best thorough-bred stallion, the medal, to M. M'Causland, Iruitliill, Newtownlimavady. For the best cart mare in foal, or with a foal, 10 sovs., to A. W. Buttery ; for the second best, 5 sovs,, to H. M. Rich- ardson, Rosssad, Enniskilleu. For the best cart gelding or filly, not exceeding three years old, 5 sovs., to H. Richardsou. U 283 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sheep.^Leicesters. For the best shearling ram, 10 sots. — Under consideratiou. For the best two shear ram, 10 sovs., to T. Watson, Esper- ston, Fachie-bridge, Scotland. For the best ram of any other age, 3 sovs., to T. Watson, Esperston, Fachie-bridge, Scotland. For the best pen of five shearling ewes, 5 sots., to C. Seaton, Black-park, Dunamanagh. For the best pen of five shearling ewes, 3 sovs., H. Watson, Keillor, Cupar- Angus, N.B.— For the best ram in the above classes, the medal, to T. Watson. To the breeder of the best ram in the above classes, the medal, to T. Watson. SWIXE. Sec. 1. — For the best boar of the large breed, 5 sovs., to Mrs. Gage, Bellarena, Newtownlimavadv. For the best boar ef the small breed, 5 sovs,, to A. Babing- tou, Creevagh, Ixmdondeny. For the best breeding sow of the large breed, 4 sovs., to W. A. Gleuu, Glenvale, Portrush ; for the second best, 2 sovs.. to C. Seaton, Black Paik, Dunamanagh. For the best breeding sow of the small breed, 4 sovs., to M. Gage, Stnivc, Newtownlimavady ; for the second best, 3 sovs., to C. Seaton. For the best lot of three pigs, of the same litter, not more than nine months old, 3 sovs., to M. Doyd, Summerhill, Lon- donderry ; for the second best, 2 sovs., to C. Seaton. Extra Stock. S. Gilliland, Londonderry, a heifer, between Hereford and long-horned Irish, 3 years old, bred by Mr. GUliland, of Drum- baruet, Donegal, 21. W. Todd, a Cheviot ram, 3 years old, 3?. G. Weir, Scoughall, Prestoukirk, seven Leicester rams, 2 years old, 3/. W. Sinclair, Broomfield, Lifford, a pen of ewe lambs, cross of Southdown with Irish sheep, 1/. Mrs. Gage, Bella- rena, NewtoflTilimavady, ram and ewes of the horned breed, 1 year old, 21. HoKSES.— A. Vv". Buttery, 3;. Mrs. Gage, two draft horse;, 1/. Sir H. Bruce, a thorough-bred mare and foal, 9 years old, a medal. IMPLEMENTS. Judges.— Thomas Scott; Thomas Campbell; Henry Haslett. For the best lot and greatest variety of Ploughs, to W. and J. Ritchie, Ardee, £5. For the best Grubber or Pulveriser, to be drawn by two or more horses, to James Wilkie, Uddingston, Glasgow, £5. For the best Horse-hoe, to W. and J. Ritchie, Ardee, £3. For the best lot of Harrows for covering grain and grass bceds, either of wood or iron, to R. Gray and Sons, Uddingston, Glasgow, £1. For the best set of Equalizing Draught Bars, for working three horses abreast, to Wm. Galbraith, Ballyboe, Mauor- cimningham, £1. For the best Cart for fann purposes, to Robert Law, Shet- tleston, Glasgow, £3. For the best Drill for sowing turnip seeds, in one or in two drills, to W. and J. Ritchie, Ardee, £1. Messrs. Scott, Brothers, Beh'ast, the medal. For the best :Machine for distributing guano, soot, and other light portable manures broadcast, to Messrs. Crosskill and Co., Beverley, £5. For the best Thrashing Machine, Richard Robmson. Lisbnni, £?. ' For a Model of a Thrashing and Cleaning ^Machine, Da\ Craig, Stewartsou, Ayrshire, £5. For the best Machine for Cleaning Grain, to John AVigt man, Ballymaglaf, £3. For the best Turnip-cutting JlacWne, to James Richmoi and Co., Salford, £1. For the best Hay, Stravi, and Chaff-cutting Machine, James Richmond and Co., Salford, £1. For the best Apparatus for Steaming Food for Cattle, James Richmond and Co., Salford, £3. For the best Chum, to Richard Robmson, Lisburn, £2. For the best set of ^Milk Coolers, lot 1, Richard Robins Lisburn, £1. For the best assortment of Draining Tools, to John Gwyu Iron Works, Buslunills, £3, and highly creditable both as • variety and workmanship ; for next best assortment, to Jar Mullen, Londonderrj', £1. For the best Drain Tile or Pipe-making Machine, lot 5, Richard GaiTCtt and Son, Leiston Works, Saxmimdhara, S folk, £3 — highly approved of. For the best lot of Draining Tiles or Pipes, to the Ear CaledoD, the medal ; next best to John Leslie, Pettigo, £1. For the best general assortment of collected Implements John Martin, Newtownhmavady, first medal. Mrs. Gf Bellarena, a medal. 'Mr. Galbraith, for Drill Plough, with Horse-hoe, £2. 3tlr. Allen, for two-horse Swing Plough, £2. Mr. Crosskill, for Clod-cnisher, £5, Do. for collection of models of Implements, includuig proved Liquid Manure Cart — medal. Do. for Ducie's Drag Harrow — medal. Mr. M'Kerrow, Antler Plough, £2. Do. Drill Grubber, £1. Do. collection, £2. Mr. Ritcliie for improved two-horse Grubber, with stav :>, Mr. Law, improved Subsoil Pidvcrizer, £1, Do., Plough, with revohing motion, instead of ni board, £3. Mr. Law desires that this implement shoul tried, in order to test the merits of the improvement. !Mr, Law, for One-horse Plough, £1. !Mr. Robinson, Potato Washer, £1. Mr. Richmond, improved Vegetable Washer, £1 ; do., sc ■ tion of Bean, Linseed, and Oil-cake Crushers, £3. Mr. Gray, for collection of Implements, Harness, &c., £; JMi-. Wilkie, for Two-horse Swing Plough, the medal. PETERBOROUGH FARMERS' CLUB.— At monthly meeting of this club, on the 17th inst., the - lowing resolution was agreed to : — " That it is e opinion of this meeting that broad-sharing land imi ■ diately after harvest is attended with incalculable be - fits as regards not only the destruction of twitch f couch grass, thistles, and annual weeds, but it also fat - tates the autumnal application of manure, and is atten a with great saving of horse labour, whilst moreover it - tains that nourishment in the land which a profusioi •• autumn growing weeds would exhaust before the wij r ploughing, and also renders the turnip crop less liabl'O be attacked by fly, and consequently a more cer n yield might be obtained." THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 283 METEOROLOGICAL DIARY. Barometer. Thermometer. Day. S a. m. 10p.m. Min. July 22 23 24 25 26 27 2S 29 30 31 Aug. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16, I7i 18 19, 20, 21 i.jyo .il- in. cts. 30.09 30.30 30.20 30.02 29.99 30.16 30.16 30.16 30.14 30.13 30.14 30.— 30.10 30.08 29.80 29.65 29.88 29.86 29.88 29.97 30.10 30.20 30.25 30.28 ao.30 30.16 30.12 30.15 30.21 30.10 30.— in. cts. 30.20 30.30 30.10 30.— 30.10 30.17 30.13 30.16 30.07 30.14 30.07 30.— 30.09 29.90 29.66 29.80 29.81 29.83 29.94 30.— 30.18 30.20 30.27 30.27 30.23 30.14 30.12 30.20 30.15 30.— 29.90 61 56 55 59 I 55 ■ 56 ' 58 61 ■■ 65 60 61 62 58 58 57 58 I 55 56 53 53 56 65 63 53 59 , 61 62 64 63 62 56 Mcix. 69 71 66 65 69 75 72 79 72 7e 80 7& 72 69 65 65 68 66 62 60 75 76 76 70 69 65 66 70 66 65 72 10p.m. 64 64 64 62 65 67 67 74 69 70 71 68 65 65 63 62 61 58 57 60 66 68 66 66 69 64 65 64 63 67 Wind and State. Atmosphere. Direction. Force. ] 8 a. m. 2 p. m. 10 p.m. W. by South N. by West , Variable East X. by East , N. West West N. West S. West i W.N.W. i S. Easterly W.N.W. N. by West S. by East W. by Soutb N. West W. by South W. by South Westerly S. by East S. West ' South i N. N. W. 1 N. Easterly ! N. East Westerly W. by North' N.byW.byE. N., N. by E. N. by East j N. E., South ! gentle ' gentle ] variable j brisk j airy airy brisk ' hrely \ airy j gentle j gentle I lively I gentle j brisk I gentle variable j brisk j Uvely j hvely j gentle gentle brisk brisk brisk brisk calm calm varialile hvely hvely gentle cloudy fine fine cloudy fine fine cloudy fine fine fine fine fine fine fine cloudy cloudy fine fine cloudy cloudy fine fine haze fine cloudy cloudy cloudy haze cloudy cloudy fine sun sun cloudy sun sun sun cloudy sun sun sun sun sun sun cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy fine cloudy cloudy fine fine cloudy fine 1 fine : fine ! cloudy ' fine fine 1 fine i fine I cloudy i fine cloudy cloudy , fine cloudy : fine cloudy cloudy , cloudy fine fine cloudy fine cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy j fine I fine estimated averages of august.. Barometer. Thermometer. High. 30.26 Low. 29.350 High. Low. 41 Mean. 61.5 tBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF THE PERIOD. Lowest. j Highest. I Mean. 58.75 I 69.9 64.325 We.\ther and Phenomena. July 22, threatening clouds, clearing at night. ':3j verj' fine. 24, hazy, rising into thunderlike oasses. 25, changeable, a sprinkle of rain. 26, ■iry and pleasant. 27, hazy clouds, and great leat. 28, changeable appearances. 29, superb ummer day. 30, some streaky cutus clouds. 31, ery fine. The month has been almost wholly dry. Lunation. — Full moon, 27th, 10 h. 8 m. night. August 1, cloudless, sun very hot. 2, cumuli; iner afternoon. 3, most beautiful. 4, curious nodification of cirro-stratus clouds. 3, cloudy, and omehght showers. 6, cloudy day; clearer evening; un sets as a deep red globe in mist. 7, hint of ain ; fair night. 8, fine forenoon, a shower and listant thunder. 9, cloudy and cold. 10, small ain several hours. 11, very beautiful. 12, superb calm afternoon, then rain, 13, haze and clouds. 14, brisk lively day. 15, fine,cirro-cvunulus; hghtning at night. 16, rain, haze, oppressive ; weather broken ; curious flashes of lightning among the clouds. 17, close and misty all day. IS, dense haze damp, gi-adually clearing. 19, changeable, some gleamy showers. 20, cloudy clear evening sun, became deep red at setting. 21, extremely fine, vnih change of wind. Lunations. — Last quarter, 3rd, Ih. 59m. after- noon. New moon, 11th, 32m. after midnight. First quarter, 19th, 5h. Im. morning. Remarks referring to Agriculture. — Locally we want rain, which has been all but absent for three months. Still the crops have had mode- rate supphes, \^nth sufficiency of sun to bring for- ward crops of the ver)- finest qualit)'. The farmers have given plenty of field room, yet have earned three-foiuths of every thing. Large breadths of man- gold, khol rabi, swedes, and turnips exist. Tliey generally are in rows 27 inches :o three feet dis- tant, but some fanners retain the old and irregular sowing of turnips. Potatoes give excellent pro- mise. J. Towers. Croydon, August, 2 1 . u 2 284 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CALENDAR OE HORTICULTURE.— SEPTEMBER. From the date of the last Calendar (July 21, page 184) the weather was fine for the greater part. In a word, so dry a month as last July is seldom wit- nessed in England. We must not, however, forget that the vicinity of Croydon is proverbially so ; its soil reposes upon gravel to a great extent, and that not at all of a binding quality. Hence it acts as a filter, draining off every drop of sviperfluous water. Close adjoining the gravel, chalk is found ; and wher- ever these two subsoils exist, the quantity of rain that falls is usually small ; as on the contrary where the subsoil is clayey, rain is more abundant. Chalk, if solid and deep, acts as a corrector, because its attraction for water is so great that it retains mois- ture very pertinaciously, and feeds the roots of plants so as to maintain a degree of verdure quite incompatible in appearance with that degree of aridity which is produced by solar power during a dry summer. Here, on the gravels we were abso- lutely parched, the trees losing their leaves rapidly, no rain having fallen to the depth of an inch throughout the month. Elsewhere, however, heavy thunder showers, followed by rains more or less continuous, have refreshed the land ; and therefore, when aridity is mentioned, it must be considered local. The condition of our gardens and crops can only be viewed in reference to the localities and soils in which they are found, and that condition may be described in few words. Our brassicas have been de- voured, and rendered worthless by mjTiads of the white, cabbage butterfly (pontia) ; and secondary sprouting has been prevented by the drought. Peas have passed away, having been worthless for a month past. Beans were destroyed by black aphis ; those sown late, however fine the promise, have failed to produce a single pod. Kidney beans have been and are fine, runners (so called) are here culti- vated most extensively as dwarfs, in which state the rows present a very beautiful appearance, like low hedges of briUiant, poppy-like scarlet : no sticking is allowed, the tops being constantly nipped off". Our market gardens are closely cropped on the inter- mediate system, the spaces or intervals being planted alternately with every species of vegetable suitable to the season. The dread of a third failure has operated to produce substitutes for the potato : thus, in all probability, we shall acquire some useful knowledge of rotation, and of the re- medial or correcting eflTects which result from the radical secretion of the several vegetables. Of po- tatoes I say nothing till I see the results of tl mists and moist electrical atmosphere which we) introduced by the lightning of Sunday the 15th, OPERATIONS IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Mushrooms. — Nature indicates that September their season : if the weather be moist and warr some pastures and other congenial places abour with them, and far superior they are to the produc of art: still, however, as a succession is require the mushroom houses and pits ought to be su plied with a quantity of the best horse-dropping wi or without the long litter, to be rammed down in a compact stratum, two or more inches deep : aft a few days this is to be covered wth pure virg loam, made also firm and sohd. Tlie whc may be ready for spawning by the third wee Spawn is sold at the principal nurseries. Mel frames may also be spawned in the soil upon whi the plants still remain. Open beds are now al made : the most ample directions are given at ] 440-442 of Mr. Tegg's last edition of Mawe a Abercrombie's " Complete Gardener" 1845 : th cannot be coi^ied, on account of their great extei Lettuces. — The hardy brown coss is the best, a: even the beginning of the month is late enough i sowing the seed, unless it be in frames of go cucumber earth, where the plant can l)e protect by glasses or oiled paper frames, during cc weather. By transplantation, however, from t seed beds, a stock of winter lettuce can be obtaine raise flat ridges of fine rich earth by digging a tren spit deep on each side ; place it on the surplus the interval, which should be fifteen inches wid and on that, jjlant out the young lettuces sixincl apart : a bed to contain three rows with a trench each side may be prepared : the trenches carry superfluous water ; and it is well known that 1 tuces are much more injured by damp, than frost, rmless that be very severe. Cauliflowers. — Plant early in nursery beds thi or four inches asunder ; or if later than the seco week, plant the seedlings of August in a fran putting on the glasses, and shading for a few da tiU growing ; then give air freely. Cabbage and Savoys — a foot apart one way, a eighteen inches the other : this refers to the earl and strong seedlings ; those of August that ; smaller go into nursery beds, where the plai stand four inches apart, in rows six inches asund Celery , may be earthed, but always with cautio THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 285 to use fine powdery soil, and to prevent any from fall- ing into the centres of the plants. Endive. — Tie up the leaves, but most closely near the summits, gathering them there compactly to- o-ether : some persons transplant numbers into a dry warm border, for winter use : but ]jlants sown in August, and thinned to foot distances, do well without transplanting. Cardoons. — Collect the leaves, and tie them with 1 string of mat ; then earth them up as high as they ire tied. J] Inter Spinach (the broad-leaved Flemish — see ast month) is coming on, and ought to be " singled ? IS they call the proper thinning of turnips in Scot- and. No plant ought to stand nearer than one .nd a half inch from its neighbour, now ; and very oon it will be proper to pull up every other plant or table use, thus leaving each three inches asun- ler for the winter. Hoe and keep it very clean. Onions for winter ; store and tie up the bulbs, and loe the spaces between the young growing stock ; lig and ridge the old onion beds. Continue to sow mall salads, and corn salad (Fa-dia) very early. Veeds will thrive apace. Sjiare them not — let the 5'e be ever vigilant to make every plot, bed, and order neat, for now is the time to secure a clean urface, which constitutes one of the chief enjoy- lents of a winter garden. HARDY FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Strawberries claim earliest attention. The h-itish Queen is superior, but it is liable to fail iiring v/inter. The old pine ; Myatt's pine-apple ; le true Elton pine (Mr. Knight's, of Downton, '6 believe), as a late and most prolific bearer, [keen's seedling, for early and prolific crops, — these :e sufficient. Trench the ground twenty inches, lay iree inches of fresh stable manure at the bottom, itroduce over that plenty of genei'ous loamy turves lot clayey), and fill up with good soil : let the beds 3ttle, and then plant the best rooted runners — the I'st from the mother stock, of approved fertihty — in 3ws two or three feet asunder, the individual plants ; the same distance from each other. If single iws be preferred, observe the same rules, and be ireful ever to preserve the distances. We believe lat finer fruit, and much more of it, will be so ob- lined. Fruit trees — nail close to the wall, remembering > secure the successional bearing wood of 1S48. Cut back the lateral shoots of vines that had 3en shortened ; the fruit will thus obtain colour id flavour. FRUITS UNDER GLASS. Fine-apples — repot for the last time, and use rich irfy loam with fibrous heath soil. If the plants - plunged in pits with beds of the same heath mould twelve inches deep, lying upon a stratum oi recent stable manure of equal depth, they will be in a situation where every appliance is favourable to their most healthful progress. Artificial heat may be provided by the hot-air chamber of Mr. Meek, or by some cheap working range of water pipes. The late vinery must have plenty of air, and open sun, cutting back all laterals, but not the leadiny young shoots, till growth entirely cease ; because they carry off the sap, which, if deprived of its na- tural conduits, will flow into the berries, tend to produce repletion, and cause the bursting and mouldiness of the crop. FLOWER GARDEN AND PLEASURE GROUNDS. Geraniums. — Bring into the greenhouse, or flower pits, every plant that is to be retained. The Scar- lets generally are left to perish in the ground, but those not preserved should be dug up and taken to the compost heap. Some, however, are so com- pact and beautiful as to claim the most careful lifting, and replacement in pots of loam and leaf m.ould. All the rooted cuttings should also be either potted or placed in dry pits ; in a word, every greenhouse plant that is in the ground should be moved, without loss of time, to pits or glazed erec- tions ; and if potted, should be kept closer, and in shade, till their roots take hold of the soil. The flower beds and borders should be hoed and raked, and then numbers of herbaceous plants can be divided and distributed, so as to give them fresh earth ; for nothing really thrives if long re- tained in one spot. Plant evergreens of aU kinds, and never forget Berberris aquifolia. Attend to every operation of neatness or order prior to the fall of the leaf : cut hedges ; chp and renew box; sweep, roll, and mow the lawns ; weed and roll gravel. CONCLUDING REMARKS. The weather became hazy, with oppressive heat, after the electricity of the 15th and l6th : some rain has also fallen. Of Potatoes, to this day I can hear nothing alarming : there is a remains of the malady, Init, as yet, so slightly manifested, that all the dealers (very good judges) say they never knew the "■ eailies, " and particularly the shaivs, better ; and the late crops still afield are very promising. While, therefore, we suspect every rumour, we ought to resolve to treat this inestimable root better, and never suffer the stores to sprout, and become debi- litated. A gentleman of high repute in agriculture, just returned from a five weeks, tour in Prussia, Germany, and Belgium, reports the crops of pota- toes most abundant; there is no dread of disease ; and as to fruits they superabound. John Towers. Croydon, August l9iJi- 386 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR AUGUST. For all out-door farm operations the weather during the greater portion of the month just con- duded has been extremely favourable. In the whole of our agricultural districts, therefore, the utmost activity has been apparent in the fields, and immense quantities of corn have been secured in the best possible condition. Too much importance could not by possibility be attached to the present state of things ; for it cannot be denied that our na- tional prospects, and consequently individual pros- perity, are so immediately identified with the yield of the present year's crops as to make it a matter of no ordinary difficulty to disconnect the interests of any class of society from tne agriculture of the country, whatever argume^iti may be adduced to the contrary. As the produce of our fields is now the great and aU-absorbing topic of consideration — and well indeed it might, seeing the great difficulties and the extreme pressure which have resulted from the partial failure of the corn, and the almost total one of the potato crops of last season, and the anxiety generally manifested to ascertain the proba- ble quantity of grain produced this season — we have caused the most extensive inquiries to be made on this head in the whole of our corn-growing coun- ties, the result of which is by far more satisfactory than we could have ventured to predict some two or three months since. It would, of course, be premature to offer a positive opinion as respects the actual yield, as that can only be ascertained after thrashing has proceeded to some considerable ex- tent ; yet, on the other hand, we may observe that, so far as our observation has extended, and judging from the tenor of our advices from most quarters, the produce of wheat appears to he nearly, or quite, an average one. Some of our correspondents inti- mate that the quality of that description of grain is by no means first-rate ; but we have reason to know that the falling off in the condition here re- ferred to has been produced more by the grain having been submitted to the process of thrashing somewhat too early than from any other cause. That the crop of barley is a very large one not a doubt can be entertained ; and that the condition is first-rate almost every farmer is found ready to admit. Tliis will afford a most seasonable relief to many of our large maltsters, who for months past have been unable to procure adequate quantities for their important purposes ; hence we learn that not less than 3,500,000lbs. of sugar have been used in the various distilleries and breweries since th passing of the Act permitting that article in tho* establishments in lieu of malt. As a matter c course, therefore, the maltsters have been considei able losers by the deficiency in the barley crop la; year. Now, however, there is a fair prospect of the resuming business upon their usually extensi\ scale; as, without a doubt, barley will, almost immi diately after the crops shall have been secured, 1 brought forward in considerable quantities, and wi be selhng at a comparatively low rate. As to tl oat croj), this is well spoken of ; but we enterta doubts whether it v/ill realize the expectations some parties. Beans and peas are very deficier and likely to produce comparatively high currenci for some time hence. Having reviewed the actual condition of tl crops as closely as circumstances admit, it no becomes necessary that we should allude to one two other features immediately connected with tl agriculture of the country, and which demand o most special consideration. In the first place, \ must not fail to notice the important fact that, du ing the last three months, almost the entire pop lation of England has been fed by the foreign pr ducers ; the actual quantities of corn, flour, ai meal imported from abroad this year having fall little, if anything, short of nine million auA TERS — a quantity considerably exceeding all form calculation. Surely this immense importation mi set at rest the oft-repeated question — " Wl amount of corn could we derive from abroad in single season ?" While this unusually large supf has proved to us a most seasonable relief, it li had a depressing influence upon prices," produc — only for a time, it is to be hoped — a gn balance of trade against us, and caused consid* able embarrassment in our monetary circles. Wl greater or more powerful arguments could be us in support of home agriculture, and an extend cultivation of the soil, under wise, liberal, and e lightened landowners, than the events of t present year ? Be it observed, the farmer's inten is best served by a steadiness in price. High val must eventually be always productive of incom nience, and not unfrequently loss, to the hoi growers. During the last eight weeks wheat 1 fallen nearly 35s. per quarter, thereby showing decline of nearly 60s. from the highest poii Much has been said, by those who are eviden THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 2B7 not practically acquainted with the subject, of the still comparatively large stocks of old wheat held by the farmers, who have been blamed for not hav- ng disposed of their corn at an earlier period of ;he year, thus taking advantage of high prices, and jreventing, to some extent, the exports of the pre- ;ious metals to pay for foreign corn. The simple act is, the supply of old wheat in this country is small, almost beyond recollected precedent: and 10 greater proof could be adduced of that state- iient than when we assert that unusually high igures — or from 110s, to 120s. per quarter — have lot produced a full, or even a fair, supply of that rticle for several months. This leads us to the onsideration of the future prospects of the farm- ig community. Not a few persons are anticipating very low range of currencies for all kinds of wheat uring the next twelve months. Looking to the irge arrivals of foreign wheat and flour, and the robable result of our own harvest, we are quite eady to admit that inferior grain will be selling t low prices ; but, as it is well known that a scar- ity of really fine corn— so much wanted by the rst-rate millers— will be found to exist, and that le consumption is rapidly on the increase, we con- ?nd that very low rates for first-rate wheat must ot be expected. All kinds of spring corn, with le exception of beans, will no doubt be selling at mch lower rates than at present ; yet we maintain lat the farmer has very little to fear from the im- orts of the present year, because by far the largest ortion of them has been consumed, and very few arties can now be found to speculate largely in an rticle which has produced so many and such seri- ns losses to them. It is highly gratifying for us to be enabled to as- ert that our accounts respecting the potato crop ontinue very favourable; and we much hope — liough, of course, losses must be expected in some realities — that the violence of the disease has assed away. The weather has been very favour- ble to the growth of the potatoes, which hitherto ave come to hand in large abundance and in ex- ellent condition. Whether it v/ill prove a good eeping root, is yet to be determined. An immense quantity of fruit has been produced his year, and the prices^ have ruled extremely low or all kinds. I The fine rains which fell in the middle of the Inonth proved a most seasonable relief to the gra- iers, whose lands were previously suffering from he want of moisture. The plentiful supplies of old lay and grass, together with the abundant hay har- I est, have caused the depastured stock to fare ex- remely well. In Scotland a fair progress has been made in utting and carrying ; but some weeks of fine wea- ther are yet required to secure the whole of the corn crops. New wheat and barley have been on sale in some of the markets, the quality of which is highly spoken of. SURREY. When the series of the Surrey reports was com- menced in May, the writer announced his intention to ofler as bright objects of imitation (of which, for- tunately, examples are by no means wanting), those farms ichereon the crops should afford manifest proofs of superior cultivation. Since that period of little more than three months, an entire harvest has passed through its allotted progressive stages to its safe and final deposition in the barn or rick. Soon after the beginning of May, and not till then, the autumnal wheats began to advance ; the spring corn remained invisible — a portion of it, indeed, was not even sown. The entire winter of five long months' duration had passed nearly without rain ; and subsequent to the first genial shovv^er, which fell on the 7th of May, South and East Surrey have not been refreshed with twenty-four hours of steady rain throughout the whole of the summer to this day. Even the thunder-showers of June, July, and August, had merely penetrated the sru*- face ; so that it is not matter of surprise that the wheats grown on scorched, shallow soils, upon which no adec[uate preparatory tillage had Ijeen bestowed, should here and there yield evidence of want of root moisture. The harvest being com- pleted in all that extensive range of varied country which it has been possible to explore, it remains to give publicity to the very interesting facts which have from time to time revealed themselves. As a whole, the summer has been most benign and pro- pitious. On two occasions the heat suddenly be- came too intense : the first occurred about the commencement of June ; a vast power of blazing sun checked the progress of vegetation, paralyzed the bloom of fruits, and parched the meadow grasses. This calorific phenomenon was immedi- ately succeeded by the low temperature and gloom of June 6, which touched the potatoes, and sanc- tioned the silly and yet designing alanu cry that frightened the land. The second attack of heat commenced July 12, and continued five days : the temperature was tropical, and, as there was little moisture in the ground, green vegetables Avithered, and some of the then milky grains of wheat were checked and prematurely dried. In these last words are comprised all that can be said of loss or defect. In all other respects— and even so far the result is only exceptional— our report, to speak truth, must be that of one of the most perfect, most generous harvests which have come within the scope of very •288 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. long experience. The duty of a reporter consists I rity the Liverpool paper (copied in the Times of th( not so much in taking a general and desultory sur- 25th) announces the sudden fatal and extensiv. vey, for that would in no way tend to the improve- attack in the west of England. These fatal "dooms' ment of agriculture as a science. It is pretty gene- | have run current here and there during the las rally admitted that the average product of wheat, as a whole, does not exceed three quarters {i. e., twenty-four bushels) per acre, and yet the seed sown may be estimated at from two and a-half to three bushels per acre. Mr. Stephens, of " The Edin- burgh Journal of Agriculture," has, in vol. ii. p. 635, entered into a calcvdation of the productive power of the cereal grains. " Hunter's wheat," he says, "gives 84 grains to 1 drachm of 60 grains; and, taking it at 65lbs. per bushel, the number of grains in a bushel is 698,870, and giving 3 bushels per acre for seed, there will be sown on an imperial acre 2,095,510 grains, or 48 grains in the square foot. Now, I have counted ears of wheat to contain as high as 64, and as low as 24 grains each, the average being 44 gi-ains ; and, al- lowing no more than 1 ear of produce from each grain sown, and nothing for the tillering of the crop, the produce ought to be 44-fold : but the largest produce of wheat in the Carse of Gowrie is 52 bushels per imperial acre, or only 1 7-fold for the seed sown. What, then, becomes of the 27- fold ?" Wheat will tiller 10 to 20-fold ; that is, every healthy seed, if it have room, will, on an ave- rar/e, produce 15 culms with perfect ears, many of them 6 inches long, and containing 60 or 70 seeds, and the total product from one seed (15 ears, ave- raging 45 grains each) 667 seeds. If our thick, 3- bushel sowers are content with a yield of 3 quarters of thrashed corn, nothing more remains to be said in the present condition of farming, whei'ein weeds occupy the space of corn, and choke hedges and ditch-banks with vile rubbish. Time and urgent necessity will, however, instruct; and some agricid- tural Cobden will establish a league, whereby not only the theory, but the profound, energetic indus- try (with science) of the economic sowers will be made to extend and produce its grateful abundance. " To that complexion we must come at last. " We have brilliant examples about East Surrey. The three months, yet the stock was never finer in ever respect. If, however, the very late sorts fail, an( the early shaws, &c., succeed, why, let us be wise and, in lieu of being terrified, let sound tuber alone, from early varieties, be planted in ftitUTQ^-jr August 25. ■ (JO 't:t BERKSHIRE. The weather since our last has been of undecj. ded character, neither very fine nor wet ; still, p ; the whole, it has been favourable to harvest opera; tions. From the 10th to the 14th was very dryin^i and much corn was harvested in very fine condil tion. On the l6th, some rain fell, and it continue' dull and damp till the 20th, during which tiiti some impatient farmers carted their corn in ba order — we wish them joy with their samples market; since then it has been all that could t desired for clearing the fields. In reaping tl wheat some blight was observed in spots. " shocked" well, and will probably prove an av- rage crop. Several farmers were desirous to ":" their heavy crops of barley ; but from the scarcii of labourers, and their unwiUingness to use tl hook, they have been obliged to mow ; and a slo^ tiresome aftair it has been found to cart the barle for so bulky is the crop that the barns are sot filled, and there will be besides a great many rick The forward oats are all carted, and the Tartar are now falling fast before the hook ; the crop the latter is not very heavy, but quite as much i as those fanners deserve who continue to sow th» oat with our ploughs, and no manure, after whe» Very few peas are now seen in the field. Tl beans have not ripened fast lately. We are happ to say that the potato disease, reported in the la* month as having shown itself, did not continue spread ; and this affords another proof, if any we wanting, that tliose symptoms which for a tin , created so much alarm, had their origin in debilit northern system of sowing turnips upon ridges L^^^ ^^^^ f ^^ .g^-^^g diseased condition. Tl over manure prevails not only in the two farms of Haling and Spring Park, but in the rich lands of Lord Ashburton, where also are to be seen great bi^eadths of kohl rabi, here called " cabbage," the pale and purple, and mangold of three varieties; the last-named root abounds in smaller quantities on many farms, and everywhere it stands in ranks with wide intervals. All the rooted vegetables are in great want of rain, but in every case the supe- riority and vigour of plant are perceptible where deep tillage has been practised. Our private letters from Northampton, Herts, and other quarters, an- nounce the rapid progress of the harvest and its admirable quahties. The prices of wheat and flour, especially of American flour, call for a much lower price of bread. Why should the pubhc submit to the extortionate charges now made by bakers ? Let any one bake at home, Avithout using potatoes, and learn at what rate he could bring to his table the 4lb. loaf. It is a pity that some companies, well supported, should not start. Potatoes remain most excellent in Surrey. We wonder upon what autho- pastures are much dried up. Swedes grow slowl and turnips are drying up for want of moistui Several cases of pleuro-pneumonia have occurn among horned cattle round about Maidenhea Sheep food is getting very scarce, and at the la fairs, the sheep have receded in price 4s. or 5s. p head. Pigs sell freely, and are likely to do s There is a very great demand for good home-cun bacon. Our markets are very dull. A good de of new wheat has been brought forward ; some of is not of first-rate quality ; and herein wemayaga urge the important fact, that where a burning si and high temperature prevail just as the corn fining, and particularly if the ground be arid, tl grain must shrink. The defect so far is to be r gretted ; but every circumstance of the kind urg to more efficient radical farming.— August 25. CUMBERLAND. The time is now fast approaching when an opini( may be given with a better chance of being correct as THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 289 3 probable result of the crops. Vv'hen the grain is thered into stook, a pretty good idea as to the yield n be had} even before it is subjected to the process of rashing. Although hai-vest partially commenced in me early districts some little time ago, it will not be neral, except just picking, until next week. Should 3 weather continue favourable, as it has been for a few ys back, a very considerable portion of the crop will ve yielded to the sickle in the course of ten days. The leral appearance of the crop is promising. Wheat is jportionably later than the other kinds of grain, owing the protracted frost. It is bulky in straw, and will t have suffered much from being lodged, as there were very heavy general rains during the process of filling, ich was exceedingly fortunate ; as, had it been other- ie, owing to the length of the straw, it would most ely have suffered severely. There was a general com- int of its being much affected with the maggot, which 3 supposed by some to be something new, and likely be almost ruinous to the crop, but which is nothing t what it is probably affected with every year, either in reater or less degree. As it is, some fields have }'ered much more than others, many of the heads i'ing nearly half of the grains destroyed. Barley will a bulky crop, and v.'ill probably be of good quality, as ipens evenly and with a good colour. Oats have ?n complained of as being rather thin on the ground •r since they made their appearance ; this opinion will Id good in many instances, yet there are some excel- t crops, and, as the straw is generally long and strong, • heads are sure to be proportionably large, and will, isequently, turn out well from the flail. Potatoes are ll looking well, and there are very few complaints of ease. Turnips will be more than usually abundant, they not only off'er to be a very good crop, but a much ger quantity was sown where potatoes would have been inted but for the disease of last year. Hay was upon ; whole a good crop, and was well got ; so there is )rospect of a larger than usual quantity of winter keep • stock. Grazing land, too, has yielded its full share produce, though stock have not done quite so well as ij have sometimes done ; but that is probably owing )re to their general want of condition when turned out, consequence of the deficiency of keep last severe and otracted winter than to any other cause. Fat stock, th cattle and sheep, still keep up in price. Lean stock ve not been so good to sell. The markets for store eep and lambs offer to open out brisk. The latter, at e markets that have already been held, have been sell- 5 at high prices, higher than last year, dear as they ;re then considered. The season throughout has been ceedingly favourable as regards weather, it being what ay be called a dry summer ; and yet the rain came at ch seasonable times, that there was still sufficient oisture to prevent the crops suffering from drought, nd then it was as good as could be wished for, clearing e land and preparing the fallows, which will neces- rily be in a good condition for receiving the seed ; and us a favourable foundation will be laid for a good crop e succeeding year. There must be much less old ain in the farmers' hands than usual, as stacks are few id far between, and little would be kept in granary ; bat yet remains will be held by a very few hands. The 5t two markets for wheat have been exceedingly heavy, ith a decline in price of 40s. per qr. or upwards from e extreme height. Notwithstanding the fears at one me enteitained that there would not be sufficient food < last till harvest, there will be enough and to spare. I is probable, judging from appearances, that draining ill be done to as great an extent this winter as any pre- pding one, notwithstanding the quantity already com- leted.— Aug. 18. ESSEX. We have to report a most trying time for the farmer, in harvesting his produce, during the last week ; so much so that, if any has been carted, it must have been so in very bad condition, and have to lie far into the spring before it comes out fit for the miller. On the night of Sunday last a heavy fall of rain, with much thunder and lightning, visited us, thereby saturating the outstanding corn, since which we have had frequent showers. At- tempts to get up some barley have been made, but rain has soon put a stop to further proceedings. It is true some considerable quantity of wheat was previously secured in the more forward districts of our county, in moderate order, but the greater portion is still in the fields, and, though not speared, is soft and very much out of condition. Many farmers in the western parts of this county have not carted a load of any description of grain, and feel an extraordinary anxiety for fairer wea- ther. We fear a week more of similar weather would be very disastrous, as a great quantity is in the sheaf and on the swath. The greater part of barley remains to be carted, but peas have generally been housed. We have now to give an opinion as to the probable quantity, not quality, of yield of the wheat crop, and hesitate not a moment to say white wheat is deficient of an average from four to six bushels per acre ; but of red the yield must be ea:ceediiifflt/ good gencvaUy — indeed, we should not be surprised to find the red, in many cases, from eight to sixteen bushels per acre better than the white on the same farms ; having tried both, we think the statement will be borne out by general experience, as nearly all descriptions of white wheat are very imperfect and deficient in the ear. Putting both red and white together, we imagine there may be found a fair average crop. Of the new samples that have already appeai'ed we cannot report so favourably as those of the last crop ; a coarseness and unevenness appears a general charac- teristic, and we shall be surprised if they are not found to weigh very light generally. Barley continued to go on well till the dry season we have had was far in ad- vance, but at the conclusion it was found to have pre- maturely ripened, and, had it not been for the abundant supply of moisture during the last week, the samples must have been very coarse and steely ; nevertheless, there is an abundant crop ; we do not remember seeing it fall more bulky before the mowers. But of oats we cannot speak very highly : perhaps they are barely an average. Beans, as well as peas, so severely suffered by the green and black blight, as in many cases to be hardly worth the cutting (peas more especially), but beans have materially improved, and from two to three quarters per acre may probably be found where at one time, from the excessive attack of blight, all were thought to be de- stroyed ; indeed, we observed the blight had all disap- peared in twenty-four hours, and millions which, a day or two previously, were destroying vegetation, had fallen down dead below the crop and completely whitened the ground : we were the more surprised, as neither light- ning nor rain had occurred. We strictly examined the bine, and found there was not one living — they were all dead. Mangold and turnips, as well as cloverseed, must have materially benefited by the late rains : had moisture held off much longer, a deficiency of turnips must have been the consequence ; but, as there are some excellent plants, we should not be surprised should they pi-ove an excellent crop. The pastures have hitherto been ex- tremely bare ; they are now rapidly recovering, and must grow an abundance of feed. Here and there potatoes have the disease, but the crop continues good generally. On the whole, should the weather improve, the farmer may congratulate himself on a bountiful crop, with but little exception. — Aug, 20. 390 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SOMERSETSHIRE. Our wheat harvest commenced about the time stated ill my last, and this week will be about half secured. We have had since its commencement intervals of the finest harvesting weather, with falls of rain for two or three days together at a time intervening. That which fell the beginning of this week was evidently partial ; and as regards this county, from the 11th to the 15th we had very fine time for harvesting, and a good deal was well secured ; but less than I expected. On the morning of the 16th we had a heavy shower, and more general rain in the afternoon ; otherwise great progress would have been made. On the 17th we had more i-ain. The next day was a dull one ; but yesterday and to-day are very fine, and of infinite value in securing very large quantities of wheat, barley, and oats. The glass is fall- ing rather rapidly, and a good deal of lightning was ob- served last night : this has induced great anxiety to get in and stack the wheat, and to-day and to-morrow will be the most important days of our hai'vest. I have been in communication with parties from most parts of the county, the result of which enables me to state a more favoui-able opinion of our crop than in my last circular ; for, though some injury sustained by the rust be acknow- ledged, the prevailing evidence is to our having a crop of wheat beyond an average and of good quality. There is a large burthen of straw ; fine ears, pretty well filled. Barley is much beyond an average, and of fine quality. Oats good, but not equal to barley. There will be more spring-sov/n beans than expected : winter ones are nearly all secured ; crop good. Vetches mostly in ; crop well spoken of. Peas generally in mow; good crop ; quality fine. It is gratifying to be able thus to report so far; but when I come to the next important crop, I am sorry not to be able to speak so favourably as a month since. I now fear that on the late potatoes we shall have a serious loss. I have particularly noticed that the dis- ease appears first in low situations, and where there is damp from hedges, trees, or in hollows between rising- ground ; and that it increased rapidly this week during the rain and very close state of the atmosphere from the 16th to the 19th. A very large portion is now affected, and if it continues to spread so fast, few pieces will be exempt, and those potatoes not injured will be small; The early ones are a fine crop, of excellent quality ; and a larger quantity will, I expect, be saved than last year. If it spreads as it does at present, when the leaves are half gone the stalk should be pulled off and cleared away ; and then, if the weather be dry, they may remain some time in the ground. The rain we have had has greatly benefited the turnip and mangel crops, and our meadows show its good effects. The apples have grown since, it is evident ; but with these prospects of food for stock, the price has gone down about 4s. to 5s. per head. Beef and mutton not so quick a sale, with lowered prices ; on the other hand, the demand for pigs has increased, and the price advanced 5s. or 6s. per head for large ones fit for fatting. Cheese is selling rather better ; very short supplies ; old nearly all gone into consumption. Bacon 9d. to lOd. by the side ; stock very low indeed; demand much increased to eat with the potatoes. In corn, we notice the greatest alteration in price : wheat sold, yester- day, 5s, to 6s. per bushel under what might have been had for it ten weeks since; some new, of very prime quality and condition, has been brought to market and sold at 7s. to 7s. 6d. This week the holders of old have shown more disposition to realize, and the millers have bought at lower figures, 7s. 6d. to 7s. 9d., but not affording them much profit at the low price of flour, 46s. to 47s., and even less, per sack of 280 lbs. The past month has been one of very little benefit to the miller, yet the bakers have done about their usual business, and are at present extremely bare of stock ; the same may be said of the millers, who have been literally, this wei forced into the market. We quite expect more busin in the month to come. With a continuance of f weather the price may come down to 6s. and 7s. ; 1 we anticipate a better feeling springing up in the trai perhaps before the low figures are come to. There now very little old left, it has been going into consun tion gradually for some time ; we can see there is vi little indeed left in|mow, and that stock in farmers' hai is very small, with scarcely a week's consumption second hands, on an average, of our own growth. 1 foreign flour must be selling at a great sacrifice wl bought under 40s. per sack of 280 lbs. ; at this price cannot manufacture our own wheat at any profit ; price must come down, or the American flour advam of this there is more than ever used, and as our mill are rather short of water, they are not pressing tl flour.— J. C— 20th August. NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND. During the last weeks of July, and up to this day, weather has been very favourable for maturing the fn of the earth, with the exception of one day (Monday, 9th inst., which was wet, with a stiff, cold breeze fr N.N.E.). On exposed situations, grain of all sc Cwhere bulky) was twisted and lodged on the grou However, the elements suddenly changed their threat ing aspect ; and we have been favoured with fine, d hot, forcing weather. Harvest has partially commenc Near the sea-coast, patches of wheat have already fal under the sickle ; and over the dry soils of Glendf ward, north and west of the Tweed, barley and o reaping is regularly in full operation ; yet we anticif a slow, protracted harvest, as on all damp soils the re; ing will not be general for a few days hence. Reaj are very plentiful. The " migratory pisantry" fr the sister isle have not been so numerous with us many years past. We may therefore look for great t patch in our harvest operations, if favoured by Div Providence with fine weather. Complaints have b' very general regarding the wheat crop — the maggot, rust, mildew, &c. — and it cannot be denied but tha^, some extent, in every locality a deficiency in the fill! process is visible in the wheat-ear. After very closet spection, and most intimate inquiry from prattil friends at a distance, our inference is, the yield will I short of an average. A friend from a centrical part! the county writes, " My conclusion is, there will W short yield. I have inspected several fields of wh very closely, and have generally found from four to (i maggots or red rust in each ear." He further ft^ " Barley is good ; oats middling, and will fall short^c moderate average ; beans and peas little cultivated hel potatoes only planted in small patches, but healthy i vigorous.'' The above perfectly coincides with ouciji biassed opinion. Wheat may prove a moderate avertj barley a great crop, oats short, beans and peas & ; average, if well got in. Turnips suffering much fori of moisture, and in many situations grub, or '' " finger and toe," already showing itself. Hay, as anticipated in our lust, has proved a light yield, and now selling from the field at high figures — 70s. to 7 per ton. Aftermath, or foggage, is short, and pastu very much in want of rain. Grazing cattle and sh< have made slow progress for the shambles this seasc Where turnip-sowing was protracted till July, the pk is small, and much in want of moisture, and cannot ni be a great crop ; the early- sown have gone on more vourably, and promise a fair return. The weatl having been favourable for cleaning fallows, they gei rally present a clean and pleasing appearance ; yet stil neglected, ill-managed field will be seen, and such ^ THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 291 ; 'ays be the case wliile the land-letting by " tender" is culator from a distance, is now " telling tales ;" and we , itinued by the noblemen and other proprietors in this hope the day is not distant when the owner will look to 1 any other county. The ill-judged maxim of weeding good management rather than a paltry promise of in- t: the old industrious tenant, to make way for the spe- creased rent for a few years. — Aug. 20. REVIEW OF THE CATl^LE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. i^iotwithstanding the supplies of stock brought 4irard in Smithfield, as well as the large provincial rkets, have been on the increase during the later portion of the past month, the actual xoeujht meat on offer has fallen considerably short of t disposed of at many previous corresponding •iods of the year, if we except the season of 14. Many conflicting opinions have been offered this subject ; but which, to our minds, is by no ans difficult to unravel. Undoubtedly we are 1 suffering from a shortness of stock in the mtry — the cause of which we fully explained in • last re^dew — and it is quite apparent that the osiers (who aie now enjoying the full benefit of a Jrably abundant crop of grass, and a plentiful iply of hay, both old and new) have latterly ced both the beasts and sheep to a some\vhat mature condition ; or, in other words, they have, order if possible to keep pace with the consump- 1, endeavoured to produce food without luje. As oroof of the correctness of these observations, may observe that at least three-fourths of the ck exhibited for some weeks past have been ripe, and, we may add, beneath the middle ility. We can fully appreciate those efforts of agricultural body ; but we entertain very great ibts whether the present system will ultimately found very advantageous to them. 3wing, in a great measure, to the immense portations of foreign stock, there has been less ivity in the general dem.and ; yet, considering ! numbers brought forward, prices have been ; erably well supported, the actual fall not having i:eeded 2d. per 8lbs. We regret to learn that the epidemic, although ! weather has been very seasonable, has been ain productive of some severe losses in most of r grazing districts ; but, fortunately, the flock- jisters and others have now an opportunity of Imring themselves against these casualties by jmrance. [The observations we have frequently offered re- jscting the future arri\-als of live stock from abroad .3 being fully realized; those, since our last, 'ving greatly exceeded both in number and con- -ion those of all former periods, or as under ; — Head. Beasts 4,185 Sheep 18,489 874 Lambs Calves 1,942 The above wholly refer to those received in the metropolis ; and we may state that the total im- portations at Hull, Newcastle, &c., have been not less than 11,820 head. The arrivals during the month of August, for England, in 1845 and 1846, were as follow: — Aug. 1845. Aug. 1846. Head. Head. Beasts 1,286 2,217 Sheep 1,483 8,770 Lambs 140 gso Calves Ill 299 Pigs — 00 From the above comparison it will be observed that the imports this year have more than doubled those of 1846. A very large number of sheep and lambs has been lately purchased for grazing pur- poses; and we understand that they are turning out tolerably well. The actual supplies of English and foreign stock on sale in Smithfield have been thus : — Head. Beasts 3 9,073 Cows 87s Sheep and lambs , 225,390 Calves 3,800 Pigs 2,227 COMPARISON OF SUPPLIES. Aug. 1844. Aug. 1845. Aug. 1840. Head. Head. Head. Beasts 12,010 10,228 16,974 Cows 020 525 535 Sheep and lambs 195,412 151,330 178,790 Calves 1,290 2,205 2,567 Pigs 1,462 2,511 1,845 llie bullock supphes have been derived as fol- lows : — Head. Northern counties e , 6,050 Eastern, Western, and Midland do... 3,700 Other parts of England 3,500 Scotland 1,065 the remainder having been received from abroad and the neighbourhood of the metropolis. PRICES FOR THE PAST MONTH. Per 8lbs. to sink the offal. s. d. s. d. Beef, from 3 4 to 4 6 Mutton 3 8 — 5 4 Lamb 4 10 — 0 2 Veal 4 0 — 5 0 Pork 4 0 — 410 293 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. COMPARISON OF PRICES. Per 8lbs. to sink the offals. Aug. 1844, Aug. 1845. Aug, 1S4G. s, d. s. d. s. d. s, d. s, d, s, d. Beef, from 2 4 to 4 0 2 8to4 2 2 8to4 0 Mutton.. 2 6—4 0 3 4—5 0 3 0—4 8 Lamb . , 3 S— 4 8 4 8—5 8 4 4—5 G Veal 3 4-4 6 3 8—4 8 3 6—4 6 Pork 3 2—4 0 2 2—4 4 3 6—4 10 Very limited supplies of each kind of meat have been received up to Newgate and Leadenhall mar- kets ; and those slaughtered in the metropolis have been small. On the whole, the general demand has been in a sluggish state, on the following terms: — Beef, from 2s. lOd, to 3s. lOd. ; mutton, 3s. 4d. to 5s.; lamb, 4s. lOd. to 5s. lOd, ; veal, 3s, lOd. to 4s. lOd.; and pork, 3s, Sd, to 4s. lOd. per 8lbs. by the carcass. AGRICULTURAL QUERY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir, — Will any of your correspondents who have had experience in the growing of linseed be kind enough, through the medium of "The Farmer's Magazine," to acquaint me with the most approved mode of cultivating it, what is considered the best sort of land to grow it on, and how the straw should be treated immediately after reaping ? I shall feel greatly obliged to any who will favour me with their advice upon this subject, as, from the various and contradictory scraps and statements which I have heard and read, I am quite at a loss, and desirous of information from some one who is in the practice of cultivating it. I am, sir, your obedient servant. Poor Price. ANSWER TO AGRICULTURAL QUERY. Sir, — In answer to the inquiry of " Juvenis Agricola," respecting the mixture of soot and salt as a manure for oats, it is by no means advisable to sow it along with the oats, but had better be done a fev/ days before, and slightly harrowed in. It may not be amiss to say that by the mixture a chemical change takes place, which may 1)e ex- plained by a diagram : Soot contains Sulphuric Acid and Ammonia. Salt contains Muriatic Acid and Soda. The mixture produces muriate of ammonia ammoniac) and sulphate of soda (Glauber sal As it is now generally considered that sulphate f ammonia is one of the best forms in which to ; 1 that salt, it will be evident that we lose that bene . The result of the apphcation wiU be an increase f straw on good and average soils, but no benefit ^ 1 be produced on poor clays. Either rock or co • mon salt will answer the purpose, though I ( see no advantage to be derived which the soot ale will not give. In answer to " Norfolk Farmer's" inquiry specting gas-lime, I would certainly advise him pay nothing for it, as, from the use to which it applied in the process of gas-manufactory, it ' comes converted into chalk, besides imbibing p of the tar; and in one or two cases I have seen • crop destroyed by the use of gas-lime. If, he ever, lime be a very scarce article in the " Norf Farmer's" neighbourhood, the only safe use which the gas-lime can be applied is, vi sparingly, in forming composts. I should advise " Agricola" to be exceedinj cautious in the use of tai', as a neighbour has i stroyed his crop by its use in a compost, an< know of no means by which the bad effect of poisonous constituents can be obviated. To your " Constant Reader," I can only say tl in Northumberland we find such heaps as names very useful. We pay lOd. per square : burning. The process is very simple, the woi man only requiring a few coals or sticks to co: mence his fire ; and as it gradually spreads, t heat is drawn out at the bottom by flues left 1 the purpose, and the material to be burnt is heap up around, so as to prevent the fire from breakii out. Care is to be taken not to burn the clay t much, or it runs into hard lumps. The peat mp be more carefuUy attended to, so as to allow t fire only to char it, but by no means to burti. which causes a great waste in quantity. The 1)€ safeguard is to pay the workman, as I have sal lOd. per square yard for the produce of his heaj The burnt clay is very valuable for turnips, aloi with guano; and the charred peat will well rep;, the outlay of thirty loads per acre on the grain ere of poor clay soils. Trusting the above information will be of servii to your correspondents, I am, sir, yours. An Attentive Reader. A Ji 'Jjfl THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 293 REVIEAV OF THE CORN TRADE DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST. rhe weather has, during the greater part of the nth now about to terminate, been highly ausj)!- us, as well for securing the crops in the more ward localities as for bringing the corn to ma- ity in the later districts. About the '20th a aewhat unfavourable change took place, a good 1 of rain having fallen about that period, but the ither has since assumed a settled appearance. 3 cutting of wheat was generally commenced in southern counties the first week in August ; I as harvest operations were not interrupted for lUt a fortnight, a considerable quantity of grain 5 carried before the l4th in excellent condition ; succeeding week affairs did not progress quite prosperously, the carting of corn being occa- lally interrupted by showers, and this continued ther, rather a large amount of business has 1 n done in this article, as well here as at Liverp !» the prices named being relatively lower than tl ie of wheat or English manufactured flour. Supplies of old barley of home growth have *t sometime ceased to come to market ; but witn the last fortnight a good many parcels of new I e been exhibited for sale at Mark Lane, of gcl» though not of superior quaUty. In regard o colour and weight no fault can be found, but e dry character of the season has prevented this giO attaining that kindly mellow appearance so m n esteemed by the maltster. For the first par^s brought forward 40s. to 42s. per quarter was - tained; afterwards the price fell to 35s. to 37^- ^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 295 ( arter, and it is probable that it will recede still ■'ither. ■M The arrivals of foreign barley have been rather lUge, and as nearly the whole of the supply has ^isisted of very inferior kinds, such as Egyptian H I similar descriptions, it has been almost impos - 'lie to effect sales. Some of the cargoes which 'e arrived out of condition have been forced off '° ."^ry low prices, say 20s. to 2'2s. ; and the best ^ ^xandrian barley, weighing 4ribs. to 48lbs. per ihel, cannot at present be quoted higher than . to 25s. jjer qr. "I^Ialt has excited very Httle attention, though ''' Ted at rates coiTesponding with those at which Iting barley has been sold. IS yet, hardly any new oats have made their ap- rance, and the stocks of old being completely austed, the supplies coastwise, and from Ireland, ■ e been very insignificant throughout the month. i smallness of the home supply has, however, D compensated by plentiful receipts from abroad. '"I der these circumstances, and \vith a decreased ntry demand, factors have had no alternative '' to give way, where anxious to effect sales from board. Tie business has been principally in Russian !, and, taking these as the standard of value, must quote the article 3s. to 5s. per quarter er than at the close of July. Sales have latterly a made of Riga, a little out of condition, at 18s. lOs., and for the best it would be difficult to ex- i21s.perqr. The extreme scarcity of fine Enghsh : Scotch oats has prevented these sorts receding he same proportion, and for really fine qualities . to 35s. per qr. continues to be demanded. Jeans have been neglected, and with very small plies, and the certainty that the crop will turn extremely deficient, prices have tended down- •ds. Good ticks have lately been sold at 48s. 1 fine small beans at 54s. per qr. The decline ;he value of Egyptian has been more important, . to 33s. per qr. having become extreme rates. 3 first parcels of new peas brought foi-ward sold "iull terms — say 42s, to 44s. for white boilers, and i . per qr. for grey. About the middle of the r'nth 3s. to 4s. per qr. less was taken, but this t line has since been recovered. 'The value of Indian Corn has now fallen so low a to allow of its being used for feeding purposes, al the inferior descriptions have been taken rather I'-'ly at 25s. to 30s. per qr. Fine parcels having \ n held relatively high, have been neglected ; this •' cle being, after all, but little relished as a sub- f ute for potatoes. rhe continued fall in prices of all kinds of grain ^ . in the British markets, and the extensive failures ichhave occurred, have, it may easily be conceived. caused the greatest consternation abroad, and it is quite certain that the stoppage of so many first-rate firms here must drag down a good many foreign corn-houses. As yet, quotations have not 'fallen abroad in pro- portion to the decline which has occurred here ; but that the downward movement will continue, if nothing should occur to give rise to a renewed Bi'itish demand, cannot be questioned. For a time, the want of confidence felt may pre- vent shipments being made to this country; but sooner or later, the surplus growth of Europe and America will find its way to our shores, now that all restrictions on importations have been removed. CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK-LANE. August 23. Shillings per Quarter. NEW. OLD. Wheat. . Essex and Kent, white 58to63 60to64 Ditto red 36 60 58 60 Norfolk aud Suffolk 54 58 — — Lincolnshire and Yorkshire' — — 56 60 Northumberland, Berwick, aud Scotch — — — — Rye 35 37 — — Barley.. Essex, r com. Malting 35 36 — — Kent,Norfolk,«^ Distillers' & Grinding 26 32 — — and Suffolk.. L Chevalier 36 40 — — Malt . . Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk .... 68 72 — — Kingston, Ware, and town made .... 70 72 — — Oats . . Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lm- colnsliire, and Yorkshire, feed .... 22 24 — — Ditto, Poland and potato 27 28 — — Northumb., Berwick, & Scotch potato 27 29 — — Ditto, feed 22 24 — — Devon & West Country, feed or black 21 24 — — Duudalk, Newry, aud Belfast, potato . 26 27 — — Ditto.feed 22 24 — — Limerick, Shgo, and Westport, potato 25 27 — — Ditto, feed 22 24 — — Cork, Waterford, Dublin, Y'oughal, and Clonmel, black 19 22 — — Ditto, wliite 23 25 — — Galway 15 17 — — Beaxs. . Ticks 44 46 44 46 Han-ow and small 48 52 46 48 Peas . . Boihng 44 48 — — Hog and gray 38 40 — — Flour. .TowTi made (per sack of 2801b.).. — — 47 52 Norfolk & Suffolk, household (do.).. .. — — 38 45 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings i', No. 201, in Eyton's Herd Book of sreford Cattle,) the property of Samuel Aston, Esq., of Lj-nch Court, Leominster. This animal tamed the first prize of £50 at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Northampton, in July last; d when a yearhng he won the Cup at Tredegar and another at Leominster. The following is his pedigree, wliich we quote from " the Herd Book of Hereford Cattle, by T. C. )ton, Esq.:— "Symmetry, m.f., calved December 26, 1S43, bred by Mr. Aston, by the Count ')0), dam Bombazine, bred by Sir F. Lawley, by Young Woodman (12), g. dam by Wonder (135), ■ g. d. by Beighterton (90), gr. gr. g. d. by a bull of Mr. B. Tomkins. OLD SERIES.} X [No. 4.— VOL. XXVIL 298 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. REDUCED AMOUNTS OF SEED. BY CUTHBERT W. JOHNSON, ESQ., F.R.S. Hardly any profession has suffered more from hasty conclusions than that of the farmer. It was a fact far too true in the days of Jethro Tull, and it is a misfortune which still attends (although happily in a minor degree) the steps of the modern agriculturist. It is to such a source that we must attribute many of the mistakes which are within our recollection ; mistakes which, while they ren- der the farmer's present efforts useless, retard, per- chance, his adoption of profitable improvements. It was from this hasty spirit of generalization from imperfect experiments and too limited information, that arose the early condemnation of the sheep of the great Bakewell of Dishley, and also of the drill husbandry. It was thus that mangel wurzel was at first denounced as the food for milch cows, since the grazier gave it them too early in the sea- son—that gypsum was voted worthless as a manure, because it was hastily applied to the cereal grasses, to which it never can be a manure ; and to the grasses to which it isla fertilizer, in dry instead of wet weather. It was in such a hasty spirit that the farmers of Northern Germany denounced the pro- posed establishment of insurance offices against the losses from hailstorms, fire, and the death of their live stock, as being cases of " flying in the face of God's decrees ;" just as the Scotch farmers regarded the first corn-dressing machines as equally impious, from their producing an imitation wind, which Providence they thought had already suffi- ciently provided for the use of the farmers. It is in such a spirit that too many seem now actuated in the proposed reduction of the seed of the cereal grasses : they deem no preparation of the soil, no variation in the season of seed sowing according to the circumstances of the case, necessary ; but that they should at once successfully decrease the ordinary amount of seed, perhaps to one-third of their originally employed quantity, totally heedless of any of the precautions which those who have preceded them in the attempt have commended as necessary to ensure success. It is an error, even, to conclude that a varied proportion in the amount of seed, according to the nature, condition, and other circumstances of the soil, is quite a novel at- tempt. It is certain that Arthur Young, more than half a century since, had considered these things. In his tour through the eastern counties of Eng- land in the year 1771, he noted as a general result that the largest crops were commonly produced from the smallest quantities of seed, and he thu sums up the evidence he had collected on the subject " From 2 bushels of seed is produced a crop of 2 bushels per acre ; from 2ito 2^ bushs., 23 bushs per acre; from 2f to 3 bushs., 22 bushs. per acre 3j to 52 bushs., 21 bushs. per acre," " A more unbroken gradation," he remarks " could not have happened ; and although there ■ no proof that the cause of this is the quantity i the seed, yet there is much reason to suppose th; small portions are a part of good husbandry, an attendant upon rich soils. When land is rich an the husbandry good, it is evidently proved th two bushels of wheat-seed are preferable to ai larger quantity, and that of course there is a gre waste when more is used" (" The Farmer's Toi through the east of England," vol. iv., page 44f " It is much to be regretted," observes Mr. Dav when commenting upon these observations, " tb Arthur Young did not meet with instances whe less than two bushels per acre were sown." It can hardly fail of being productive of gO( if in a time of early seed-sowing like this (a practi strongly advised by the advocates of lessen amounts of seeds as one of the necessary pi utions) I here repeat a portion of what, another valuable agricultural periodical I had ) cently occasion to remark on certain chemical o servations illustrative of the practice of sowi lessened proportions of seed. As I then observi I feel it to be always a subject for rejoicing when t labours of the philosoplier appear in any degree illustrate the advantages of the imperfectly undi stood operations of agriculture. The correctne of the valuable directions given by Mr. Hew Davis, to whom so much credit is due for his pu lie efforts to reduce the ordinary waste of seed co) will not be denied by any practical farmer. 1 says, "In apportioning the rate of seed per ac donotlose sight of the bad consequences which mi ensue if too much is sown j bear in mind that, if much is sown as to produce more plants at fi than the space will afterwards allow to attain n turity, the latter growth of the whole will be i peded, and a diseased state will commence as so as the plants cover the ground, and continue tillh; vest" (Farmer's Almanac, vol. iii., p. 39). That certi soils will produce more corn by thin so\ving, th by a more considerable apphcation of seed, is n known to most farmers, and that such lands alw THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 299 eem to support only a certain amount of straw, eyond which it is diflicult, or almost impossible, ) advance by the ordinary modes of cultivation ; lat the result of thin sowing is to cause fewer ems, but then those stems produce finer ears and iuch more seed in proportion to the straw than le more numerous, and ])erhaps greater weight of e straw (per acre) of the thick sown fields. This ads me to inquire if there is contained in the '•aw of the wheat plant any peculiar mineral in- edients, which the poor wheat soils can furnish in ily limited proportions : for if we find this to be e case, we then are assisted to understand why it that the soil can only support a certain amount straw ; and yet, that that straw may still, by the •reased size and perfection of its ears, produced 111 thinner sowing or other improved modes of itivation, yield more seed than by the commonly lowed systems. Now on this subject the elabo- e and valuable researches^of Professor Way, of : Royal Agricultural College of Cirencestei-, seem lead us to some useful and novel information. observes, when speaking of the composition of mineral portion, or ashes of the wheat plant urnal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vol. vii. 164) : — "A knowledge of the circumstances which i uence the quantity of mineral matter in samples ivheat is really of very great importance, whether ir quahty is influenced thereby or not ; for not y does the grain rob the soil of a large portion .ts most valuable ingredients, but a knowledge his connection might direct us to the principle )n which the different inorganic substances in nts are regulated. It is curious, that the larger crop in any instance, the smaller in general is li per centage of ash in the grain. Twenty-eight Ij ihels have been shown to be the mean crop per 9 3 of the specimens we have examined, and 1.67 1 cent, the amount of ash. If we collect, on the (]•- hand, all those specimens which e.xceed, and 0 the other those which fall short of this per tage, taking the mean of their quantities and of per centage of ash, we shall obtain the foUow- ii results: — 1. The mean of the specimens afFord- i^ less than 1.67 per cent, of ash is 30 bushels of gin to the acre, and 1.56 per cent, of ash. 2. The m of the specimens affording more than 1.67 cent, of ash is 27 bushels of grain to the acre, ^ 1.76 per cent, of ash. The quantity of ash, <\ 1, would appear to be inversely as the crop : tj; is, the quantity of mineral matter does not in- CHse with the amount of the crop; but is less in Pi portion to the vegetable matter in the large than wbe smaller produce. This would seem to lead t'jhe inference that the quantity of mineral matter Pjient in plants is to a certain extent regulated by tl' abundance of the supply." Of the nature and extent of these mineral ingre- dients abstracted from the soil by the wheat croj), the exaiTfiinations of Mr. Way afford pretty accurate information ; and in studying the results of the following calcidation, founded upon analysis, the young farmer will not fail to remark that the de- mands of the wheat struiv and the chaff upon the soil far exceed in amount for particular constituents that of the seed. In this statement the average produce of seed per acre is taken as equal to 28 bushels of 6llbs. each, or l,792lbs.; that of the straw at 2,109lbs., or 18 cwt. Qllbs. Under these circumstances the wheat crop was found to remove from an acre of land : — In the grain. In the straw. lbs. oz. lbs. oz. Silica -1 0 6-10 83 8 Phosphoric acid 12 13 7 3 Sulphuric acid ..01 5-10 3 12 Lime 1 0 3-10 7 1 Magnesia ...... 3 8 3-10 2 13 Peroxide of iron 0 3 6-10 0 10 Potash 8 15 13 15 Soda — — 28 6 6-10 119 11 " From this table we may learn," adds Professor Way, " that the straw and chaff of a given amount of crop (on the average of the year 1846) removed from the soil together little more than half the phosphoric acid contained in the grain ; at the same time, however, requiring twice as much potash. The quantity of silica removed in the whole produce is very considei'able ; three-quarters of a c^vt. of this substance being required for a very moderate crop. The addition of silicate of potash to the land must be tolerably liberal, if it is wished to supply by its means the siUca required for the wheat crop." That it is every way practicable to diminish the weight of straw produced, and yet increase the amount of the grain afforded by the crop, is proved, amongst other trials, by the report of the experi- ments of Mr. Fowlie, of Hursley, in the season of 1846, contained in the same volume (p. 537). In these the plots of ground were 1 rood and 11 perches each ; three trials were made, and the fol- lowing little table will give a view of the results : — Produce. Pecks of Grain. Straw, seed sown. bush. pks. gall. cwt. qrs. lbs. 4 12 2 1 700 5 12 0 3 8 2 0 6 11 0 3 8 0 0 Here, then, we have an instance of the decrease of one-eighth of the produce of the straw by the mere employment of one-third less seed than usual; and yet the produce of grain is increased nearly one- seventh. X 2 300 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The farmer will readily perceive the important conclusions to which these trials seem to lead ; for it is very evident that if certain poor soils can only annually yield a limited amount of the silicate of potash, or any other essential ingredient to the growth of straw, that thin sowing on such lands may afford the means of yet increasing the value of their crops, without rendering necessary an in- crease in the weight of the produce of straw. These we cannot but deem very important consi- derations, and especially for the holders of the poorer descriptions of wheat soils, many of which I have long watched Avith the most careful atten- tion; since I cannot hut feel that the small produce of the grain of wheat from such lands, in all seasons and with every variety of seed, must be chiefly attributed to the limited supply of mineral ingredients which these can afford to the crop. I am hence at all times glad to note any trials with varied amounts of seed, because I feel that much more valuable information is to be acquired by thus patiently and perseveringly asking questions of nature than is commonly deemed probable. But then, as in all other agricultural researches, it is worse than useless thus to seek for any really valu- able knowledge, without the young farmer carries into his fields the cautious, patient spirit of the true lover of knowledge. The balance and the bushel, too, must be alone relied upon. He must never be satisfied with mere appearances, or conclude that evenan unsuccessful eff'ortmay notbe repeated,under some varied arrangement,so as to lead to a better result, I have long witnessed, and older and better farmers have long observed these things. In the very question, indeed, to which I have been allu- ding, that of the best proportions of seed, it is pretty certain that in very many instances early sowing and good tillage are desirable to en- sure favourable results. To this Sir W. Heath- cote's steward alludes in the conclusion of his remarks, when he observes (ibid, p. 536) : — " We are now preparing with all dispatch the land for this year's wheat sowing, the greater portion which will be done with four pecks to the acre, i creasing up to six pecks as the season advance; and giving to the thinnest sown the chance of ear. tillering ; an advantage second only to high cultiv tion, in securing good crops from reduced quan ties of seed corn." And in the following page the same journal, Mr. Mechi, when speaking of 1 experiments with wheat in the season of 1845, which four pecks per acre of seed produced bushels of grain, when from eight pecks only bushels were returned, " the straw was larger a stronger, and the ears largest where thin sow Thin sowing should be early sowing on hea land." And again he adds: — "Thin sowing son what delays the ripening of a crop, especially sown on heavy land so late as November or 1 cember. In cold or elevated districts thin sowi to succeed must be very early." And when spe; ing of barley, he adds : — " Two friends of m sowed four bushels per aci'e, and only got f( quarters of grinding barley, which sold at 27s, They had an abundance of crowded weakly str; which was laid early. My barley, dibbled at tli pecks per acre, in not near so good a soil, produ six quarters, which sold for 33s. 6d., with strc straws, and ears containing 17 to 19 kernels each side. This was in 1845. It is also a worth observing, that where I sowed one bushe wheat per acre I have a plant of clover; but have plant where I used, in the same field, two bushel In connection, then, \vith the easily foUot precautions which these enlightened farmers h adopted, there is little reason to doubt that tl are few soils for which a less amount of seed r not be commonly employed with equal profit to cultivator, and advantage in the increase of av able food to the community. — [We would race mend farmers to try experiments upon a e/c scale, before they venture on an extensive cha) in the quantity of seed they have heretofore use^ Ed. F.Mag.] j: .-,1 AGRICULTURAL SUGGESTIONS. NO. HI. BY J. TOWERS, MEMBER OF ROYAL SOCIETIES OF AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE {Continued from page 229.) '^ The reader, by referring so far back, will form some idea of what I have been taught, by observa- tion of facts, to consider "high" or productive farm- ing ; he will also recognize the general principles which require to be universally adopted. .Much remains to be said upon the office and economy of manures j but before I enter upon the subject itj comes a paramount duty to return to the chg against the Waste of land — a waste, a desert ] by which the nation and its subsistence are pe^ to the amount of thousands and tens of thou^ of quartersof corn ; andthis,in addition to the an THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 301 ^ff bulk of root and fodder crops, and of garden egetables, thus denied to the labouring cottager, 'hose moral habits would also keep pace with the inocent imployment of his leisure hours. To say nothing of the gross acreage of commons id poor lands, &c. — that cry " shame" in each nmty — let the traveller reflect upon the barbarous id vile condition about the railroad banks and ations. Do not the continental managements ake us blush ? Should not the well-defined lines, stricted Avithin regular bounds, and free from use- le of the alumina, which filter, wash, dry, ignite, ' I weigh. ^he oxide of iron and phosphate of hme on the i-T can either be well dried and weighed in con- junction, or separated with alcohol ; diluted with two parts water, and acidulated with forty drops of sulphuric acid to the ounce : this must be poured warm into the filter and back again two or three times : it dissolves the oxide of iron, and leaves sulphate of hme, into which it has converted the phosphate ; dry this, ignite, and weigh ; five parts correspond to four of the phosphate. The iron in solution in the alcohol can be pre- cipitated with ammonia ; filter it ; wash well, ignite, and weigh. The solution still contains the manganese, if pre- sent, and the hme, which existed in the soil as car- bonate, and the magnesia. To separate lime, add solution of oxalate of ammonia (taking care that the liquid is alkahne, as oxalate of hme is soluble in acids), boil for a few minutes, and set aside in a warm place for four or six hours ; filter, wash, dry, ignite, and weigh ; pure carbonate of hme remains. The magnesia is separated by adding a solution of coustic soda, washing, drying, igniting, and weigh- ing; pure magnesia remains. The manganese is to be precipitated by adding a solution of hydro- sulphate of ammonia, which gives a flesh-coloured precipitate ; dark brown if iron is present in con- junction ; well wash the precipitate, and pass muriatic acid through, and add carbonate of potash to the solution; filter, dry, ignite, and weigh. 100 gi-ains = 93 of protoxide of manganese. For determining the amount of sulphate of lime which may yet exist, boil 300 grains of the soil with one pint of water, with about 80 or 90 grains of sal ammoniac; filter, and evaporate down to 2 oz., and add 1 oz. of alcohol ; the sulphate of hme directly falls, and may be collected on a filter, dried, and weighed. To determine the quantity of chlorides of potash and soda, boil 300 grs. with 10 oz. of water for two hours; filter and wash well, and precipitate the chlorine with nitrate of silver ; wash, dry, ignite, and weigh. 50 grs. are equal to 22 of the mixed chlorides of potash and soda. — Pharmaceutical times. 306 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. IMPORTANT SALES OF SHORT-HORNED CATTLE. It has never fallen to our lot to report four such important sales of short-horned cattle as appear in this number of our magazine. The stock of Mr. Carruthers, (see description), was of a very superior character : this will be seen most clearly from the fact that the average price of the whole herd was the highest but one upon record since the time of Messrs. Collings. Mr. Hopper, of Stockton, who obtained the first prize of the Royal Agricultural Society at Newcastle for the best bull, purchased the best cow, Violet, for 350 guineas. Mr. Strafford, editor of the " Herd Book,"bid 340 guineas for this animal for EarlDucie. Mr. Strafford purchased several animals for Earl Ducie, one at 155 guineas, a second at 110 guineas, a third at 100 guineas, and others for Col. Kingscote, Mr. Barthropp, and Mr. Birchall. Mr. WethereU, whose long experience and accurate knowledge of the various herds of short-horns of pure breed and blood give him great advantages, made purchases at this sale for Lord Calthorpe and other gentlemen. Mr. Barthropp 1)ought a cow for 100 guineas. Mr. Harvey Combe, Mr. Gamble, Mr. Stansfield, M.P., Mr. Eastwood, Mr. Pollock, and Mr. Maynard also embraced the opportunity to possess themselves of some animals out of this valuable herd. It is remarkable that Mr. Carru- thers has only directed his attention to the breeding of short-horns about 10 years, and has displayed extraordinary ability and judgment both in breed- ing and in selection. Mr. Hutton's sale on Tuesday, Sept. 7, was nu- merously attended, and the animn.ls sold realized good prices. At this sale Mr. Watson, of Walkering- ham, purchased the best cow, at 130 guineas. Mr. Pollock bought a cow at "J-l guineas. Mr. We- thereU made several purchases for Lord La\vton, Mr. Hopper, Mr. Colhngridge, and others. Mr. Harvey Combe, Mr. King, Mr. Gamble, Mr. Strafford, Mr. Ashton, and ^Ir. Mauleverer were also purchasers. After the business was concluded, Mr. Hutton congregated his friends in the booth, where luncheon had been taken previously to the sale, when several toasts were drunk, and speeches made upon subjects connected with agriculture; among them was the health of Mr. Hutton, the announcement of which called forth that sincere approbation which his well- merited exertions in prosecuting agricultural im- provements and setting example by trying rational experiments entitle him to. No man can be more respected in his locality than Mr. Hutton, and man deserves it better. It is wholly unnecessary to make any mark upon the quality of Mr. Parkinson's stoc the high character and well-earned reputation his herd are matters of record. The company v numerous, and very select. Mr. Eastwood v the purchaser of the best cow, at 110 g neas; Mr. Harvey Combe pm-chased anoth at 100 guineas. Mr. Strafford was again purchaser of several lots for Earl Ducie, C Kingscote, Mr. Field, Mr. Slade; and 5 WethereU also bought several animals for Lf Lawton, Earl Howe, Sir W. Cooke, Mr. Mil M.P. for Somersetshire, Mr. Niblett, Mr. Coh Mr. Watson, Mr. W^ilson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Har Combe, Mr. King, Mr. Jonas Webb, and J Gamble, respectively made several purchases, i Smith, of West Rasen, bought the bull " Capt Shafto," which took the first prize at the show ' the Royal Agricultural Society, at Northampt Tliis bull was bred l)y Mr. Lax, as was also half-brother, the "Baron of Ravensworth," recer sold by Mr. Smith to Mark S. Stewart, Esq., of Sou wick, near Dumfries, for 300 guineas. Yv'hilsttb is some degree of pain experienced in seeing si valuable herds of cattle broken up, still that feeli is amply compensated, by knowing that the a mals are distributed amongst noblemen and g tlemen who will greatly extend and increase number of this valuable breed of cattle. SALE OF THE ENTIRE HERD OF PROVED PURE-BRED SHORT-HOR] CATTLE, OF WILLIAM THOMAS CARRUTHERS, ESQ. MR. WETHERELL, AT ARTHINGTON HA FARM, NEAR OTLEY, TORKSHIUE, OX MCi DAT, THE 6th DAY OF SEPTEMBER. ,' I (The numbers refer to Coales's Herd Boole ) COWS. Yellow Duchess, red and white, calved Decemli 1835, by Sultan Selim, 2710, dam White Duchess, Prince Edward, 2462, cS:c., &c., 27 guineas— p. chased by Mr. WethereU. i Lady Frances, light roan, calved February 27, 18 by Sultan Selim, 2710, dam Frances, by Sir Francis 1443, &c., &c., 22 guineas— Mr. Barthropp. Belluxo, roan, calved in 1838, by Borderer, 3191, t' Bellflower, by Sultan, 1485, &c., occ, 29 guinea. Mr. Stansfield, M.P. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 307 'ouNG Moss Rose, red and white, calved in 1839, by Young Matchem, 4422, dam Moss Rose, by Priam, 2452, &c., itc, 27 guineas — Mr. Hopper. ^EBECOA, roan, calved March 11, 1840, by Dormont, 6931, dam Ruby, by Sultan Selim, 2710 &c., &c., 100 guineas— Mr, Barthropp. loss Rose, roan, calved May 25, 1840, by Sir Thos. Fairfax, 5196, dam Rose, by Burley, 1766, &c., &c., 41 guineas — Mr. Goodman. ADY Emma Fairfax, light roan, calved January 2, 1842, by Lord John, 4259, dam Lady Elizabeth Fair- fax, by Sir Robert, 5181, &c,, &.c., 32 guineas— Mr, Eastwood, lOLET, roan, calved March 11, 1843, by Forester, 3825, dam Mary, by a son of Fleetham, 2028, &c,, &c., 350 guineas — Mr. Hopper. Violet has obtained the following premiums : — 1844 : At e Wliarfdale Agricultural Society, for the best cue year old ifer. At the Wetherby Agricultural Society, for the best eyear old heifer. — 1845: At the "\Miarfdale Agricultural iciety, for the best two years old heifer. At the Yorkshire jTriciiltural Society, for the second best two years old heifer. : the Wetherby Agricultural Society, for the best two years . 1 heifer. At the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, Id at Dumfries, for the best two years old heifer. — 1846 : ; the '\Miarfdale Agricultural Society, for the best three years j 1 heifer. At the Yorkshire Agricidtural Society, for the I :oiid best three years old heifer. At tlie Wetherby Agricul- ral Society, for tlic best three years old heifer. At the etherby Agricidtural Society, for the best animal of the art-horu breed, the silver medal. — 1847 : At the ^Vharfdale jricultural Society, for tlie best cow. LLLA RooKH, roan, calved January 11, 1844, by Va- lentine, dam Tulip, by Wellington, own brother to Sir Richard, 5175, &c., &c., G5 guineas — Mr. Douglas. LaUa Rookh has obtaiued the following premiums : — 1845 : j the "Wharfdale Agricultural Society, for the best one year I I heifer. At the Wetherby Agricultural Society, for the 1 5t one year old heifer. At the Highland Agricultural So- ' ty, Scotland, Dumfries, for the best oue year old heifer. — 46 : At the Wharfdale Agricultural Society, fer the best 0 years old heifer. At the Yorkshire Agi-icultm-al Society, • the second best two years old heifer. At tlie Wetherby jricultural Society, for the best two years old heifer. .ORA 2nd, red, calved March 27, 1844, by Prince Al- bert, 4793, dam Lady Frances, by Sultan Selim, 2710, &c., &c., 48 guineas — Mr. Barthropp. EG DoDDs, roan, calved June 12th, 1844, by Prince of Wales, da»i Wildair, by Bellerophon, 3119, &c., , &c., 31 guineas — INIr. Ambler. iosE Bud, roan, calved June 18, 1844, by Auld Robin Gray, 6753, dam Red Rose, by Scrip, 2G04, &c., &c., 60 guineas — Mr. Harvey Combe. HEIFERS. .ORENCE, roan, calved January 13, 1845, by 2nd Duke of Y^ork, 5959, dam Fame, by Raspberry, 4875, &c., &c., 70 guineas — Mr. Douglas. Florence has obtained the following premiums : — 1846 ; At e Wharfdale Agricultural Society, for the best one year old 1 ifer. — 1847 : At the Whtu-fdale Agricultural Society for the I'st two years old heifer. -AryVerixa, roan, calved March 10, 1845, by 2nd Duke of Y'ork, 5959, dam Molly, by Wellington, own brother to Sir Richard, 5175, &c., &c,, 60 guineas — Mr, Gamble. ENOBiA, roan, calved April 20, 1845, by 2nd Duke of York, 5959, dam Tulip, by Wellington, own brother to Sir Richard, 5175, &c., &c., 43 guineas— Mr. Wetherell for Mr. M, Calmont, Abbey Lands, near Belfast, Ireland, |1Ctoria, roan, calved April 20, 1843, by 2nd Duke of York, 5959, dam Rachel, by Sir Thomas, 7516, I &c., &c., 110 guineas— Earl Ducie. York and Lancaster Rose, red and white, calved July 13, 1845, by Petrarch, dam Red Rose, by Scrip, 2604, &c., &c., 45 guineas — Mr. Goodman. Fair Helen, roan, calved July 17, 1845, by Petrarch, dam Young Moss Rose, by Young Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 100 guineas — Earl Ducie. At the Wliarfdale Agi'icultural Society, 1846, Fair Helen ob- tained the first prize for the best heifer calf. Flora 3rd, white, calved July 20, 1845, by Petrarch, dam Lady Frances, by Sultan Selim, 2710, &c., ike, 40 guineas— Mr. Wetherell for Mr. M. Calmont. Cleopatra, roan, calved July 29, 1845, by Petrarch, dam Rebecca, by Dormont, 6931, &.c., &c., 155 guineas — Earl Ducie. Cleopatra has obtained the following premiums : — 1846 : At the Yorkshire Agricidtural Society, for the best one year old heifer. At the Wetherby AgTicultural Society, for the best one year old heifer. — 1847 : At the Wharfdale Agricidtural Society, for the best one year old heifer. Crocus, red and white, calved December 21, 1845, by Petrarch, dam Violet, by Forester, 3625, &c., &c., 50 guineas — Mr. Wetherell for Lord Calthorp. RoLLA 2nd, red and white, calved March 24, 1846, by Bucephalus, 6784, dam Belluno, by Borderer, 3191, &,c., tkc, 29 guineas — Col. Kingscote. HEIFER CALVES. Edith, red and white, calved September 11, 1840, by Petrarch, dam Neena, by Buckingham, 3239, &c,, &c., 27 guineas — Col. Kingscote. Red Moss Rose, red, calved September 13, 1846, by Star of Northumberland, dam Moss Rose, by Sir Thomas Fairfax, 5196, &c,, &c., 30 guineas — Mr. Maynard. White Rose, white, calved December 4, 1846, by Pe- trarch, dam Rosebud, by Auld Robin Grey, 6753, &c., &c., 43 guineas— Mr. Wetherell. Flora 4th, red and white, calved December 5, 1846, by Petrarch, dam Flora, by Prince Albert, 4793, &c, &c., 65 guineas — Earl Ducie. 1847 : At the Wharfdate Agricultural Society Flora 4th ob- tained the first prize for the best heifer calf. RoLL.'i. 3rd, roan, calved March 24, 1847, by Petrarch, dam Belluno, by Borderer, 3191, &c., &c., 30 guineas — Mr. Maynard, Jenny Lind, red and white, calved June 23, 1847, by Star of ISIorthumberland, dam Young Moss Rose, by Y'^oung Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 16 guineas — Mr. Wright, BULLS AND BULL CALVES. Petrarch, 7329, roan, calved April 8, 1843, by Rock- ingham, 2550, dam Starville, by Young Sea Gull, 5100, &c., &c., 70 guineas — Mr. Spence. St.vr of Northumberland, 7554. red and white, calved April 4, 1844, by Prince Albert, 4793, dam SonsieSrd, by Sultan Selim, 2710, &c., &c.,21 guineas —Mr, Firth, Master of Bochan, red and white, calved June 19, 1845, by Buchan Hero, 3238, dam Starville, by Y^oung Sea Gull, 5100, &c., &c., 35 guineas— Mr. Pollock. Major, red and white, calved July 1, 1846, by Pe- trarch, dam Y''oung Moss Rose, by Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 20 guineas— Mr. Stansfield, M.P. Star, roan, calved August 14, 1846, by Petrarch, dam Lady Frances, by Sultan Selim, 2710, &c., &c., 40 guineas — Mr. Goodman. Golden Horn, red and white, calved November 15, 1846, by Petrarch, dam Lalla Rookh, by Valentine, &c., &c., 27 guineas — Mr. Spence. 308 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Timothy, red and white, calved November 30, 1846, by Petrarch, dam Lady Emma Fairfax, by Lord John, 4259, Sec, &c., 18 guineas— Mr. Ambler. Albano, white, calved March 2, 1847, by Petrarch, dam Megg Dodds, by Prince of Wales, &c., &c., 11 guineas — Mr. Speuce. Duke, red and white, calved March 22, 1847, by Pe- trarch, dam Yellow Duchess, by Sultan Selim, 2710, &c,, &c., 15 guineas — Mr. Cooper. North Star, roan, calved April 12, 1847, by Star of Northumberland, dam Starville, by Young Sea Gull, 6100, &c., &c., 22 guineas— Mr. Birchall. SALE OF SHORT-HORNED CATTLE, THE PROPERTY OF JOHN HUTTON, ESQ., SOW- BER HILL, NEAR NORTHALLERTON, YORK- SHIRE. BY Mil. WETHERELL, ON TUESDAY, THE 7th day OF SEPTEMBER. COWS AND HEIFERS. Lilly, white, calved in 1834, by Rockingham, 2551, dam Lively, by Jerry, 2159, &c., &c,, 22 guineas — purchased by Mr. Gamble. Lucky, roan, calved in 183G, by Young Matchem, 4422, dam Lively, by Jerry, 2159 &c., &c., 28 guineas— Mr. Ruddock. MusA, roan, calved in 1840, by Raspberry, 4875, dam Strawberry, by Rockingham, 2551, &c., &c., 22 gui- neas—Mr. Ruddock. Cactus, roan, calved March 19th, 1840, by Raspberry, 4875, dam Lily, by Rockingham, 2551, &c., &c. — not offered. Justicia, roan, calved Oct. 6th, 1841, by Raspberry, 4875, dam Lucky, by Young Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 35 guineas— Mr. Turner. Lucy, roan, calved June 2nd, 1842, by Leonard, 4210, dam by Raspberry, 4875, &c., &c., 50 guineas— Mr. Ashton. Bletia, white, calved July 8th, 1842, by Leonard, dam Lily, by Rockingham, 2551, &c., &c., 72guineas —Mr. Pollock. GL0Xi>fiA, white, calved March 20th, 1842, by Leonard, 4210, dam Proud, by Rockingham, 2551, &c., &c., 24 guineas — Mr. Lancaster. Euphorbia, roan, calved Dec. 14th, 1842, by Liver- pool, 4325, dam Lucky, by Young Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 30 guineas — Mr. King. Hybiscus, white, calved Jan. 14th, 1343, by Clementi, 3399, dam Strawberry, by Rockingham, 2551, &c., &c., 50 guineas — Mr. Wetherell for Mr. Hopper. Cassia, roan, calved March 4th, 1843, by Leonard, 4210, dam Cactus, by Raspberry, 4875, &c., &c., 130 guineas — Mr. Watson. Camilla, rotn, calved March 4th, 1844, by Clementi, 3399, dam Cactus, by Raspberry, 4875, &c., &c., 61 guineas — Mr. Ashton, Lobelia, white, calved Sept. 26th, 1845, by Clementi, 3399, dam Lucy, by Leonard, 4210, &c., &c., 25 guineas — Mr. Hamilton. Salvia, white, calved Sept. 27th, 1845, by Clementi, 3399, dam Rosa, by Raspberry, 4875, &c., &c , 40 guineas — Mr. Harvey Combe. Erica, roan, cahed Nov. 2, 1845, by Clementi, 3399, dam Gloxinia, by Leonard, 4210, &c. &c., 12 guineas — Mr. Wilkinson. Gardenier, roan, calved in April, 1846, by Maunby, 7223, dam by Raspberry, 4875, 21 guineas — Mr. Wetherell. HEIFER CALVES. Marcia, white, calved Oct. 2nd, 1846, by Fitz Le nard, 7010, dam by Raspberry, 4875, 27 guineas Mr. Hamilton. Sensitive, roan, calved Oct. 7th, 1846, by Fitz Le nard, 7010, dam Musa, by Raspberry, 4875, &. &c., 25 guineas — Mr. Mauleverer. Sthanhopea, white, calved June 1st, 1847, by Ch; lenger, 7884, dam Lucy, by Leonard, 4210, &c., & 16 guineas — Mr. Gamble. ^.. BULLS AND BULL CALVES. ( Challenger, white, calved March 13th, 1845, Clementi, 3399, dam Cactus, by Raspberry, 48j! &c., &c., 28 guineas— Mr. Gamble. ^ Newby, red, calved Feb. 9th, 1346 (own brother Challenger), by Clementi, 3399, dam Cactus, Raspberry,4875,&c.,&c., 25 guineas — Mr. Wether for Mr. Anderson. Confederate, white, calved Oct. 7th, 1846, by B Leonard, 7010, dam Lily, by Rockingham, 2551, &« &c., 36 guineas — Mr. Wetherell for Mr. Bloomfie* Ireland. Commandant, roan, calved Nov. 19th, 1846, by Ff Leonard, 7010, dam Justicia, by Raspberry, 48f &c., &c., 25 guineas — Mr. Hamilton. Tancred, roan, calved Jan. 29th, 1847, by Bu( ingham, dam Bletia, &c., &c., not sold. Bull calf, by Buckingham, dam Camilla, by Clemer 3399, 40 guineas— Mr. Wetherell for Mr. CoUingrid; Godington, near Bicester. The following, the property of the late Thomas Stul Walker, Esq., deceased, of Maunby Hall, near North' lerton, were also sold at the same time : COWS AND HEIFERS. Farewell, white, calved in 1836 (bred by Mr. Boot by Matchem, 4422, dam Flora, by Isaac, 1129, & &c., 20 guineas — Mr. Stewart. ■ Emily, roan, calved Feb. 22nd, 1843, by Rufus, 509 dam Farewell, by Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 30 guinti —Mr. Garnett. Gooseberry, roan, calved May 13th, 1844, by C menti, 3399, dam Blackberry, by Raspberry, 481 &c., &c., 29 guineas — Col. Kingscote. Young White Face, roan, calved Feb. 11th, 184S, a Son of Rowland, 5005, dam White Face, by Wi lington, 5625, &c., &c., 18 guineas — Mr. Mauleven Young Poll, red, calved Jan. 15th, 1845, byQ menti, 3399, dam Poll, by Raspberry, 4875, &c.,^l 14 guineas — Mr. Mauleverer. Clementina, white, calved Dec. 1st, 1844, by CI menti, 3399, dam Farewell, by Matchem, 4422, & &c., 18 guineas — Mr. Watson. f. Clematis, white, calved Dec. 1st, 1844 (twin sisl to Clementina), by Clementi, 3399, dam Farewell, Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 17 guineas— Mr leverer. , Young Ruby, red and white, calved June 14th, !§' by Buckingham, 3239, dam Ruby, by Isaac, 1^1 &c., &c., 25 guineas — Mr. Wetherell for Lord Ci thorpe. Cranberry, roan, calved April 27th, 1845, by by, 7223, dam Blackberry, bv Raspberry, 4875,' &c., 23 guineas — Mr. Mauleverer. Fairface, roan, calved March 16th, 1845, by Maunb 7223, dam Whiteface, by Wellington, 5625, &c., &< 33 guineas — Mr. Harvey Combe. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. M ANE, roan, calved Sept. 10th, 1845, by Maunby, 7223, dhmMary Ann, by Rubens, 5027, &c., &c., 20 guineas —Mr. Smithson. OUNG Farewell, roan, calved Dec. 12th, 1845, by Buckingham, 3239, dam Farewell, by Matchem, 4422, &c., &c., 70 guineas — Mr. Wetherell for Lord Cal- thorpe. ANNY THE Second, roan, calved Jan. 5th, 1846, by Maunby, 7223, dam Fanny, by Rubens, 5027, &c., &c., dead. /■fiiTE Face the Fourth, roan, calved March 1st, 1846, by Maunby, 7223, dam Young White Face, by a Son of Rowland, 5005, &c., &c., not offered. OUNR White Stockings, roan, calved Oct. 7th, ! 1846, by Maunby, 7223, dam White Stockings, by Tom Fairfax, 6610, &c., &c., 10 guineas— Mr. Wil- kinson. HEIFER CALVES. vjowDROP, white, calved Jan. 4th, 1847, by Maunby, 7223. dam Young White Face, by a Son of Rowland, 5005, &c., &c., 10 guineas— Mr. Wyre. aroness, roan, calved Jan. 17th, 1847, by Baron Warlaby, 7813, dam Clematis, by Clementi, 3399, &c., &c., 42 guineas — Mr. Harvey Combe. tscouNTESS, white, calved Jan. 28th, 1847, by Baron Warlaby, 7813, dam Clementina, by Clementi, 3399, &c., &c., 41 guineas— Mr. Watson. acY, roan, calved Jan. 31st, 1847, by Tom Fairfax, 6610, dam Emily, by Rufus, 5032, &c., &c., 20 guineas — Mr. Gamble. OAN Heifer Calf, calved Feb. 12th, 1847, by Maunby, 7223, dam Blackberry, by Raspberry, 4875, &c., &c., 10 guineas — Mr. Fowle. OAN Heifer Calf, calved Feb. 12th, 1847, by Maunby, 7223, dam Blackberry, by Raspberry, 4875, &.C., &c., 10 guineas— Mr. Fowle. BULL. OB, roan, calved Sept. 8th, 1845, by Maunby, 7223, dam Red Polly, by Rufus, 5032, &c., &c., 10 guineas —Mr. Mauleverer. Tlie following Short-horns, the property of William utson, Esq., of Newby-Wiske, near Northallerton, ere also sold : COWS. ily, white, calved March 29th, 1843, by Clementi, 3399, dam by Matchem, 4422, &c., 25 guineas— Mr. Morton. OUNG Violet, roan, calved Oct. 25th, 1842, got by Clementi, 3399, dam by Rockingham, 2551, or Priam, 2452, &c., &c., 30 guineas— Mr. Wetherell. osE, roan, calved Feb. 22nd, 1843, by Clementi, 3399, 35 guineas — Mr. Ashton. LE OF THE ENTIRE HERD OF IM- PROVED SHORT-HORNED CATTLE, ELONGING TO MR. PARKINSON. BY MR. WETHERELL, ON FRIDAY, THE IOTH DAY OP SEPTEMBER, 1847, AT LEY-EIELDS, NEAR NEWARK, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. COWS AND HEIFERS. 'ressida, roan, calved July 21st, 1840, by Cossack, 1880, dam Cassandra by Miracle, 2320, &c., &c., 110 ^ gumeas — purchased by Mr. Eastwood. Camilla, roan, calved Aug. 4th, 1840, by Cossack, 1880, dam Clara by Algernon, 1631, &c., &c., 30 gviineas— Mr. Everett. Harriet, roan, calved in 1840, by Noble, 4578, dam Helen by Invalide, 4076, &c., &c., 61 guineas — Mr. Smith, West Rasen. A red Bull Calf by Captam Shaftoe, 6833, dam Harriet, calved July 1st, 1847, 26 guineas— Mr. Malins. Cecilia, roan, calved May 11th, 1842, by Orontes, 4623, dam Music by Roman, 2561, &c., &c., 70 guineas — Mr. Smith, West Rasen. Garland, roan, calved in 1842, by Hector, 4000, dam Moss Rose by Emperor, 1974, &c., &c., 47 guineas- Mr. Watson. Rosalie, roan, calved in 1840, by Second Comet, 5101, dam Rosamond by Velocipede, 5552, &c., &c., 38 guineas — Mr. Niblett. Calceolaria, roan, calved in autumn, 1841, by King Arthur, 4152, dam Camelia by Speculation, 5290, &c., &c., 40 guineas — Mr. Wilson. Lena, roan, calved May 18th, 1838, by Orator, 2390, dam Laurestina, by Darlington, 3561, &c., &c., 50 guineas — Mr. Colvin. Melody, roan, calved October 31st, 1842, by Sir Tho- mas Fairfax, 5196, (the winner of the premium for the best Bull shown at the Meeting of the Royal Agri- cultural Society of England at Bristol, in 1842), dam Magic by Wallace, 5586, 64 guineas — Mr. Baker. Medusa, roan, calved February 22nd, 1841, by Mow- thorpe, 2343, dam Magic by Wallace, 5586, &c., &c., 62 guineas — Mr. Colvin. Magic, white, calved in 1835, by Wallace, 5586, dam by Wellington, 2824, &c., &c., 45 guineas— Sir W. Cooke. Dido, white, calved in May, 1837, by Wallace, 5586, dam Dairymaid by Wellington, 2824, &c., &c., 45 guineas — Sir W. Cooke. Deborah, white, calved June 19th, 1843, by Sir Tho- mas Fairfax, 5196, dam Dido by Wallace, 5586, &c., &c., 65 guineas — Mr. Fetherstonhaugh. A red roan Bull Calf, by Captain Shaftoe, 6833, dam Deborah, calved August 16th, 1847, 33 guineas — Mr. Clark. Daffodil, red roan, calved May 23rd, 1844, by Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Dido by Wallace, 5586, &c., &c., 51 guineas— Mr. Miles, M.P. Marigold, roan, calved December 19th, 1841, by Se- cond Comet, 5101, dam May Rose by Young Matchem , 4425, &c., &c., 61 guineas — Mr. Harvy Combe. A red heifer calf, by Captain Shaftoe, 6833, dam Marigold, calved July 11th 1847, 21 guineas — Mr. Gamble. Lavinia, red, calvedMarch21st, 1844, byPrince Erneat, 4818, dam Lady Anne by Ganthorpe, 2049, &c., &c., 36 guineas — Mr. Eastwood. White Rose, calved August 10th, 1840, by the Colonel, 4525, dam Twin Cow by Young Rockingham, 2547, &c., &c., 36 guineas— Mr. Barnett. Olivia, roan, calved in 1841, by Strelley, 5339, dam Young Moss Rose by Alexander, 2978, &c,, &c., 57 guineas — Sir W. Cooke. Olive, roan, calved August, 1844, by Thurgarion, 7632, dam Olivia by Strelley, 5339, &c., &c., 44 guineas — Sir W. Cooke. Phara, roan, calved April 17th, 1840, by Ronald, 5005, dam Primrose by Layton, 2192, &c.,&c., 27 guineas —Mr. King, Fair Driffield, roan, calved December 26th, 1840, by Sir Thomas Fairfax, 5196, dam Daisy by Grazier, 1085, &c., &c., 34 guineas— Mr. Niblett. Fair Jessamine, red, calved in April, 1840, by Sir Thomas Fairfax, 5196, dam Jessamine by Edmund, 1954, &c., &c., 29 guineas— Mr. Barnett. Seraph ina, light roan, calved in October, 1842, by Zenith, 5702, dam Joan by Warlock, 5599, &c., &c., 45 guineas — Sir. W. Cooke. 310 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Peeress, light roan, calved in 1812, by Hector, 4000, dam Old Peeress by Agricola, 1614, &c., &c., 48 guineas — Mr. Champion. Angelica, roan, calved April 10th, 1840, by William, 2840, dam Calypso by Algernon, 1631, &c., &c., 60 guineas — SirW. Cooke. Auricula, roan, calved May, 1841, by Roman, 2561, dam Calypso by Algernon, 1631, &c., &c., 50 guineas —Mr. Slade. HoNEYSucKLE,roan, calved February, 1836, by William, 2840, dam by Rodney, 1392, &c., &c., 40 guineas- Mr. Ambler. Blanche 2nd, white, calved May 8th, 1835, bv Norfolk, 2377, dam Blanche by Belvedere, 1706, &c., &c., 25 guineas — Mr. Beauford. Velvet, white, calved May 17th, 1841, by Cossack, 1880, dam Victoria by Eclipse, 1949, &c., &c., 27 guineas — Mr. Jonas Webb. RowENA, roan, calved in November, 1842, by Strelley, 5339, dam Rose by Strelley, 5339, &c., &c., 40 guineas — Mr. Newstead. Ruby, red, calved in 1841, by Strelley, 5339, dam Red Rose by Alexander, 2978, &c., &c., 26 guineas — Mr. Thompson. Laura, roan, calved May 20th, 1840, by Will Honey- comb, 5660, dam by Lenton, 4205, &c., &c., 24 guineas — Mr. Ambler. Sweetbriar, roan, calved in 1840, by Sterling, 5330, dam by Commodore, 1858, &c., &c., 25 guineas — Mr. Lathmore. Lucy, dark roan, calved May, 1844, by Dandy Din- mont, 5906, dam by Mina, 2316, &c,, &c., 19 guineas —Mr. Barnett. Martha, white, calved March 26th, 1835, by Dar- lington, 3561, dam Maiy Anne, by Favourite, 1028, &c., &c., 52 guineas — Mr. Tucker. Lady, roan, calved May 20th, 1844, by Vanguard, 6653, dam Young Duchess by Belshazzar, 1704, &c., &c., 55 gs. — SirW. Cooke. Vestris, roan, calved in 1844, by Young Belshazzar, 21 22, dam Verbena by Noble, 4578, &c., &c., 44 gs,— Mr. Harvey Combe. Rarity, white, calved November 13th, 1843, by Sir Thomas Fairfax, 5196, dam Rosalie, by Second Comet, 5101, &c., &c., 38 gs.— Mr. Ladds. Eleanor, roan, calved June 19th, 1844, by Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Eudochia by Orator, 2390, &c., &c., 50 gs. — Mr. Harvey Combe. Miriam, roan, calved August, 1844, by Thurgarton, 7632, dam Maria by Strelley, 5339, &c., &c., 18gs.— - Mr. Thompson. Rosebud, roan, calved January, 1845, by Thurgarton, 7632, dam Rose by Strelley, 5339, 21 gs.— Mr. Thompson. LuciLLA, red, calved July 1st, 1844, by Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Lena by Orator, 2890, 46 gs.— Mr. Champion. Celeste, red, calved November 19th, 1844, by Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Camilla by Cossack, 1880, &c., &c., 39 gs. — Mr. Lakin. Cerito, roan, calved April 17th, 1845, by Master Charley, 7215, dam Calceolaria by King Arthur, 4152, &c., &c,,44gs.— Mr. Slade. Flaxen, red, calved January 12th, 1845, by Prince Ernest, 4811, dam Fair Driffield, by Sir Thomas Fairfax, 5196, &c., &c., 47 gs.— Mr. Miles. Tortoise, roan, calved April 11, 1845, by Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Tuberose by Second Comet, 5101, &c., &c., 41 guineas — Mr. Slade. Stella, roan, calved March 8, 1845, by Lord Adolphus Fairfax, 4249, dam Sylvia by Eclipse, 1949, &c., &c., 30 guineas — Earl Howe. Linda, roan, calved August 2, 1845, by Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Letitia by Brentwood, 3212, &c., &( 40 guineas — Mr. Harvey Combe. Fantasy, red, calved July 26, 1845, by Prince Ernes 4818, dam Fair Jessamine by Sir Thomas Fairfa 5196, &c., &c., 21 guineas — Mr. Hawkes. JuLAP, red, calved September 13, 1845, by Sir Thorn Fairfax, 5196, dam Julia by Arch Duke, 3026, &( •Sec, 27 guineas — Mr. York. Votaress, dark roan, calved November 12, 1845, 1 Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Velvet by Cossack, 188 &c., &c., 42 guineas — Mr. Champion. Gazelle, roan, calved March 19, 1846, by Noble, 457 dam Garland by Hector, 4000 &c., &c,, 100 guine — Mr. Harvey Combe. Parade, roan, calved January 21, 1846, by Noble, 457 dam Peeress by Hector, 4000, &c., &c., 38 guineas- Mr. Slade. Augusta, roan, calved January 9, 1846, by Lo' Adolphus Fairfax, 4249, dam Matilda by Champagii^ 3317, &c., &c., 36 guineas.— Mr. Slade. Malmsey, roan, calved March 31, 1846, by Pritii Ernest, 4818 dam Martha by Darlington, 3561, &t; &c., 30 gs. — Col. Kingscote. Minstrel, dark roan, calved March 14, 1846, 1 Count Conrad, 3510, dam Magic by Wallace, 558- &c., &c., 60 guineas — Earl Ducie. Destiny, dark roan, calved March 21, 1846, by Prin Ernest, 4818, dam Dido by Wallace, 5586, &c., Su 46 guineas — Earl Ducie. Dinah, dark roan, calved July 28, 1846, by Prin« Ernest, 4818, dam Deborah by Sir Thomas Fairfai 5196, &c., &c., 42 guineas— Mr. Champion. Minerva, roan, calved June 1, 1846, by Prince Emein 4818, dam Medusa by Mowthorpe, 2343,&c,, &c.,' guineas — Mr. Slade. Esmeralda, red and white, calved May 17, 1846, 1 Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Eudochia by Orator, 23^ &c., &c., 40 guineas— Mr. Wetherell for Mr. I Calmont. Melissa, white, calved November 24th, 1846, 1 Count Conrad, 3510, dam Melody by Sir Thomi Fairfax, 5190, &c., &c., 41 guineas— Mr. Cook. Seraph, white, calved December 2nd, 1846, by Lani]» lighter, 8204, dam Seraphina by Zenith, 5702, Ac &c., 45 guineas— Mr. Wetherell for Mr. Watao) Walkeringham. Ceres, dark roan, calved February 17, 1847, by Pi Ernest, 4818, dam Cressida by Cossack, 1 &c., &c., 52 guineas — Mr. Wetherell for Watson. Festoon, red, calved Februai7 5, 1847, by Prince E nest, 4818, dam Fair Jessamine by Sir Thomas Fai fax, 5196, &c., &c,, 20 guineas— Mr. Hutchinson. Marina, dark roan, calved February 24, 1847, 1 Prince Ernest, 4818, dam Magic by Wallace, 558i &c., &c., 41 guineas — Mr. Wetherell for Loi Calthorpe. Phillis, roan, calved Feb. 7, 1847, by Prince Ernes 4818, dam Phara by Ronald, 5005, &c., &c.— m produced. La Belle, roan, calved April 11, 1847, by Woodstocl 7732, dam Lena by Orator, 2390, &c., &c., 3 guineas — Mr. Malins. Decima, red and white, calved April 17, 1847, b Alfred, 7777, dam Daffodil by Prince Ernest, 48U &c., &c., 22 guineas — Mr. Carter. LiviA, red, calved Marchl7th, 1847, by Captain Shaftos 6833, dam Lucy by Dandy Dmmont, 5906, &c., &c 20 guineas — Mr. Gamble. Willow, roan, calved April 28, 1847, by Prince Ei nest, 4818, dam White Rose, by the Colonel, 524? &c., &c., 20 guineas— Mr. Wetherell for Lor Calthorpe. mH THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 311 .YMPiA, red, calved May 27, 1817, by Roderick, dam Olivia by Strelley, 5339, &c., &c., 10 guineas. BULLS, .PTAiN Shaftoe, 6833, red, calved August 19th, 1842, by Mehemet Ali, 7227, dam Miss Shaftoe by Miracle, 2320, &c., &c., 140 guineas— Mr. Smith, West Rasen. AMOND, 5918, roan, calved March 29th, 1842, by Rubens, 5027, dam Necklace by Priam, 2452, &c., Sec, 48 guineas — Mr. Beauford. i DERicK, red and white, calved March 1842, by Mar- |nion, dam Rocket by Alamode, 752, &c., &c., 46 I guineas— Mr. Marfleet. I^kchmont, roan, calved Aug. 26th, 1846, by Prince ' 3mest, 4818, dam Marigold, by Second Comet, 5101, v:('., &c., 35 guineas — Mr. Game. ATHAM, roan, calved Aug. 30th, 1846, by Prince :.inest, 4818, dam Calceolaria, by King Arthur, 4152, s;c., &c., 60 guineas — Mr. Baker. RTiGERN, roan, calved Feb. 16th, 1846, by Prince ilrnest, 4818, dam Velvet by Cossack, 1880, &c., &c., 0 guineas — Mr. Cook. XHAM, roan, calved Feb. 10th, 1846, by Evander, ;981, dam Henrietta by William, 2840, &c., &c., 20 uineas — Mr. Harvey. TIMER, roan, calved April 13th, 1846, by Count Jonrad, 3510, dam Lena by Orator, 2390, &c., c\c., 9 guineas — Mr. Miles. I EON, red and white, calved Nov. 21st, 1846, by 'rince Ernest, 4818, dam Camilla by Cossack, 1880, cc., &c., 30 guineas — Mr. Carter. '. NTHAM, roan, calved Jan. 24th, 1847, by Count 'onrad, 3510, dam Fair Driffield by Sir Thomas Fair- ax, 5196, &c., &c., 23 guineas— Earl Howe. '. i/oRME, roan, calved April 8th, 1847, by Alfred, 777, dam Dido by Wallace, 5586, &c., &c., 31 uineas — Mr. Brook. L,ULUS, red, calved April 18th, 1847, by Roderick, lam Ruby by Strelly, 5339, &c., &c., 10 guineas. — 1 Vlr. Bennett. ; TiisAY, roan, calved April 24th, 1847, by Prmce ilrnest, 4818, dam Rosalie by Second Comet, 5101, •cc, &c., 32 guineas. RRAiNE, red, calved May 22nd, 1847, by Alfred, 777, dam Lavinia by Prince Ernest, 4818, &c, &c., , 10 guineas. — Mr. Norlton. Jenheim, roan, calved June 11th, 1847, by Prince 5rnest, 4818, dam Blanche 2nd by Norfolk, 2377, vc, &c., 22 guineas. — Mr. Buckley. 4 l\LE OF IMPROVED SHORT-HORN COWS, HEIFERS AND BULLS, LONGING TO, AND BRED BY, U. BARCLAY JA.LLARDICE, ESa., OF URY, BY STONEHAVEN, N. B. SOLD BY MR. WETHERELL, ON WED- NESDAY, 22ND SEPT. LAST. COWS. Idlet, 9 years old, roan, by Cherokee, 3363, dam Primrose, iy Silkworm, 1432, 30 guineas — Mr. Morrison i|:.iA, 10 years old, roan, by Paganini, 2405, dam by Jerry, il59, 42 guineas— Mr. Hay .iiRY Anne, 10 years old, dark roan, by Sillery, 5131, dam iliss Gibson, by Carleton, 843, 20 guineas — Mr. Macliray, or Milne RAH, 10 years old, light roan, by Sillery, 5131, dam Emily, ly Sillery, 5131, 30 guineas— Mr. Morrison ILY, 10 years old, Ught roan, by Reformer, 2509, dam by Mucher,1725,25 guineas— Mr. Cruickshanks Jane, 10 years old, roan, by Reformer, 2509, dam by llaby, 2474, 18 giuneas — Mr. Machray Imogene, 10 years old, light roan, by Saturn, 5089, dam Christabel, by Silkworm, 1432, 27 guineas — Mr. Smitli Myrtle, 10 years old, roan, by Sir Henry, 1445, dam Palm- bloom, by Juniper, 1144, 17 guineas — Mr. Martin Magnet, 7 years old, roan, by Emperor, 3716, dam Magnet, by Invalide, 4076, 30 guineas — Mr. Ross Clara, 6 years old, roan, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Jane, 63 guineas — Mr. Cruickshanks White Rose, 6 years old, white, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Mary Anne, 18 guineas — Mr. Lyall Rosamond, 6 years old, red, by Sultan, 5349, dam Rose, by Plenipo, 4425, 73 guineas — Mr. Longmore Ann, 6 years old, light roan, by Sultan, 5349, dam Violet, 20 guineas — Mr. Martin Cicely, 6 years old, red and white, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Julia, 37 guineas — Mr. Wetherell, for Mr. Watson Margaret, 6 years old, dark red, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Mary Ance, 21 guineas — Mr. Machray Alice, 6 years old, dark roan, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Ma- tilda, by Sillery, 5131, 27 guineas — Mr. Sharack Jessamine, 6 years old, red, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Rose, by Plenipo, 4725, 35 guineas — Mr. Smith Primrose, 6 years old, roan, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Violet, 28 giuneas — Mr. Garland Helen, 4 years old, red roan, by 2nd Duke, 3646, dam Mary Anne, 34 guineas — Mr. Milne Daffodile, 4 years old, light roan, by 2nd Duke, 3646, dam Myrtle, 62 guineas — Mr. Morrison Kitty, 4 years old, red and white, by 2nd Duke, 3646. dam Adeline, 38 guineas — ]Mr. Ross Dainty, 4 years old, red, by 2nd Duke, 3646, dam Magnet, 26 guineas — Mr. Harvey Daisy, 4 years old, red and wliite, by 2nd Duke, 3646, dam Carnation, by Sillery, 5131, 26 guineas — Mr. Scott Crocus, 4 years old, red and white, by 2ud Duke, 3646, dara Nora, 39 guineas — Mr. Harvey Delight, 4 years old, red, by The Pacha, 7612, dam Violet, 38 guineas — Mr. Lumsden Diana, 4 years old, light roan, by The Pacha, 7612, dam Victoria, 23 guineas — Mr. Sharack Victoria, 6 years old, white and roan, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Adeline, 23 guineas — Mr. Lyall Fanny, 4 years old, roan, by The Turk, 7651, dam Juno, by Saturn, 5089, 35 guineas — Mr. Hay Empress, 4 years old, roan, by 2nd Duke, 3646, dam Prim- rose, 61 guineas — Mr. Wetherell, for Lord Calthorpe Strawberry, 4 years old, red, by 2nd Duke, 3646, dam Margaret, 21 guineas — Mr. McBay Queen of the Meadows, 5 years old, white, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Jane, 27 guineas — Mr. Wetherell Lady Bird, 5 yeai-s old, red and white, by Mahomed, 6170, dam Adehne, 43 guineas — Mr. Sharack Favourite Strawberry, 8 years old, roan, own sister to Strawberry Favourite, by Tathwell Favourite, 5400, dam Strawberry 2nd, by Commodore, 1858, 44 gumeas — Mr. Cruickshanks When, 7 years old, roan, by Young Frederick, 3836, dam Old When, by Tathwell Studley,5401, 31 guineas— Mr. Cruick- shanks Jessica, 3 years old, red and white, by The Pacha, 7612, dam Mary Ann, 26 guineas — Mr. Fowler Maria, 3 years old, roan, by The Pacha, 7612, dam Emily, 40 guineas — Mr. Whitehead Nancy, 3 years old, red and white, by Tlie Pacha, 7612, dam Adeline, 1 5 guineas — Mr. McBay Countess, 3 years old, red, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Jessa- mine, 23 gumeas — Mr. Macluay Cora, 3 years old, red, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Alice — 21 guineas — Mr. Wetherell Bashful, three years old, red, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Rosa- mond, 45 guineas — Mr. Hay Molly, three years old, red, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Marga- ret, 71 guineas — Mr. Hay. TWO YEAR OLD HEIFERS. Fairy Queen, red and white, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Clara, 26 guineas — Mr. Morrison 312 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Duchess, roan, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Carnation, 37 guineas — Mr. Tower Fair Maid, roan, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Anne, 56 guineas — Mr. Tower Flower, red and white, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Jessamine, 40 guineas — Duke of Richmond Hebe, red, by tlie Pacha, 7612, dam Alice, 38 guineas, Mr. WethereU Fancy, roan, by the Pacha, 761 2, dam Adeline, 34 guineas — Mr. Marr Farewell, roan, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Violet, 26 guineas —Mr. Blackie Malibran, roan, by the Pacha, 7612, dam Primrose, 40 guineas — Mr. Chalmers Moss Rose, roan, by the Earl of Durham, 5965, dam by Newton, 2367, 47 guineas— Mr. Milne ONE YEAR OLD HEIFERS. By the Pacha, 7612, dam Adeline, 20 guineas — Mr. Moirison By the Pacha, 7612, dam Diana, 33 guineas — Mr. Marr By the Pacha, 7612, dam Clara, 52 guineas — Mr. Hay By the Pacha, 7612, dam Helen, 27 guineas — Mr. Whitehead By the Pacha, 7612, dam Kitty, 16 guineas — Mr. Marr By the Pacha, 7612, dam Daisy 19 guineas — Mr. Lumsden By the Duke, 3646, dam Mary Anne, 28 guineas— :Mr. White- head By the Pacha, 7612, dam Crocus, 21 guineas — Mr. Longmore By the Duke, 3646, dam Emily, 33 guineas — Mr. Ledingham By the Pacha, 7612, dam Dainty, 16 guineas — Mr. Blackie. By the Duke, 3646, dam JNIagnet, 16 guineas — Mr. Machray By the Pacha, 7612, dam Strawberry, 24 guineas — Duke of Richmond By the Duke, 3646, dam Nora, 36 guineas — Mr. Whitehead By the Duke, 3646, dam Queen of the Meadows, 21 guineas — Mr. Machray By the Duke, 3646, dam Daffodile, 28 guineas— Mr. Chalmers By the Duke, 3646, dam Alice, 14 guineas — Mr. Black By the Duke, 3646, dam Rosebud, 27 guineas — Mr. Jlarr Pacha, 41 guineas — Mr. Cruickshanks HEIFER CALVES. Pacha, 7612, dam Empress, 41 guineas — Mr. Harvey Pacha, 7612, dam Emily, 31 guineas — Mr. Whitehead Duke, 3646, dam Ladybird, 15 guineas — Mr. Stodard Pacha, 7612, dam Daisy, 18 guineas — Mr. Harvey Pacha, 7612, dam Dainty, 20 guineas — Mr. Harvey Pacha, 7612, dam Crocus, 20 guineas — Mr. Campbell Duke, 3646, dam Cora, 18 guineas — Mr. Ewing Duke, 3646, dam Jessamine, 25 guineas — Mr. Smith Pacha, 7612, dam Daffodile, 22 guineas— Mr. White- By the By the By the By the By the By the By the By the By the head By the bell Pacha, 7612, dam Strawberry, 9 guineas — Mr. Camp- BULL CAL\TES. By the Pacha, 7612, dam Favourite Strawberry, 30 guineas — Mr. Morrison By the Duke, 3646, dam Rosamond, 41 guineas — Mr. Hay By the Pacha, 7612, dam Jane, 19 guineas — Mr. Machray By the Duke, 3646, dam Countess, 23 guineas — INIr. Machray By the Duke, 3646, dam Nancy, 20 guineas — Mr. Stewart By the Pacha, 7612, dam AdeUne, 19 guineas — Mr. Gladstone By the Duke, 3646, dam Diana, 16 guineas — Mr. Falconer By the Duke, 3646, dam White Rose, 19 guineas — Mr. Stewart By the Duke, 3646, dam Helen, 26 guineas — Mr. Reid By the Duke, 3646, dam Alice, 40 guineas — Mr. Garland By the Duke, 3646, dam Primrose, 21 guineas — Mr. Walker By the Pacha, 7612, dam Anne, 15 guineas — Mr. Lyall. TENANT FARMERS AND RABBITS. Of all the annoyances which a tenant farmer has to endure, perhaps the game and rabbits on his farm are most troublesome. Not only has he to pay a stipulated rent for the ground he occupies, but also an additional one in the shape of food for these destructive animals — kept for the landlord's pleasure, to be seiTed on his table or sold for benefit. Little do landlords know, and indeed it is of , little opportunity they have of knowing, the ext ; of damage done to crops by rabbits alone. I h: j seen whole acres of barley utterly destroyed • them, and tons of turnips either entirely eaten off ; ground, or with the skin broken, in which c, they generally rot and become of no value w\ . ever. Now a'"l this the tenant is expected to b without a murmur. He has to pay this secc rent, for which no stipulation has been made, wi out advantage to himself. Go out into the fields some evening, hor , tenant farmer — sit upon some stile near your cc and watch the little rabbits come skipping al( and commence eating the ears off; but donottoi them ; beware ! for should the game-keeper ca you, it is ten to one you receive notice to <\ because you would not let your landlord's rabi feed upon your provender. Such is the e.xisting position in which the ten ; stand as regards the landlord, and such one of many grievances which a tenant is expected quii to endure. Should the occupier of the farm mention anytli about compensation to the owner, what says 1 You knew there were rabbits on the farm, why you take it ? But where is the man, who, when hires a farm, will say to the landlord, " The rabl will destroy an acre," or, " the rabbits will consu two weeks rent : you must forgive me it "? Let tell you, a landlord would hear it twice before would understand it ; and when he understood would deride it as ridiculous and ])reposterous. long as he can have his rabbits fed at the expense another, he will not feed them himself. So long he can have the pleasure of shooting on his est without cost, he wi'' not burthen himself with disagreeable an item. In the main, however, it is the tenant's o blame, who not merely submits to so great a ( gradation, but quietly allows his pocket to be pici in such a manner by one who generally consid(' himself so much his superior in wealth and star ing. There is a want of spirit in the farmers, rise and throw aside these unjust usages, to c aside these proofs of ancient jjondage — there 1 been a want of animation, that I trust is gone 1 The time has at length arrived, I am happy to s; when the farmers are rising into a body of ii portance, pushing their way and asserting th claims. May the time not be long before they c demand their rights, and may they then forget tl they formerly lived the victims of grievances a injustice! Poor Price THE FARMER'3 MAGAZINE. 313 ON THE MANURES OF THE FARM. BY THOMAS SULLIVAN. (Concluded.) Now that the agriculturists of the United King- tm have within their reach, and at apparently mo- rate charges, a great A-ariety of jjortable fertihzers, t a few of them jjerhaps consider it improper to 'oramend, and inexpedient to resort to, the for- ition of composts, which necessarily imjiose a asiderable amount of labour 1)oth in their collec- n and in their appUcation ; but, while being duly isible of the value of some of the manures of nmerce, and willing to acknowledge the great )etus their introduction has imparted to British iculture, we conceive that it is still, and probably \ fiys will be, the interest of the farmer to render keep himself as independent as possible of the i tiure market. The shameful extent to which tj nefarious practice of adulterating every new and ] ular manure is carried on has rendered the em- 1 ,ment of some of the portable fertilizers in too I ly instances a source of loss and vexatious dis- a ointment to the farmer ; besides, the sums paid ii ome cases for extraneous manures form no in- cj siderable item in the annual outlay. The culti- v| )r, then, who studies his own interest by endea- i\ ring to raise the heaviest crops at the least cost W constantly avail himself of every means and ojortunity of increasing the quantity and impx-ov- the quality of the fertilizing substances existing lis farm ; and certainly the formation of com- p s should not be neglected when suitable oppor- ti ties occur for collecting and commixing the irierials. Periods of comparative leisure occur on abst all tillage farms, as in the interval l)etween tl completion of turnip sowing and the commence- in t of harvest, and also during the continuance ol-osts, which should be taken advantage of for !cting together all substances capable of being .'erted into manure. he materials eligible for the formation of com- pc s are various and abundant, comprising, as tA do, all sorts of animal and vegetable refuse, at| in fact, all suljstances capable of undergoing thjirocess of fermentation. Rich vegetable earth ni;d with any description of putrescent refuse, ai lime combined with earthy substances contain- ing a considerable proportion of inert organic aijer, form simple and valuable composts. In se :ting the ingredients of a compost regard must, w.jver, be had to the nature and texture of the so to which it is intended to be apphed. Thus, a compost for light, open soils, M'hether sandy or peaty, is best formed by mixing the excrements of animals that chew the cud with good, tenacious earth, the sediment of ponds, the scourings of ditches, &c., which are of a comparatively enduring character, and are valuable in imparting an increased degree of coherence to the particles of the soil. On the other hand, a compost intended for appli- cation to adhesive clay lands is best formed by mixing the excrements of horses and swine with vegetable earth, sand, road scrapings, bog stuff, &c. Quick-lime might very properly constitute an ingredient in composts intended for application to strong clay soils, except when farm-yard dung or other decomposing animal and vegetable substances are principal constituents, in which case quick-lime should not be added to the mass ; as we are assured by good chemical authorities that it possesses a tendency to form insoluble compounds with almost all animal and vegetable substances that are soft, and thus to counteract or destroy their fermentative properties. Jjime Composts. — The substances which may with propriety and advantage be formed into a compost with lime are numerous, and usually exist in abun- dance on arable farms. In general, all earthy sub- stances containing any considerable proportion of vegetable matter are well adapted for this purpose, as the lime accelerates the decomposition of inert vegetable substances, and thereby converts them into nourishment for grov/ing plants. In order clearly to comprehend the efficacy of lime as the fermentable agent in the compost heap, it is neces- sary to bear in mind that it possesses two distinct and pecuhar modes of action. First, it operates m,echanicaUij on both light and heavy soils, impart- ing an increased degree of coherence to the particles of the former, and diminishing the tenacity, as well as the cost of cultivating, the latter ; thereby ren- dering both descriptions of land better fitted for the production of remunerative cro]js. Secondly, lime acts chemically, in promoting the decomposition of inert vegetable matters existing in the soil, and neutralizes noxious ferruginous compounds. Lime is also one of the mineral ingredients in all fertile soils, and is a constituent of the ash of most agri- cultural plants ; it is consequently essential to the healthy growth and full development of our crops. These well-known properties of lime account for y 314 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. its complex action, and the various ways in which it is serviceable to the soil, whether applied to it separately or in combination with earthy matters. Most kinds of land are benefited by the application of lime, either caustic or efFcete; indeed, a large proportion of the heavy, retentive clays existing throughout the country cannot easily or with much profit be cultivated until first freed from super- abundant moisture, from whicli they commonly suffer, and then dressed with a proper allowance of this valu3]>le substance. Lime is hkewise indis- pensable in reclaiming boggy, heathy, or other waste land ; it imparts freshness and vigour to old grass lands, and has been particularly eflScacious in producing verdant and nutritious herbage in upland pastures. But notwithstanding the varied and very general efficacy of lime as a fertihzer or improver of the soil, there ai-e, unquestionably, many instances in which its direct or separate application has proved either useless or injurious ratlier than beneficial. Certain tillage lands, known to the writer of these remarks, have, in fact, been rendered comparatively unproductive by the application of inordinate quan- tities of hme, with the view of " taking the most out of the soil," or obtaining the heaviest crops which it was capable of yielding by the greatest efforts of its productive powers. Such a course may effect the desired object with impunity, so far as the tenant's interest is concerned, during the last six or seven years of the lease ; but, otherwise, no- thing could be more impohtic. Hence much of the diversity of opinion which is found to exist among practical agriculturists regarding the influence of hme; some deriving the greatest advantage from its application to their lands, others finding little or no benefit to accrue therefrom. The chemical action of lime, to which we have already adverted, sufficiently accounts for such re- sults, and the consequent diversity of opinion respecting its value. Heavy appHcations of hme to arable land bring all the strength or productive capabilities of the soil into requisition, thus causing the growth of splendid crops for some time : but sooner or later, according to the quality and com- position of the soil, the organic matter upon which the hme had operated, and which it had too speedily converted into nourishment, becomes exhausted, or nearly so, and the land in consequence less pro- ductive. It is obvious that the re-appUcation of lime to land so circumstanced could not produce any beneficial effect until the soil has fully recruited Itself, and shall again possess a due proportion of vegetable matter, or unless the lime be apphed in conjunction with earthy substances abounding with inert vegetable matters. It is not, however, to such Ume-sick soils alone that it would be injudicious to apply this substantt in any considerable quantity in a separate state, i' it is well known to practical agriculturists that ol tillage lands, and deep loams that have been for lengthened period in cultivation without being sul jected to long intervals of pasturage, being comp ratively deficient in vegetable matters, derive h little, if any, benefit from the direct application hme. The fertilizing effects of lime alone up( land long under tillage have been questioned eminent authorities ; and instances of its failure the neighbourhood of Edinburgh are noticed by > John Sinclair, in the " Husbandry of Scotlanc Its efficacy on the rich clay soils of the Lothia and the Carse of Gowrie is, I understand, mil less decided than in former years. Experience has proved that the most judicic and beneficial mode of applying hme to such lai as we have been considering, is in combinat with earthy matters. An old Scottish farmer 1 stated, in an " Essay on Manures," that " li mixed with other substances may be successfi applied to land, where by itself alone it would h : no effect ; and one-half of the lime which wo 1 require to have been given to the land by itsel i sufficient for the mixture to make it an effici ; manure." And Sir John Sinclair obsen^es 1 1 " compounds of all kinds are valuable : they ) act upon one another in the mass that the chein 1 pro])erties of the whole are changed, so as to rer r it an eflficient manure. Earth and hme make g 1 compost ; and when the lime is applied in the o • nary quantity, in addition to the earth, the eff s are truly astonishing." The superfluous soil accumulated from timi 3 time on the headlands of arable fields by the - plements of tillage, old banks of earth, the sci - ings of ditches and watercourses, road scrapi •, the weeds gathered off the land in preparing r green crops, bog stuff, &c., are all well suited 'r being formed into composts with hme. Prac J experience has proved that a mixture of hme ' b either of the foregoing substances is beneficial a top-dressing ; although the lime or the ea y matters may jiroduce but little effect if appliec ;■ jiarately to the land. Thus, a raLvture of lime u sand, or of lime and bog-stuflf or peat, is gene y found to be a useful manure for clay soils ; i n after it has been ascertained that lime has cease o operate advantageously as a stimulant. Eithei'ie lime, or the sand or peat, would doubtless im rt some degree of friability to adhesive land; b '' has been found that their united influence is n li more beneficial in this respect. The author air ly quoted remarks, that " though lime and sand < '^' municate friability to clay when separately app ^> their united effect is much more powerful ; 3n( 3' THE FAHMER'S MAGAZINE. 315 thing has been found to improve the condition of lliard, thin soils more than the old mortar of ruined j buildings. This might be imitated by slaking lime \w\th fonl, putrid water or the juice of a dunghill, |:md mixing it with six or seven times its bulk of liand, or friable earth, and keeping the mixture for l^ome months sheltered from the sun and rain." Experiments ha\-e l)een made with the view of iscertaining the comparative merits of Ihne applied )y itself, contrasted with a com])ost of eaithy matter •omraixed with it; and from numerous trials of hi$ sort, carried on for a period of nearly forty ears on a farm in the vicinity of Edinburgh, the aost efiective and profitable mode of using lime - found to be in a compound state. From these . riments it was found that in the ensuing rota- on superior manuring became necessary to render le [)art dressed with quick-lime equally productive itli the portion to which the compost had been ni)lied. The good efiects of the compost were [ike evident on all the crops of the rotation ; but I a more marked degree upon the wheat. It ipears that as the previous application of quick - •Tie had brought all the hard vegetable matter into state of decomposition, its further application by -elf would be ineffectual in promoting fertility. he compost was generally applied every alternate station of crojiping with wheat on fallowed land ; id it was uniformly found that all the crops in the lurse, namely, wheat, barley, oats, and grass, ere all as good, if not superior, to those in the eceding course, in which farm-yard dung v/as -ed instead of compost. Indeed, the value of the ne compost is not considered to be altogether ex- 'nded in the rotation in which it is applied, but sists the succeeding dunged course in the pro- jction of the crops, 'ihe earthy matters em- oyed were the head-ridges of the fields, the curings of the ditches, the scrapings of roads, ". ; and the proportion of lime was one to three irts of the foregoing materials. 'ilie beneficial effects of lime and earth composts ive been equally striking in another farm in the ]. me locality ; which, with the exception of a few :;lds, may be said to have been a waste of thin ■hesive clay, reduced to poverty by liming and er-cropping. Summer fallowng and Mming were 1(1 recourse to, without anticipating that the for- er liming had expended all its efficacy upon the il; and the consequence was that the lime failed rendering the land more productive. But, having tnessed the fertiUzing effects of lime composts, .>e tenant determined to try it experimentally on a Id of sixteen acres, divided into three equal por- '^ 'ns. The field was subjected to a well- wrought Iked fallow; and one-third of it was dressed with i compost, which consisted of fifty bolls of lime- shells per Scotch acre, incorpoi'ated with three times its bulk of earth from the head-ridge. The next one-third of the field was dressed with lime alone, at the rate of sixty bolls of four Winchester bushels per acre. The other third was manured with thirty loads of farm-yard dung per acre, three ridges of it heing left without dressing. And the entire field was sown with oats and grass seeds. The result of the experiment was as follows : — The portion to which the compost was applied was most luxuriant; so much so, that the strength of the oats destroyed the grass plants. The dunged part was also good, but by no means so luxuriant as the first. The limed part was very inferior to either, being a very poor crop ; and the three ridges which got nothing were not worth reaping. This experiment proves that the lime itself had some fertihzing effect, that the dung was superior to the lime alone, but that neither of them would bear a comparison with the compost of lime and earth. This was further proved from the fact, that the grass seeds, being thrown out of the soil by the grain, on its being re-sown in the spring with oats and grass seeds, the crop was as good on the part manured with compound as on the part which had been dunged the previous year. The whole field was continued in pasture four years ; and, when again broken up, the part to which the compost was applied yielded still a superior crop. Many similar experiments have been conducted on the same farm with hke results ; and from being pre- viously almost wholly waste land, by a liberal system of culture, and a judicious apphcation of farm-yard dung and of lime composts, the crops grown thereon are not now surpassed by any in the country. With reference to the conclusions that may be drawn from the foregoing experiments, a judicious writer observes : — " From these experiments it may be assumed, that when quicklime has ceased to pro- mote fertility, if compounded with earth its effects as a manure become highly valuable. Almost any kind of soil is suitable for making this compound ; but it should be a rule, if possible, not to apply it to land of the same nature. Most varieties of sub- soil strata make good compounds with lime. Sand and hme should be mixed for a clay soil ; and sub- soil clay and lime for sands, gravels, free loams, and m.oss lands in particular. Coal chistus, when compounded with lime, is a powerful promoter of fertility in any soil, and forms an excellent surface dressing for grass. No farmer need complain of want of materials to make fertilizing compounds, since every sort of land can be used for this pur- pose. Not only is immediate fertility produced by these, but through their efficacy the constitutional defects of the soil are remedied. Great care should Y 2 316 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. I be taken by farmers to consider well the nature of the soils they occupy, and to proportion the quan- tity of hme according as the land is hght or heavy, cold or warm. Many instances could be brought forward where hght soils have been hurt by too great and too frequent applications of lime. In making up compounds, it should l)e kept in mind that while one part of lime to from six to ten parts of earth may do for light soils, one part of lime to two, three, or more parts of earth, will be required for heavy soils*." Thus it has been shown that all kinds of light soil, whether sand, gravel, or peat, are materially benefited both in their texture and quality by the application of a compost of lime and tenacious clay, the sediment of ponds and watercourses, &c.; while clay soils, on the other hand, are rendered more friable by the application of calcareous mat- ters. When lime is ai:)phed to the latter in the form of a compost with earthy substances, the mixture operates not only as an alterative, render- ing the land less cohesive, but also as an enriching manure. The proportion of lime which it is neces- sary or expedient to add to the earthy substances is dependent on the amount of vegetable matter existing in the latter, as also upon the character of the soil to which it is intended to apply the com- post ; but in general one part of lime may be added to three parts of earth. From forty to fifty cart- loads of such a compound form a good top-dressing per statute acre, and the beneficial effect of the apjjlication is often observable for a number of years in the production of good crops. Old grass lands are much improved by composts of this kind ; they communicate freshness and vigour to the herbage, and when ajiplied immediately previous to the breaking up of the land, the succeeding crops in the course are hkewisc advantaged to a greater or less extent. Such composts are also benefi- cially applied preparatory to the sowing of wheat after turnips, or other green crop, which is not consumed upon the ground. In this case the mixture is evenly distributed over the surface, and ploughed in with the seed-furrow. The effect on the wheat croji is sometimes very striking, but its influence also extends to the following crops in the course. "The roots of the tnticum repeiis (couch or quick grass, as it is variously termed), a large quantity of which is annually collected on tillage farms, while the land is undergoing a course of summer fallowing, or the preparatory tillage for green crops, form an excellent manure, after being sufficiently fermented with a jjroper projiortion of quick-lime, which promotes their decomposition. Ja-jksun's Agricidture, page 47, and destroys their remarkably strong vegetative powers. All such weeds removed off the land (and they cannot be too carefully gathered) should be placed in a heap on some uncultivated spot, where they may at some subsequent opportunity be mixed up with quick-Ume hot from the kiln, or saturated with urine from the tank, which is also a com- mendable practice. Some farmers prefer burning all the couch grass roots gathered off the fields during the spring and summer months, but not so much on account of the quantity of ash thus ob- tained, which is indeed inconsiderable, as to guard against the possibility of their again vegetating, this troublesome weed being exceedingly vivacious. Thij is not, however, I conceive, the most profitable mode of disposing of the roots thus accumulated as the quantity of ash left after incineration is in significant, and it is found in practice that a suffi- cient admixture of lime- shells effectually destroy,' the vitality of the weeds. The hme and weeds an to be placed in alternate layers, the former beinj broken into small pieces ; and this should bi attended to, as leisure permits, during the summe months. Some time previous to its application thi heap is to be turned over, and the lime and fer menting weeds to be carefully intermixed. Peat or bog-stuff is another substance whic^ capable of being converted into valuable man^ by the action of lime. Peat consists of variq vegetable siibstances in a peculiar state of de Being under the joint influence of water and a 1^ temperature, it is jjreserved in the same conditio and imless drained or exposed to the action of atmosphere, is not likely to undergo any mate alteration in the character of its component par| Pure peat contains a greater or less proportion,]! tannic acid, which imparts to it its well know antiseptic qualities, and prevents the spontanec decay of the woody fibre. In its natural state itd in general destitvite of any fertilizing properti,?! and cannot with propriety be applied as a to dressing unprepared or unmixed with a prop proportion of some fermentable substance, whicjl corrects any noxious principles it may contain, ^ij promotes the decay of the woody fibre. Quick-lime has long been employed for this pu pose in preference to other substances, as it speedi] elevates the temjjerature of the peat, and acts ene getically on the vegetable fibre. Other calcareott)| substances, however, such as sea-shells, marl, &f the weather. It is thus rendered more j)ortable md more suitable for the intended purpose. When iroe and bog-stuft' are to be formed into a com- )OSt, both materials are to be carted to the field ntended to be manured, about six weeks pre- ■ious to the time when the mixture shall be required ar application. As already observed, the lime lionld be in a caustic state ; and in order to insure peedy and equable fermentation in the mass, it tiould be broken into small pieces, and carefully itermixed with the peat in alternate layei's. The j roportion of lime which it is requisite to use in 1 rmenting peat will depend in some measure on j ic quality of both substances ; but in general one rt-load of lime will suffice for five or six loads of ■at. The heap is to be turned over at least twice ifore being required for application to the land, order to hasten the decomposition of the woody ire of the peat. This species of compost is generally applied as a >dressing for grass lands ; but it is also occa- mally used as a manure for turnips and potatoes, her by itself or in conjunction with farm-yard ng. It has frequently been recommended by npetent authorities to add a small quantity of nraon salt to composts formed of lime and peat. It is itself a decomposer of vegetable fibre, as 11 as a valuable manure for certain lands. It ms with lime an excellent compost, to be applied a top-dressing for wheat and other crops. The i 1 of peat constitutes, in general, a powerfid, 1 lugh an evanescent manure ; but of course its ' ue and fertilizing powers depend on the nature ; 1 composition of the peat from which it is ob- 1 led. It has been employed with the best effects i raising turnips, carrots, parsnips, and other { en crops, the seeds of which it is important to ice into vegetation. Charred peat has also been f nd a useful manure. Jog-stuff is frequently formed into a compost V h farm-yard manure. This practice was brought f minently under public notice by the late Lord Jadowbank, who published directions for the fjuation of such composts. They were exten- 8i;ly resorted to at one period, but have since fien considerably into disrepute and disuse, owing, ridoubt, to the introduction of bone-dust, guano, a 1 similar extraneous manures. We believe that tl'e are many situations in which such composts Bj/ still be advantageously had recourse to. I'he peat having been exposed to the influence 0 he atmosphere and partially dried, as already dpribed, may either be carted to the farm-yard, a| spread over the cattle courts, and mixed with w' Utter and excrements, or it may be commixed V 1 the dung as the latter is carted out to the I fields. The following is the mode of proceeding j which seems to be most api)roved of : The dung is ' removed from the courts and manure-yards to the I fields intended to be next in green crop, as suitable ! opportunities occur during the winter and early I spring months, and there formed into oblong heaps in the usual manner. The larger the proportion of stable manure that the dung contains, the better is j it fitted for the fermentation and conversion of peat ! into manure. The bog-stuff, after being exposed I to the action of the weather, is removed to the field in which it is to be mixed with farm-yard manure, and deposited along the sides of the dung-heap. The mixture should be accomplished some six or seven weeks previous to the time when the compost shall be required for application to the land. Both materials are thrown together in alternate layers, in the proportion of one cubic yard of bog-stuff to two or three of dung, according to circumstances. Of course a smaller allowance of farm-yard dung would suffice to ferment the quantity of peat just mentioned ; but the value of this compost as a manure for turnips or other green crop will, in a great degree, be proportional to the quantity of farm-yard dung in its composition. When the peat has been judiciously selected, pi'operly dried by exposure to the atmosphere, and used only in moderate quantity, the mixture is little if at all inferior to farm-yard dung by itself ; for stiff clays it is indeed more valuable. It is considered inju- dicious to add lime to composts of dung and bog- stuff, for the same reason that it is deemed im- proper to mix lime and putrescent manure to- gether. While the dung and bog-stuff are being com- bined, each layer as it is newly turned is sprinkled over with dilute sulphuric acid. This practice has been found eminently beneficial, as the acid ])ower- fully promotes the decomposition of the vegetable fibre of the peat, and prevents the escape of alka- line matters during the process of fermentation. One part of strong acid is added to about forty parts of water, but the proportion of acid is in- creased or diminished according to the quantity of peat employed in forming the compost. The liquid is contained in a capacious tub placed con- tiguous to the heap, and is sprinkled over each layer, as it is newly turned, by means of a watering- pot. About three weeks before being required for use, the heap is turned over, and the different in- gredients carefully intermixed. The writer of these observations can testify to the value of composts of dung and bog-stuff, prepared in the manner now described, having frequently -witnessed their suc- cessful application to clay land in the cultivation of potatoes and turnips. An excellent compost is formed with dried peat 318 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. paid sea-shells in proper proportions to insure the requisite fermentation of the former substance. I have had experience of the good effects of a com- post of this description. The mixture was satu- rated from time to time with urine from the tank and the drainings of the manure-yard, and was used in raising potatoes in conjunction with one- half the usual allowance of farm-yard manure. The result was quite satisfactory, the crop on the ]3art to which the dung and compost were applied having been at least equally abundant with that on the part of the same field which had been manured with dung alone. Another compost, to the efficacy of which I can bear testimony, is formed with farm-yard dung, peat, sea-shells, part of an old earthen fence, and the scourings of an open drain. One cart-load of dung and one of shells were added to every ten loads of the earthy materials. The different sub- stances were carted together during the occurrence of hard frost, when the surface of the ground was firm for being carted upon, and scarcely any other work could be performed on the farm by the men and horses. About three weeks before its appli- cation to the land, the heap was turned over in the usual manner, care being taken to have all the different ingredients well broken and intermixed. Dilute sulphuric acid was at the same period ap- plied to the mass, in the manner already described. A very good compost for a])plication to the tur- nip crop is formed by mixing rape-dust and vege- table earth together, a sufficiency of the former being used to cause a brisk fermentation in the mass. Saw-dust, fermented with farm-yard manure or with little, road scrapings, &c., has also been found a useful manure. It requires, however, to be mixed during a considerable period with some fermenting substance, in order to fit it for applica- tion. In the vicinity of fishing stations a consider- able quantity of excellent manure is formed by mixing the fish refuse with earth. In Stephen's " Book of the Farm," (vol. ii. page 645), it is stated that "near Eyemouth and Burnmouth, on the Berwickshire coast, 30 barrels of fish refuse, with as much earth from the head ridges as will completely cover the refuse, are sufficient dunging for an imperial acre. The barrel contains 30 gallons, and four barrels make a cart load, which sells for Is. 6d. per barrel. From 400 to 600 barrels may be obtained for each farm in the neighbourhood in the course of the season." Farms adjoining the sea-coast have also the advan- tage of a supply of sea-weed for manure, which, owing to the large quantity of mucilage in its com- position, and the numerous salts it affords, forms an active and valuable top-dressing. Whale- Ijlubber, when mixed with earth, constitutes an- other excellent compost for turnips. Owing to the caustic properties of the blubber in a fresh state, it is necessary to have it compounded with a large proportion of earth, and turned and kept for at least three years imtil the compost bscomes effoete, in which state alone it can properly be used. Various other substances besides those to whicli I have already adverted are valuable constituents of composts, such as the carcasses of diseasec animals, which should be subdivided into smal pieces, and mixed with a large cjuantity of earth By collecting together all sorts of animal am vegetable refuse, the droppings of fowls, and mix ing them with waste earth, road-scrapings, ashes cinders, and other absorbent matters, a large quan tity of excellent compost may annually be formei in the farm-yard. Little or no expense is incurrei for the formation of such composts, and the in gredients of which they consist v.'ould, if not thu appropriated, go to waste, or become worse tha useless. Constituting as they do an importan auxiliary to the quantity of dung available on th farm, they frequently effect the saving of a cor siderable sum of money which would otherwise b expended in the purchase of guano or some otht extraneous fertilizer, and also, no doubt, in man cases avert the loss and disappointment whic would arise from the use of tha adulterated con pounds which are now so extensively vended und( various attractive designations. In now concluding these cursory observatiorili which many of those who honour them wifli il perusal will doubtless consider unnecessarilyai dious, I would impress upon agriculturists of i class the necessity and imjtortance of bestowing! creased attention on the Manures of the Fd Henceforth it is imperative on the British fat to endeavour by all means to raise the htiS crops at the least cost, in order successfal| maintain his position against foreign compet Economical and skilful tillage, followed up adequate manuring, having reference to qualitj well as quantity, is essential, in the case of soils, to the production of abundant and rertifll rative crops; and the judicious cultivator will^^ vote due attention to both these important branB of his business. According to Liebig — " the p» cipal object of agriculture is to restore to ourjlfl the substance removed from it, and which theQ mosphere cannot yield, in whatever way the feS ration can be most conveniently effected. If'l restoration be imperfect, the fertility of our fieW or of the whole of the country, will be imparf but if, on the contrary, we add more than wrfta away, the fertility will be increased." Juli/ 31, 1847. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 019 RATS, AND THE VAST DAMAGE THEY CAUSK Tl) THE FARMER AND GAME PRESERVER.^ BY A SALOPIAN. The following subject being a matter of the Teatest imjiortance to agi-iculturists in general, am induced to solicit its insertion in your ext magazine; the present unusual scarcity of rain of every kind, and the probability of an arly harvest, is another reason for calling your waders' attention to the purport of this state- lent, namely, to point out the enormous damage one to the farmer and game preserver by that lost noxious animal the " rat," and the almost )tal indifference shown by most farmers in using ly proper and efficient means for their destruction, id so as to prevent that incredible increase again king placej which of late years has been the case. I will first state a few facts as to the number of lese animals upon a farm of a given size, and then low the extent of damage they occasion to the nants and landlord without one particle of coun- rvailing benefit ; for in this country these animals ■e not turned to any account, as they are in France : here, first, they are used to breed maggots from, ir catching frogs; secondly, their bones to make size '; and, thirdly, their skins to make gloves with — iree purposes we have not yet thought of. I take a dry soil, where the lands were well .rmed, and where the rabbits, from the favourable ature of the land, had at one time become very umerous, and required constant attention to keep lem down by trapping ; and in doing this the eazles, stoats, and polecats (called the police of ature) were also destroyed, as well as the ral)bits : le rats, however, were unattended to, and they !Joiced and multiplied. The same dryness of )il operates as a cause for the increase of rats 5 well as of rabbits ; but the latter, where a pro- er person is kept on purpose to catch them, re then soon brought mthin proper limits ; but its being of no value, they are allowed to live and reed and do as they liked, except perhaps some lily boy or inexperienced lal)ourer is occasionally Kiiployed at leisure hours with half a dozen traps j) catch this wary animal, and to keep down what ould take up one man's entire time for many eeks, and require long experience and great nowledge, instead of perfect ignorance, as to their abits and manner of catching them effectually. At a barn and small homestead near a pool, ut a considerable distance from the farm house, rincipal farm-buildings, and rick-yard, a few years back a boy was employed at spare times to catch the rats by means of a Avire snare at the end of a stick, bent and fastened down by a wooden peg in the usual way. The lad at this small and distant homestead, in about four months, caught 630 rats. Now add to that the number he did not catch, and supposing also the rats to be in a some- what similar proportion at and immediately about the farm-house and principal farm-buildings, where all the main quantity of grain was put in barns and stacked, can it be said to be an unreasonable num- ber to add another 600 to the above, that is 1,230 as the quantity on and about the whole farm ? But I am quite certain if all those which were in holes in the hedge-rows at a distance from the buildings, and on other parts of tlie farm, living in the open weather, on field produce, game, &c. were also added, the number would be nearly double; but let us call them only 1,200. This farm was about 2S0 acres. On another farm of 400 acres not more than two miles distant from the former, when the corn ricks were taken in for thrashing at Christmas, and the barn was finally emptied, the number of rats killed was upwards of 1400, and numbers escaped up the drains and into the rat and rabbit holes in the adjoining hedges and covers ; and if the quantity of those v/hich so escaped, and those which were on other part%of the farm, he also added to the above number, can they fairly be reckoned at much less than 2,000 ? and which. num- ber the farmer himself told me he was sure they far exceeded. At another property, on a farm of about 180 acres, and of stiff' and unfavourable land, where there were few rabbits — for the two animals in a great measure like the same kind of dry soil to breed and burrow in — the quantity of rats was quite frightful ; the squeaking and gibbering at nights, as they crossed the roads and scampered about in search of food, was quite incredible ; the hedge- banks were beaten quite bare with racks to the rat- holes, and the holes themselves were perfectly countless : here the farmer employed a boy with six or eight traps, who caught five or six of a night together — some dozens during the winter months ; but the farmer at the emptying of one barn stated they killed 800 more, and the number that escaped was very great, and the quantity seemed scarcely diminished at all by what had been killed. At another farm of 330 acres, the farmer, who said 320 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. he looked sharply after the rats, admitted, upon an average, he caught three rats every night the year through, or 1095 per annum; and yet how many still remained iincaught the ricks too i)lainly showed. At another farm a cart-load or tumbril of rats and mice were killed. In a gieat many places the po- tato, turnip, and othei fields, after harvest, swarmed with them to an incredible extent. I could detail almost endless similar accounts received from farmers I can reply upon; in short, without multiplying instances, but taking the aver- age quantity of these animals, according to the numbers actually killed on various farms, it is impossible to estimate the number in those locali- ties at less than from 1,000 to 1,200 rats, to be provided for out of the farmer's stock, with the aid of game, eggs, &c. upon each farm of 300 acres. Then we have the dejjartment of mice to add as consumers also. I am fully aware that the result of the following facts will hardly be credited, particularly by those who have not observed and paid attention to this matter ; but from seeing an evil daily going on, persons frequently at last become indifferent to it, and scarcely believe what is passing under their own eyes. But can the following statement be disproved ? I have inquired of many intelligent farmers in various places, and at various times, and they all agree as to the quantity ; some perhaps alleging, " Sir, you have far underrated the quantity ; on taking in such a rick we killed so many hundreds, and our neigh- bour killed so many," &c. &c. But I am anxious to be far within the actual number ])efore, by de- tails, I demonstrate the incredible havoc that is daily being committed upon the farmer's ])roduce, while he, blind in this instance to his own interest, takes little or no heed of his severe loss ; and because it is of daily occurrence and under his immediate cognizance, that only makes the matter worse ; for the evil might be prevented, as I have myself proved, and will afterwards state. But let us first ascertain by figures the damage actually done : at every rat-killing the quantity of " mice, and such small deer," is pretty considerable also. A saving farmer, as stated in the newspapers the other day, having kept a corn-rick till it was four years old, was at last tempted by the famine juices to thrash it out, when the produce was five quarters of corn to three thousand and some odd hundred mice, besides rats. It may, I think, be fairly assumed that six mice are equal to one rat in the destruction of grain only ; and if we calculate that there are 1,000 rats on a farm of 300 acres, we ought to add 1,200 mice, and, by converting six mice into one rat, we must add 200 more to the former number of rats or consumable animals thus— On and about a farm of 300 acres, rats .... 1,00< Mice on ditto 1,200 (sLx equal to one rat) . . 20(1 Total to be provided for 1,20( It must also be apj^arent to every one the ver; great damage which is done to tlie farm house an^ outbuildings and drains, as well as to the potatoes carrots, and Swede turnips, both when in hods ant while growing, which is constantly laid to hares an( rabbits, often most wrongfully. The quantity o poultry destroyed— the eggs taken while hen; turkeys, and ducks are sitting away from th house — the young of every kind destroyed a soon as they are hatched and can follow th mother about the fields, is a constant source c loss and vexation to the farmer's wife and daugli ters, who generally have all the trouble of rearing th poultr}^, and only a share of the profit for themselves To the small landholder or cottager where there hap pens to be water near it is worse ; his chief hope bein, the pig, and next the flock of young geese and tui keys, &c. If such is the known and well ascei tained loss and destruction of poultry, what muf be that which in the fine summer months is goin on amongst winged game of every kind ? fc I will forgive them for the destruction of rabbit; which is very great also amongst the young. N doubt many, like myself, have constantly found tb nests of partridges or pheasants and wild duel; destroyed, and the eggs missing or broker Sometimes this is done by a stoat, vveazli magpie or other vermin; but six times out c seven it is by the rats then living in the hedge-row.' and bits of the shells may be traced to their holei This is particularly the case where wild ducks ar preserved ; and it is scarcely possible to protect th old duck when sitting close at hatching time, i near the hedge of water — the place most ofte! selected for nesting : if the unhappy duck doe get her tiny brood into the water, the pike as sail them there ; and when they seek safety o the shore, the rats attack them on land. I hav bred many wild ducks, and can well attest the da mage done by the rats and pike ; and if the old duci is lucky enough to get away with a brood of twelv or fourteen young ones, it very seldom happen she can rear more than half or one-third of thos that were hatched — the rats are sure to have share, as they do of the young pheasants and par tridges. How often will one rat pay visits to | coop under which are chickens, duckhngs, o other young things, and before it is detected carr; off and kill half the brood! What then mus be the number killed by them when unwatchedan( unmolested in their savage occupation amongst thi unsuspecting young pheasants and other bird: while wandering about in everv direction ? THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. .321 Anotlier and most serious evil occasioned bj* its is the destruction of fisli in streams, pools, und ,ews, where fish are preserved. Few persons have ly notion of the quantity of rats that frequent lese places : I do not mean the more innocent but 3t altogether harmless brown short-cared, small •icht-eyed and pretty-looking water-rat or vole, it the coarse, fierce, grey when old, Norway, jrmers' rat, the frequenter of houses, buildings, !:ks, hedges, plantations, brooks, jiools, and every !ace under the heavens ; while the former, however ,rd is the weather, neither winter nor summer er deserts his native element — the water, but on I summer's evening may be seen quietly seated by |g side of the stream, munching the white root of 13 bulrush, of which it is particularly fond, and, i Iding it up in its paws squirrel-fashion, seems to joy its evening repast as much as an alderman j es his white-bait dinner, if that be possible. But i ; Norway rat in the summer months equally fre- ents the water, and will attack a large fish in n\ water, and soon master it. I have known ?m come out of their concealment, and carry away or seven perch of half a pound to three quarters a pound each, mth the greatest ease, which had !n caught and left by the pool side, little thinking their being carried off in that way ; and although ' water-rat slides q\iietly into the water and spoils ir sport while fishing, so does the former, and ; ages far and near for anything it can find, no- ■ ng coming amiss to it, except now and then the ' iper's trap when carefully set by the water side, ere a moor-hen or rat is pretty sure to be caught ore morning. So savage and voracious are the I nmon Norv/ay rats, that often and often when ( ? of these gentry are caught in a trap, the others i ack and eat it up ; and frequently the keeper Ids from ten to twenty rats caught in the rabbit e attempted until le land has been thoroughly drained. One of lese methods is— mixiiir/ with sand. This is a most i'ectual way of doing the business ; but unfortu- itely, the cost is so great as rarely to refund the •st outlay. But where, as is sometimes the case, bed of sand is lying Ijelow the soil, or the sand ■ gravel hill is in the immediate neighbourhood, it ay be done with great advantage. Another is to iply burnt clay. This is perha])s tlie most efiectual d, at the same time, economical way of improv. it heavy land. Clay when it is burnt is deprived that principle of tenacity which renders the dil- ation of such soils so expensive. It not only nefits land by its " mechanical operation of loosen- T the soil, " but it also itself contains, when not ) much burnt, a portion of vegetable matter ; and are informed by Liebig that by its great affinity the ammonia brought down by the rains, it fixes n the soil, as well as that which, but for it, might I -ape from the soil itself. There are accounts of I ; most extraordinary increase given by the appli- ion of burnt clay to turnips and clover ; in fact, 3 gentleman preferred the clay to the best farm- 1 'd dung. It is considered, on the property on ' ich I have seen it used, that it had the effect of )ducing more slain in the wheat ; but I cannot I ■ how far this is true. The art of burning clay I ivell explained in the account of British Hus- idry, and in the seventh volume of the Journal ■ the Royal Agricultural Society. The expense of ming mentioned m the former is only Gd. ])er 1 gle horse load, and Mr. Pusey states in the latter lit top-dressing his land with 80 bushels per acre I burnt clay cost £2 5s. There are many other ' ys in which the nature of strong clay soils may be ■ a degree changed ; among these may be men- 'ned the api)lication of lime, coal ashes, marl, 1 3lls, gravel, &c. ; but, generally speaking, they are ily practicable in certain localities. We will now consider our fourth query : Which \ 'he best method of barefallowivc/ i I shall touch ' 7 shghtly on this question, as, I may say, you i have had more experience than one so young as ij'self, and have thereby received a practical ijwer to it. Our object must be to expose as iich land as possible to the winter's frost and I'isture, as it is by the expansion of the water in lezing, that every particle of the soil is, as it were, ; shed out of its place ; the land by this means ] eiving amore thorough disintegration than could effected by all the most improved implements. 3 may judge of the enormous power exerted on '[s soil by the frost, from the consideration that ''ter, when in the act of freezing, has been known ' burst asunder strong metal pipes. In the spring, the soil, near the surface at least, should be in almost a powder — wc must take care that anxiety to get forward with the work does not hurry us on to the land too soon, so that it run together again. It is proper, too, I think, as the height of summer approaches, to have th:it portion of the land near the furrovi-, which usually produces the greatest abundance of weeds, exposed to the sun and wind. The land during the summer should ha-ve repeated ploughings, grubhings, and harrowings, always hearing in mind that our object is to expose eveiy particle of the soil to the light and heat of the sun. Dunging, I think, is often proceeded with too early in the season. We have seen that the soil is a workshop in which the constituents of plants are constantly being prepared. Now, if we put on the dung in the beginning of summer, all our future workings of the land tend to jiromote this process more rapidly ; the consequence is, that at seed time the soil is full of the food of plants ; and this at a time when the plant does not require it. " When a seed, " says Professor Johnston, " is committed to the earth, if the warmth and moisture are favoura- ble, it begins to sprout. It pushes a shoot upwards, it thrusts a root downv.'ards ; but, until the leaf expands, and the root has fairly entered the soil, the young plant derives no nourishment other than water, either from the earth or from the air. It lives on the starch and gluten contained in the seed." But even if the plant does derive nourish- ment from the manure in the autumn, the only effect produced will be, that it becomes winter proud . But the dung is not so much exhausted in this way, as by encouraging the growth of weeds, and b}' being washed from the soil by the winter rains. That dung is washed from the soil is placed beyond doubt, I think, when we call to remembrance that, on the average, throughout England, upwards of 31 inches of rain fall in the year, and that for every perpendicular inch per acre there falls 100 tons of water. In summer this immense quantity of water does not do so much harm, as a great part is taken up again by evaporation, the land by this means only lending a little ammonia to the air ; but in winter, on drained land in particular, nearly the whole has to run through the soil, as the evapora- tion is very triHing. It is much better, I fancy, not to manure the land until the end of August, in which case the dung is not prepared to afford nutriment to ])lants until the spring, the very time at which the young plant requires a powerful stimu- lant to rouse it from the torpor of winter. Instead of the usual practice of dunging land, I have tried and commend that, explained by Stephens, in his "Bookof the Farm," whichis,tohavethefield drilled, and dung putinto the land, in exactly the same manner as is done for turnips. When this method is pursued. 330 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the weeds should be gathered previous to drilUng, and again after ; if then the land is not perfectly clean^ the drills may be split again and again, and gathered until it is so. By deferring the cleaning of the land until this time, there is a much better chance of lifting the weeds unbroken. The advan- tages of having the land drilled up, I conceive to be these : — There is a larger surface exposed to the air than can be by any other form. The dung is more evenly distributed over the land, and there is not that waste of manure which occurs when it is left on the surface for days, as v/e sometimes see it. The land, too, is lying in that form it which it can best receive heavy rains. The best manner of making the seed bed is with the small ribbing plough, the ribs being about fourteen inches from centre to centre. The seed may be put in with the broad-cast sower or by hand. This answers a bet- ter purpose, I think, than with the Suffolk drill, as the })lants have more room in which to spread their fibres, to seek their proper nutriment. The ribbing on drained land should be across the drains, for by this means every part of the ridge has its fair pro- portion of active soil; whereas, if the land be gathered up, it is robbed of it. The ribs, too, can be formed more regularly, and with the least loss of land, and there is less chance of forming an imper- vious layer over the drains. It is injurious, I think, to have the soil too finely pulverized at seed time ; for if heavy rains come, it is apt to run together; or if it is dry, it is in so contracted a state that the winter frost and moisture cause it to swell, throw- ing up and exposing the roots of the jilant. But if sown with a clod, even if the roots are thrown out a little, these clods, by being reduced to a pow- der, fall over the exposed parts, and so protect them ; and, besides this, they form a fine mould, in which the grass seeds will freely germinate in the spring. In the usual course of cropping adopted in this district, bare fallowing occurs once in four years, or often twice in seven. This brings us to the consideration of the fifth query : Will all soils pay for a bare falloiving every fourth year ? We will look at the debtor and cre- ditor account of the four-course system on a thin moor-top soil mixed with poor clay, a description of soil but too common in this country. I have had some land of this nature through my hands, so I can answer for the general correctness of the statement. Suppose expenses — 1st Year— Bare Fallow. 5 ploughings, at 7s. 1 double four-horse harrowing 3 doubles with small harrow 1 rolling .... Cleaning, and spreading dung £ s. d. £ s d. 1 15 0 0 2 6 0 4 6 0 1 0 0 3 6 12 fothers of dung, and lay- ing on ... . Sowing, water-furrowing, &c. 1 ])oll of wheat seed 2nd Year — Wheat. Weeding, rolling, and sowing seeds Harvesting and marketing . 3rd Year— Seeds. Cost of seeds . . , Stoning and brushing . Fog will pay expenses of hay harvest 4th Year — Oats. 1 ploughing, at 8s. 2 double harrowings . 2 bolls seed oats Rolling and weeding . Harvesting and marketing 4 years' rent, tithe-free, at 7s. 6d 4 years' rates Total outlay Prodicce. 1st year, 7 bolls wheat, at 1 1 s. 2nd do. i ton of hay, at 50s. 3rd do. 10 bolls of oats, at 5s. Straw of two crops 3 0 0 0 10 0 12 6 6 0 6 0 — ] 5 0 8 0 8 0 3 0 10 0 2 0 18 1 10 0 4 2 1 1 14 I 11 101 3 17 1 5 2 10 1 0 Total produce Loss on four years . . £2 , Here, then, without charging anything for inll of capital or superintendence, we find a decided) The system on this land certainly requires a cha| Some of the best wheat soils may pay for a fallowing, though the cost will be rather more jp| on the soil we have just considered ; but evejj them a great sa\dng might be effected. Let us now ask our 6th and last quest How often should bare fallowing occur ? We , seen that on the poor lands once in four years.i not do. Let us see the Dr. and Cr. account u? an eight years course of cropping on the land. 1st Year — Bare Fallow. £ s. d. ploughings and 1 four-horse £ U harrowing 2nd Year— Turnips. 2 ploughings, at 6s. . Grubbing and harrowings Drilling and sowing 3 cwt. of guano Culture of turnips 3 lbs. turnip seed 0 12 0 4 0 2 1 1 0 12 0 3 1 3 6 THE FARMER'S MAtlAZlNfe. h^i 3rd Year— Wheat or Barley. £ s. d. £ s. d. ioughing, ribbing, and sow- ing ■ . . . . 0 12 0 3e4 and sowing. . . 0 13 6 atvesting- . . . 14 0 2 9 G 4tli Year — Seeds. q)ense as before , . .086 5th, 6th, and 7th Years — Grass, itting thistles and atten- dance .... 016 8th Year— Oats. ;pense as before . . 2 16 /ears' rent, at 7s. 6d. . 3 0 0 tes, &c 0 9 0 3 9 0 Total outlay for 8 years ... 12 8 6 Produce. 1 year, turnips . . -4 0 0 1 1 do. wheat, 8 bolls, at 1 Is. 4 8 0 1 1 do. hay, i ton, at 50s. . 15 0 . 6th, and 7th will pay nvn rent . . . 12 6 car, oats, 12 bolls, at OS. 3 0 0 .... 1 10 0 Total produce . . . . 15 5 6 Profit on 8 years . . . 2 17 0 hfitof 8 years . , . . 2 17 0 1 iS on 2 four years' rotations . . 5 16 0 ] t'erence of profit on two courses ; in eight years . . , . 8 13 0 { per year in favour of eight I ears' rotation . , . . 1 1 74 . 1 this instance ttie expenses are less in proportion t ti in the four course, whilst there is a small profit L ;ead of a loss as in the other. A saving is made ii he dung ; the way it is effected is this : I think t land will grow turnips ; it certainly will if it is dined, and should it be drained the extra crops Vi pay the per centage. Though sheep may not Ijihle to eat these turnips on, yet they may be led ojto a grass field in the same course of cropping, ai in this case the land derives as much benefit, fi the land which produces this crop will receive t! manure produced by another in its turn. But b ides this, when land has been suffered to lie in gss for a year or two, it grows manure for itself. ^ that it is sown with red clover and the grasses ; a.r the first year the greater part of the clover dies 0 its stem and roots decompose, and so on from y T to year some are dying ; so that at the time it iijken up, the land is richer in vegetable matter I' 1 a very great apphcation of dung would make I'' On the better lands, instead of a bare fallowing iilhe middle of the eight years, a turnip crop could D|:aken ; or if not, a bean or some such crop ; but t must not be regarded as a catch crop, but one which must be made to yield the advantages of a bare fallowing. The rows must be drilled with a great interval, and the small and horse-hoe well used. It would be of great advantage to use the fork for turning over the soil to expose it to the air in the intervals ; or if this were considered too ex- pensive, the ribbing plough and an implement par- taking of the properties of the horse-hoe and subsoil plough, which would stir the soil to the depth of six inches, might be used. I believe this system, or one similar, is in practice in the south ; if so, it is among many others which we might borrow of them with advantage. The north country farmers some time ago made a bold push, and set an example in all improvements ; but they rested too soon satisfied with the laurels they had acquired, for if accoimts v.'ere now balanced with the south, the north, I am afraid, would be found sadly in arrears. I intended to have hinted at the applica- tion of lime ; but whether it must be applied im- slaked, slaked, or as mild lime, in large or small doses, and many other points, are generally so keenly debated, that I think it might itself afford a very useful subject for the discussion of the club. I ha^•e thus attempted to give a short answer to each of the queries proposed. The space allowed has not permitted me to go as fully as I could have wished, or perhaps as is necessary, to give a clear view of the subject, I have endeavoured to show you, by the assistance of quotations from the valua- ble works of Liebig, Professor Johnston, and others, that in bare fallowing our objects are to deepen, clean, and give the air a free admittance to the soil. That to soils of that tenacious character which deny all access to the air, it is either necessary to give a bare fallowing, or, what is much better, though perhaps rather the landlord's than the tenant's im- provement, to endeavour by draining, aiaplications of lime, burnt clay, &c., to change its nature. The usual four-course of husbandry adopted on the poor lands is unprofitable, though they may leave a small return if allowed to lie in grass for a year or two. We have seen nothing, I think, which ren- ders it impossible, by the careful working of the laud, and the adoption of all improvements, to dis- pense at a future period with bare fallowing en- tirely, and even at present with its recurrence every fourth year. I could have brought forward nu- merous instances in which the eight course of crop- ping is more profitable than the four, but my subject has no reference to the most profitable course of husbandry. Many points have been advanced in this paper with which every member cannot agree ; but if I can only stir up a discussion on them, it will, I fancy, be productive of so much good, that it signifies z 2 332 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. little whether I am proved to he in the right or wrong ; yet still I hope to see the day when the members of our ckib shall be able to point to the clay districts around Newcastle, and say ; When we imited together, this land was an unsightly mass of red clods, of little profit to the landlord, of none to the tenant, though now, through our exertions, you see a rich plain of productive vegetation. Mr. Taylor having concluded, resumed his seat amidst loud applause. Mr. Taylor, in reply to Mr. Brown, said that sand could not be used with advantage, if it could not be had on the spot, the cost of leadmg being so heavy; but where, as at Castle Eden, the clay rested on sand, the two might be mixed. When a bare- fallowing is dispensed with in the middle of the eight years' course on good land, the turnip or bean crop must he drilled at 30 inches or 3 feet apart, and the land well worked in the intervals. The next year another drilled crop should be taken, and this in the centre of the last interval, and the land worked as before. By this means the land actually gets a fallowing, though it is in two years. No loss from those wide intervals will occur, as the tillage will be performed whilst the crop is young, and it will si)read as it approaches maturity. Should the turnips not be eaten on the land, one boll at least of this crop must be deducted, and its equivalent added to the oat crop. Mr. Brown said he had mixed sand with strong land, for wheat and grass, on one occasion when he wished to remove a sand hill ; but some years after- wards, when taking up several trees, he found that the sand and the soil had never incorporated. The best way to use sand was to make it a vehicle for the application of fold-yard manure to the land. The finest turnips he had ever grown were raised by this means. Mr. T. CoLBECK stated that Sir C. Monck 1 applied sand to fallow land, at Belsay, with v great advantage, but the expense was still gre; than the profit. (Laughter.) As to the poison of the land by the excrements of plants, referrec by Mr. Taylor, he believed that Liebig had ah doned that conclusion. The Chairman said, heht\dno doubt, if not present generation of farmers, the next would crease the produce of corn one-fourth. There \\ some lands, however, that must have rest — t may be fallowed. Mr. RoBSON, of Sunniside, said the main tfel tion was whether strong lands could he madkl grow green crops with profit ; he believed th^i great deal of the land in this district could. ' Mr. Glover remarked, that nature never tended the land to lie idle. When suflFered to I fallow, you could not prevent it from growing wee' The objections against growing green crops o held good when the land was kept cold and undrair | He beheved that all land in this district might made to grow green crops with profit. The Chairman was afraid that if green Cr j were grown on strong clay soils, the advant'i would be lost in the grain crops. Mr. T. CoLBECK was of the same opinion. Mr. Arundale thought differently; drain | altered the texture and quality of the soil. Mr. Brown said the strongest clays of Supl produced the finest crops of turnips he had fi | seen, Mr. CoLBECK moved a vote of thanks toaI| Taylor for his valuable paper, which was secon* by Mr. Joseph Cowan, and carried by acclama The meeting (which was the most numerous tj has yet been held) then separated. BURTON-ON-TRENT FARMERS' CLUB. July 8, 1847. 'Jig ■v\ At this season of the year, farmers have much to do at home, and little at market, and the attendance of members was consequently very scanty. Mr. Harding read the following paper : — The subject for this evening' s discussion is the cultivation of a bean crop in lieu of a bare fallow for wheat. Having been requested to bring this subject be- fore you, I do so M'ith the greatest pleasure ; I am only fearful that I shall not be able to do the subject the justice it deserves, but I will at once proceed to explain my views in the best manner 1 am able^'S trust that any omissions may be supplied by 46t one present. The most profitable mode of cultivating thiB'< valuable crop is a subject which has occupied'! attention for some years past. The usual plan has been generally to select fields for beans as have been unfit for any' crop, on account of uncleanness ; the seed hasi sown broadcast, and little or no notice tak^J cleaning the crop, as the land was intended^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 388 leat fallow the following year. Under this sys- n, I have most frequently found the beans, in a y season, set and stunted in their growth ; or if 3 weather has been genial and favourable, they ; ve grown up to a great height, so as to destroy the corn towards the lower part of the stem, and i'. crop has consequently failed in both instances ; ^1 I may venture to add, that it is a most unpro- ble mode, to fallow land after a green crop, ich ought to improve and prej)are the ground for accession of crops. The system I am about to suggest for our il tual consideration and benefit, is that of grow- i| beans on land that would otherwise be idle t ing the whole summer, preparatory for a crop c wheat. The plan I consider most desirable is, ti )lant or drill the beans sufticiently wide, so as to jJut of a horse hoe (made in the form of a culti. vj )r) to pass freely between the rows, working the It 1 from time to time as may be required (weather p nitting) ; this destroys the weeds, and keeps the k 1 between the rows in a good tilth, and enables tl pods of corn to remain on the stems within four 0 ive inches of the ground, which derive much a; stance and benefit from the sun and air having fi access to them at all times. My opinion is, tl a bean crop should have as much care and Is lur expended upon it as is needful to raise a d I of Swede turnips, in proportion to the state of tl land. Accordingly, the ground should be im- njiiately worked after the white crop which pre- c(;sthe beans is removed from the field; then tH rubbish and weeds destroyed, if the weather w! permit ; if not, they should he carted to some arenient ])lace for mixing with lime &c. as soon Convenient. After wheat sowing is over, the clivator should be passed through the intended bu land, and the rubbish removed, if any; after- wids a fair dressing of good manure should be aj ied in the same proportion as for turnips, and til ground ploughed up deep and well, when it w: remain until a i)roper time for drilling, accord- ipto circumstances ; that is, until a suitable oppor- tijty offers. The plan I adopted in my own fields tb year was, to have the land worked in the man- nebefore mentioned, and to have the beans drilled at|ie latter end of February in double rows of from fo' to five inches apart, leaving an interval of a yU between each double row. I preferred this syem, thinking the double rows would stand b887 ;iirnip successfully. Professor Way, in a crop of Dale's Hybritl, weighing 20 tons, found by analysis IS much of the earth of bones, i. e. of that asli which •emains when bones are burnt in an open fire, as ive bushels of bone-tkist would furnish. Look at I bone — how impossible for the feeble, almost in- •isible rootlets of a young turnip, to get any diges- ible food there ; such bones as these ask for ages 0 decompose them when buried in the soil. The rath of this receives an interesting confirmation in he new edition of Professor Johnston's Lectures, vhere it is stated that on the soil of an arable dis- vict in Sweden, which from time immemorial had rrown excellent wheat without manure, Berzelius bund minute fragments of bone, still undergoing lecay, which were believed to be the rehcs of a tattle of which all other record had perished. Jones, th^i, in this state will not serve short-leased, hort lived farmers wherewith to grow still shorter- ived turnips. Nay, these bones even when me- •hanically broken into * half-inch ' and dust, will lot yield up their constituents quickly enough to he pressing wants and fierce appetite of the young urnip. Your thoughts will have anticipated me hat digestion in sulphuric acid is the best method )f reducing bones into such a state of division that he young plants can at once begin to live upon hem. This is a point on which, now, all men who lave made the trial concur. But let not practical nen (rather apt to smile when chemical suggestions ire offered) forget to whom they owe this imi)ort- mt improvement. It came not from one like our- selves conversant with the plough and the drill, but from the chemical professor of the laboratory of Giessen. "What a happy revolution is this appli- cation of a well known chemical principle working on our farms, bringing the young turnij) safe through the perils of its youth, and almost insuring its man- hood ; economising by more than one-half the use of bones, and thus increasing our national resources ! 1 need not give directions for preparing the bones and acid composition. These are amply given by Mr. S]:iooner in our Journal, vol vii. part 1 ; only 1 prefer a wooden vessel, lined with lead, to the hogs- head there recommended ; because, in process of time, the acid will attack the wood and escape through the joints. And I have found that the ad- I dition of salt to the bones, that is mixing with every cwt. of bones half a cwt. of salt before adding the ! water and the acid, is a considerable improvement. The chemical reasons for this I cannot nov/ detail. " But I hold it, gentlemen, to be of theextremest i importance that if farmers are to be counselled to have recourse to artificial manures, tests should be at the same time put into their hands of ascertaining their purity and strength. In the present instance th? mearis are very simple. The strong acid, sp. gr. 1850, though highest in price is, from its supe- rior strength, taking the item of carriage into the ac- count, decidedly the cheapest. A chemist uses ] ,000- grain bottle to learn the strength of the acid ; but for a farmer, the best way is to provide himself with test balls. They are manufactured and sold both by Mr. Bulton, Holborn Bars, and by Messrs. Home and Co., Newgate Street, London. If two of these balls, the one marked 1840, the other 1720, be dro})ped into the oil of vitriol, the floating or sinking of one or both of these balls will ascertain at once the genuineness and strength of the agent you are em.ploying. " So far as it has yet been tried, nothing can compete with this solution ofbones in acid in bring- ing the young turnips into rough leaf. For this purpose, 2 bushels of bone-dust dissolved in 45 lbs. of strongest sulphuric acid are sufficient ; but not twice or thrice that amount is enough to secure on poor lands a large crop in the average of seasons ; by a large crop I mean full 20 tons of bulbs. And why should we thus limit our expectations ? Mr. Stephens, in his ' Book of the Farm,' vol. ii. p. 24, shows that in drills, of 27 inches, if turnips singled out to 9 inches apart attain to only 4 lbs. each, the crop will weigh 46 tons per imperial acre. I ask, then, why should we confine our hopes to 20 tons ? Nay, let us hospitably provide food for a much larger turnip company than this, and at all events see that every one of our green guests he filled up to full stature and Smithfield fatness. I use that term advisedly. The analysis of Professor John- ton, as given in the ' Highland Journal ' for March 1845, shows that 100 lbs. of turnips, grown with fresh dung, contain 4 ounces of fat ; those grown with guano furnish only 2f ounces, or 100 lbs. of the dung would lay on 1 1 lbs. of live weight, while the same weight of the guano turnips would add to the live weight only 1 lb., or one-third less. On the other hand, the guano grown roots were best for young stock. These intimations given us by science are confirmed by some experiments made by Lord Blantyre's direction, which show that while a lot of beasts in consuming a ton of turnips grown with guano put on 2 If lbs. of five weight, in eating the same quantity of turnips raised by dung they increased 36 ^ lbs. How important practically, then, are these chemical investigations ! Forgive me, gentlemen, for asking how long are we Eng- lishmen, the richest body of farmers in the world, to suffer our Scotch brethren to carry on these in- quiries for us ? It is true that last year we made Professor Way a grant of money (of which he has made excellent use) for an 'investigation into the ashes of plants — an important inquiry ! But we must not rest there — ashes, the spent remains of what once lived ; we want to know their connection 338 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. mth the organic structure, we want to have ex- amined not onl)' the dead bones, l)ut the flesh, and fat, and sap, of the gi'owing plant, and a thousand other analyses, for which without delay we must have, in imitation of the north, 'The Agricultural Che- mistry Association of England.' My lord, I trust that you will pardon this digression, and allow me now to return to my hones and acid. "The objection to the use of bones and acid as the sole manure for the turnips is this : — The great rapidity of growth thereby in the early stages of the turnip makes it peculiarly liable to mildew ; and there is a considerable body of testimony from various experimenters, showing that turnips grown M'ith bones and acid do not hold out so well in the latter periods of growth as turnips raised with guano and dung. " If v\'e consider the composition of fresh unboiled bones, they will be seen to consist of the following unlike matters in 100 parts : — Fat 15 Jelly 20 Phosphate of lime and magnesia 57 Water 8 !00 " Now, all these com])onents of the bone are se- parately excellent manures, but conjoined in a na- tural state they decompose so slowly as to be very unprofitable for turnip growing. Thus, the oil or fat of the bones (the office of which is to protect the bone earth from decay), will by itself form fer- tilising matter. Many of you will recollect Mr. Mason's (of Chilton) experiment, described in the Doncaster Society's report, where 40 gallons of un- refined oil, at a cost of 8 J-d. per gallon, mixed v/ith 120 bushels of screened soil, beat 40 bushels of bones blended with 80 bushels of burnt earth. " The jelly again is very I'ich in nitrogen, of which it contains 18 per cent., so that the jelly of 100 lbs. of dry bones is sufficient to produce 6\ lbs. of ammonia, as much as is present in 30 lbs. of the sulphate of ammonia (Professor Johnston's 'Jour- nal of Agriculture,' July, 1845); and that this ammonia is most useful to the turnip cannot be doubted, of which a signal proof is given liy Mr. Finnic ('Highland Society's Transactions, ' vi. 317), who found that by adding IJ cwt. of ammbniacal salts to the dung he gained an increase of 7 tons 16 cwt. of bulbs and G tons 3 cwt. of tops per acre (see also Mr. Hannam's admirable prize essay in the ' Journal ' of our Society, vol. vi. p. 49). The third constituent, the phosphate of hme, is acknow- ledged by all to be the great ingredient and principal virtue of bones for turnip culture. How, then, shall we most economically and effectually separate and dissolve the fat, the jelly, and the earth of bones ? Now the fat of recent bones can very pro- fitably be boiled away by means of a very slow fire and when skimmed off, the liquid containing hot fat and some gelatine, forms, when mixed with th solid matters, excellent food for pigs ; or it may b poured over sawdust, and thus drilled in with othe fertilizers. The finest crop of turnips that I hav ever seen was raised by animal matters thus treatec and blended v/ith phosphate of lime. Bat there i yet another and simple way of decomposing or f least rendering soluble all the ingredients abov named. You know how soap is best softened. Th tallow of our oxen and sheep is made soluble h water, and not by sulphuric acid, which only seem to harden it, but by an alkali— potash or sod; But, gentlemen, we have a far cheaper and mor abundant alkali in every farm that has acow-hous and a tank — I mean ammonia. The ammonia c the urine from our tanks will dissolve the fat oil will, by fermentation, decompose the jelly, cor verting its nitrogen into ammonia, and then attac the enclosed phosphate of lime. Practically, thing are to be managed in this way: — In a covere house, the floor of which has an inclination to on point, mingle for every acre of land 4 bushels c bones, 4 cwt. of gypsum, and 2 quarters of coal ashes ; pour over these as much of the urine a they will absorb ; from week to week add fres urine, and throw back the leakage upon the fer menting heap. In the course of two months th bones will be thoroughly digested; then, before drill ing, you must add 2 cwt. of salt, 2 bushels of bones dissolved in sulphuric acid ; and, if your land h deficient in potash, you must add 30 bushels o wood-ashes. We have these (thanks to the remain of the feudal system) abundantly in Dorsetshire, fron the woods of Cranborne-chase. Where there is no this cheap resource, you must purchase 1 cwt. o sal enixum [crude sulphate of potash], at a cost o 12s.; but, if clay lands and good loams, I di not think this addition necessary, especially when the last grand desideratum is supplied, of which j must ask leave now to speak. " In the words which announce our discussion 1 read ' On the Growth of Turnips by means of Ar j tificial Manures;' then, surely, the best way in whicl: these m.anures can be employed may legitimate]) form part of our subject. I see you assent, gen- tlemen, to this interpretation of our text words.j Then, under your approbation, I shall state thatj the ])est v/ay of using the mixture just mentioned,! is to blend it with farm-yard dung. But lio\v?j Not by first dunging the field, and then drilling inj the prepared bones ; nor yet by baulking and sow- ing the tillage on the ridge; but in the following manner : — I suppose that you have a store of dung I made by sheep placed on boards and fed with tur-l nips ; or by bullocks either on boards or littered THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. 039 ivitli straw cut into half-incli lengths, also fed on jturnips. Now, Lielng (' Agricultural Cliemistry,' J4th edition, page ISl) shows that if we feed a heast iiipon turnips, we obtain a i.ianure containing all the jinineral constituents of turnips, and this manure |:>iight to be preferred as being more suitable for tur- nips than that procvu-ed from any other source. JBut there remains yet another way of procuring a Supply of admirable dung. You have heard thai )ran has proved in many instances a good fertiliser for turnips. I hold in my hand the account of a ■-rial made in the adjoining parish to my owp, liy Mr. John Fry, of Tweme Minster, who drilled in ? J cwt. of bran per acre, which jjroduced a better •lop of turnips than where he drilled in the same ield either 2 quarters of bones or 80 bushels of nixed wood and coal-ashes per acre. Now this nan, which we know to contain much fattening natter (if from wheat not kiln-dried), will be more ?ertainly efficacious as a manure, if it has been con- ■ nimed by pigs of large size — their entire excre- inents being absorbed in their sawdust bed. These, [ know from experience, have v/onderfully enriching Tjuahties for the grov/th of swedes. Of this dung, then, made either by sheep or bullocks, or pigs, you- must take 6 cubic yards, and incorporate these with ;he 2 bushels of bones dissolved in half their weight af sulphuric acid, adding 2 cwt. of salt, and, unless the soil be calcareous, 3 or 10 bushels of chalk, or old mortar, or spent lime. This lime or chalk, and 2 yards of clay-ashes, or those from burnt earth, well mixed with the dung, prepared bones, salt, &c., previously mentioned, will be delivered by any of those drills which have received the prize from our society for discharging moist manure. V\ ith such a drill, you can, day by day, drill 8 acres, , without exposing the manure even for five minutes ; to the sun, depositing the seed upon a moist bosom, which contains every ingredient that 25 tons of turnips per acre can possibly desire. Let us sum up the virtues of this preparation. In the 2 bushels of bones dissolved in sulphuric acid, you have food for the infant plant which will enable it quickly to gain its four leaves. In the dung you have not only abundant potash ready made for the earlier stages of the growth of the plant, but also a perpe- tual supply of carbonic acid gas and water, which will dissolve the potash locked up in the soil. In the bones (in all G bushels) you will have, even if ! the soil were barren, phosphates enough to grow ' easily 25 tons of bulbs, and capable of yielding to the wants of the plant 15 or 16 lbs. of ammonia, which the chalk in the manure or soil will gradually evolve. In the presence of decaying dung, salt, and chalk, you will have, even inhuming August, a hii- inid bed, the certain preventive of mildew, for this cannot come where there is abundant supply to the roots of polash and moisture. — (See Liebig, 4th edition, p. 125-0.) The addition of 32 gallons of urine to six bushels of bone-dust gave Mr. Hannam an increase of 1 ton 1 cwt. of swedes (' Highland Transactions,' vol. i, p. 1G9), whilst 60 loads of moss soaked therewith gave Mr. Gardner 31 tons of turnips. The gypsum is also most valuable, furnishing sulphuric acid, which the turnip largely requires, as well as fixing the ammonia of the ma- nure ; so that Mr. Hannam, by adding 4 cwt. of gypsum to 6 loads of dung, won an increase of 2 tons 4 cwt. of crop, \vhilst Mr. \Vilson, of Eastfield, I'enicuick ("Highland Transactions"), on gravelly soil, procured, by 5 cwt. of gypsum, 3 tons 5 cwt. of turnips. The salt, too, is most efficacious. Mr. Way, in his recent analysis of the ashes of turnips, has shown what a large quantity of salt is required by the plant; and, ])ractically, Mr. M'Leon, of Braidwood farm, found that by mixing 5 cvt't. of salt v/ith 15 loads of dung he grew 51 tons more of turnips than where he employed 30 loads of dimg alone. And let us see the cost : — Exclusive of the wood ashes, which, where the straw and roots are consumed upon the farm, can rarely be required, and of the labour, cheap labour in the dead times of the year, our account will stand thus : — G bushels of dust and half-inch bones .£018 0 48 lbs. of sulphuric acid . . . 0 4 G 2.§ cwt. of salt 0 3 9 4 cv.'t. of gypsum, at Is. 9d. . . .070 2 quarters of coal ashes . • . .040 £1 17 3 For the dung I make no charge, seeing that it ought, with good management, to be pure gain from feed- ing our cattle, "This, then, gentlemen, is the preparation of ar- tificial manure, which, from much experience, I venture to submit to you. It is not costly, it is genuine, it is home made. Much which I wished to add respecting guano and the popular tests for its jnn-ity, but I have already so much exceeded the limits of time allowed to the opener of the discus- sion, that I must reserve to a later period of the evening the introduction of any further obser- vations." CULTIVATION OF POTATOES IN PRUSSIA. — The Dnhlin Evening Post gives the follov.'ing trans- lation of a Prussian official agricultural report : — " The summary of the reports received from all the provinces of the Prussian monarchy by the College of Rural Eco- nomy at Berlin, relative to the cn'tivation of potatoes from seed, gives the following results in 1846 : — 1. Fer- tile garden land appears to be more suited to potato- seeds than hot beds. Some think that the plants pro- 340 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. duced ia open country are still better able to withstand the influence of the climate. 2. The proper sowing time appears to be the latter part of April. 3. Sowing in furrows is preferable to broad-cast sowing. 4. The beds ought to be protected from night-frosts by being covered over. The young sprouts and plants must be watered. 5. The proper time for transplanting is the first fort- night in June, or earlier, but not later. 6. A strong soil ought to be chosen for this purpose, but not one which has lately been manured. 7. Many potato plants suffered last year severely from drought. It is therefore i-ecommended, in very dry weather, to dip the roots in a mixture of clay, cow-dung, and liquid manure ; the plants must be kept carefully clean, and otherwise treated in the usual manner. 8. Potatoes raised from seed are not exempt from the disease. 9. Poor and heavy clay soils, and late sown plants, produce the worst quality and the least quantity of potatoes. The produce depends upon, and varies according to, the quality of the soil, the time of sowing, the manner of treatment, and the weather. The results of trials give a produce varying from some pecks and bushels to eighteen or twenty-four quarters and more tc the acre. The size and colour of the potatoes vary it the same degree from the same influences. 10. No doubt exists as to the possibility of raising potatoes fii for food in one year from seed, thougli they do not ac quire, until after several years of careful cultivation, thi proper quantity of meal peculiar to their species. 11. Nc seed has been obtained from potato plants grown fron seed. 12. The propagation by seed of potatoes thui produced, is in many cases impossible ; several qualities the Ilambugh for instance, bearing neither blossom noi seed. 13. The seed ought to be chosen from the centi( of a large field containing only one kind of potatoes, anc only from very healthy plants. 14. It is recommendec in planting from potatoes produced by seed, to choos( only the largest, and those which hang loosely, and no in too great numbers, from the roots. Although it ap pears from these results that the cultivation of potatoe: from seed is not deserving of much recommendation, i is no doubt advisable that the experiments thus begui should be continued v/ith perseverance. Berlin, June 15, 1847. (Signed) J. Tengerke. HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND.— MEETING AT ABERDEEN. DISCUSSION ON DRAINAGE. On Wednesday, August 4, a meeting of agriculturists took place in the Court-house, for the purpose of dis- cussing the subject of drainage. The Convener of the County, Robert Grant, Esq., of Tillyfour, occupied the chair, supported on either side by Sir John Stuart Forbes, of Pitsligo, and Sir John Macpherson Grant, of Ballindalloch. The meeting was very numerously at- tended, and the discussion appeared to possess great in- terest in the minds of all engaged in the cultivation of the soil. Before proceeding to take up the subject of practical draining, a short discussion took place, on a suggestion by Captain Dalrymple, of Westhall, that as all present were more or less acquainted with the principles of thorougli draining, the business of the evening should be limited to a consideration of the mode of draining whicli had best be adopted under the provisions of the late Govern- ment grant. After a few remarks from Sir John Macpherson Grant concurring in this view, and from Mr. Lindsay Carnegie, and Mr. Home, of Langwell, in favour of the previous ar- rangement, the subject, on the suggestion of the Chair- man, was thrown open to general discussion, as at first contemplated. Mr. Smith, of Deanston, being loudly called for, ad- dressed the meeting at considerable length. After refer- ring to the remarks already made on the subject of the Government grant, a measure which he characterized as a great national boon, he proceeded as follows : — He could not but differ from the views he had just heard ex- pressed as to the difficulty of thoroughly draining much of the soil of this country, but was inclined to think tl^p there was not any land, under any circumstances, whi^ might not be made completely available for agriculture purposes. He had no fault to find with the former sys^ tems pursued in this country— the system of ElkingtOD and the systems of Stevenson and others, were quite d^f ferent. That the system now pursued in Scotland lya one which had given much satisfaction to our countrji men, was proved by the eagerness with which theyavayfi themselves of the Government grant. Unless satisfi with it, they would not be so eager to enter so readily and largely into it. He would refer again to the oli system. It had been chiefly directed to taking watei from beneath. Elkington's system, however, varied as other systems varied. It could not be denied that then was a vast deal of good in his system. The springs, a; they flowed from beneath, were completely removed by it The system of Elkington was the best mode of deahnj with such springs as flowed from beneath. So far as ye-, gards science, he had no fault to find with it ; but of itf( faults he had proof as regarded its application. On o vast deal of land improved by Elkington's system, a great deal remains to be done ; and, until the system oil thorough draining was introduced, this country had no such thing as practical drainage. Different views had no doubt arisen. At first, when adopted in Scotland-for in England thorough draining is not yet generally adop tedj — the Scotch agriculturists were satisfied with it, and did' not wait to inquire whether to make it a few inches shal- lower or deeper. They were satisfied with putting drains in the furrows two and a half to three feet deep, becuuse THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 341 they had, by this means, their laud perfectly dried. On iJlkington's system, it could not be ascertained whether the drainage were not taking away the under-water as well. But on land that had not been touched before, and was not drained in parallel distances at a medium depth, 'horougli drainage was found effectual — not at first, or bf some time, because in most of the land of this coun- ly it takes some time in moving the subsoil. In hard jind niortary soils, full of stones and thoroughly com- lacted, it was never found effectual without adding sub- oil ploughing. With the view of saving money, many hought to drain deep and not subsoil it ; but in the sub- oils referred to, after two or three years, they had been lorapelled to apply the subsoil plough, and then the com- jlete effect was produced. Parallel drains, properly put n, will not only carry off, but also intercept any water, ^his he (Mr. Smith) gave as a scientific theory ; and he , ould state, from his practice, his observations, and the ! rhole course of an extensive correspondence with prac- i leal agriculturists on the subject, that following out laralled drainage at moderate distances, not under two jet, nor above three feet deep, he had not met with a ' ingle instance of failure. This lay at the root of the rant ; and he took that opportunity to say, that the re- ultof this grant which the government had made would ot be to induce them to give way, but to extend it still arther. There was one great point — they should not ash it off on one estate, but keep up uniform and steady mployment. The practical farmer would agree with im, that it was not possible to follow out a great extent f drainage at one time ; and unless they possessed suffi- ient strength to follow up the progress of the draining he work would be neglected. If too much were done or one farm or estate at one time, it would be impossi- le, with the ordinary horses and people, to carry it out. t was important to have the drainage and extra work so djusted, that the ordinary operations of the farmer should lOt be neglected. It would afford a great deal of labour ertainly. But what he looked to was this — when the and was thoroughly drained, it would induce the em- iloyment of a much greater number of people. It made .11 the land alike with regard to green cropping, and very farmer knew there was no way so likely to improve he land as green cropping ; more than all, it absorbed he surplus labour. This light employment took up the abour of females, of the old and the weakly, and all the urplus labourers who could not be employed in the larder operations of agriculture ; and he was quite sure he drainage would thus induce greater employment than lad existed in former times. With regard to deep and ■hallow draining, he did not understand what was meant 'y deep draining ; it was only relative, and reminded him )f the line in Pope about the North, asking whether the lorth were 'On the Tweed, in Nova Zambia, or the Lord knows where." The system of draining pursued in England, where gen- leraen raised the filling up to 12 or 16 inches, whether vith thorns, rushes, or any kind of whins or tiles, that laa unquestionably shallow draining. When first he 'aift attention to the subject, he had considered it in all its bearings : bis first object had been to give full effect to the drainage, it mattered not whether it cost a little more or less. Wlien he had determined the structure, he used every economy he could. He found that it was not the best means of keeping open drains, that was the point. It was the best mode of cuttin-j first, and then they might induce the labourers to work as cheajjly as they could. The next thing was economy. He also ad- mitted, and with pleasure, that there had been consider- able improvement in the economy of draining, and there had been considerable improvements in drainino- itself. At that time stone was the usual filling, and stones broken small were what he recommended. He put in a great quantity of stones then; he now recommends only 12 inches depth of stones. He said the greater the depth the greater the percolation of water through the soil ; but that advantage may be bought too dear. There are ob- jections to too great a depth of stones. As regards depth, he considered gardening the most thorough mode of working the ground. To be sure the men who did this did not regard money ; they were men who cultivated for market purposes, and a great result is sure to be obtained if we don't regard expense. All gardeners are in the practice of having the land as dry as possible. People did not see, however, the necessity for having the subsoil of a garden perfectly dry. 18 inches is about the prac- tical depth. For his rule, let it be 18 inches of workable land. The improvements of the gardener were dug with the spade, and he was anxious that the agriculturist should have some simple mechanical means of going to the same depth as the gardener. Although it was difficult to per- suade them, yet he stated his plan, from which they would see the propriety of no filling for drains coming nearer the surface than 18 inches. He thought a foot of small broken stones was necessary for percolating the water in the drain. He took cognizance, for the advan- tage of the soil, of the admission of atmospheric air, as almost all plants require air as mucli as we do to breathe. They take it up by the roots. The action of the atmos- phere produces the most complete disintegration of the soil. Formerly, we had our summer fallow, the soil thrown open to the sun, and employed the whole sum- mer in tossing and mixing it, losing the crop into the bargain. The same effect is, however, produced, though in a slower degree, by the action of the atmosphere, and the action of the rain falling at the same time. One foot of stones added to 18 inches deep gives a depth of 2 feet 6 inches. Economy is of great importance, and he was quite aware that the expense of this system of draining frightened them. It was necessary to make and recom- mend a system less expensive, and, therefore, he gave the best he knew at the time. 2 feet 6 inches, he was aware, was a great depth ; and he had no hesitation in saying that two feet drains would answer, if close enough. Drains might be even three feet, though this was not better than two and a half; and if they went below three feet, other laws began to operate, so that he preferred the effect of medium drainage. If they put in drains at pro- per distances of 18 to 25 feet, from two and a half to three feet in depth, they would have thorough and com- plete dryness of soil, and the surplus rain or springs re- -U2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. moved. Some obsei-vatioiis be had lately made brought out another feature in regard to the depth of drainage. Heat and moisture are the great instruments of vegetation, the means by which the plant finds food, and renders it available to the organism of the plant. Unless both are present, the process of growth cannot go on. In warm countries the power of heat is not sufficient for growth if there be not sufficient moisture. In the fens of Lincoln- shire, where there is a great depth of soil, the water is got clear off by means of steain engines, &c. But they find, that if they take off the water from more than two feet below the surface, it has an injurious effect ; and they are in the habit of damming the water in trenches and keeping up its level to this depth. Thus there is a limited degree of thorough drainage. The want of the power of draining, where water pervades the soil almost to the surface, has an effect the same as is seen on land steeped in water the whole winter ; the surface becomes hard— not a mouldy substance — and it does not retain moisture. This shows it to be better to bring the water within a convenient distance of the surface. Let there be two feet of dry upper surface, to enable the plants to obtain food. This subject he had particular pleasure in bringing out before so many practical farmers. He was not dogmatising, but directing their observation, he was quite sure, in after years, to the production of much good fruit. For the general information of the public this subject should be attended to, by seeing whether the taking away of the water from a greater or less depth in- jured or benefited the crops. With regard to the deep drainage in various parts of the country, the agriculturists who practised it were at variance both with facts and science. But the people in the south parts of the king- dom were finding out that deep drains at great distances would never answer. At all events they had not been sufficiently tested — there was no experience to demon- strate it an efficient mode of drainage — the system had only been carried on for 2 or 3 years, and every farmer knew that every 2. 3, 4, or 5 years, they had cycles of wet or dry weather. They had just passed through rather a. dry cycle, and the land would suffer when wet came. In Stirlingshire and the west of Perthshire they had drained 20 or 30 feet apart, and were mightily pleased with the result — the dry period giving them encourage- ment. But the wet periods which followed showed that the laud was not in that state they had supposed, and, like wise men, they had put one drain not so deep indeed, only 2 ft. to 2 1 ft. between every two drains. As a proof that this had been effectual, when the land was under summer fallow some years ago, the clods had to be ham- mered down to admit of receiving seed; but now the land was comparatively as fine as an onion bed ; and where they once could not grow turnips or potatoes they could now grow them freely. To discuss scienti- fically these points of deep draining, said Mr. Smith in conclusion, would take up too much time ; he left the practical illustrations he had made in the hands of prac- tical men, and would not detain them longer ; only, if they wished it, he would be happy to answer any ques- tions, or give a few remarks on windmg up the discussion. Mr. Lindsay Carnegie had drained about a hundred acres of stiff till, 27 inches dee]), and 36 feet of disiq between the draias, with the intention of afterwards'^ ing over the land with intermediate drains if it wej necessary. He now found that it was necessary, and 1 had previously tried the experiment of a deeper systo of draining, with the same result. If he had put h former drains 3 to 4 feet deep, he should not have neede to go over the land again. He had had one winter's e: perience of this, and the result had not been satisfactor; Mr. Carnegie then animadverted with some warmth c the acceptance of aid from the government grant by no; entailed proprietors, declaring, that were he in the pos tion of those gentlemen, he would not have had any sue assistance. Mr. Lumsden, of Auchindoir, maintained that estati under fetters of entail vv'ere in many instances as v,t improved as others, and defended acceptance of the gra by non-entailed proprietors, on the ground that it w distinctly announced as a compensation by Parliament f the alteration of the corn laws. Mr. Lindsay Carnegie explained that he meant convey no censure. Mr. HoRNE begged to ask Mr. Smith — 1. What qua: tity of stones, when that material was used, he thoug sufficient for a drain ? 2. As pipes and tiles were nc often used, wliether that should make any difference to the depth of the drain .•* Mr, Smith had no difficulty in answering. Findii the very great expense of stones 12 inches deep, he h: made a great many observations and experiments. I had put in 130 miles of drain in his own farm, and car fully examined to find if any soil had trickled down, to ascertain if there were any sediment, but had nev found any amount deposited, never exceeding one in. after, in some cases, 25 years ; he therefore consider there was no occasion for filling up more stones th; would allow a sufficient channel for the water to flo He had made a great number on that principle, and h; plenty of space to allow all the water to flow, where put in six inches of stones broken small, cutting thedra as narrow as possible, two inches wide at bottom. Pu ting in six inches' depth of stones they would have t drain quite efficacious. It was of great importance set ing down the top of drains. The principle in laying dov a drain is, so to secure it that no water shall run in ai current, but the whole be forced to percolate as sprii water. The same depth was applicable to tiles or pipt He objected to one-inch pipe with the water runnii through. The draining of land was not to rush aw: water qn.ickly, bat to allow it to subside. There ecu be no better proof of good drainage than that the lai should be able to receive a day's rain without a dr( running off, and instead of the running off continuing f a day, lasting a week. Water, it has been said, ran fit in deep drains, ran in greater quantity, and ran longe In the first place, the land could not be in a proper divided condition if the water ran off early, and couldn absorb a greater quantity of water. It could not n longer unless it i-eceived a greater quantity of water, given surface had only a given fall of rain, and it wou be all drawn off j but would any one there believe th THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. )ecause it ran higher or lower a greater quantity would low ? He was therefore astonished Mr. Carnegie should uppose one winter's experience of very deep drains was onclusive ; and, besides, last winter was remarkably dry, fact which he had many opportunities of witnessing, legarding what had been said about entail, there had eenaa act passed in 1810, which he himself had the onour of suggesting, affording facilities for the advancing I f money from private sources for agricultural purposes, 'his act had as yet been little worked, but he had of late I cii negotiating a loan of .£20,000 under this act for the ,tates of an English proprietor, and he had no doubt jatthe money would be forthcoming with as little trou- le as if it had been applied for under the Government •aut (applause). This act, however, did not apply to Gotland, but he hoped it would soon do so. As to ma- rials for draining, he preferred tubes for their efficiency, I irability, and economy. A larger pipe than what is ' )mmonly used should be employed— say lAto 2 inches, size which may be made and sold for 18s. He was innected with a company which burns 1000 inch-and- half tiles with 1 cwt. of coals, or about one-sixth part the quantity generally required. He was averse to e establishment of extensive brick and tile kilns, and ould much prefer that a number of small ones should ; founded all throughout the country. He hoped soon 343 to put a plan before the public for the economic building of kilns, with a new description of drying implements, &,c., by which tiles might be made at 10s. per 1000 (applause). Mr. Carnegie corroborated Mr. Smith's statements with respect to the economy in the burning of tiles, having visited the works of the company with which Mr. Smith is connected. He (Mr. C.) had also seen the plan adopted at the kilns where tiles are made for Sir Robert Peel. He referred to Mr. Smith for some explanation i f the principle adopted in the process to which he hadjust alluded. Mr. Smith replied, that so far as he was at liberty to explain that process, one part of the plan was, that the tiles were enveloped in steam instead of the usual way of burning them ; and no cracking could take place while they were so enveloped ; besides, by this process, all the water was speedily expelled from the tubes. Sir John Richardson suggested that some person should state his views or experience regarding deep drain- ing ; it might bring out some farther explanation from Mr. Smith, from whom they had received much valuable information. No one, however, responded to the call. After a vote of thanks to tlie Chairman, on the motion of Mr. J. J. Hope Johnstone, of Aunandale, M.P,, the meetmg separated soon after 10 o'clock. THE LAND, AND HOW TO FARM IT. According to the most recent computation, England id Wales contain 37,094,400 acres ; Scotland, 1,738,930 acres; Ireland, 19,441,954 acres; and the lands of Man, Guernsey, and Sark, maybe said to mtain 1,119,159 acres more ; making, in all, a total 77,394,443 acres. This land is thus appropriated — ilHvated acres . . iprovable wa^te tiprofitable Total 37094400 1973893i Ensland I i British and Wales. IScotland Ireland.] Islands. ISL'Sa-iSe 883G90 4!)00fi04 16^690 2416664 569469 19441954 1119150 In England and Wales 3,250,000 of land are in heat; 4,500,000 in barley, oats, rye, peas, &c. ; 400,000 in grass aiid turnips ; 2,100,000 in fallow ; 7,500,000 in pasture ; 18,000 in pleasure grounds ; 200,000 in hedges, copses, and woods ; and 1,300,000 roads, highways, and water-courses. In Scotland id Ireland the products of cultivation are chiefly oats, irley, potatoes, and green crops, there being scarcely iree quarters of a million under the plough for wheat both countries, thus making but four millions of ;res set apart for wheat out of the seventy-seven and odd illions which the United Kingdom contains. And lire the inquiry naturally presents itself — Do those !>000,000 of acres now produce the maximum in quan- jty and quality, or do they fall short of it .' Recent Kperiencs has demonstrated that they may be said to Iroduce only the minimum in quantity ; although, under ordinary circumstances, the quality is generally good. An average crop will scarcely give four quarters imperial an acre, which present us with a total yield of 16,000,000 of quarters, leaving us dependent on foreign countries for at least 2,000,000 more. An abundant crop gives us 20,000,000, and then we seem to have an approxima- tion to a full supply of food. It is now maintained by practical and experienced agricultiu'ists, that with plenty of draining, subsoil-ploughing, and the application of chemical manures, 20,000,000 may be as easily raised as 10,000,000 were fifty years ago, and the outlay in farm- ing still moderate enough to enable the farmer to pay the rent he is now charged for his land. Now, the practical use we would make of these facts, is to encourage improved cultivation of the land ; and W'C are glad in being able to avail ourselves of the expe- rience of one of our ablest farmers, who has kindly fur- nished us with important information. Writing the other day, in answer to certain queries, he says : — " There can be httle difficulty in proving that iii Scotland, at least, farmers have nothing to fear from foreign comjietition ; and if the English farmers knew their business, they should be able to do better than us, as they have unquestionably a better soil and climate ; and it is to England that we have to send the greater part of oui fat cattle and sheep. My own farm contaius 650 imperial acres ; and within the last ten years I have completely tile-drained tlie whole ; makuig the drains from fifteen to eighteen feet separate, filled up most of the ditches with large tiles, made for the purpose ; and were the tiles on my farm laid in a straight line, they would extend i 344 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to upwards of three hundred miles. The expense was about £3000, exchisivc of the carriage of the tiles. I have bought fully £300 worth of foreign manure annually, and spent about a similar sum in linseed cake for feeding cattle. My rent is seven bushels of wheat per Scotch acre, or 5 } bushels imperial. In our rotation we follow the six-course shift, having generally about 103 or 109 imperial acres, first of grass, second of oats, third of beans and potatoes, fourth wheat, fifth turnips, sixth wheat and barley, say two-thirds wheat and one-third barley, succeeded again by grass. Our oats will average 54, our M'heat 33, barley 42, beans 28 bushels per imperial acre ; and our turnip, in place of being worth only £4 10s. an acre, as from the inclosed table you will see they fetched in 1835, rea- hze from £7 to £8. Tiiere cannot be a doubt but that drain- ing and guano have added at least a third to the value of arable laud, and in many cases they have douliled its value. We for- merly thought 30 or 40 acres of turnips, often worthless, a fair proportion with 60 or 70 acres of fallow ; now we make no plain fallow, but have the whole iti turnips, the land being dry ; and abundance of foreign manure being fo be had, we seldom miss a heavy crop of tuniips, which again enriches the farm. " There have been three farms let in tins county since the announcement of Sir Robert Peel's measures, and at rent en- hanced at least 20 per cent." Three hundred miles of drain tiles ! When will this example be generally quoted .' The tables to which re- ference is here made were prepared in 1836, and show the quantity and value of the produce of a neighbouring farm, almost the same in size, and precisely the same in soil, rent, and rotation, as the farm to which the fore- going communication more particularly refers. The following is a copy of the general view of the case : — aUANTITY AND VALUE OF PRODUCE OX THE AVERAGE OF THREE YEARS, THE CROPS BEING ABOVE AN AVERAGE. 1765 acres wheat (29 j bushels per acre) 649 ll-12thqrs., at 48s. 4d. perqr £1,569 10 6 llj acres barley (38 2-5th bushels per acre) 54 qrs., at 28s. 3d. per qr 65 2 4 125 acres oats (36 l-6th bushels per acre) 565-54 qrs., at 20s. per qr 565 10 10 62| acres beans (22^ bushels per acre) 174 qrs., at27s.6d 222 11 8 93J acres turnips at £4 16s. per acre 450 0 0 63 acres potatoes 30 0 0 125 acres grass and clover, at £2 18s. per acre 300 0 0 25 acres fallow, farm-yard, garden, &c 0 0 0 625i imperial acres. Total value of produce . . £,3202 15 4 EXPENDITURE AND DISTRIBUTION, Expense of cultivation, in produce and money. . £1,830 8 7 To landholders for rent, 465 qrs. at 48s. 4d 1,124 7 1 To tenant, exclusive of fifty pounds, the interest of capital in horses and implements charged in expenses for interest of capital, superin- tendence, &c 247 19 8 £3,202 15 4 In reference to these figures, there are appended these forcible observations :—" These figures show that the quantity of produce left to defray the money expenses and the allowances and profit of the tenant of 625 acres imperial, was only equal to 393 qrs. of wheat ; then as the rent is a fi.xed quantity, and the money expenses t main about the same, whether corn is ciieap or dear, is self-evident, unless the quantity of produce can inc7-eased, that for every fall of one shilling a quarter the price of wheat, and other produce in proportic .£19 13s. is deducted from the farmer's income; and the reduction extended to 12s. 7d. a quarter, the wb of this income would be swept away. But by an ar lysis of the expenditure and distribution of the produ^ it is shown that if the farmer had sold his wheat at 2: 2d., barley at I3s., and oats at 9s. 2d. the qr., he woil have been equally remunerated, exclusive of rent, as selling his wheat at 48s. 4d., barley at 28s. 3d., a oats at 20s. the qr. When these facts are perccivi farmers will discover that no reduction in the price produce that can take place after an adjustmentof rent ) taken place, can prevent them from being able to j three times the rent paid previous to 1795." But the great practical question which here prese itself is this — What proportion do profits now bear rent, as compared with the profits under the morelirai and common-place system of farming pursued by t Scotch farmer in the years 1844-5-6.'' He has laid three thousand pounds in drain-tiles — has purcha and applied large quantities of guano, and other fore manures ; thus increasing his annual expenditure by least .£'400. What return has he realized for all I extra expenditure ? If it be the fact that " draining 1 guano have added at least a third to the value of ara land, and in many cases double its value," it follows t the returns now are much more profitable than thosi ' ten years back ; and this conclusion is established by experience of the last few years, as thus stated in a cc munication under date the 1st April, 1846 : — " In calculating the returns which the farm referred to i gives, as compared with those it yielded in 1836, I wish rai ' to miderstate the increase, certainly not to overstate it. Tal • the price quoted, the results will stand thus : — ]76:x acres wheat at 32 2-3rds bushels (in place of 29 2-3rds) gives an addition of 528 bushels, at 483. 4d. per qr., or £159 10 > 11.} acres barley, at 44 2-5th bushels (in place of 38 2-5th bushels) gives an addition of 67a bushels, at 28s. 3d. per qr., or 12 0 ' 125 acres of oats, at 54 bushels (in place of 36 l-6th) gives an addition of 2,250 bushels, at 20s 281 51 62}- acres beans, at 28^ (in place of 22^ bushels) gives an addition of 250 bushels, at 279. 6d. perqr 42 18 1 93$ acres of turnips, at least £6 8s. (in place of £4 I6s.), gives an addition of. 148 IC ' 6 J acres potatoes may be doubled, or in addition 30 0 ' 125 acres grass, at £3 4s. (in place of £2 18s.), gives 37 10 ' Total increase £711 18 ' which surely leaves a pretty broad margin for increai expenditure. Allowing an additional £100 for forejl manure, another £100 for labour, and £200 for out ' on draining, there is still a clear profit of £300 for ' tenant, in addition to the profits shewn by his retu ' for 1830. — North of Scotland Gazette. THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 345 COURSE OF LECTURES ON BOTANY IN REFERENCE TO AGRICULTURE. BY CHAR1.es JOHNSON, ESQ., PROFESSOR OF BOTANY AT GUY's HOSPITAL, &C. &C. AT MESSRS. NESBITS' AGRICULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC TRAINING SCHOOL, KENNINGTON LANE, LAMBETH, NEAR LONDON. Lecture III. It has been already remarked that the relative listribution of the minute cells and tubes varies ;reatly in different plants, and occasions organic differences, of vast importance to the investigator of heir forms and properties. A very large propor- ion of the vegetable kingdom, numerically consi- ered, consists exclusively of the cell, either simple nd separating into as many distinct individuals s there are cells produced by the consecutive par- tion of its original cavity, according to the mode escribed in the last lecture, or the plant assumes 1 its ultimate growth a stem or leaf-like form, in onsequence of the new cells remaining attached nd forming a more or less compound structure, 'hese plants, collectively called cellular, are objects f great interest to the naturalist, and furnish ex- tnples of vegetable development that are not mth- ut their value in the elucidation of that of the igher orders. In the economy of nature, too, ley are agents ever active and efficient. The sea- •eed, the lichen, the moss, and the fungus, con- titute no unimportant links of the vast chain of rganic existence ; but being for the most part be- ond the pale of cultivation, any extended notice f their individual structm-e and characters would e incompatible with our present subject ; and I hall therefore now only observe that, with the ex- eption of the last, subsisting chiefly, if not solely, y absorption over their whole surface from the urrounding medium, the vital action is less com- lieated than in those in which the necessary food iibibed by one set of organs, requires conveyance ) others before it can become assimilated or con- erted into the growing substance of the plant. The Lycopodums,Qv club-mosses, the Equisetums, r horsetails, and the ferns, constitute a series occu- ying a middle station between the cellular and the lowering plants ; commencing, like the former, with development simply cellular, they acquire in their Iterior growth the ducts and woody tissue that haracterize the latter, to which the presence of tomates in the leaves of the ferns, as shown in our ist lecture, indicates an approach still nearer ; the bsenceof flowers and of distinct spiral vessels be- ig the principal structural differences. The influence, direct and indirect, of these flowerless plants upon the nobler tribes of vege- tables is at present little appreciated, or at most only by the philospher in his silent researches into the secrets of nature ; there are still, however, many points in their history intimately connected with the interests of the practical agriculturist, and that may hereafter come under our discussion, although we must leave them for a time, to pursue that of the structure of their more immediately important as- sociates, the flowering plants. Although composed of elementary organs of the same denomination, and apparently agreeing in the general phenomena of their growth, so far as pre- viously detailed, flowering plants are distinguishable into two groups or classes, diflfering in various features, but especially in the structure of their stems or trunks ; the tissue or organic substance of which is either chiefly disposed in concentric masses, or is more or less mingled throughout, the tubular with the cellular portion ; and from the mode in which its increase takes place under these different circumstances, the former are generally said to be exogens or " outward growers," the latter endogens or " inward growers." The exogens form by far the larger, and perhaps the more important of these two classes in regard to human economy in the aggregate; but the endogens are far from being in- ferior to them in one respect, and that the most valuable of all — the production of food, (Fig. 1.) [Section ofExofjenous Stem^ 2 A 346 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. {Fig. 2.) •??' : o.<^<: .ipS- '--«=' /S i"*^^ 'ii-2 ■ r deposited, is in the exact centre of the mass, i t frequently it is widely apart from that po'- When a tree grows in the heart of a forest, or 1 1 plantation, or in any equally sheltered spot, disposition of the layers will be most regular ; ' when it stands in an open situation, the layers wood are uniformly found to be thicker upon south than on the north side of the trunk i difterence jirobably occasioned by the sap flow THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 351 with greater celerity, and the secretions being more abundant, on the side most exposed to the influence of the sun's rays, that, while they contribute to the relaxation of the vessels, and render by their warmth the sap more fluid, probably favour a more copious precipitation of the carbon and other prin- ciples that enter into the formation of the woody fibre. Added to this, there is generally a more exuberant growth, or rather, development of buds .ipon the south side of a tree that grows equally ;xposed ; and though their fibres may not always lescend perpendicularly, it may readily be con- ceived that they would tend toward that side of he trunk where the tissue was the most yield- ng and the secretion of the cambium most abun- lant. The mode of growth we have here detailed as liat characterizing an exogenous or outward grow- ng plant can only be understood by constant re- ierence to the compound nature of those bodies vhich in common estimation we regard as pos- essing an individual existence. Every plant, after ts first development from seed, becomes really an ncreasing combination of many ; every leaf is an ndividual, every bud multijjlies and becomes a amily; and these families are successively pro- luced in the exogen upon the dying bodies of their iredecessors, sending down from year to year their oots over their roots, and thus producing an ac- umulation of woody matter, in as it were a suc- cession of hoUow cones, cone over cone. This conical form of the trunk, as it is called, is a con- stant character of all the trees of this vast class of vegetation ; the base of it is always larger than the parts above, and they taper to their extremities, as is seen in the trunks and branches of all our Eng- lish trees and shrubs. The tendency to this form is shewn even in the annual stems of herbaceous plants, the base of which is larger than the upper end in consequence of its containing the woody tubes descending from a greater number of leaves and developing buds. The characters resulting from exogenous increase can scarcely be traced in a perennial herb, and in those of annual duration are altogether wanting ; but the stratification of the tissue is the same as in the young shoot or incipient branch of a tree : the external bark, the woody sheath, the central column of pith, even the me- duUury rays, the connecting medium between the pith and the bark, arc present. The production of these latter and other circumstances connected with the differential characters of exogens andendogens, in their earlier stages of growth, mil be illustrated when we come to discuss the phenomena of the germination of the seed ; at present we will content ourselves with a comparatively superficial glance at the several structures, leaving their ultimate origin for after consideration, when we have become a little more familiar with the more obvious facts and the general opinions deducible from them. FLAX CULTIVATION. We have much pleasure in publishing ^at length the oUowing intelligent letter addressed by Mr, Wells to he President and gentlemen of the Council of the York- hire Agricultural Society : — My Lord and Gentlemen, — Having read a lucid eport on the subject of flax, in the Express newspaper, .nd seen an advertisement that a discussion was to take )lace upon the subject therein alluded to, at the Town lall, Scarborough, the day prior to the Agricultural Society's meeting at that place, I attended, and have ileasure in testifying, as a member of your asso- [liation, the gratification I derived in hearing Professor fohnston's able lecture upon the different chemical pro- )erties that were extracted from the soil by the growth if line — what was the best method of restoring the land 0 cultivated to its former productiveness — the effect of etuming a portion of its produce, such as the infusion I'fline or line-water — the scutchings and the manure tlerived from the seed ; the latter only, in his opinion, japable of general application, and with which most jiractical agriculturists must coincide. Had the profes- lor's promise, that the meeting at the termination of his lecture would be favoured with the experience of practi- cal men, been realized, I certainly should not have tres- passed upon your attention with any information that I individually possess ; but the principal object of discus- sion escaping observation — first by Mr. Thompson, who favoured us simply as to the best method oi using linseed ; by Mr. Short, who forgot in toto the question of flax, confining himself to the seeds, a quantity of compounds , and his opinion that good land, if it grew weeds, ought not to be cultivated tvith line ; and by Mr. Haz- litt, how it was grown in Belgium and Ireland, but omit- ted the particulars of cost and net value. I was induced to state that ideas relative to the growth of flax were becoming very fashionable, but were not borne out by pecuniary profitable results to the producer ; and it is in substantiation of this assertion that I now address you, well aware that theory, if not borne out by practice, is valueless. I trust that the opinion of the occupier of one of the largest farms in the Goole and Marshland district, and at certain seasons a considerable grower of the article under discussion (the present year of about 40 acres) will be worthy of consideration. Formerly line was grown to a very great extent in this district, in fact it was the staple commodity ; the 352 THE FARMER' injury done to the soil by its growth being compensated for by the cleanlmess of its cultivation, the heavy amount of purchased tillage laid upon the land, and the succes- sion 'of seeding or laying down to biennial pasture. It was protected by a duty of 3s. 4d. per qr, on the seed, 8s. 4d. per ton on the fibre, which, with a bonus from Government of 4d. per stone, equalled, in the average, 21s. per acre. The repeal of these brought the grower into direct competition with the foreigner— a question subject to all the reasoning of the long protracted corn- law discussion, but which, in this instance, proved fatal to an extreme culture of line. Potatoes succeeded. In 1832 the precariousness of that crop, owing to the de- cay of the plant, induced the occupier of the soil again to grow a small portion of line. In 1845 the loss of the potato when arrived at maturity occurred, which caused him to turn his attention to seeding the land. In the absence of chemical knowledge, experience taught him that line was the best for securing trifolium, and this is the sole reason I cultivate it. I now annex the prices I have realized since 1845, together with the expenses incurred upon my own hold- ing, likewise the same particulars upon a strong clay soil in the East Riding of Yorkshire : how far these are re- concileable with the statements promulgated by Mr. Warnes to his Monmouthshire audience, I leave your lordship and the council to form your own opinion (See E:rpress newspaper, July last). Table No. 1. — Soil for cereal cropping for potatoes, ploiighed 9 or 10 inches deep, good warp : — £ s. d. 1845 8 0 0 1846 7 15 0 1847 9 10 0 25 5 0 Average amount realized for last three years This was all sold off the land the last year by public auction, in lots of 5 acres each. In order to arrive at the argument whether this is a fair remuneration to the grower, I give the actual cost of the crop : £ s. d. £ s. d. Reut 1 15 0 Rates 0 5 0 Tithes 0 5 0 Seeds, 2 bushels at 83. 6d 0 17 0 2 thin furrowings and 1 ploughing . , 0 17 6 5 havrowings and 1 rolling 0 6 0 Sowing 0 0 6 Weeding 0 5 0 DeUvering to purchaser 0 12 6 5 3 6 Landlord's agreement to purchase 10 tons of manure, at 7s. 6d 3 15 0 Labourage 2a 1 0 0 9 18 6 Average for 3 years 8 8 4 Loss to the producer upon the crop. . 110 2 IjCss value of the seeds for depasturing the same year — , n 17 r If taken off for white line 10 0^ u i7 0 Seed do 0 15 0 S MAGAZINE. I next proceed to a crop of line when workec throughout by the grower ; and as the transition of lini to flax seems to be but imperfectly known in man- parts, it will, perhaps, not be out of place if now de tailed. I shall, therefore, describe the process unde two heads, viz. seed and white line. Seed line is pulled in the early part of August, an spread in rows upon the land where grown, at the ex piration of a week turned, and allowed to remain unt fit for ruckling, which is from seven to ten days ; par ticular care and attention must be paid at this time, s the bolls or heads containing the seed are liable to com off when approaching maturity, if too much expose In showery weather : after ruckling it is allowed t stand a few days, then tied up in small bundles, an stocked ; when fully ripe and perfectly dry, it is carte to the barn, and thrashed with flat wooden beaters, 1 separate the seed from the fibre ; the latter is tied om more in small bundles, with two bands, one at eac end, then carried to ponds (previously prepared) wii two feet water, and clear of any other drain, placed rows upon the surface, frequently turned, and wh( sufficiently rated (this process is termed "bum rating") carted to the most convenient land you c: command, and init into ruckle in a wet state ; aga turned two or three times, and, when it has attained good colour and is perfectly dry, is carried to the hou for scutching. Seed line is sometimes dew-rated after thrashing, this is not generally practised where the growerul water and ponds at his convenience. Average crop of seed for three years, 2 qrs. per £ s. acre — price realized 5 10 Fibre when worked 35 stones at Gs 10 10 Hards or bump (generally used for nail bags) 40 stones at 6d 1 17 Expenses. £ s. d. £ s. d. As per table No. 1 5 3 6 Less dehvering to purchaser. 0 12 6 4 11 0 Ruckling 0 4 0 Tying and stooking 0 2 0 Cartina: to barn 0 8 0 .M Thraslung 0 14 0 ^ Carting to ponds, ponds dressing, &c 0 5 0 Taking out of ponds, and carting to land 0 4 0 Ruckhug when wet 0 3 0 Turning ruckles and tying up 0 2 0 Delivering flax 0 2 0 Carting to swingle-house . . 0 3 0 Swiughng or scutching, 35 stones at 2s. 6d 4 7 6 Dressing 0 4 0 . 6 18 6 11 9 6 10 tons manure at 7s. 6d., as per landlord's agree- ment 3 15 0 Carrying 2s. 1 0 0—4 15 0—16 4 ' 0 15" Value of seeds if sown Avith clover 0 IS Profit 1 10 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 858 While line is generally pulled about the middle of ily, tied ia small bundles, and allowed to lie on the ound one or two days, then carted to the ponds (pre- ously filled with water to the depth of four feet, and 1 contrived that no other drain can communicate with ) ; after immersion it is covered with sods, and trodden ith men twice a day, until " rating" takes place. It (ill then sink — 10 or 12 days, according to the weather, sufficient for rating— the stalk or haulm of the fibre ill become tender, leaving the skin or bass strong. It i then taken out of the pond, carted in a wet state, and I iread on fog or aftermath in rows sufficiently wide to Imit of turning, which is done two or three times, and hen it has gained a good colour, ruckled, allowed to and two days, and when dry tied up, and carried to le house to scutch. I consider an average crop to be about £ s. d. ) stones at 8s 14 0 0 ) " Hards at 6d 1 0 0 i iK> Expenses. 15 0 0 £ s. d. mie as table No. 1 5 3 6 CSS delivering to purchaser 0 12 G 4 110 akingto pits in a green state 0 10 0 odding and pressing 0 5 0 aking out of pits when rated, and cart- ing to grass in a wet state 012 6 preading 0 4 0 iiree turnings 3s., ruckHng 3s 0 G 0 jdng up and carting to scutch 0 5 G iressing 35 stone at 2s. Gd 4 7 G lelivering flax 0 2 G 11 4 0 landlord's agreement as No. 2 4 15 0 /CSS one-third the land^ being that less deteriorated I)y being pidled in an early stage Ill 8 3 16 0 3 3 4 0 12 8 1 0 0 iatage of seeds if sown with clover Profit to the producer 112 8 In these calculations I have made no charge for in- ;erest on outlay, and have allowed for the line above the iverage, as per the following table of prices. Table of the prices of line and seed for the years 1844, 1845, and 184G. s. d. s. d. 1844 Seed line per st 5 0 Wliite Hue. ... 69 1845 „ 6 14 „ 7 6 1846 ., 6 6 „ 8 6 Average prices. . 17 7^ 5 10.V 22 9 7 7 1844 Seed for crushing. . 1845 134C s. d. 47 0 For seed 52 0 53 0 152 0 s. d. 60 0 60 0 60 0 180 0 Average prices, , 50 8 69 0 Table showing the result of a crop of line upon stronff clay land, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Sold by acre, to be pulled by the purchaser, and at his risk and expense, from the day of sale. £ s. d. Average price for 3 years (1845, 6, and 7) G 10 0 Cost of Production. £ s. d. Rent 1 4 0 Rates 0 3 0 Titlie 0 2 6 Two thin furrowings 0 G 0 Oue ploughing 0 8 0 Five harrowdngs 0 10 0 One rolling 0 0 G Leading to purchaser's premises, dis- tance 6 miles 1 0 0 Weeding 0 10 0 Seed, two bushels at 7s. Gd 0 15 0 Sowing, gripping, &c 0 0 4 4 10 4 To meet depreciation in the value of land, when the crop is reaped 1 10 8 In these tables I have allowed 6s. for seed line, 8s. for white line, and 55s. 6d. for crushing seed. About si.^ months since prices suddenly rose, seed line to 8s., white line 9s. Gd., but have now receded, the former to 5s. Gd., the latter to 7s. per stone. I find the average of 1841, 2, and 3, for seed line to be 5s. 3d., wliite line 7s. The best seed for sowing is the first produce of foreign seed, which usually com- mands 10s. per qr. above crushing prices. Tine grown upon strong clay land, and werked entirely by the producer. AVERAGE FOR THREE YEARS. £ s. d. £ s. d. 25 stones of line at 6s. per stone 7 10 0 14 bushels of seed at 7s. per bushel , . 4 18 0 12 8 0 Expenses. Same as when sold on the land, less de- livering to purchaser 3 19 10 Pulling 0 10 0 Turning, stooking, and leading 0 3 0 Thrashing and winnowing 0 15 9 Delivering seed 0 19 Rating, spreading, tyhig up, and taking to swingle house 1 5 0 Scutching 2 16 3 9 K To meet depreciation in the value of land, and profit to the producer and worker 2 14 5 Line grown upon strong land, and worked as white line. £ s. d. Average for 3 years, 28 stones at 8s. per stone. ... 11 4 0 Expenses. £ s, d. Same as table No. 2 3 19 10 Ratinsf, pidling, &c 1 8 0 Scutchino- 3 3 0 Delivering flax 0 2 C S 13 4 To meet depreciation in the value of land, and profit to the producer aud worker 2 10 8 The grower of the line upon the strong land is one 354 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. of the best farmers in the district in which he resides, and he adds the following note : — " At the moment of filling up these returns I am visited by an eminent practical farmer, who states that upon strong soils line is never worth growing." Mr. Short's account of a crop of flax grown by him in 1846, as per his statement at the Scarbro' meeting : — £ s. (1. " Seed, 2 qrs. at COs G 0 0 Expenses. £. s. d. Rent 10 0 Ploughing 0 10 0 Sowing 0 0 6 Harrowing and roUhig 0 5 0 Seed 0 15 0 Pulling 0 10 0 Dressing 0 16 0 IG G Leavhig for profit 2 3 G And " the fibre for other purposes." "This was a remarkably bad crop. I had only 10 stones of flax per acre, whereas there are sometimes grown 40, 50, and GO stones." Mr. Short admitted, in reply to a question that was asked, that the yield of seed was above an average in 1846; but why did he not go through the whole crop .' The following will, perhaps, prove a solution of the omission : — £ s. d. Profit as above 2 3 6 10 stone of line, at Gs. Gd 3 .5 0 15 stone of bimip, at 6d 0 7 G 5 IG 0 Deduct. £ s. d. Expenses not enumerated — seed sowing, dressing, and delving, 2s. per qr 0 4 0 Scutching 10 stone, 2s. Gd 1 5 0 Carrying the hue to thrash 0 8 0 Carting to ponds, ponds dressing, ruckling, leading to grass land, &■€ 0 17 6 2 14 Balance. 1 C The above balance is without any allowance for ma- nure, rates and taxes, tithe, interest on capital, and weeding ; and unless Mr. Short's land is extra-parochial, tithe free, and capable of cropping ivithout tillage, provision is required for these items. Having shown what is the average yield of a crop of line upon first quality warp and strong clay soils, like- wise an account of the expenses incurred in cultivating the same under three different heads — first, when sold upon the land to a party who works it ; secondly, when worked by the producer ; and thirdly, when pulled prematurely for white line — I shall, in order to arrive at a proper conclusion which is the most conducive to the interest of the grower, add a few remarks respecting the working of the soil prior to raising a crop of line. Upon warp land, wheat or oats (the latter preferable), is the best stubble. Immediately after the harvesting of the grain crop, if the weather is dry, it is broken up with the Ducie drag ; if damp, thin furrowed with the common plough ; in either case the first opportunity is embraced to drag it well across with Finlayson's or Barrett and Ashton's drag harrow, with the commo harrows longitudinally, and, in the latter part of N( vember, ploughed up in narrow furrows, not more tha four or five inches deep, and allowed to lie in that sta until the middle or latter end of April. The annual weeds, to which old going warp land very subject, then strike ; two days prior to sowing, tl land is harrowed well, to destroy them by exposure t the atmosphere ; on the day of sowing it is harrowe two or three times, and then the seed is sown and thi furrowed, or shirled in ; the latter is generally preferrec as the former, if not very carefully done, is liable t leave the line in rows. It is harrowed twice more loi: gitudinally, the clover seed sown and again harrowed th same way, then across. The following day it is roUe down, and harrowed once more. No further attentlo is required except hand-weeding, which must be don with great care, otherwise the weeds indigenous to tli soil will materially arrest the growth of the ci"op. In the month of June I invariably sell the crop upo the land. I consider where the farm is extensive this : the surest course, as any want of attention, eithi in the pulling or the steeping, militates much ogaim the profit- If the weather is fine after the line is pm chased, the buyer generally " backs" the seed again; the quality : if the crop is heavy and laid, it is liable t damage, and is pulled for white line. The seeds that are grown with the line are worth froi 15s. to 20s. per acre, as per my tables. I invariabl find clover well planted when grown with line. I de pasture this crop for two years, each spring di'essing i over with 3 cwts. of Peruvian, or 5 cwts. of Patagoniai guano, laid on during damp weather: the quantity c extra feed produced by this dressing amply repays, break up the clover ley in July, dress it with fou dozens (144 bushels) of lime per acre, plough it fou times, taking care to drag and harrow it well, and sov with wheat in the latter part of October. My wheat un der this treatment never eats away, and has not failec me as a crop. If line is sown without seeds, and pulled as white hn( in June, the land worked four or five times with th( })lough — in fact, treated as a fallow, and manured with ter tons of good horse and cow manure, it will be likewise good management for wheat. I prefer the former sys- tem, as it leaves the land in much higher condition after the wheat is reaped. I grow line upon the same ground only once in fifteen years. I need scarcely add that il I found it a very pecuniarily profitable crop I should sow it more frequently. Where labour is scarce line is valuable for winter employment. In this district wages are governed by the price of corn — 2s. or 2s. 6d. a day for manual labour ; but where line is taken by the stone to work, the la- bourer calculates to make 3d. or 6d. per day more. It must be borne in mind that line is a very precarious crop, the land having to be so pulverized for the recep- tion of the seed, that a heavy rain immediately prior to or following the sowing proves highly detrimental : a succession of dry weather is equally injurious at certain stages ; and a slight hail storm, if it only bruises the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 355 jre, causes a knot, which when worked breaks off. his is, I believe, the only crop that an assurance can- >t be effected upon against loss by hail. The question that now remains is in what way is the •oprietor affected by the cultivation of line. I have !ard that many refuse to allow it to be grown upon eir estates. I think if landowners were to introduce a clause into eir farm agreements to the following effect : " That liere line is cultivated it shall not l)e grown more than ice in seven years ; that when sold to distant parties id removed off the estate, the grower shall purchase )t less than ten tons of good horse and cow manure r acre ; where the locality has not the convenience of iter carriage, an equal pi-oportion of guano ; or where e line is worked up by the producer, he shall either irchase not less than two qrs. of linseed for every acre, consume the seed grown upon the farm." To this I reasonable tenant could find the least objection, and e proprietor would have a sufficient guarantee against jury. If the cultivation of flax will not allow the oc- ipier to act in conformity with such a clause, the ques- m of its profitable introduction will be set at rest. I have trespassed upon your attention much longer an I had intended, but tlie importance of the subject list plead my excuse. I have endeavoured to lay he- re you a candid statement, one that will bear the detest examination, and from which your Lordship id the Council will perceive that line at present prices 'nnot be introtlucecl upon all soils as a staple jjroduc- on, though it may occasionally be grown to advantage ! a crop of convenience. — I have the honour to remain, y Lord and gentlemen, your obedient servant, John Wells. Booth Ferry, Goole, August 10, 1847. THE WOOL TRADE.— Westphalia, July 20.— incke, father and son, both distinguished themselves by leir efforts for the social improvement of Prussia, incke, jun., is more interested in the political im- rovement of Prussia, while the elder Vincke is more usy with her material interest. It was li6 who first nported into Prussia a flock of 1,200 head true Merino Keep from Spain. Though at that time, 1804, Prussia ossessed more than ten millions of sheep, this was the nly flock consisting of this noble species of sheep. It .•as he who first conceived that sheep form, for the po- ulation of a state, as it were, the standard of increasing r decreasing industry. For the last 138 years the 'russian government has directed its attention to the ncreased state of the sheep in the country ; according to he principle that " if there be more sheep than human leings in a comparatively populous state, national pros- lerity is well founded." But seeing also that without ■loth manufactories the wool production would never ucceed, an edict was issued in 1719 that no foreign loth and woollen goods should be worn and used in 'russia. In 1723 it was ordered that the manner of sorting and washing of wool should be read from the pulpit ; nay, to raise the cloth manufactories at home, it was prohibited by hard labour in the fortresses to ex- port native wool. Frederick the Great, though true to these principles, tried nevertheless to open new markets. Under him was first formed the cloth exportations to Russia, extending even as far as China, and amounting to no less than 4,000,000 thalers. With the prohibitory commercial system adopted by Russia, this market was cut off, and our cloth manufactures lie prostrate in the Eastern provinces. From 1806 to 1814 the sheep riches of the country sank considerably ; but already in 1817 we counted again 8,241,426 sheep, of which one- twelfth were of the improved or noble, and two sevenths of the half-improved or half-noble race. In 1821 the number had already increased to 9,097,211, of which one-ninth were of the noble, and one-third of the half- noble race. The year 1825 furnished a still more favourable result, the number having increased to 11,006,429 sheep, of which two-thirteenths were of the noble, and five-thirteenths of the half-noble race. By the latest report of 1843, there were 16,235,880 sheep, with 4,202,024 noble, 7,794,421 half-noble, and 4,239,435 common or native sheep. From 1838 until 1845, the wool production amounted annually, on an average, to 350,000 cvvt., viz., 82,000 cwt. wool of merinos; 170,000 cwt. wool of half- merinos ; and 98,000 cwt. wool of common native sheep, producing annually 24,500,000 thalers. The Rhenish provinces and Westphalia are, in the culture of sheep, mostly backward ; while the provinces of Silesia and Branden- burg, and in these again the districts of Potsdam and Breslau, are mostly advanced. The number of sheep has, since 1837, exceeded that of the population by five per cent., and since that period the increase of both is on a level. Sheep culture is mostly advanced in Great Britain, where it exceeds the population by forty per cent. The number is computed to 40,000,000, and yet it was necessary for the last ten years to import 56,000,000 lbs. of wool. Formerly, Prussia alone sup- plied England with one-third of her demand ; now the English purchases from the whole of Germany hardly amount to one-fourth, and no doubt, in process of time, England will entirely dispense with German wool, in proportion as the population and culture progress in Australia, and England endeavours to facilitate emi- gration. New colonies are formed every year, and with them rise the culture and production of wool. In France, however, the sheep culture is not so great as in Prussia, the number exceeding there that of the popu- lation only by two per cent. France counts 30,000,000 of sheep, which do not by far cover Ihe demand for the manufacture, and about 25,000,000 lbs. must be annually imported from abroad ; the industry of France is never- theless not much further progressed than that of Prussia. In Spain, however, may be best seen the in- fluence of the sheep breeding on national welfare. In her palmy days Spain was the first country in that re- spect ; in later times she was obliged to import even he- goats from Saxony to improve her native wool. The wool of Spain, formerly the dearest, has now only the 356 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. half-value of the German, receiving for her 200,000 cwts. which she exports only 15,000,000 thalers, while formerly they would have fetched at least 20,000,000 thalers, which Germany now actually receives for her merino wool. But the wool production of Spain has not only considerably lost in quality, but also in quantity she exports now not one quarter of the former quantity It is the best proof that riches in sheep is the bes barometer of the national wealth of an agricultura state. DEEP DRAINING.— CURRENT OF AIR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir, — Will any of your numerous readers, who have had some experience in deep draining, inform the writer whether they have ever observed any difference in tlie quantity of water discharged from drains that had out- lets at both ends (although no water could by possibility be discharged from one of them) and those which had outlets at only one end ? As far as the writer has had the means of observation, he is of opinion that drains with outlets at both ends (having a free current of air passing through the pipes) will discharge more water by running long after those which are open at only one end have ceased to run at all. If any of your correspondents who have been deep draining will state their experience on the subject, the writer will be extremely obliged. Aug. 27. Yours, truly, Enquirer. REPLY TO THE ABOVE. Sir, — On the 10th of February, 1840, 1 recommended (in a pamphlet entitled, " Practical Instructions on the Drainageof Land," now in its fourth edition) the con- struction of air drains, or connecting head-drains, in ad- dition to the ordinary parallel drains — a practice at that time entirely new to the public. Experience having confirmed my opinion as to the ad- vantages of this practice, it may not be uninteresting to your readers to be informed of the result of one of the many experiments I have made to test its utility. The field to which I shall refer is in the occupation of Mr. Thomas StifFord, of Marnham, near Newark-on- Trent, and consists of 10 acres of strong loamy soil upon a clay-subsoil. It was underdrained by Mr. Stafford four years ago by 25 parallel drains 2 feet deep and 5 yards apart, each discharging into a covered outfall at the bottom of the field. In the autumn of 1846 it occurred to me that (having a somewhat shallow drain) this field presented a good opportunity for experiment. I divided it into 5 compart- ments, each containing five of the drains. With the out- side and centre compartments I did not interfere ; into the two other compartments I introduced what I call an air-drain, its object being to increase the natural current or circulation of air through all the drains. I considered that such air-drains would work best at the higher end of the drains. I then cut a drain across the upper end of the five drains in each compartment, so as to join them together, and connected the two drains so cut with the adjacent open ditch at the top of the field. The field was then cultivated in the usual manner for turnips, and I did not again visit it until Wednesday, the 1 9th of May, the heavy rains of the winter and sprin having concluded late the previous evening by a pourin, rain of four hours' duration. Mr. Stafford and I oi this day traversed the field in every direction, and th superior condition of the soil on the two air-draine pieces was everywhere distinctly perceptible ; and wha added proof more convincing and undeniable, was th circumstance that on ploughing the field across all th drains on the following morning (Thursday), wet, brigli marks were left by the plough on the sand within th two outside and centre compartments, but no indication of wetness appeared on the two air -drained pieces. We visited the field again on the 4 th August, when w found the turnips— owing to the intervening and unin lerruptedly dry weather — by no means flourishing ; ye it was peculiarly gratifying to find the turnips on th air-drained land certainly one half superior to those o the remainder of the field. Mr. Stafford informs me that during windy or breez weather a draught of air is always perceptible at the out lets, and at other times a steamy evaporation is fre quently visible. The conclusion to which my mind has been brought, this and similar experiments, is this — that drains 1 feet deep, with air-drains to facilitate evaporation, are equal to drains two feet six inches deep without s^ auxiliaries. Thus, by this simple and inexpensive gO of introducing my air-drains into lands drained by, sufficiently deep drains, the immense advantageaJ deeper drainage ai'e gained. The following diagram may serve better to illust^ my case. The black lines represent the drains ; the dotted the fences. Air. Air. i a i^ I remain, your obedient servant, Simon Hutchinson. Manthorpe Lodge, Grantham, Aug., 1847. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE/ 357 HOP DUTY. (reprinted from the BRIGHTON GAZETTE OF APRIL 8, 1830.) From the abstract of the district collections, and nount of the hop duty, it appears that the county of ussex, in the year just passed, bore upwards of one- venth, and the county of Kent nearly elevcn-four- cnths, 'consequently the two counties conjointly no -s a proportion than thirteen- fonrteenths of this bur- msome tax. Nor is this even the strongest point of ew in which to regard the singular inequality of its essure upon particular di^ricts. No wider space than ,639 acres is all the extent allotted for the endurance this partial infliction. Upon what principle of justice, upon what principle equal legislation, upon what principle of political onomy is it, we should like to know, that individual lunties, and moreover individual lands in individual ' 'Unties, are thus specially and invidiously sorted out be saddled with an additional land tax, exceeding two mnds per acre, towards the general exigencies of the i ate, over and above their contribution to every other ineral tax, direct or indirect, which falls upon the rest 'the country in common? Perhaps, in our whole •cal code, there exists not a tax more injudicious and ore impolitic in its character than this. It would be most superfluous to tell our readers, but particularly I ir Sussex and Kentish readers, that the capital dis- 1 3nded in the cultivation of hops is enormous ; perhaps I e should not exceed the mark if we were to say ,£"20 ?r acre. But the more striking feature in this expendi- ire is, that it consists almost entirely of payments for •anual labour — men, women, and children, all alike nd occupation in a hop garden. Neither the aid of le horse, nor yet tliat of the steam-engine, can be rought into play in the cultivation of the hop. Thus, len, when we are told alike by the Prime Minister of England and by Mr. Wilmot Horton, that redundancy f population constitutes the real disease of the state— 'hen we ourselves every day feel the growing pressure f the poor rates — and when every day fresh bands of the ibouring classes are degraded from the scale of freemen 0 that of bondsmen, dependent upon the overseer for ubsistence, a tax is permitted to continue which seems tudiousiy framed to check and curtail this most desir- ble of all objects — the employment of manual labour ; a ax, too, which one would almost think had been fixed ipon by the legislature for no other reason than that it lossesses no one single merit to mitigate its general in- xpediency and impolicy ; a tax which begins and ends ■xclusively in pressure upon industrij ; falling, in the irst instance, as a check upon the industry of the pro- hicer, and subsequently upon an article, not of luxury 0 the wealthy and indolent, but of necessity to the in- Instrious, and almost exclusively the consumption of the productive classes. But, in addition to these two capital objections belonging to the hop duty, there is that of its being perhaps the most hindering, vexatious, and annoying in collection of any in the whole fiscal catalogue of Great Britain. Have we not said enough to satisfy every member of Parliament, who has either the interests of Kent and Sussex at heart, or who is guided in his legislative capacity by the dictates of justice and equal dealing, that it would well become him not to rest till this vexatious grievance is removed ? But what, we should like to know, is the wisdom of the policy, or what the principle upon which state po- liticians have discovered the expediency of laying on a special tax of this kind, operating to the amount of ten or eleven per cent, upon the capital of the agriculturist, when actively employed in the cultivation of hops, af- fording employment and subsistence to thousands of la- bourers— whilst the dormant wealth of the fundholders (or indeed his own capital, if he chose so to change the current of its investment) incurring no risk — running no hazard of loss — demanding no care, no attention, and no solicitude or anxiety — conferring no benefits — giving no employment, nor yet subsistence to the poor, nor any impulse to trade, is altogether excused its eontribution to the public purse, and to the exigencies of that state whose protection it enjoys eqiially — to say the least— with the agriculturists .' Yet, if we may calculate the tax upon hop lands in Kent and in Sussex upon aii ave- rage at £2 5s. per acre, and the average capital em- ployed ujjon 27,639 acres at not more than ,£'20 per acre, we have a special tax of more than eleven per cent., over and above general taxation inflicted, upon ,£'552,780 of capital employed in the hop agriculture of Kent and Sussex. Can we be surprised then, when there is a spe- cial tax of this nature superadded to the malt tax — a tax singularly oppressive to barley lands (and the high lands of Kent and of Sussex are in a great measure barley lands) , superadded also to the special absence of the usual protection to their staple produce (Southdown wool), that the two counties of Sussex and of Kent should be peculiarly marked out as the victims of pau- perism and every other kind of distress? Under such circumstances, can we be surprised tiiat capital grows weary of active employment in the country, and crowds up to tlie metropolis of the empire, idly to engage in the only safe, indolent, untaxed trade which is open to it — we mean that of being " creditor to the nation ?" Or can we help being surprised that the peers of England should, not three weeks ago, have rejected the Duke of Richmond's motion for a committee to enquire into tills unequal pressure of taxation upon 2J'>'odt(ciive in- dustry ? 358 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BILL, orj CONSIDERED AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING THE VIOLENT FLUCTUATIONS OF THE CORN TRADI WITH A REVIEW OF THE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT RELATING TO THE WEIGHT AND SUBSTA^I OF BREAD. [4L BY EDWARD BIRT ACTON, ^> ■laoii TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ^^ Mi Sir, — The fluctuations in the ])rice of corn for the last year have been almost as varied as they were in 1800; when, we are told, wheat rose to 130s. per quarter, barley 90s. 7d., and oats 47s. 2d. A few years of low prices reduced wheat which had been sold at 150s. in 1812 to 73s. 6d. after the abundant harvest of 1813; and after that of 1814 the average price was reduced to 53s. 7d. Owing to the war, prices again rose; and from 1817 to 1847 we find the prices ranging from 39s. 4d. to 100s. per quarter. In 184G the 9th and 10th Vict. c. 22, was passed; which enacted, that until the 1st of February, 1847, certain duties should be payable as therein mentioned, and after that date a nominal duty of Is. per quarter upon all wheat, barley, beans, oats, rye, and peas ; and upon all wheatmeal and flour, barleymeal, oatmeal, rye- meal and flovu-, peameal and flour, and beanmeal, for every cwt. 4^d., and so in proportion for a less quantity. But owing to the failure of the potato crop in the autumn of 1846, and a weekly advance in the prices of all kind of provisions (wheat being then 70s. per quarter) ; and in order to stop a most degrading monopoly existing amongst large corn- holders and factors, a temporary act was passed (the 10th Vict. c. 1), the object and intention of which act is to suspend until the 1st of September, 1847, the duties levied by the prior act of the 9th and 10th Vict. c. 22, on the importation of corn, grain, meal, or flour : and at the same time another act passed (the 10th Vict. c. 2), to allow until the 1st of September, 1847, the importation of corn, grain, maize, flour, meal, rice, and potatoes, from any country, in foreign ships, however navigated, duty free ; and the duties are still further to be suspended until March next. These temporary measures, though not of fre- quent occurrence, have occurred before in times of scarcity. An act was passed in the 5th and 6th year of Edward VI, c. 14, which provided that all justices should divide themselves into hundreds, and look what superfluous corn was in every barn, and appoint it to be sold at a reasonable price ; also that one must be in every town to see the corn bought. And another act passed in the 1st and] year of Philip and Mary, c. 5, the preaml)!! which complains that former acts against the iiT portation of corn and provisions had been evade( by reason whereof they had grown into a wonde ful dearth and extreme prices. The object of tl act was, in effect, to prevent exportation when thes was not a sufficient supply in the home marke and to permit it to be sent abroad so long as itw; below a certain price at home. In order, then, to regulate as much as possib supply and demand, and keep prices still furthi in check, and to make provision for the collectit of information relative to the amount of land undi cultivation in England and Wales, and to the Si veral kinds of jiroduce raised therefrom, and tl number of cattle and sheep, and other animals ke] thereon, Mr. Milner Gibson introduced into tl house a bill, which, owing to the merits of tl question not being properly understood by agr culturists, was abandoned during the last sessioi It provided that annual returns should be pi'ocure from occupying tenants of not less than three acre; England to be divided into districts, under tl direction of the superintendent registrar of birth deaths, and marriages, who should appoint dej^uf registrars and enumerators : such annual returr to be forwarded to the Board of Trade, with tl: usual clauses for inflicting penalties in case ( neglect by the enumerators and occupiers of lan( together with the penalties to be enforced befoi justices. The want of oflicial statistics, which might b safely relied on, of the produce of corn in the king dom, and of the stock in hand from time to time is plainly evinced by the violent fluctuations whiC| have recently taken place in the corn market. 1 the merchant had possessed the means of ascertain;' ing the quantity of grain actually in hand in tW' country a few months back, we should have bee: spared most of the failures which have recent! taken place ; but while the trade in corn remain as it does at present a mere speculation, by whicl a man may reahze a fortune or be utterly ruined ii THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 359 course of a single season, we may always expect ; ecurrence of recent events whenever the condi- n of the harvest, or even the chance of its being der an average one, leads the dealers to enter : 0 speculations without the means of knowing w it is likely to terminate. Again. It is impossible to settle the question isfactorily how the advantages of one nation can distributed with benefit to all, and what are )se articles of agricultural jiroduce which it will 1 wise to cultivate, and those which it will be pru- it, and in what jilaces and under what circum- nces, partially or wholly to disregard, without lecting a large amount of agricultural statistics ; i as this labour is not likely to be performed by mere voluntary efforts of individuals, I think government should enforce these official re- us, accompanied by more stringent measures i n have yet been introduced against corn-hoard- , and the fraudulent practices which have so ] g existed in forcing tip prices ; for there can be doubt the past scarcity, and the consequent i mess of bread, has been greatly increased by the i luitous practices of the large corn-holders ; and [ se are the men that an amended bill should 1 ch. By the blessing of Providence, an abundant I vest has strangled monopoly for the jjresent, ! 1 caused prices to fall as rapidly as they rose 1 ore the harvest. Unless, therefore, in the case < mother dearth, and in the event of Mr. Milner < )Son's bill passing, a blow be at once struck ^linst forestalling, royal proclamations will be jde in vain; recommendations as to frugality and i inomy mil be unheeded ; and, with deficient 1 'vests, prices must rise, in spite of all the various Us of Parhament which from time to time have l:n made to lower them. Mnce the repeal of the 55th Geo. III. c. 99, the notice of setting the assize of bread has been nlished; consequently there is no sufficient pro- t tion to the poor with regard to the sale of bread. i3ra the year 1265, in the reign of Henry III., up t the year 1815, it had been customary for the «ef magistrates of cities, &c., and the justices of h peace elsewhere, to regulate the price at which l;ad should be sold, according to the price of 'eat or flour. The 55th Geo. III. c. 99, an act ' ich was passed for a limited period, was con- • lied and amended by subsequent acts ; the whole which were at length repealed, and their provi- ns consolidated by the 3rd Geo. IV. c. 106 : an }. which related to the sale of bread within the ly of London and within ten miles of the Royal xhange. These provisions having been found jneficial to the public as well as to the bakers, the jne regulations have since been enacted by the 6th and 7th Will. IV. c. 37, as to all places beyond those limits ; and all former acts on the subject are altogether repealed. There is, therefore, no longer any assize of bread or regulation respecting the jn-ice thereof, and the law is uniform throughout the country, although administered under two dis- tinct acts ; the one embracing the city of London and its environs as above mentioned, and the other the rest of England, Wales, and Scotland, but not extending to Ireland. By these acts bread may now be made of any weight or size, and of the flour or meal of wheat, barley, rye, oats, buckwheat, In- dian corn, peas, beans, rice, or potatoes, or any of them ; and with any common salt, pure water, eggs, milk, barm, leaven, potato, or other yeast, mixed in such proportions as may be thought fit, l)ut with no other matter or ingredient whatsoever. Now, say that an acre of good wheat land, which produces three quarters and a-half of wheat per acre, yields l,100lbs. of fine flour, or four sacks, then the produce of an acre of wheat is 344 best loaves of 4lbs. each. But a quarter of wheat, weigh- ing 480lbs., gives 314lbs. of fine flour, besides seconds. Thus, with the other ingredients as al- lowed by Act of Parliament, what is called second bread is made in London to suit the convenience of the poor, to whom an extra twopence is of con- sequence ; and as the law provides that no person shall sell bread otherwise than by weight, and that only by avoirdu})ois weight, it is true the poor ob- tain a 4lb.-loaf ; but of what its ingredients are the baker best knows. Prices are always determined by the cost of pro- duction, by abundant or deficient harvests, and by the extent of effective means of consumption ; but supposing a baker has a large stock of bread which he nominally alleges as being of a certain weight, but which is not of that weight, there is no penalty under the before-mentioned acts which can be im- posed on him. Thus it is that the poor especially become the victims of unprincipled men; and I am glad to find Mr, Bankes is about to draw public attention to an amended bill for the purpose of enforcing a proper " assize" of bread, and thus prevent the great spoliation which for years has been inflicted on the working classes of the com- munity. As agitation has now given way to cultivation, farmers have only to learn the best method of corn growing as to increased quantity, improved quality, and diminished cost. The wheat crop is the rent crop of this country ; and in these hazardous days of farming, it is absolutely necessary that the small farmers especially should be enabled by the proposed bill to ascertain what the demand and supply are likely to be, and not, as at present, forced to sub- 360 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. mit in many instances to a sacrifice of their crops for the pur^jose of i)aylng their rents, owing to the difficulty that exists of obtaining loans on their leases and bills, from the instability of prices and a total neglect of statistical returns. London, Sept. 6, 1847. derive both information and pleasure from perusal of this little book. We would, howev' most earnestly recommend it to the attention practical farmers, but above all, to that numero class of persons who ai-e engaged in the instn tion of farmers' sons. We shall be greatly diss pointed if we do not find it universally introduc into schools as a standard elementary work. Mark Lane Express. In seeking the readiest and most effective mode of promoting agricultural improvement, we have always been of opinion that it will be found in the cultivation of the minds of those upon whom the management of the soil depends, whether owner or occupier. We have ever given a willing support to all measures calculated to diffuse information amongst the adult cultivators of the soil, or to afford an efficient and comprehensive system of education for youth intended to pursue farming as their occupation. Although we anticipate ulti- mately very great advantages from the establish- ment of agricultural schools and colleges, we have always entertained the opinion that most important and immediately beneficial results might be obtained by the use in our ordinary schools of simple and well arranged elementary works upon those branches of science, a certain knowledge of which is essential to make an accomplished farmer. The primary difficulty which interposed was the want of such elementary works ; the next, the means of inducing the pro- prietors of schools to use them. Although many such works on different sciences have been pub- lished, still we have scarcely met with one which came iip to our views of what a ])urely elementary work ought to be. Most authors aim at something too learned and overloaded^vithtechnical terms, fitter for youths advanced in their education than for mere beginners. We have now before us a little work, entitled " Blights of Wheat and their Remedies," from the pen of the Rev. E. Sidney, of Acle, near Norwich. The reverend gentleman is already well known, and highly appreciated, for the excellent lectures he has delivered on several subjects bear- ing upon agriculture, and has certainly now pro- duced the most useful and instnictive manual in the English language on this subject. It is WTitten in an easy, famiUar, and, we would say, a capti- vating style, enlisting the interest of the reader, and leading him on imperceptibly, with an increasing desire to acquire information. He has satisfac- torily executed his design, i.e., "to unfold some of those secrets which have hitherto been so seldom, if at all, described in popular language." There is not an individual, whether directly in- terested in the cultivation of the soil and conse- quently in the growth of wheat, or not, but will The Belgian Government is beginning to app: ciate the importance of agriculture, as will be st from the following document. Why should thi not be honourable marks of distinction bestow upon those who have evinced talent and abiUty c high order in the practice of that occupation uf the economical and skilful conduct of which cheap and bountiful supply of the necessaries hfe depend? The Minister of the Interior has j addressed the following circular to the provinc governors : — ■ " The agricultural exhibition offers an occasion which the Government is happy to avail itself, of gra ing special distinction to those cultivators whose emin merit and useful works render them worthy of be recompensed by the state. I, therefore, recjucst y M. Governor, to second these benevolent iutentic and to point out to me those cultivators of your provi whose intelligent activity and honourable conduct pear to you worthy of being marked to the count and of serving as an example of emulation to tl fellow-citizens. I have no need to inform you t your information need not be confined to the gi proprietors and the farmers who were able to proc upon a large scale ; you need not fear to go i the lowest ranks, where yon will probably find i; who are the most to be commended, because with v limited means they effected ameliorations whicli are p fitable to all. I request you to be exceedingly carefu your investigation, and to send me the result by the 2 of this month, adding every detail which may put vm complete knowledge of the case. (Signed) " The Minister of the Interior, " ROGIEB.' DISEASE AMONG CATTLE.— It is with gt regret we have to announce that serious losses are i occurring amongst the cattle in this and other distri( from the disease called pleuro-pneumonia. In sev( stocks losses to the value of £100 to £200 have curred. We are glad to learn, however, that in vari instances the parties are secured by insurance, a praci which ought to be more generally adopted than it is Arbroath Guide, THE FARiMER'S MAGAZINE. 361 MEETING OF THE HEREFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The usual quarterly meeting of the above society Its held in the large room of the Green Dragon jtel, on Saturday, the 23th of August last, R. M. ngwood, Esq., presiding. Amongst the gen- men present, we observed Chandos Wren jskyns, Esq., — Haywood, Esq., M. Newton, q., Charles Bodenham, Esq., J. G. Freeman, q., John Tomkins, Esq., J. K. Hastings, Esq., . Fowler, Esq., &c., &c. rhe Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Hereford • s enrolled as a life member of the association. The Chairman said that upon seeing the 1 hop's letter in the Hereford Times, Mr. , perley had waited upon his lordship, who very ]i dily consented to become a life-member, t leers.) j ^r, Apperley said that his lordship took a ( at interest in matters pertaining to agriculture, i be had himself farmed 800 or 900 acres of land. ( 3ar, hear.) Jeorge Cornewall Lewis, Esq., M. P., was i ) enrolled, together with several other gentle- 1 a, as members of the association. THE DISCUSSION. The subject appointed for discussion was — ' 'he best system of breaking up inferior grass 1 ds, and how far beneficial ; — also, the best 1 tem of laying down arable for permanent pas- \ es. " . ^ desultory conversation ensued on the chair- 1 n's announcement of the subject, when The Chairman thought that it would be much 1 ter if some gentleman would rise and give 1 opinions on the first part of the subject, I nely, " The best system of breaking up inferior (.ss lands." Hhandos Wren Hoskyns, Esq., then rose i 1 said that on a soil hke that of Herefordshire, t present subject of discussion had not quite t interest and importance elsewhere attached t it. The general fertility of the pasture lands (this county, and the celebrity of the particular ' :ed of cattle named after it, were both causes that ^'uld operate against the policy of the measure ' aiost cases. The discussion applies more to the •Fated downs of the south of England, the Vh pasture land of some of the midland counties, 'i the hilly districts of the north, where the 1 idual extention of the turnip crop, and increased ' id of stock consequent thereon, had suggested ' appUcation of land lying in poor pasture, to the purposes of increased produce obtainable by a suc- cession of arable crops. But the great question of interest, which the subject had been found to give rise to, was the incidentally connected one of paring and burning. It seems to be now an established point amongst the best practical authorities that this method, followed by the turnip crop, is the most immediately and permanently profitable. The subject has been almost exhausted by Mr. Bra- vender's and Mr. Morton's essays in the agricul- tural society's journal ; the former of whom makes the remark that amongst so many unsettled ques- tions as we have in agriculture, it is well to find one so fully admitted by general experiment and opinion, as the superiority of this mode of breaking up land over every other that has been tried. Practical testimony in its favour is even afforded by many, who observing the apparent loss by the diminution of bulk in the burnt heaps, and the large quantity of escaping gas in the form of smoke, confess themselves disposed to question upon a theoretical view the advantage which prac- tice had seemed to show. Chemical investigation has, however, thrown such a satisfactory light upon the subject, that perhaps it would be difficult to produce one in which the aid of that science had been at once so valuable in itself, and so con- firmatory of the foregone results of practical experi- ment. In fact, the chemical history of the prac- tice of paring and burning affords a rudimental chapter on the application of that great science to agriculture, inasmuch as it directs our attention at once to the grand division of all earthy and vege- table matter into what is called the organic and the inorganic parts, the former of these being chiefly, if not entirely, derived from the atmo- sphere during the growth of the plant, whilst the latter is taken up from the soil. It is convenient, for the sake of plainer language, to call them by the names of " vegetable " and " mineral. " The vegetable or organic part readily escapes back into the atmosphere, on burning ; and as it constitutes the chief bulk — more than nineteen parts in twenty — of the substance burnt, the heap is reduced more and more, the further combustion is allowed to pro- ceed. No degree of combustion, however, will dissipate the mineral part, which remains in the form of ashes, consisting generally of clay, sand, lime, soda, potash, sulphur, nitre, phosphorous, and other substances, united with oxygen and each other, in those triple combinations which are called " salts, " as sulphate of lime, nitrate of soda, &c. 2 B 362 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The immediate effect of combustion is the forma- tion of these compounds from the materials exist- ing in the soil and substances burnt, and the libe- ration of them as j^owerful fertilizers ready for im- mediate action ; but by the practice of " stifle-burn- ng," as it is called, a still further advantage is ob- tained by not allowing even the vegetable matter to escape ; in other words, by the suppression of all flame, and preventing as much as possible the es- cape of smoke, even the organic parts may be re- tained and made available as ready-prepared food for a growing crop. (Hear, hear.) The success with which this has been accomplished will be shown by the quantity, as well as by the colour, of the ash-heap remaining. When burnt to redness, the combustion has gone too far ; whereas a dark colour denotes the presence of charred vegetable matter ; and a skilful burner will endeavour to re- tain this. Ammonia and carbonic acid, two well- known farmers' friends, are the organic parts referred to, and, like others of their class, are a little apt to slip through the fingers, if not carefully watched, and kept to their duty and promises. The smoke in which they escape shows how volatile they are : but, fortunately, the air into which they vanish will restore them to the growing plant, which, if well supplied with mineral food, will absorb the latter in such quantity by the leaves as to restore to the soil in a single turnip crop more than all which escaped during combustion. The loss, therefore, by paring and burning is merely temporary ; whereas the be- nefit is permanent both to the texture, mineral con- dition, and even vegetable wealth of the soil. Its benefit is greatest upon clay soils ; on very hght soils it is not so advisable, as they are not so rich in mineral, and are injured in texture by any loss of carbonaceous matter. Combustion is only rapid decomposition : it will effect in a few hours what it would take years to perform by the practice of ploughing the turf under without burning ; and all that appears lost by the escape of the smoke and the collapse of the burnt heap will be restored from the atmosphere by a few months, healthy growth of the turnip crop over the ashes. The practice of sowing a wheat crop at once upon ploughed-in turf is undeniably bad. The looseness of the ground is apt to cause a young plant to be thrown out in winter; and as turf decays very slowly, the next plowing is apt to bring up a great deal ; which will grow amongst the succeeding crops, even if it do not so in the first, at the edges of the furrow- slice. There is less outlay upon pasture-land, though poor, than upon arable. The conversion must, therefore, be regarded as an outlay of ca- pital, beyond the mere expense of burning, and should never be undertaken except with this un- derstanding. The return lies in the increased amount of produce ; and the permanent profit w depend upon the chai'acter of the soil, and perhai still more upon that of the cultivator. (Gre applause.) A Gentleman present said, that he was ; advocate for retaining all he could of the veg table matter by deep ploughing, which he co sidered in practice better than the plan su gested. Several observations were then made upon t time that would be consumed by such a method treating the soil. Mr. Rowan said, that the subject before t meeting was one of a practical nature ; that thi was no subject connected with agriculture, howc practical, that science could not lend some assi ance to. (Hear.) There were certain conditio that must be fulfilled in carrying out successfu the various operations of agriculture. These mi{ be divided into two classes, one of which ac entirely independent of man, and the other v dependent, in a great measure, upon his own ex tions. The first conditions comprehended lig then heat, electricity, rain, and wind. The ot comprehended mechanical operations — manuri draining, and irrigating. Plants were compo of organic and inorganic elements ; the orga principally derived from the atmosphere, and par also, from the soil. The media of their sup were water, ammonia, and carbonic acid, inorganic elements they derived exclusively ft the earth. They were principally soda, potash, 11 , magnesia, allumina, manganese, iron, phosphoi , silica, and sulphur. All these were found in i ashes of plants in different proportions, all pi; not containing them ; some containing no sulpl ■ others no iron, &c. ; no plants containing allum , though it was necessary in the soil. The ef t which light produced was, that the rays of li t faUing upon the green pai'ts of the plant, are ■ sorbed, producing the chemical decompositioi f the carbonic acid previously absorbed bytheleH of the plant, thereby fixing the carbon and liberal ? the oxygen. This had been satisfactorily pro! by experiments, and particularly by those of e daguerrotype, which failed to give an image of e green parts of plants, in consequence of having ■ sorbed the whole of the rays of light. Heat a( i in producing germination, and might actanalogoi 1 with light also; but experiments had not exaV proved the rationale of the process. Electn i' acted favourably on vegetation, by producing e chemical combination of the oxygen and nitro ' of the atmosphere, thereby forming nitric a , which was always found in rain-water after thum *• storms, and could be produced artificially 1 passing an electric current through a glass jar ( • THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. J63 liping atmospheric air. The rain in falling car- ed this to the earth, which, meeting with the lorganic bases previously mentioned, converts lem into nitrates. These nitrates, together with le ammonia formed by the decomposition of linial and vegetable matter, are the sources through hich the plants obtain their nitrogen. This ac- ■unted for the green and luxuriant appearance of e pasturage after a thunder-storm. The wind io often gives a good top-dressing to land, by rrpng and depositing upon it light particles of jrganic matter. The other branch of the sub- t comprehended those conditions which were .pendent upon man, and the success of the farmer I this matter was dependent upon the proper sup- ' of the inorganic elements necessary for the food plants, as well as the various mechanical opera- . ns necessary for breaking up the soil, and allow- i f the atmosphere to permeate it fully. Upon the J ilysis of plants, they were found to be of very ferent composition, compared with each other ; composition of the straw or stalk varying very terially from the head and root — the former con- liug potash and soda, and other bases, chiefly as bonates ; whereas the latter contained the same es principally as phosphates. Mr. Rowanhere I ered very lucidly into an explanation of the ^ us phosphates, carbonates, &c., with the formula 4 ;heir composition as made use of by chemists, i 1 proceeded to state that soils were found to be " y different in their composition as well as plants, ^ I showed from a tubular view obtained from a jjrk on agriculture by Professor Johnson, giving |j| analysis of three different kinds of soil, one i ;ile without manure, the other fertile with manure, i 1 the other barren, that the fertility or barren- 1 ;s of the soil was dependent upon the presence }( absence of decayed vegetable matter, called by 4 :mists humus, and the inorganic elements pre- }ljusly mentioned. The use of the humus, ^lich was denied by some chemists,) had been n^isfactorily proved by Liebig to consist of its l^ily supplying plants in their infant state (before . 33.42 1.34 34.76 grs., consisting of . . 3 1,000 plants in seed-leaf, "\ weighing 1,285 grs., weigh- f 243 00 60.83 ed when dry 305.83 grs., i consisting of ' 1,000 plants in rough-leaf, A weighing 9,164 grs., weigh- f 1.232.00 214.00 ed when dry 1,446 grs., 4 consisting of J Here it will be seen that the seed contains nothing like the necessary amount either of mineral or vegetable materials for the supply of the plant even in its earliest infancy ; and the inference is plain that the soil alone, or the soil and the atmosphere together, must furnish the requisite nourishment to the tender plant, or it cannot live, much less flourish. Now, w^e have not the data necessary for determining how far a young turnip, just after ger- mination, may increase its substance by the collec- tion of atmospheric food ; but, till the rough leaf is fairly formed, we should do ill to trust to such a source even for the vegetable nourishment. But if your readers will cast their eyes on the second column of the little table, they will observe the extraordinary increase of the numeral constituents of the plant in seed-leaf over those of the seed itself. I have not yet had time or opportunity of ascertaining the nature of the ash in either case, further than that of the 214 grains of ash in the turnip in rough leaf, 52.8 grains were common salt. I should observe that Mr. Huxtable supphed the specimens, and his extensive use of salt in cultivation fully accounts for its abundance in the young plant. Mr. Huxtable, I believe, seldom, if ever, suffers from mildew. It would be rash to assert that the salt circulating in the young turnip acts in re- taining a due degree of moisture and preserving a healthy condition of the vegetable juices; but it is plain that common salt applied to the turnip crop does enter largely into the young roots, whether 366 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the benefit which follows its employment is to be traced to an action on the soil or more directly on the plant itself. To revert to the experiment just detailed, I would say that, simple and imperfect as it certainly is, it is of great interest in pointing out the necessity of attention both to the quality and position of the manure which we wish to apply for the turnip crop. With regard to the latter, in may be remarked that, whilst the farmer must (as he knows by sad expe- rience) be very cautious not to place his seed so near to strong, burning manures (such as guano) as that its vitality should be destroyed, or that it should fail to germinate, he must, on the other hand, take care that it shovild be within reach of the young plant as soon as ever the roots are thi-own down in search of it. I will not presume to instruct the practical man upon the golden mean which will best combine both these conditions, but merely in- sist upon the fact that the manifest wants of the plants can only at this stage of their growth be supplied by manure within reach of the young root- lets. This leads me to the subject of manures for the turnip crop. Theory and practice concur in recommending for the culture of root-crops manures which shall afford to the plants a supply of ammonia and car- bonic acid, together with alkaline and earthy phosphates. The manures which have been most successfully applied combine all or most of these qualifications. The most important of these are farmyard manure, bones, bones and acid (or super- phosphate), guano, ashes, salt, and rapedust. Of these, ashes and common salt can be considered only as auxiharies ; they are not of themselves per- fect manures. Of farmyard manure it is difficult to speak in a few words ; I have already troubled you with some thoughts on the subject, and I will not trespass on your patience by any long disquisi- tions. I would, however, remark that, without any very material alteration of present farm practice, great improvements might be introduced in the preparation of this important manure. Your readers will readily understand that the character of the dung and urine of anirtials is entirely regulated by the state and condition of the animals themselves. The food of all stock is devoted to one or other of these purposes : either, first, to increase the live weight of the growing or fattening animal ; or, second, to sustain and preserve that of the full-grown animal. In the former the increase of substance and the excrements together must represent the entire food consumed, deducting that portion which is applied to the respiration of the animal, and which escapes in the breath. In the latter (the full-grown animal) the food is represented entirely by the excrements and the elements of respiration. In order, then, to appreciate the value of th manure of any class of stock, we have only to lool at their condition compared to the food which the receive. Now, as that portion of the constituent of the food which is not built up into additions substance in the body must be voided either in th dung or the urine, it is plain that an animal in stationary condition must, with the same fooc afford a richer manure than one whose bones, an flesh, and fat are to be increased at the expense c the nourishment it receives in the growing and fat tening beast. In the cow, whose daily supply c milk can only be formed at the expense of the phos phates and nitrogenized compounds of the food, great amount of these elements is appropriated b the animal economy, and, therefore, not returne in the dung and urine. I merely mention thes points to show to what an extent the manure ( stock, even when carefully collected and pi"eserve( must vary with the nature of the stock themselve But the excrements of animals in all stages coi tain the same fertilizing ingredients, although i very different proportions ; and it is worthy of ol servation that the most valuable nitrogenous coi stituents are found in the hquid rejections. Nov it is on this point I wish to dilate. In my reraart on farm manure I stated my belief that the fermer tation of the dungheap was productive of great los The pungent odours continually exhaling from are in a great measure produced by the volatile cai bonate of ammonia which is given off; and yoi readers are quite aware of the serious character ( this loss. Wherever, under the present system, is sought to preserve the urine by the copious m of straw litter, the ammoniacal salts must be e.-^ posed in the dungheap to a very considerab" evaporation and loss. Upon chemical principlei, I should certainly advocate the use of pure an unfermented manures ; but, where this canm be done, and it becomes necessary to ferment tli straw with the dung, let us, by all means, preserv the urine apart. The use of liquid manure is attended with man difficulties, and farmers generally prefer a manui which the drill will deliver to that which require the use of water-carts. Burnt clay will soak up great deal of urine, but I would recommend a tri: of a plan which would very probably renders thi substance still more efficacious, A bed formed c alternate layers of burnt earth and common sai should be soaked with water till the salt has ijinji formly penetrated the porous mass. It should theii be spread out in the sun to dry, and would be ai admirable substance to soak up the urine allowei to flow upon it. It would, of course, require a ver; considerable quantity of this prepared soil to absorl the liquid manure of a large farm ; but my own im THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 367 ression is, that such a plan would be superior to le collection of the urine as such. This much is srtain, that so fast as the i;rine was absorbed by le salted earth, so fast would the volatile ammo- iacal salts be rendered comparatively fixed. When le earth got saturated, it might, in the absence of lin, be spread out to dry, and put by in a dry shed )r the turnip season. This is not a novelty, as my lend, Mr. Huxtable, uses, I believe, a very simi- ir method in the preparation of his bone manures, mention this because I am desirous of calling the ;tention of your readers to the very great advan- ;geof keeping the urine apart from the dungheap. he fermentation of the litter would still be pro- iuctive of much loss, although less hurtful than hen the urine takes part in it. I have no doubt lat burnt soil, so saturated with salts of ammonia id soda, might safely be drilled with the turnip- ,;ed, and would produce an immediate effect pen the turnip crop fully as great as the best uano. Bones. — The use of bones for the turnip crop as been fully discussed elsewhere. The present ractice of dissolving the bones in acid is cer- linly an improvement of very great consequence. must, however, confess that the use of muriatic :id seems, for many reasons, preferable to that of le oil of vitriol. We maj'-, however, combine the enefits of both these plans by the use of salt, in ddition to that of bones and sulphuric acid. To tvo bushels of bone-dust, covered with fifteen or iventy gallons of water, half cwt. of common salt 3 to be added. When the salt is well mixed and dissolved, half cwt. of oil of vitriol is poured iipon lie mixture. In these circumstances mui'iatic acid 3 produced, which dissolves the bones. This com- lound has a great attraction for water, and will be ound to collect the moisture of the atmosphere, ,nd to keep the drills moist, even in severe Irought. It appears to me to be a mistake for the farmer 0 treat all his bones with acid The young urnip certainly requires the compound in a very !oluble state ; but, as the plant progresses, the )ones themselves would, if in a sufficiently pure itate, yield abundant nourishment. This is, pro- 3ably, the cause that turnips treated with super- phosphate of lime are observed to fall off in the mtumn, the supply becoming deficient. In ap- plying three cwt. of bones to the acre, 1 would prefer to drill two cwt. without treating it with icid, trusting to the other dissolved portion for the early nourishment of the crop. On the same principle of continued support, it v/ould seem advisable always to use farmyard manure with the bones. Guano. — As a general definition, we may con- sider guano as a mixture of ammoniacal salts and of earthy phosphates. In the Peruvian and other American guanos the ammoniacal salts predominate. The African varieties contain a larger proportion of phosphates with less ammonia. To the ammonia in guano we must attribute the first effect of this manure on the turnip crop. At the same time the phosphates of lime and magnesia are hardly less beneficial. Taking into account the quantity of phosphates in Ichaboe and other Afri- can guanos, we should expect their action, although not so energetic, to be more lasting than that of the American varieties. It is to be observed, both of bones and guano, that they are deficient in one very important element of the nutrition of root crops — I mean the alkalies, I have elsewhere said, that it is of no manner of use to supply some one of the necessary ingredients of the plant's nourishment, if others are wanting. Bones contain scarcely any alkahes or magnesia, and the soils most fitted from their texture to the turnip culture (the light loams) are less rich in these sub- stances than stiff clays. The addition of wood ashes, either to guano or bone, is therefore very desirable. I may just mention that, in the purchase of considerable quantities of guano which cannot immediately be used, it would be desirable that the farmer should water it with dilute sulphuric acid, or, still better, with a strong brine of common salt. By this means he would avoid the great loss of its volatile constituents, which the exposure to air must otherwise cause. Ashes.— The ashes of all weeds, and of the dif- ferent varieties of wood, contain of course the sub- stances which they have abstracted from the soil. Wood ashes are pecuharly rich in alkalies, and, as before said, are therefore an excellent addition to bones and sulphuric acid or guano. Coal ashes are very variable in composition, according to Johnston, who has lately examined this subject. Their efficacy is principally due to the valuable though small portion of alkalies, magnesia, &c., which they contain. Salt.—l have already incidentally mentioned some apphcations of this valuable substance. Common salt may advantageously be employed as a manure directly to the soil, or it may be mixed with the dungheap. In the latter application of it, it must be borne in mind that in large quantities it is ca- pable of suspending fermentation altogether, so that, if the farmer wants his dung to heat well, he must be careful in the use of salt ; but in small quantity during the fermentation, or in full supply to the land, salt is likely to be of great service. Not only does it render the ammoniacal compounds less volatile, but it is capable of destroying the germs of both vegetable and animal life, for there is little 368 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. doubt that we too often inti-oduce into the soil with the manure the weeds which choke and the insects which devour our crops. Salt will prevent all seeds from germinating when they are sufficiently saturated with a solution of it. No fear, however, need be entertained of its effect when the manure has been properly mixed with the soil ; it is then too diluted to interfere with the germination of the turnip-seed. Rape Dust. — The use of this manure is partial and circumscribed. In addition to a good supply of earthy phosphates, it contains much nitrogen capable of yielding ammonia to plants. It should always, however, be partly fermented before use. I have not said anything about the means of preventing the ravages of the fly and of wireworra. It seems best to rely upon the means in one's power for forcing the plant out of the reach of its natural enemy. A copious use of salt and of stimulating manures is perhaps the best defence that the far- mer can have recourse to. Mr. Hillyard, of Tliorp- lands, as your readers know, is in the habit of fumi- gating his farm upon the appearance of the turnip- beetle, by means of sulphur burnt on heaps of weeds or straw to windward of the infested spots. He tells me the plan is very successful, and there is little doubt that sulphurous acid (the gas so pro- duced) is very annoying and destructive to the little pests. Such, then, are the principal manures employed in the turnip culture. The progress of its gro^rth does not offer to the chemist any opportunities of further remark respecting this crop. When matured, the turnip consists, like all other plants, of certain vegetable principles of the starch series, such as gum, sugar, and pec tic acid, and of others contain- ing nitrogen, as albumen, &c. It also contains a mineral portion, in which alkaline sulphates and phosphates predominate. Omitting substances of little importance, the following will represent the quantity in lbs. of mineral matter required by a crop of 20 tons of turnips, including the tops : — Phosphoric acid 38 lbs. Sulphuric acid 50 " Lime 75 " Magnesia 12 " Potash and soda 144 " Common salt 58 " Here it will be seen that the phosphoric acid in such a crop -will not be furnished by a less quantity than a hundred and a half weight of bones (this shows us the necessity of their apphcation) ; whilst the large proportion of alkalies requisite for a good crop of turnips, and which I have before said can- not be furnished by a moderate dose either of bones or guano, should be an argument for their direct application in some form or other. At the same time, with the use of good farm manure, it must 1 acknowledged that there is less call for their er ployment than for that of the phosphate of lime bones, since the return of the straw to the soil i places much of the alkalies, whereas the grain oft cereals carries off the greater portion of the pho phates. The use of common salt as a manure encouraged by a glance at this table. There is o more point to which I would direct the attention your readers — the quantity of water in the turni My own experiments indicate ninety per cent, the mean proportion of water in the turnip, butth lead to the inference that very considerable diffe ences may occur in this respect. This difference some cases is equal to six per cent., although it more commonly confined to two or three per cei There is little need to explain to your readers t\ to the quantity and quahty of dry food in it t nutritive properties of any vegetable are alone di and that the water, although it serve a useful pi pose in filling the stomach, cannot fatten or ma flesh. Now, the differences in the quantity of d matter in the turnip must materially influence th feeding properties, for supposing that we allow o variation of two and a half per cent, in the qua tity of water, that is that one specimen shall co tain ninety and another ninety-two and a half i cent, of water, it will be seen that the second p( sesses only three fourths of the soUdfood contain in the first. Thus : — 20 tons of turnips at 10 per cent 20 tons at 7^ per cent Dry matti . 40 cwt. . 30 " , In other words, fourteen tons of the former wov contain as much solid matter as twenty tons of t latter. This is not put forward as any great nove. or discovery on my part. Johnston, in his adn rable lectvu-es, has ably shown the importance the fact, and quoted experiments by Einhof a; Playfair, which testify to the same results. Int^ experiments of Einhof the difi*erence in the propc tion of water is equal to 4h per cent. In those Playfair to 2 per cent. In publishing the experiments made by mys^ and Mr. Ogston, I do not claim any further me than that of confirming these results ; but I U justified in insisting on their importance. It is tr that we do not at pi-esent possess sufficient kno\| ledge to enable us to decide how far the superil quality of the constituents of a specimen may feeding make up for this deficiency in quantity, b it is plain that the chances are fully as great, not more, the other way ; that is to say, the mo watery the turnip, the more unhealthy, and ther fore the less nutritious. I wish it to be understoc that I do not say that [manures make the turn THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 369 nore watery and less valuable ; on the contrary, in he last number of " The Journal of the Royal Agri- •ultural Society of England," I have pointed out nstances where artificial manures have increased he dry weight of the crop ; but I do say that the nere increase of the gross weight of a crop can flford us no guarantee of the profits obtained by he use of any particular manure, and I would mpress upon the experimental agriculturist the lecessity of carrying his investigations a step further, and ascei-taining the real value of any crop by direct experiment. There are two ways of doing this — either by ascertaining the dry weight of a portion of the produce of each trial, or, what would be much better, making a practical trial of the feeding qualities of the different plots. Until this is done, we certainly cannot speak with any confidence of the relative value of any particular application to the turnip crop.— Gardeners' ! Chronicle. EXPERIMENTS ON MANURES. BY M, F. KUHLMANN. To an vminterested observer, the ridicule which hemists are too apt to heap on the farmer, on the ne hand, and the scorn A\'ith which the farmer re- eives the advice of the chemist, on the other, must ppear perfectly unaccountable ; and yet the che- nist who merely satisfies himself on the advantage ■T disadvantage of certain systems of farming by the nalysis performed ^\^thin the walls of his laboratory, an scarcely expect that his advice is to be listened 0 and acted upon by men who are ignorant of this node of investigation ; but, when the chemist car- ies out his own ideas (derived from his own inves- igation) by putting them in operation in the field, lethen places himself in a totally different position, ind the farmers will richly merit all the ridicule leaped upon them if they do not adopt every sug- gestion of which their own eyes may convince them )f the benefit. It will, indeed, seem strange that, ifter the hundreds of experiments that have been I Tied during the last few years, so httle really prac- ' ileal information has been communicated to the farmer. Tliere is not as yet one question on farm- ing which can be said to be fairly settled ; for in- stance : The farmer asks the chemists — " What is manure ? " To this one will answer, quite con- fidently— " Pay little or no attention to your vege- table or ammoniacal manures, but spare no expense inpurchasing phosphates, sulphates," ^-c, Sj-c. An- other party, equally satisfied with the truth of their assertions, will tell you — "Above everything, take care of the ammonia." It is the same with nearly every other question in agricultural chemistry. A series of experiments, of which the results have just been published, has been tried by one of the most celebrated chemists* of the day for the pui*pose of ascertaining — I. The action of ammoniacal manures; II. The action of phosphates ; \ III. The action of carbonized manures ; and IV. To ascertain how far the fixed bases of the nitrates assisted their action. For this purpose a field of hay was divided into equal portions in 1844, and certain quantities of the above substances, previously mixed with water, were applied, and the results in hay and aftermath were carefully ascertained. It may be necessaiy to say that, as in the South of England, it is customaiy in France to make both the first cutting and after- math into hay, if the land be good enough. To avoid repetition, we have combined the re- sults of the years 1844, 1845, and 1846 in one table ; and, in explanation of the substances used. No. 2 is prepared by adding to the common gas liquor the waste liquor of a manufactory of gelatine, which consists of phosphate of lime in a solution of an excess of muriatic acid, which, of course, forms muriate of ammonia. We consider the em- ployment of this substance as being peculiarly un- fortunate in this course of experiments, as it con- tains so much phosphate in solution that it is difficult to ascertain to which of its constituents its beneficial action is to be attributed. To proceed in ^I. Kuhlmann's own words — " The field on which the experiments were tried ■in 1844 was preserved untouched, no addition of manure being made in 1845, and the weight of both hay and aftermath were again determined with the greatest care, so as to be able to ascertain the action of the substances applied, not only by their effect upon the hay and aftermath of the first year, but also on the hay and aftermath of the second ;* and, in order to complete the course of experiments, I spread, in 1846, exactly the same quantity of ma- nure on exactly the same places as it had been ap- plied in 1844. " The results of this second manuring are marked down in the 14th, 15th, and 16th columns of the following table, which terminates by a general re- su7ne'oi 1844, 1845, and 1846:— * M, Kuhlmann, This is a fifth question to be solved, 370 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 1 ■* •gf'ST fUB ex; Cl CN 0 10 CO 0 cc i-- CO 10 , , 0 lO Oi . ^ CO CO 1—1 •^ OC oj gnp S990X3 jO . t^ c» c CO • 0 05 cyj '"' in CO •ajnuBUi * * JO 9S0p IIS9.XJ B . O S2 CO to CO c CO 00 CO CO CO CO CO CO en ^ CO 0 1—1 Xq 9^8 1 m p9 10 10 CO 10 0 0 CO CO CO m CO 00 CO 0 -uiB;qo doj^ •e^8i 0 00 ^ r- H CO t^ T^ 0 i> M ■* 1:^ -* c 01 c- c; J>. i-H cc t-- 01 0 in C c Tfl 1-^ a: •* tn . 00 Tt !>. 10 c^ CO r i-^ c- Tt "■ i>. 1- 1^ puB ^^81 ja . 10 c. c JO 9UinS9)J + + + + 1 + + + + -f 1 + + 1 1 CO CO <£ CO cc r— t l—i Z-. t^ 0 C^ •* Tj< c; Sr '^f%\ XQdi 01 c- CO h. t--. eT> c^ f— -ct c c t^ 1- t» rH CO CO 1-1 >-i -* CO CO cf CO «, gqi JO 9uins9y 1 1 1 1 1 + + + + + + + + + +',' 6 'rt 0 CO b> IM (N CO CO' ,■ u CO . fO C7 ■. 1845. due to manu ,.A o H jQ . CO CO 1—1 f " ■ CO CO., <1 s 0 J> i^- p_ t^ CO CO CO . in 1 O rQ . c^ " -=(< * ^" CI * -* CO . c^ t-- t^ 0 c^ I— <* cc c i^ o ,a . 1—1 1—1 ■* c c^ cr r~ . 03 a H >^ rC CO CO CO CO cc cc cc c CO (U "tS m . 1^ ■* 00 cc c -c( r 4i 5 ^ . r— c ^ b >i •+ j_i 00 00 _ ■* ■<* ■. 0^ 05 cc c , X X jO . rH 1—1 c Ei^ in ^ ^ l-H . . rHl rH >- o ^ Ti< C- c •* CO CO 01 t^ or IT a CO c 1-1 lined in t any mc inure. Eh "^ rfi ■* ■* ■* ■* t t -* ■^ ^ ■* ■* Tt Tf "* '^ s- -C . 1^ t^ c c CO c 0 0 CO c r- CO t^ CO cc 0 CO 0 r^ cc cri c 10 0 !>. 0- ir cc rH in CC 0 :5 s rC t-. (T cc CO J>. cr. 1^ t^ oc oc v: cc C5 t>- cc m 2 o S << s r-. "^ ■" '" . CTj oc CO or 0 00 in 1^ t-^ Ti Ct c c CO .0 t^ 01 '^ ir^ CO c Cl 00 C CO 05 cc oc CI cc 10 o L '^ '— ' (N (M c^ CS (M . C CO *>. CO c .C t>. CO 0 cr CO ■f f'81 JO do.iD a: c i:^ CO ITS 0 0 CO CO -t in If a ir c c Cv 0 cr CO CO ■3V(\ JO 9UinS9}J * CO rl 1-1 ^ + + + + + + 1 CI CO r-H + + + ! + + + 1 •paqddB C^ C c 0 C 0 c 0 c c c c 0 C ^ C" IT IT la tr 0 0 c c c c c c c (3 X^ijuBn^ c^ C^ c^ (N c CO CO u- cc c^ cc c oc ex 00 i 0 a Manures ap 20th April, 1 s CO rj-J C C 1 0 J C a. 0 Cm 0 CO CD 0 a c 1 c c CC 5 c c C 1 0. c a. cc c cS ft) CU e 0 2 . 1 CO 0 a > P e ci: c C 1 ' 13 '^ 0 y: i2 ^ eL, 03 < a ct ffl in 1^ 6 1— t T^ r J 'i »o CC J>1 00 0 5 -C r- 1— c c m r-l co" r-l THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 371 " From an analysis of the preceding table we rive at the following very imioortant facts : — " We remark, first, that the portions manured th azotized saline matters — such as muriate of am- jnia (gas-water saturated with tlie waste acid )ra the manufacture of bone gelatine), sulphate ammonia, nitrate of soda, and lime — after having /en in 1844 a great excess of produce, compared th the portion of the field which Imd received no imure, have afterwards given, without exception, jps much inferior to those parts without manure, is remarkable that this diminution in produce is ,st with nitrates of fixed bases, and greatest with Iphate of ammonia. However, it must be re- irked that gas-water, saturated with the acid use of the gelatine manufactory (containing mate of ammonia), only showed a loss upon the ermath, the first cutting being considerably im- Dved by the application ; but it is of importance to serve that in this case there was a large quantity the ammoniacal salt applied, and I am also in- ned to attribute something of this result to the osphate of lime in the acid liquor. " It is therefore evident that the exclusive em- )yment of azotized matters as manures pi'oduces extraordinary excitement in vegetation — an ex- ement which will give a present superior crop at 3 expense of the future, though it is difficult to jT whether we may attribute this falling off in the oduce to the exhaustion of the powers of vegeta- n, or to the momentary impoverishment of the id of all the saline matter ready for assimilation, e we to attribute this effect to the influence of the mure ? — that is to say, to the want of equilibrium tween the azotized manure and the saline manure, lis is a question to which I find it difficult to i'e a pertinent reply. I wished to satisfy myself lether, by continuing to employ azotized manui'e 3ne, the conditions observed in 1845 would con- lue. Upon a further api3lication of these ma- ires in 184G I again obtained a most vigorous getation, as I had done in 1844. The slight fall- goff in 1846, as compared with 1844, may be tributed to the extreme dryness of that year. In e month of May, which is the most important time the growth of hay, there was never enough rain moisten the ground ; and in the summer the drought was so excessive that, after hay time, all vegetation was arrested, and there was no aftermath, either upon the portions of the field manured or upon those which had been left unmanured, for the purpose of comparison. Had, then, the plant re- covered its normal state of vegetation, or had there again been a sufficient quantity of saline matter in the soil disintegrated and rendered soluble ? The results of 1846, if they do not exactly answer this question, at least show that if, after an excited ve- getation produced by azotized substances, there is a comparative pause in the vegetation, this pause is of short duration. "The phosphate of soda and Ume have each given an excess of produce, both in the hay and after- math. This excess continued regular in 1844, 1845, and 1846, with phosphate of soda.* The phosphate of lime in 1844 showed a loss, which is without doubt to be attributed to some unperceived circumstance. [Probably its insolubility. — Trans- lator.] " The bone gelatine continued in 1845 its fertihz- ing effect. Though part of the benefit may again be attributed to some portion of phosphate of hme, which wiU always be left in the gelatine when pre- pared from bones. f "In 1846 gelatine closely resembled the azotized manures in the effects produced. " In 1845, guano had again given an excess of produce, both in the hay and aftermath ; one rather remarkable circumstance is, that this increase is in an inverse ratio to the quantity of guano spread on the soil. Must we attribute this result to the fact that guano, though an excellent manure, does not con- tain all the substances necessary to the vegetation of the plants, so that the abundant vegetation of No. 10 in 1844 had impoverished the soil to the detriment of the expected produce of 1845 ? I would be rather incUned to answer that the land had suffered by a too great activity of vegetation in 1844, so that many of the plants were smothered for want of air, the crop was so gross. J "We continued the observations on the portions manured with guano ; but, contrary to what we did on the other compartments, there was no more manure added, and the following results were ob- tained : — irt manured Vith GOOlbs. guano gave excess of crop in 1846, 227. Glbs."^ as compared with the part „ SOOlbs. „ 1092.0lb9.3 which received no manure. * The phosphate of lime could not produce such 1 early beneficial effect as the phosphate of soda, > it is veiy insoluble. — Translator, t Animal gelatine also contains a certain quan- ity of azote. In using such compound substances is impossible to say to which of their constituent parts their beneficial effect is to be attributed, in the present state of our knowledge. — Translator. X We feel very much inchned to doul)t this last conclusion, as it is opposed to our own experience, though we cordially agree with the former. — Translator. 872 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. "The resume of the three years gives 2870.60lbs. for the first part, and but 24.69lbs. for the second; thus the excess of 300lbs. of guano has given only 400lbs. increase of crop in three years. We may therefore conclude that much loss is sure to follow if the farmer passes certain limits in apply- ing this manure to the soil. " The linseed cake showed in the second year a favourable effect on vegetation ; the value of the excess of crop, however, never repaid the cost of application. " In 1845, as in 1844, rapeseed-oil produced no effect. The slight difference in the part of the field on which it was applied not being greater than on those parts which, for the purpose of compari- son, were left without any application at all. " Muriate of lime (chloride of calcium) has always given negative results ; its influence on vegetation is decidedly pernicious. In 1846, as I have already said, a very dry year, some good might have been expected from the hygrometric properties of this substance ; on the contrary, in this year also the table shows an injurious effect on the crop by the apphcation of muriate of lime. " Bran and sugar {(jlacose) did not at all quicken vegetation, either in 1844 or in 1845; sugar even seemed to be injurious, but this may perhaps be attributed to its easy transformation into acid. The trial of these substances was therefore discontinued in 1846, it having appeared to me sufficiently evi- dent that we will not find any energetic action in any vegetable manure, except those containing azote.* It is, however, necessary to remark that the azote must not be in too firm a state of com- bination, such as exists in the oil, which, as already named, does not produce any effect by its direct application, and yet we know that ammoniacal liquor, resulting from its distinctive distillation, is very fertilizing. A similar remark may be made in answer to an objection sometimes made against the use of azotized manures by showing that an acre of land contains, in a depth of seven to ten inches, as much ammonia as ever we seek to give to it, along * We differ from the above conclusion respecting carbonized manures; the trials of the two sub- stances named were too few to justify such a con- clusion, apart from evidence equally strong on the other side. The translator has always observed on his own farm, after draining any boggy part (which consists of vegetable matter), there has always been much more vegetable or carbonaceous matter in the crop on that part than in the rest of the field ; he has also this year a crop of barley on a very old going field which received about twenty-five loads of steamed, not burnt, peat per acre. There is four times as much carbonaceous matter in this crop than he ever remembers to have seen in the field. The prepared peat was analyzed, and contained no ammonia. with the other elements of fertility, in our manur In my opinion, it is not sufficient that the chemif by the aid of fire and energetic agents, can she that our land contains so much ammonia ; he mu also show that it exists in the soil in such a coml nation as to be readily accessible to the plant wh( it requires it.* " The experiments themselves also give a ve decided answer to the objection. An acre of lai contains a sufficient quantity of azote in a state combination to produce 5,000 to 10,000lbs. of ai monia, and yet give very poor crops. If we at 250lbs. of ammonia to an acre, either in ordina manure or in a pure ammoniacal salt, the fertili will be doubled. " Farming is, after all, a science of facts; and it from experiments alone that we must look for soi explanation of the laws which must form the baf of theory."f SECOND SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS. Influence of Saline Mineral Substances, and es}. daily of Common Salt, on Vegetation. " Having, in my own opinion, placed beyond t possibility of doubt the fact that in ordinary n nures the principal action proceeds from the az( they contain, and I have represented in the p vious part of this memoir the connexion whi exists between the azotized principles and mine salts, which form an essential part of the plan and are always found in their ashes, I have ai deduced tolerably satisfactory evidence that ph( phates have a very favourable effect on vegetatic Nevertheless, the trials with mineral substan( were but few, and were only used along with t other manures mentioned in the tables, to serve a point of comparison with the more energe action of the azotized and carbonaceous principL In 1845 I commenced another series of experimen for the purpose of ascertaining the effect whi would be produced on vegetation by the diflferc inorganic salts which are always found in t ashes of plants. I therefore tried them separate. and in the proportions which recent analysis h shown them to exist in those ashes ; and in ore to understand the part which each salt, expe mented on, takes in fertilizing the soil, I tried the experiments triple, by experimenting wi each saline substance alone, and associated with * According to Dr. Krocker, the soil of a tilla field before manure contains 17-I00ths per cent, j ammonia, equal 10,000 lbs. in an acre 9 inch deep. — An. der Chemie und Pharmacie. — Note 1 Translator. t This sentence should be printed in gold, ai form a standing maxim for the guidance of agrici tural societies. — Translator. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 373 rtmoniacal salt, and to ascertain the eftect of mmonia in this last trial, a portion of pure mmoniacal salt was sown alone. The whole have Iso been compared with certain portions of the eld left unmanured. I hoped by this means to I lace mj'self in every possible position in which 16 practical farmer might find himself whilst sing these substances on his farm. It is scarcely ecessary to add that, as in my previous trials, 1 ave experimented exclusively on the growth of ay, which alone gives an opportunity for a wcessiou of trials. My experiments were tried in I field laid down to grass in 1844. The land was I I good heart ; the plants were thick and uniform, jiixed with a little clover; each compartment pntained ii/g rood,* separated by drains running lorth and south ; the fertilizing matter being pread on 20th April for 1845, and l6th April for S46, and all of them were mixed with 100 gallons f water for each compartment. The hay was Lit from the 10th to the 15th of June, and the "termath in September. The following table ives the result of the years 1845 and 1846 — (see age 374.) " Before analyzing the table before us, we must lention a circumstance which has had great in- uence on the results. It is, that the year 1845 •as extremely wet, whilst 1846 was extremely dry. iuch was the drought in 1846, that after the hay me there was no aftermath on any of the com- lartments. The action of all the manures was ompletely paralyzed ; even the strongest azotized ubstances were valueless. This circumstance, lowever unfavourable its eflfects might be on the isual vegetation, suited my experiments extremely, IS it enabled me not only to appreciate the relative 'alue of the manures, but also the eftect which jxtreme drought or moisture would produce on ny manures and their combinations. "The following, then, are the results of a careful study of the preceding table : — " During the two years, the muriate of ammonia applied alone has always improved the crop. In 1845 this increase is, in the hay, as compared with the parts i-nmanured, as 136 to 100; and it is remarkable that, as in the results shown in the commencement of this work, the gain is in the hay alone, and that the aftermath is lessened by 20 per cent. "In 1846 the muriate of ammonia has increased the crop of hay in the proportion of 158 to 100. No valuation could be taken of the aftermath, because, as we have already stated, as the weather was so dry there was none. * In the original 3 «reA-. One acre = -,|g rood.— I Translatok. " The association of muriate of ammonia with carbonate of soda, phosphate of soda, phosphate of lime, ashes of tobacco, and ashes of oil, have given without exception, an increase upon the total crop. But all these saline matters, associated with mui'iate of ammonia, except the ashes of tobacco, the ashes of oil (the action of which was but slight), and the phosphate of soda, present a loss in the weight of aftermath — a loss, however, which is not so great as when muriate of ammonia had been alone applied. " The soluble silicate of potash has not produced the benefit that might have been expected when applied alone ; though, in conjunction with muriate of ammonia, it does not fall far short of any of the other applications. This result cannot be attri- buted to the excess of alkali in the silicate, and the consequent transformation into silica and carbo- nate of soda; for the latter substance, when applied alone in 1845, proved beneficial. "In 1845, the phosphates of soda and lime em- ployed alone, and associated with ammonia, have exercised a very useful, indeed a remarkable eflfect on vegetation. In 1846, under the influence of the dry weather, they had no action. The phos- phate of soda even caused a slight loss : and during this same j'^ear several other saline mineral matters, instead of increasing the crop, have sensibly diminished it. This happened with car- bonate of soda, slaked lime, calcined gypsum, and chalk. It is true that these two last named gave also negative results in 1845. " Considerable diflferences must especially be re- marked in the action of the ashes of oil and the ashes of tobacco in 1845 and 1846. During the former year, under the influence of almost continual moisture these substances developed a very rich vegetation, both in the hay and aftermath. In the dry season of 1846, the part manured with tobacco ashes did not give more hay than where no manure had been apphed, and a considerable reduction of produce was caused by the ashes of oil. " Common salt associated with muriate of am- monia produced in 1845 an excess of the hay crop, greater than any of the other substances tried, and particularly in the aftermath ; which shows that its action is more prolonged than the others. Common salt, employed alone, has also given very tolerable results, when only applied at the rate of 2 cwt. per acre. " In 1846, imder the influence of drought, com- mon salt, like all the other mineral substances used in the experiments, produced only trifling results. Upon a crop of 3,966 lbs. of hay, there were only 447 lbs. to be attributed to the manure, whilst in 1845 common salt has increased the crop of hay by 725 lbs., and the total crop of the year by 1,159 lbs. 374 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. M g m ^ .^• eg O CO B CO Pi 3 -a en rn OJ >> O) o n oJ 3 M rQT3 w JO UOTJBDIlddB qs9.ijBXq9ts[ ut pauiB^qo do.iQ b ^ tf ^ a 1 C cs r 14 L Ocococotooort»omiOinoo-* +++ I ++++++++++++ I + I ++++ J^ o -^ -^ in "o CO O -H -I (N CO . t>. . O lO CO Ttl to >0 1— I M I— I o (N r-1 r-H Tt< ^ t^ to O »o O O to . cr. O O CO fO to fO to —I t^ 00 O oi CO to ,o in in to j;^ in CO c-1 OtOOOOtOtOCOtOCOCOOtOCCOfOtO fOcit^intooom(Mtoinoooo'nco^j UU WJ ^»^ r-*^ W* ""^ i- ' J ^J ^^ ' ' "— 'coininioco(oocotocoincoin-. (N in fM CI (N rN Oi in o n (M in 05 inco-7*o^cociincvcoinO'— toTpci-* OOit^COin-:frO'^l^T(.C0^i:^t0C)OO^0C0C0O OTtico—'tT.r-icoincjicofMcioi^otoci-i>. coTficooin ^^^cocimtor^i— (cTir^i^i,— ir^r-^ro^^CTitotOG^inOtOinOJOO t^ CO Ci l^ CO 1-- CO O^ CJJ 00 t>. t-^ r^^ A^>- c^j '.^» trj tij t^ 1 — I c^ ^^1 r>l I — I tj I — ^ to I — I <1 s o 'K •sjsquin^Nj .tocOt01>.OCOi— l>-t-.OOCOOJ:^Ot«l>.COCOCOOMOOCO cocociir^ootoincor-focoCirjooint^t-^^cocoi-totoooaiTtiTj* -O— ll^tOOtOOO'trHCOO'— ICOCOI^inrHClO ' -- — ^^Clr— lT-i,-(r-rHC)OC1>-ldddCNCICldCli— 1 . CO r-l c^ -ri CO CI CI CI d d CI CI CI .coooinoooot^roi>.oir^coofoi^oot--i>-OOcoeot>. xOton.infoini>.cootocitO'*ooto •^totomcoO'— i'-(CTirHcooc^codcocoincoo^t^indTfi'*m '~'mi-»i>.oototoci3 0xit^QOinj.^tO'7Dtoi;^inj>^mini'-^i.^toinm •rfl • cd "Ss • 1 <^ f*> . P. • ti) o • n . o c;3 . • r^ Tl . O . CO • • CO •^^ • • o • o • CO , .Ti CO • • 3 Gj O . O • CO • :'^ : 6 S -rti ;S :^ .;2 :£ S S 2 s s. CO g CD a s.s g. as S^j a ■ 2 .S C^ ^ o ■g I 2 ^ - . a-2-a^ 2 oooooooooo oooooooooo d in d in CI d d oo 00 00 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 375 "The following table shows the result of some irther trials with common salt, to satisfy myself f its value : — rHals of Manures on a Natural Meadow in 1846. I Crop ! of hay Manures applied 20th April, 1 84G: on per acre. June 8, 1846. Excess due to ma- nure. No Manure . Sulphate Ammonia f Sulphate Ammonia \ Common Salt 200 200"! 133/ Common Salt ' 133 lbs. 3323 ! 5856 ! 2533 6496 3706 3173 383 " Upon examining the whole of the previous bles, it is evident that the best results always llowed the apphcation of ammoniacal salts, and e nitrates either alone or associated with other line matters. Wherever any manure containing ,ote was applied, it immediately showed itself by e beautiful green colour of the crop, which was ;ver noticed as the result of any of the other )phcations. Extreme drought appears to be •ejudicial to the efficacy of saline manures . Their meficial effect was always increased by the ad- tion of ammonia. I think that my experiments stify the conclusion that common salt is very icely to be useful upon moist land, and injurious pen dry soil. " It is, however, important to take certain precau- ons; as near the sea-coast it may even be inju- ous to apply common salt, sufficient being con- eyed thither by the winds, &c. "The general conclusions to which I would come fter these careful experiments are — "1. To attribute the energetic action of our nanures to the ammonia they contain. "2. Though I have not obtained any beneficial esults from the use of carbonaceous manures lone, yet I am far from joining in the hasty con- lusion ' that the ashes of the manure are as bene- icial as the manure itself.' " 3. I would strongly recommend, that in using aline manures they should be so soluble as to be eadily available for the plant, and yet not so oluble as to be too easily carried off by the rain. " Still further to satisfy myself of the value of immonia in manures, I tried some more experi- nents* mth mixtures, both with and without izote, and in every case those containing azote produced the best crops. * The details of which it is scarcely necessary to ay before you. — Tkanslatok. " In conclusion, I shall just remark that, though my experiments have been a little spoiled fot com- parison by the different degrees of moisture of the two years, I have made them as simple as possible by confining myself to one crop and one soil." And " if my results do not conduce to general conclusions on the influence of manures upon all our crops, I have at least endeavoured to lay before the cultivators of the soil some certain and well-ascertained facts, which may one day help to settle the question of manures, on which the most illustrious philosojjhers of the day have deter- minedly arrayed themselves on opposite sides." — (M. F. Kuhlmann.) (An. de Chimie et de Phy- sique). There is no mistaking the plain common sense conclusion of the above remarks ; and the only question left for us to solve is, how are we to benefit by the labours of Kuhlmann? By these experiments the value of ammonia in our MANURES IS NOW PLACED BEYOND ALL DOUBT, AND COMMON SALT IS POINTED OUT AS A VALUABLE ASSISTANT TO OUR HAY CROP, ALONG WITH AMMONIA. The Only draw- back to the pleasure of the above is the high price of the sulphate and muriate of ammonia. This prevents their use, except on our best soils. The farmer has, however, large quantities of ammonia within his reach. We wish to urge upon him, by the value of it, as shown in the tables, immediately to set about turning it to account, and fortunately this is neither costly nor difficult to accomplish. Both the solid and liquid excrements of man and animals contain large quantities of ammonia, which, however, is in such an extremely volatile state that in the ordinary management it is quite wasted : we must therefore I. — Add gypsum (which costs imder £3 per ton) and fix the ammonia, by forming it into a sulphate, the value of which all the tables join in showing; and II. — Add salt, and fonn the mixture, which pro- duces the most benefit to your hay. It is to be observed, that the above substances do not at all injure the manure for any of the purposes to which it is at present applied : they merely act by fixing and rendering useful a sub- stance which the farmer had previously lost. For the further elucidation of this subject we will give a table, showing the relative quantity of ammonia in the various substances which may be used as manures; thus showing, in this respectj their comparative values. {To be continued.) 376 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. REGAL SPLENDOUR FROM ROYAL WASTE. In the Times of August 24, quoting the Globe, is a bill of fare, comprising the expenditure of the royal household for the year 1846, from the follow- ing items of which, invaluable in a statistic point of view, we are enabled to present a continuation of the novelty for the inspection of the curious : — The expenditure for wax candles is . . £1,917 „ lamps 4,166 „ tallow candles . . 679 Total expense for one year's lighting . . £6,762 Again, we take the following items : — Butcher's meat . . £9,472 Poulty, &c 3,633 Fish 1,979 Now, from the experiments and researches of Mr. Radley, on the utility and application of culi- nary refuse for the production of gases for illumina- tion, for which he secured her Majesty's royal letters patent in 184.5, it appears that the culinary refuse of the royal household — and the same may be in- ferred of the residences of the noble and wealthy — would yield sufficient oil gas to illuminate brilliantly the entire estabUshment producing it. He finds, by observations, that in the domestic routine of such establishments the proportion of refuse from each of the three above items is : — One fifth of butcher's meat. One fourth of poultry. One third of fish. His experiments on the large scale indicate the volumes of rich and pure oil gas from each ton : — 1 ton (2,240lbs.) of butcher's refuse, I6,560cubic feet of gas. 1 ton (2,240lbs.) of poultry refuse, 12,400 cubic feet of gas. 1 ton (2,240lbs.) of fish refuse, 7,640 cubic feet of gas. Now, if we assume that her Majesty's purveyors charge 20s. for 2olbs. of meat on the average, and 20s. for 20lbs. of poultry, and 20s. for 30lbs. of fish, we arrive at data : — Butcher's meat, £9,472 x 25lbs. = 236,800lbs. of meat, of which one fifth is culinary refuse = 47,360lbs. = 21 tons. Poultry meat, £3,633 x 20 =^ 72,660lbs. weight of poultry, whereof one-fourth becomes refuse = 18,l65lbs. — 8 tons. Fish, £1,979 x 30 = 59,370 -r 3 = 19,790lbs., or 9 tons, refuse. Then — Cubic fee of gas. 21 tons butcher's meat refuse X ) _ 047 ycr 16,560 cubic feet per ton S •^^'''"^ 8 tons of poultry refuse x 12,400 ) __ cubic feet per ton S >- 9 tons of fish refuse x 7,640 cubic } __ g- ^^ feet per ton S ' 515,72( Total volume of gas, which, being too rich fo economical illumination, is to be diluted by Mr. Rad ley's patent process with twice its volume of hydro gen gas, at a cost of 4d. per M cubic feet, thus at taining the volume of 1,547,000 cubic feet of gas equal in illuminative power to gas from canne coal. Now, with the use of Mr. Radley's electro thermic argand plug-burner of porcelain, also pa tent, 4000 cubic feet of gas per annum is an arapl supply to ahment one burner five hours each da throughout the year. Then 1,547 M cubic feet -r 4 M the indindua annual demand of one burner, we have 386 burner capable of taking the place, and superseding ii every respect, the lamps located in the chandelier^ candelabras, &c., &c., of her Majesty's palaces. But as 100 feet of London coal gas is equal i; light-giving power to 5lbs. weight of tallow, ani 3lbs. weight of wax candles, and cannel coal gas i of double the illuminative power of London cos gas. we must declare 50 feet of our gas from anims refuse as equal to 5lbs. of tallow and 3lbs. of wa candles. Therefore, the real economy of this mod of obtaining light will be 1,547,000 -r 50 = 30,94C And 30,940 X 5lbs. of tallow = 154,700lbs weight of tallow candles = 70 tons. Or 30,940 X 3lbs. of wax = 92,820lbs. weigh of wax candles =41 tons. This system of domestic economy is not confinei to her Majesty's household and the mansions 0 the noble and wealthy, but it can be practised al over the kingdom. The consumption of butcher's meat in Englam alone yields 100,000 tons annually of bones, &c. from which, by the above-named patent, iq)ward I of one million of gas bvirners could be fed "gratis.' When her Majesty, in her first North BritisI progression, visited Holyrood-house, she expresse( her surprise and chagrin that her Enghsh palace; could not be illuminated with equal eclat. He Majesty has the power to eclipse modem Atheniai splendour. 11 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. GENERAL RULES FOR A CURSORY EXAMINATION OF GUANO. BY ISAIAH DECK, F. G. S., ETC., ANALYTICAL CHEMIST, LEAMINGTON. 377 The substances to be looked for are : — 1st. Water, ammonia, ulmic, uric, and hnmic ids, all of which may be classed as volatile and ganic matter, separable at a low red heat. 2nd. Fi\ed alkaline salts, such as sulphate of :1a, chloride of sodium, and alkaline phosphates, )arable by the heat of boiling water from the pre- )us ash. 3rd. Earthy salts, consisting of the carbonates •id j)hos])hates of lime and magnesia, separable hydrochloric acid from the residue of al)ove. ith. Sand or silica insoluble. Ai. — Calcine 100 grains in a capsule at a low ; I heat, until all black particles are burned . ^y and a white ash is left ; weigh ; the loss is : . 1. j iood guano should lose from sixty to seventy- i r per cent, of this volatile organic matter. 3. — Digest residue of A in boiling water, which ( -olves the alkaline salts ; filter, dry, and weigh ; t loss is No. 2. jrood guano should lose from four to six per cent. j^ hese alkaline salts. The phosphoric acid can be separated from 1 5 solution by adding sulphate of magnesia and I monia, which precipitates it as phosphate of 1 gnesia. iJ. — Digest the residue of B in hot hydro- doric acid; filter and wash well; weigh; the 1? is carbonate and phosphate of lime and iignesia, precipitated by ammonia as a gelatinous I cipitate, which, on being dried and submitted to heat, should amount to at least fifteen to twenty-five per cent, of the weight of the guano used. D. — The residue, after the action of the hydro- chloric acid, when dried and ignited, is sand or silica. In good guano in ought never to exceed four per cent. Othei- Proofs of Goodness of Guano. — Good guano contains from twenty to twenty-five per cent, of urate of ammonia, insoluble in water; from eighteen to twenty- four per cent, of undefined animal matter; and from fifteen to twenty of earthy phosphates ; leaving from thirty-one to forty-seven per cent, of matter soluble in water, exclusive of moisture. ' Decayed or had guano yields sixty or seventy per cent, of its weight to water, from the uric acid and animal matter having wasted, and the large quantity of moisture in it, often amounting to from twenty-five to thirty-five per cent. Good Peruvian guano does not lose more than seven to nine per cent, at a heat of 212 degrees, and this includes a little ammonia. Further Proofs of Good Guano. — Fifty to seventy per cent, should dissolve in a hot solution of caustic potash, with a strong smell of ammonia. Hydrochloric acid, added in slight excess to the filtered solution, should produce a copious bro-wn crystalUne precipitate of uric acid. Specific gravity ought to be from 1.60 to 1.75. — Pharmaceutical times. MR. GILLETT'S SALE OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. iVe experience great pleasure in noticing the Bcessful issue of a sale of short-horn cattle, part r.;he stock of Mr. Gillett, of Haseley Court Farm, r^.r Wheatley, Oxfordshire, which took place on ^ idnesday, Sept. 22. Mr. Gillett is a purely practical f ner, not an amateur ; and, without referring to t; profit he may seek to obtain from the breeding c short -horns, and which we hope he will always Ip in view, we hold that the county of Oxford I idebted to him for his exertions in endeavouring t introduce this valuable breed of cattle, and of Vnch so few herds are to be found in the southern I I of the kingdom. The company was nume- rous : amongst them were — Dashwood, Esq., M.P. for Wycombe, Colonel Fane, W. Shaw, Esq., London, H. Strafford, Esq., Editor of the Herd Book, Mr. WiUifer, agent for Sir Thomas Cart- wright, Mr. Hare, of Beaconsfield, agent to C. G. Dupre, Esq., M.P., Mr. Newman, of Friar's Court, Mr. Ladds, of Deanshanger, near Stoney Stratford, Mr. GosUng, from Essex, Mr. Roberts, of Basford, Worcestershire, Mr. Hepburn, of Chesham, Mr. F. Field, Little Milton, Mr. Arkell, of Bampton, Mr. Gerring, agent for D. Bennett, Esq., Mr. Davey, of Dorchester, Mr. Smith, agent of Lord Sherborn, Mr. Brooks, of Lyford, Mr. Reynolds, of Notley 2 c THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Abbey, Messrs. S. Druce, and S. Druce, jun.. Parsons, Stevens, Gillett, of Maugersbuiy, Parrott, Gillett, of Brizenorton, Hitchman, Gillett, of Min- ster, Franklin, Gillett, of Soiitlileigh, Gale, Hutt, Frampton, Latham, Roberts, Chillingworth, with many other influential gentlemen from the neigh- bourhood of Slough and Windsor, Faringdon, Stow-on -the-Wokl, and distant counties. Having partaken of a substantial luncheon, laid for upwards of 200, and having drank success to the sale, wth better health to Mr. Gillett, the com- pany proceeded to the spot fixed for the sale, headed by Mr. King, the auctioneer, of the firm of Smith and King, of Oxford. The number of lots subinitted for sale was 67. We cannot afford space to enumerate each lot in detail. Our readers will, however, be enabled to form some estimate of the general character of the stock from the fact that a bull, only nine months old, was purchased for 63 guineas by Mr. W. Arkell, of Bampton. The twin brother was bought by Mr. Goshng, from Essex for 37 guineas; and the dam was sold to Mr Hutt, of Watereaton, for 42 guineas. Mr. Gillet exhibited to the company a beautiful bull-calf, go by Captain Shafto, for which he has already beei offered 100 guineas. We cannot close our remark without bearing testimony to the business-like an' pleasant manner in which Mr. King conducted th sale. He introduced the use of the sand-glas instead of the hammer for the first time, on this occe sion. We need scarcely add that if those who mak two blades of grass to grow, where one only gre before, merit the grateful acknowledgments of the countrymen, so must those who rear a better ac more profitable stock to consume them, AN heartily wish success to Mr. Gillett in his laut able endeavours. IRISH LANDLORDS AND IRISH PEASANTS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE. Sir, — With sincere pleasure I read an article, taken from The Morning Chronicle, in Saunders's Neios Letter of the 8tli instant. In showing how the poor Irish should not be suft'ered to starve, it says: — "By taking possession of lands which have lain waste for ages, the destitute labourers, with slight prehminary help, might have been put in the way of supportiug themselves. By such means they would not have been trained in the habit of living with- out work" (as they unhappily have been) ; " they would not have been taught a lesson so fatal, as that they could live upon such terms. On the contrary, the state, with humane and wholesome severity, would have offered them the means of living, aud told them that their fate was in their own hands. Prosperity and independence would have been held up to view on the one side, want and misery on the other. The result could not be doubtful. Place the Irish peasant where he has not only to fear the worst but to hope the best, and you stimulate his energies to a degree not often felt by the less imaginative labourer of England. He would not only work, but work with enthusiasm and perseverance, work early and late, work all but impossibilities, if the sure result of his toil was that he should himself become an owner of laud." If I do not altogether agree with the details of this "substitute for out-door relief," most fully do I agree with the principle, and bless the day that an English paper of weiglit gives credit to the Irish for that spirit which is here attributed to them. My purpose in writing is to give a practical illustra- tion that our peasantry deserve the good opinion you have expressed, and maybe raised by such an alterna- tive being given as you propose, even though they m be sunk and degraded by the circumstances over whi they have not had control. I have, for above twenty-five years, tried to imprc the condition of the tenantry of a small estate whicl possess on the west coast ; but the contagion of the st rounding neglected population very much prevented i endeavours from succeeding, and so low was good fe ing and spirit among the few hundred of my tenan that when, last autumn, in anticipation of the fami: I offered them all employment daily at unusually h wages, and proposed, if they chose, that any part their earnings should be laid out in purchase of seed their land, to be stored by me, and given out to them spring, at cost price, to the amount of their earni) they one and all refused to work ; and though very mi were every year employed by me during the winter, £ thankfully worked for 8d. a day, this winter hardly ( would come for double the wages. This increased ) was therefore earned by the tenantry of other estal in my work, several hundred of whom I employed whole winter and spring ; my own people saying, tl knew I would not let them starve, and sitting idle. However, I was determined. I saw that in sue crisis it was false kindness to give way to mere feelii' and though many of my neighbours blamed me, i taunted me with hard-hearted cruelty, I was able tastj to what you call " humane and wholesome severity The battle was long, and it was not till my tenants I sowed their land, and eaten their remaining food, that tl would work, though they saw crowds of my laboui' passing their doors to and from my work, and these i proving in appearance and strength daily. Some 1 • THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 379 it till they really were unable to work j for I prevented, ; far as I possibly could, any able-bodied from obtain- g gratuitous relief from any source. At length they were starved into a capitulation. I id continually pressed upon them the course they ought pursue, and showed them that from i,'50 to £'100 week was going out of my hands to strangers, all of licb, being borrowed money, I must repay out of rents be paid by them. As soon as they found themselves vanquished they rtainly gave up with a good grace, acknowledged their lly, and, as far as steady enthusiastic industry for five mths can bear evidence, they have shown that they 3 a changed people. An inspector, sent to oversee my )rks (which are under the " Land Improvement Act," d which employ all my people, and some hundred others), narked that it was worth the journey to see men hold their heads like mine, when the country in general d acquired a beggarly and cur-like demeanour •ough the demoralizing idle-relief. I am happy to be able to add, that evei'y inspector it has reported not only a good moral effect upon my jple, but a good profitable effect upon my land ; and .m able to declare, moreover, that at wages above able that paid in former years, I have my work ex- itedya?' cheaper and better than I ever had before. The argument I would deduce from the above is this — ke both landlords and tenants in Ireland, and let he state, with humane and wholesome severiti/, ofter ;m the means of living, and tell them their fate is in ;ir own hands." Every landlord whose estate supports its fair quota of ! population of Ireland, in proportion to its valuation, )uld be free from taxation for supporting the poor on other estates, and only chargeable with its share of ! poor-house staff, and the maintenance of such im- tent paupers belonging to the estate as might be sup- rted by the rates. Thus it would be the direct interest even of the land- d with the narrowest heart, to employ the population or around his property, and to do so in reproductive lOur. And experience enables me to assert that tiventy irs' labour of all the available men in the country 'uid not suffice to put Ireland in a state fit to be lUivaied. I If any estate should neglect to find employment for its !u-e of the population, then let government provide jians, and at the sole expense of that estate employ the jople so as to enable them to live in sufficient comfort. lAnd let the landlord and tenant both find that their ,'e is in their own hands, not only their destruction, t deliverance being put within their reach. The Land Improvement Act (if it be carried out so iply and so free from irksome details as to make it icticable to avail oneself of it) will put it in every land- d's power to begin a vigorous course of improvement ; i an enactment for emigration, colonization, and es- pially faciUtating the sale of estates, would enable them go on with it. ,rhe plan of improving waste land, and rendering the isantry employed on the same, in part at least, pro- prietors of small portions of it, should not be overlooked, and would, I think, form a very excellent ingredient in the plans of Irish improvement ; but this alone could not be worked on a scale to give a national advancement. I should mention that my people lately, when, by the comphcation of difficulties in working the new Land Im- provement Act, I was left penniless by the Board of Works (which owed me, by their own account, many hundred pounds), * and when I was obliged to discharge several hundreds of men for want of means to pay them, they all, with one voice, petitioned that my works might go on, and said they had now something of their own to eat, and would rather let all their earnings go to cover part of the arrear of the unpaid rent of last year, adding that I knew I could not lose by it, as the work__was all by task, and none by day's work. The most discouraging feature in my case is this : — Under the existing poor-law provisioiis, I am obliged to pay as heavy a poor rate as if I employed no labourers ; and lately I was obliged to consign 100 families (500 persons) to destitution, by discharging 100 men, in order to pay a heavy poor-rate with their wages ; and this when not one tenant or cottier from my very popu- lous property had ever been an inmate of a poor-house Thus the money wherewith I would have kept 500 poor people out of the poorhouse is taken from me to keep perhaps as many, perhaps indeed the very same per- sons, as paupers, in the poorhouse. Is this policy ? I remain, sir, your obedient servant, John Hamilton. St. Ernan's Donegal Sept. 9, 1847. * I have above referred to difficulties and delays of payment iu my proceedings imder the Board of Works. It is true these have been to me most vexatious, aud have cost me much trouble aud expense ; but the fu-st advances tlirough a jungle must be difficult aud thorny, and now I am persuaded all will be made as easy as could reasonably be expected. The com- missioners of the l)oard are unremitting iu their endeavours to carry out the measures of the act for land improvemeut, so as to facilitate its working, while the governmeut is secured as to the repayment of advances. The Irish government are zea- lously eudeavouruig to smooth down every unreasonable diffi- culty which may occur m the first working of a uewly invented and necessarily ratlier complicated machine. Difficulties will, of course, remain t@ be evercome, aud some trials of patience may occur, which must be met by the determination and energy of the landed proprietors and their agents; but no- thing like the difficidties, and perplexities, aud trials of pa- tience beyond all endurance, which we have been struggling against under the wretched demoralizing acts for labour rate and gratuitous relief. And if there have been among the members of our country's government, aud among our landed proprietors, some fouud who have braved the almost hopeless difficulties, and incurred the almost desperate responsibilities, and faced the dangers of toil in the midst of infectiou and death, to . work out a mere temporary relief, surely a much greater number will be ready to meet the lesser difficulties for the more hopeful and deshable end now set before us. Let us hope that few, if any, will prove recreants iu tlieir country's need, or shrink from toil for the saving of a population from de- struction. 2 c 2 380 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ANNUAL FETE AT OAKLEY PARK. i On Wednesday, September 15, Lieutenant- Gene- ral Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., M.P., gave his an- nual fete to about two hundred of the nobihty, clergy, gentry, and yeomen of Suffolk, and to up- wards of one thousand of the rural population re- siding on his estates. Towards eleven o'clock the roads leading to the Oakley domain were crowded with waggons and other vehicles, bearing their freights of children belonging to the schools main- tained by Sir Edward and Lady Kerrison in the various parishes. In the mean time, the allotment tenants and adult members of the respective clothing clubs were proceeding to the scene of enjoyment, and the whole neighbourhood exhibited a most animated spectacle. The groups being assembled at the various entrances to the park, all was in ex- cellent order by one o'clock, when the loud report of a cannon, stationed near the ornamental bridge which s])ans the beautiful stream of the Waveney, reverberated far and -wide. At the signal to ad- vance, the scene became one of great interest. The band of the Suffolk Borderers, in military costume, took the lead, playing a lively quick-step. Presently the various groups of men, women, and children, in long double files, appeared emerging from the various roads, each headed by an elegant blue ban- ner bearing a moral or rehgious motto. These gradually converged to the main road leading to the hall, where the whole formed one vast column ex- tending nearly half-a-mile in length. In the course of a few seconds. Sir Edward Kerrison and Lady Kerrison appeared to welcome the vast assemblage ; when, instantly upon their being recognized, a suc- cession of hearty cheers rent the air for the long life and happiness of the founders of the feast. There were assembled upwards of one thousand men, women, and children; com])rising nearly three hundred and fifty allotment-tenants and labourers ; the remainder consisting of the Hoxne, Denham, Broome, Oakley, Eye, and Yaxley clothing clubs and schools. Immediately in front of the portico a row of tables was placed, exhibiting piles of hats, caps, gown-pieces, blankets, sheets, and all the et- ceteras essential to cottage comfort. Upon another table were exhibited various specimens of cottage garden produce ; hives of honey appearing side by side with the finest samples of carrots, beans, turnips, and potatoes. At the principal table Sir Edward Kerrison, Lady Kerrison, and Miss Kerri- son took their seats, to receive the successful candi- dates, and award the prizes, which consisted of money, as well as of clothing and blankets. They were accompanied by the Lady Rendlesham, the Hon. Miss Thellusons, Lord Henniker, and Lady Henniker, Lord Hotham, Lord Walsingham, Lord Baynlng and Lady Bayning, Lady Crewe and Miss Crewe, Admiral Ward, C. N. Nev>'degate, Esq., _M.P., &c. The report of the committee, -^vho had inspected the crops, was read. It stated that on the whole, inore progress had been made this year than in any former one within their experience, both as regarded the cultivation of the soil, and, as a natural consequence, the value of the produce. The prizei for the promotion and encouragement of industr and good conduct amongst the cottagers and gardei tenants, in the hope of adding to their comforts anc improving their condition of life, were then pre sented. Sir Edward Kerrison addressed the partie in brief but feeling terms. He then announced t them the repast which had been provided, am wished them aU long life and happiness, concludinj amidst a burst of enthusiastic cheers. On th south side of the park, and immediately contiguou to the grand entrance, twenty-four tables were Sf out, on which was provided a sumptuous dinner c Old English fare. Grace having been said, th band played " The Roast Beef of Old England. The principal tenants, and indeed several of th more distinguished guests, carved at the table: Sir Edward and Lady Kerrison passed down tt avenue in their phaeton, and took the warme: interest in seeing that the comforts of all had du and prompt attention. During the dinner, th majority of the company promenaded the terrac and viewed, with the most lively interest, "the goo man's feast" of one thousand of his poorer neigl hours. A splendid dejeuner took place afterwarc in the grand banquetting hall. RAM SALE AT COTGRAVE PLACE.— This sal by Mr. J. M. Pott, at which the remaining part of tl: celebrated flock of the late Robert Burgess, Esq., wi disposed of, took place on Wednesday ; it was Wf attended, and most excellent prices were realized. Tl principal purchasers were Messrs. Hassell, Sander Newham, Topham, Powlett, Cresswell, Turner, Sklj with, Nichols, Sandy, Spencer, Beasley, Forreste Wetherell, Bromley, Torr, Lord Scarsdale, Hall, Dij on, Laughton, Spurr, Princep, Simpson, Davis, Wilso Mann (Yorkshire), Caparn, Kirby, Sherrard, Mai (Warwick), Conland, Lads, and Clark, besides ve large purchasers from Ireland. The first stock brougl to the hammer was thirty-tws lots of ewes, five in eac lot, which realized in the whole 952/. 17s. 6d. ; tl highest sum obtained for one lot was 73/. 10s., and t lowest 15/. 15s. Then, fourteen lots of theaves we sold, also five in each lot, which fetched the total su of 412/. 2s. 6d. ; the best lot being sold for 47/. 5s and the worst for 21/. Fifty-five year-old rams we then sold singly, for which 841 guineas were obtained as much as 5.3 guineas being paid for one, and 42, 4 33, and 20 guineas for others. Twenty-one two-year old rams realized 195 guineas; 23 being paid for on and 17, 12, 11, and 10 each for others. Fourteen thre years-old rams sold for 170 guineas ; for one 40 guinei being paid, another 32, and a third 14. Fifteen fou years-old rams were knocked down singly for the tol of 200 guineas ; one being sold for 40, a second for 3 a third for 22, and a fourth for 20 guineas. The k stock sold was five-year-old rams, which severally we knocked down for 12, 30, 14, 17, and 10 guinea The total sum realized was 2,946/. Os. 6d. ; and tl number of animals sold was 310. It would be impo sible that a sale could be conducted with greater abilit or with more complete success. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. METEOROLOGICAL DIARY. 381 Barometer. Thermometer. Day. 8 a. m.ilOp.m.:; Min. Max. lOp.m ag. 22 ■•. 23 'ffii 24 r 25 |oLi .26 27 28 29 30 31 ept. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ^ lies in. cts. 29.80 29.93 30.12 30.16 30.18 30.32 30.38 30.23 30.18 30.05 30.00 29.83 30.03 29.90 29.96 29.94 30.00 29.94 30.16 30.19 30.18 30.03 29.90 29.93 29.98 29.58 29.64 29.57 30.00 29.80 in. cts. 29.80 30.10 30.16 30.16 30.27 30.34 30.30 30.18 30.08 30.08 29.81 30.04 29.80 29.97 29.94 30.01 29.94 30.05 30.17 30.19 30.10 29.98 29.88 29.97 29.90 29.50 29.55 29.82 30.00 30.08 61 53 53 55 59 56 56 60 54 56 50 49 45 46 42 45 44 54 45 54 54 55 55 49 47 54 51 45 40 50 62 59 60 69 66 70 71 66 63 60 64 60 56 60 61 60 62 62 65 69 68 63 63 60 60 63 60 56 58 62 60 56 58 63 62 66 66 62 60 56 55 54 54 49 49 52 54 57 58 59 59 60 55 53 54 55 55 46 50 52 Wind and State. Direction. Force W. by South North N. East N.E., S.E. N. West W.N.W, S.W., North North Westerly N. by West S. West N. by West S. West N. West N. West W. by North S. West N. West S. West S. Easterly W. by North S. West S.W., North West West West W.byS.byN. W. by South W. by South Westerly gentle brisk lively gentle gentle gentle variable airy gentle gentle brisk lively- lively gentle brisk gentle brisk gentle lively airy airy brisk br., gen, lively brisk high brisk lively gentle lively Atmosphere. a. m. 2 p. m. cloudy fine fine cloudy cloudy fine fine sun cloudy sun fine sun fine sun cloudy cloudy cloudy fine cloudy cloudy sun sun fine sun cloudy fine cloudy sun fine sun fine sun cloudy cloudy fine sun cloudy sun fine sun fine sun cloudy cloudy fine cloudy cloudy sun fine cloudy fine cloudy cloudy fine fine cloudy cloudy sun fine sun 10 p.m. cloudy fine fine fine fine fine fine fine cloudy fine fine fine cloudy fine fine fine cloudy fine fine fine fine cloudy cloudy fine cloudy fine fine fine cloudy cloudy estimated averages Barometer. I High. 30.41 ^Low, *29.41 High 76 OF SEPTEMBER. Thermometer. Mean. Low. 36 57.8 ijA.L AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF THE PERIOD. Lowest. j Highest. I Mean. 54.24 62.6 58.15 Weather and Phenomena. ^ug. 22, small showers, fine early and late. 23, cnge of wind, brisk, drying. 24, very fine har- ^ft weather. 25 to 28, perfect summer weather. 2 changeable, a shower. 30, changeable. 31, a siinkling of rain, fine at the close. -.UNATiON. — Full moon, 26th, 6h. 9 m. morning. 5ept. 1, brisk air, fine rich clouds. 2, very fine, •jsmall showers, not penetrating ground, dust dry. ^ ad 5, again perfectly sunny. 6, very fine, some liatning at night. 7, changeable, cloudy and Jpy at evening. 8, Gentlfe showers, fine night. Jpeautiful. 10 and 11, the same. 12, gloomy. strong current till after sunset. 13, brisk shower at 2 P.M. 14, very fine. 15, changeable, some rain. 16, high wind, rain afternoon. 17, fine showery forenoon, fine evening. 18, sunny, fine gleams, hail shower. 19, bright morning, cirro stratus and rain in evening. 20, changable, showers, gleams of sun. Lunations. — Last quarter, 1st, 9h. 14m. night. New moon, 9th, 3h. 47m. afternoon. First quar- ter, 17th, 7h. 21m. afternoon. Remarks referring to Agriculture. — The temperature is nearly the mean throughout, but the extreme deficiency of rain has been remark- able in South and East Surrey. The leaves fall and strew the roads; the grass is a pale brown; the turnips have made scarcely any advances, and have no plant to speak of. The showers of the last week may have sufficed to refresh, but there is a total lack of ground moisture. Thanks to the habits now in their earliest progress among a few, man- 382 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. gold, purple and ■n-hite tiimip cabbage, planted on yard-wide ridges and kept well hoed, are doing comparatirelv well. Good farmers stiU plant tbe last-named root from the seed-beds after wheat and bai-ley. Ploughing Mill proceed'as fhe land becomf, moist, but our farmers stiU act upon the old ineff cient rules of practice. J. Towers, Croydon, Sept. 20. CALEXDAR OF HORTICULTURE.— OCTOBER. I commence with the middle of September, as then the weather became rather changeable, pro- mising a reciu-rence of those showers, of vrliich the first of any moment feU on Monday the 13th. Previously, and since the last article, the most beautiful, though very diy weather, had continued nearly without change. Retrospect. — This weather, though doubtless it most prevailed in this very dry locality, has been noticed in most of the provincial papers. As a consequence, the turnips are very short, and with comparatively little verdure, or strength of foliage. The whole of the brassicas have become the prey of the cabbage caterpillar, which has converted their leaves into mere skeletons ; and although the hand of the vigilant gardener has destroyed myriads of the larvae, yet the eggs of the fly were deposited so deep among the central leaves, that it was im- possible to detect the insects till they crawled up- wards. Vast numbers, therefore, of the August sown winter cabbages have been destroyed. Generally, we beheve, small supplies of rain have fallen opportunely (with great and sudden alternations of temperature) during the whole of the siunmer, so that there has been no dearth. This result is in exact accordance with the prog- nostic of the oak and the ash at their first leafing in May, then noticed. In 1846 the heat and drought were coincident, and of long, iminterrupted continuance ; hence the loss of the potato in bulk, for the tubers cordd not grow : this circimistance was far more destructive of stock than was disease ; for the latter had meliorated, whereas the crop dug was reduced by mere aridity to less than one half. In the present year, the bulk grown is very great in places, and the disease is comparatively in- nocuous ; but on the other hand, the breadth of land under potatoes is reported to be generally con- tracted, therefore the winter store will not reach its wonted average. To this day (lath.) I see no dis- ease : I observe the opcrp.tions in field and garden, and all the labourers testify the perfect excellence of the tubers. Mr. Jasper Rogers, of Dublin, has again resumed the subject ; he believes the crop of potatoes in Ireland to be so much reduced, that another win to existing disease, but to paucity of crop. I p fectly agree with that good writer, in consideri the potato as the best of all vegetables. The w ter treatment of it is therefore most important. cold and dry situation are the essential conditio of safety. If frost only be warded off", the tern rature cannot well be too low. A good pota house, with the door to the north, (covered witl very thick straw- thatched roof,) wherein not a p tide of fermenting material is permitted to come contact with the stored tubers, affords the r, certain protection. I beg to cite a few short | graphs from Mr. Stephens's " Book of the Farm, pertinent to the object which has excited so nv interest. Disease, or the rot, has existed above 20 yp " Those who doubt the tendency of the potato ] to degenerate, have never been able to explain ■ different effects which the same treatment produ i now, that it did twenty years ago, namely — that ; the pits then be formed as you please, not a w I was heard of disease called failure." This puzzler ; still, however, as the exhausting pra of "pitting" has been slowly underminirsir constitutional stamina of the potato durinfr and a longer period of progression, we are c^ that much mischief must have been the result : though we cannot be sure that the late disease been the consequence of our bad treatment, analogically we may infer, that as a low exhaii- ' habit exposes the human body to typhus and < infections, so a similar condition of a vegt" tissue like that of the potato-tuber, induced by debihtating'treatment during the winter moiii. must render it peculiarly susceptible of any injtr from meteorological transitions. At all eveii potatoes should not be permitted to sprout durf the season when torpor and repose are inc pensable. It has betn asserted that one acre f potatoes will afford nutriment to 6§ persons aa kit as one acre of wiieat to 3 persons. On this poi . Mr. Stephens tells us that the fact rests on supposition that the power of nutrition of a plan • only in proportion to the quantity of farinaee« and glutinous matter contained in it ; but this i- no means certain. JFe have not been able to ter of distress is in prospect. He does not allude | cover what it is that renders one substance THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. :B3 proper for food than another. Potatoes, from some peculiarity in the mixture, or degree of con- densation in their nutritive matters, seem to possess an advantaf^e over all grains as constant food. It is well kno^Ti that potatoes and water alone, with common salt, can nourish men completely. AVe have hundreds of instances where people have lived constantly on this diet from necessity, and yet have been as robust, healthy, and long-lived as persons fed plentifully on animal food." — {Vol. iii., 1134; from a paper in the Quarterly Journal of Agri- ^ture. These facts have been dwelt upon at more than jrdinarj' length, in order to impress the cultivator *rith a conviction of the great value of the root, and o prevent, if possible, the effects of those false statements of disease, made for some concealed ob- ect — but which tend to the abandonment of this ,'egetable as a staple commodity. The real condi- ion of this year's crop has been, and to all appear- 1 ince promises to remain, so favourable, that it vould be disgraceful to rehnquish it. On the con- .rary, so fine and healthy are the tubers, that any lumber can be selected for seed ; and every one of hose should be thoroughly greened by exposure to lir and light. If we thus persist — planting largely n February and March, and always employing some soot with ashes, charcoal-dust, or carbonized natters — I think we may safely conclude that disease will disappear. Our next report may be expected to sum up the exndence on the case of the latest crops, yet imdug. Some diseased potatoes may be found, because we have planted a tainted stock ; but at present I regard all the lugubrious reports lately put forth as a weak dence of the enemy. OPERATIONS IX THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. These are few as respects crops, but very conse- quential to the land. Plant out the cabbages for spring from the July and August seed-beds ; some, where they are to re- main, a foot and eighteen inches asunder ; and others, in nursery beds, six inches to nine, to ob- tain firm stocky roots and habits, to be removed early in the rise of the year. Such small plots present ready means of protection in hard, threat- ening frosts. Potatoes. — Dig up the winter crops as the hauhn indicates ripeness ; dry ; select carefully all, and " green" the seed-stock, guarding against sudden frost. Cut over the sound cabbage-stocks to make them produce winter and spring " greens" These are very desirable; yet stiU the sweetest and best greens are obtained by July-sown coleworts — vul- garly called " collards." Trench, manure at bottom with unfermented dung, and ridge stiff soil over it ; light and sandy earth ought to be deeply worked, but need not be ridged. Destroy every weed, and make it a duty to leave all the plots in thnt sober, neat condition, which we always insist upoa, as constituting the beauty of a winter garden. FRUIT DEPARTMENT, Gather tenderly, and store apples and pears in dry and cool situations. If cider or perry is to be made, it wiU be prudent, perhaps, to sweat the fruit in heaps, by which process the specific granty of the juice wiU be increased. Be careful of the best-rooted runner-plants of strawberries, selecting those only nearest the mother stocks. We would not now remove them, because winter may do much injury, especially to the Queens. IN THE FORCING HOUSES AND PITS Keep the ;?/«es always active, at abovit 65 degs.; abate water, but now and then dew the herbage by the syringe at 4 o'clock on suimy days. Renew dung linings, and avoid every check. Late grapes will require the removal of all the laterals, but not that of the main leaves. Keep dag fires, \nth plenty of air, and admit some at night, also ; rain and damp are the enemies now to be guarded against. PLANT-HOUSES. The store must be supposed to have been cleaned, repaired, and wliited long since ; it must now be kept at 70 degs. decreasing to 65 degs. (as sun- light declines'! by day, in the absence of sun ; and at night at 55-60 degs. I lately visited the beautiful arrangements of Messrs. RoUison's fine estabhshment. The store was moderately moist, and the plants in surprising health ; among others were lovely blooming speci- mens of Ixora coccinea. Amateurs would profit ex- ceedingly by visiting places of this kind, where the order and arrangement of every depaitment seem to banish the idea of " a nurserj-" for the sale of all species of horticultural production. The conservatory and greenhouse should be at- tended to as early as possible, as also the store pits. Tender plants for such ought at once to be transferred to their respective departments. We know that many persons have contrived to preserve geraniums, &c., during winter in dry cellars, and even close, cold rooms : but it would be better to take up such' plants as pelargoniums, fuchsia fulgins, salvia patens, &c., that cannot be placed in the greenhouse, &c., and will perish in the open ground ; then to cut back the branches pretty close to the stems, pot them in dryish sandy earth, and place them in an airy shed till frost sets in, when they may be removed to a dry cellar, and remain quite safe during winter. 384 THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. ORNAMENTA.L GROUNDS. Now transplant trees and shrubs of every kind; and in so doing let the ground be opened so wide as to admit the roots to be spread out horizontally, and if possible amc.ng n;w earth, and by no means deep. It is a detestable practice to open a hole and screw the roots into it. Plant well and carefully, trickle nice and fine earth among the roots, water freely, and fasten the boles to stakes with soft bands at trie junction with the S:tems, and sloping di- agonally in two or three directions. Thus the roots sustain no injury. Persons are apt to leave old geraniums, and many worn out plants in the ground ; this is slovenly. Let every such remains be carried to the rubbish ground, or burned. Fork-dig and point- in old cow-dung, and thus bring vacant beds or borders into neat condition. Soiv seeds of sweet-peas, mignionette, &c., &c wherever it is desirable ; acting upon nature's su^ gestion, sanctioned by experience, that when seec are ripe they fall, and the ground receives and pre tects them. Practice evinces that where this law fairly acted on, the plants in spring are finer, an their blossom displays richer tints. Plant hedges, sow holly and hawthorn seed trim verges ; but do not plant box unless at tl very commencement of the month. Rain, in gentle showers, has at length con menced ; fine intervals succeed ; and thus, at tl end of the third week, and ajiproaching the peril of the autumnal equinox, a mild, open, wester season prevails ; and with it we hope a promise a fine autumn, and a winter of softer character th; that of 1846-7. John Towers. Croydon, Sept. 20. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER. Although the weather of the past month has, from its comparative variableness, not been of a character calculated to ensure the rapid close of harvest-operations in the most northern parts of the country, it has miquestionably been j)roductive of the greatest possible advantages to tiie agricultural body at large. In the immediately preceding period, the want of adequate moisture for the turnip crop, as well as for the pastures — many of the latter of which were almost bare of grass — was severely felt; though, on the other hand, the absence of rain enabled the farmers in the southern, western, and several other parts of England, to secure their crops in fine condition, and at a much less cost for labour than in many previous years; indeed, it may be remarked that the sickle this season has experienced less interruption from atmospheric turbulence than has been almost ever remembered. That the late rains which have fallen since our last report have materially brightened the prospects of our agriculturists, in respect to the root crop in general, and greatly lessened the consumption of dry fodder, not a doubt can exist ; and it is highly gratifying for us to observe that our accounts from most localities and districts fully warrant this assertion. With some few exceptions, the crops of grain have now reached the stack-yards ; hence we are in a position to offer something like a positive opinion on the subject of their yield. Notwith- standing the numerous complaints which reached us during the months of June and July, to the effect that the wheats had been somewhat serioutj attacked with blight, rust, &c., it is, we coneeix tolerably certain that the aggregate produce is- fair average one per acre. Some parties — who knowledge of agriculture would entitle their coi munications to great respect and attention — ha informed us that the actual growth of wheat tl year is nearly, or quite, as large as at any fonii period. No doubt, such is the case in some of o best wheat districts ; but our decided conviction that the produce, taken as a whole, does n exceed the quantity we have just estimated it i In our judgment it is a most fortunate circur stance that the yield is likely to keep pace- nearly so— with the wants of the pojjulation durii the coming season, for the past has been the mo trying one on record, not only for the hom growers, but also the importers and consumer Prices have fluctuated to an extent seldom befo recollected, consequently the farmer has scarce known when to dispose of his corn to the best a( vantage : the importers have suffered most severe from rash and imprudent investments ; and tl consumers have laboured under the apprehensic of positive famine. The excitem.ent con sequel f upon this state of things has been almost witlioi a i)arallel; and the immense drain upon the ri sources of the country to pay for the nearly te million quarters of foreign grain and flour we ba\ imported have had the natural effect of restrictin bank issues, and of producing great misery an distress amongst the manufacturing. industry of tli THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 385 ntire kingdom. However, it is to be sincerely de- ired that the future prospects of the country are (rightening. An active and increasing trade with Unerica will, no doubt, yield us profitable returns, nd prove the great means of realizing a large lortion of the bullion we have already exported. Uit a question has arisen — and which, by the way, i a most important one, as touchitig the balance of rade, and upon which a great diti'erence of opinion ; found to exist — relative to the extent of the uture arrivals here of corn and flour from the Jnited States and elsewhere. It cannot be denied jr a moment— in fact, our advices are all agreed on liis point— that the productive qualities of the rops in the States this year have been unusually cod, and decidedly larger, from the immense ex- jnt of soil broken up for corn, than has ever been nown. These circumstances would lead us to the iference that even moderately low prices here 'ould induce larger shipments on the other side of 16 Atlantic. At the present time, no inclination is lanifested on the part of the shippers to meet the epression in our markets ; and as the monetary ondition of this country is far from flourishing, nd the difficulties of obtaining even a moderate mount of accommodation very great (corn-bills aving long since been regarded with considerable uspicion by our various bankers), we come to the onclusion that excessive importations must not be xpected. In our estimate of the wheat crop, we ave, be it observed, distinctly alluded to its creable yield. And we would here call the par- icular attention of our numerous readers to the emarks we have frequently oiFered to their notice 'li the subject of the extended breadth of land inder wheat culture this season. Allowing, there- ore, the produce per acre to be good, we shall ertainly have a surplus to meet our necessities. iViU that quantity — whatever it may be — have a lepressing influence upon value ? We say decidedly >ot, for the all-important reason that scarcely any )ld wheat is to be met with, and, further, that con- iumption is annually increasing. So far as our udgment carries us, we consider that the value of vheat will not be excessively low during the coming ;eason, as we have, we think, shewn that supplies 0 the same extent as those imported this year will lot be forthcoming during the next twelve months ; ind even were our quotations to sell much lower han at present, such could only be the case for a ihort time, as the buyers on the continent — where ve may observe that quotations have not retro- graded to the same extent as with us, owing to the ;omparatively short stocks in warehouse — would, loubtless, become ready (possibly extensive) pur- -•hasers. With the exception of beans apd peas, the growth of all spring-corn is generally reported very large, especially that of barley. Prices will, we hesitate not to say, be considerably influenced by the now heavy stocks held by our growers, and it is tolerably certain that the orders about to be sent abroad to purchase barley and oats for spring delivery will be on a much more restricted scale than usual. The facts we have now adduced on the subject of home-supplies will, we trust, tend to allay the excitement which has so long prevailed, and which has tended materially to diminish general confidence. From nearly all parts the most cheering accounts have come to hand on the subject of the potato crop. It is true that a few symptoms of disease have manifested themselves ; but we entertain very great hopes that the disease in question has nearly disappeared. We must observe, however, that the quantity of land under potato-culture this year is by no means so extensive as could be desired, and there is every possibility of a rise in the quotations during the winter months. Very large supplies of stock have been on sale in our cattle markets and fairs held in the course of the month, in very inferior and middling condition, arising from the scarcity of keep ; and prices have materially fallen for all breeds, with much heaviness in the demand, except for the very primest animals. The epidemic has committed very serious ravages, not only amongst the beasts, but hkewisethe sheep. In most parts of Ireland and Scotland, harvest- work is rapidly drawing to a close. The produce of grain is represented as a full average ; yet a large business has been again transacted in foreign grain and flour, at the late decline in the quotations. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. During the whole of the month just concluded, Smithfield, as well as most of the large provincial markets, has been somewhat heavily suppUed with nearly all kinds of stock, the quality of which has turned out far more inferior than we have ever witnessed at this period of the year : consequently, although the actual supphes on offer have been large as to number, the actual weight of meat dis- posed of has been decidedly small. We regret that the graziers — arising from the want of keep — have been thus compelled to dispose of their stock, be- cause in the first place it is quite evident the returns must be anything but profitable ones, and the pre- sent drain of numbers from our large grazing dis- tricts must heive the effect of causing relatively 386 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. high prices in future, without producing any real and substantial good to the producers. The scarcity of really fat beasts and sheep has produced a steady, though not to say very brisk, demand for them, and in most instances the quotations have been supported. The middling and inferior descriptions have moved off heavily, at a decline in the prices of from 2d. to 4d. per 8 lbs. Lamb being now nearly out of season, it has been some- what difficult to give accurate figures. Calves, though in extensive supply, have mostly sold at late rates ; and pigs, from their scarcity, have pro- duced high pi'ices, which will, we think, rule throughout the -winter. Shortly after the passing of the Act admitting foreign stock for consumption here, experienced agents were appointed by the Government, in Lon- don as well as at the different outports, to examine the cattle and sheep on arrival, to ascertain whether any portion of the numerous cargoes was suffering from the disease which had been so prevalent in this country, and which had carried oft" immense numbers in nearly all parts of England. Since, however, the stock has been admitted free, we have every reason to believe it is not examined at all. The consequence has been the introduction here of a most virulent disease by the sheep which have lately come in fi'om Hamburgh, and which has al- ready produced the most serious losses to many of our flockmasters. Very shortly after they are at- tacked— and which they frequently are within ten hours after coming in contact with the German breeds, or after they have been placed in the pens previously occupied by them — they lose their ap- petites, and speedily their condition : and we may state as a fact, that some Down sheep, which were turned out unsold from Smithfield on the 20th of the past month, and on which day they were cer- tainly worth 40s. each, were with difficulty disposed of on the following Monday at from 4s. to 8s. per head. Surely the Government ought to adopt in- stant means to prevent the further introduction and spread of this fatal disease. This could be very easily accomplished, as the least practised eye can readily discover it. In our large grazing districts the stock has fared anything but well, and we regret to state that some thousands of beasts and sheep have been again lost by disease. The result of the large fairs has been anything but satisfactory. In all instances, where the supplies have been extensive, the trade has ruled duU, and prices have not been supported. From abroad the arrivals of all kinds of stock — especially those of beasts and sheep — have been again on a very extensive scale ; but we have no material improvement to notice in their general quality. Those into London have been as under : — Head. Beasts 4,000 Sheep 14,083 Lambs 605 Calves 1,362 Pigs 270 Total . . 20,320 At the outports they have comprised 12,2' head, mostly from Hambui-gh. During the san month last year they were as follows : — Head. London 16,604 Outports 2,834 Total. . . 19,438 From the above it will be perceived that we ha imported 13,163 head more than at the same tir last season. The annexed comparison of the supplies on ofl in Smithfield will shew that those on sale since o last have been seasonably large ; but, as we ha before observed, we entertain very great doul whether the actual weight of meat disposed of li come up to many preceding season — Sept. 1846. Sept. 184/-. Head. Head. Beasts 18,611 22,492 Cows 447 456 Sheep and Lambs . 154,260 161,340 Calves 2,167 3,324 Pigs 2,591 2,137 Totals. . 177,076 189,749 The bullock droves have been principally c ' rived from the following quarters : — Heac Northern districts ^, , 7,800 Eastern, Western, and Midland do... 4,100 Other parts of England 2,300 Scotland 460 The remainder of the supplies has come in from t neighbourhood of London and abroad. COMPARISON OF PRICES. Per 8lbs. to sink the offals. Sept. s. d. Beef, from 2 10 to 4 Mutton.. 3 10- Lamb . . 4 10- Veal 3 10- Pork 3 10- Newgate and Leadenhall markets have be( very moderately supplied with country- killed meail but the supplies slaughtered in the raetroiJolis ha' been seasonably extensive. Prime beef and mii ton have sold freely, at full prices, othenvise tl trade has ruled dull. — Beef, from 2s. 6d. to 3 lOd. ; mutton, 3s. 6d. to 4s. lod.; lamb, 48. 5s. 4d. ; veal, 4s. to 5s. ; and ])ork, 4s. to 5s. 4 per Slbe. by the carcass. 1846. Sept. 1847. s. d. s. d. s. d. 4 2 3 0to4 8 -5 0 3 8—5 4 -6 0 4 2—5 8 -4 10 4 0—5 2 -4 10 4 0—5 2 TITE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 887 THE WOODFIELD ANNUAL SALE OF LEICESTER RAMS. The annual sale of Leicester •atos, bred by J. (i. Watkins, Esq., of Woodfield, near ])mbersley, Worcestershire, took place, as nsual, in his lark, on Wednesday September loth. The generous lospitality of Mr. Watkins has for some years made the vVoodfield sale a most delightful social gathering. Un- ortunately it comes, like Christmas, " but once a year ;" )ut, unlike that season, the pleasures it brings are un- lUoyed, its only attendant " hill" being a very excellent me " of fare." Al^out one o'clock a large number of jentlemen sat down to luncheon, in discussing which, md drinking many toasts, and listening to many peeches appropriate to the occasion, the time passed nost agreeably till nearly four, when the party adjourned, ind Mr. Callam mounted the rostrum for the dispatch )f business. In spite of the Leger, and the review of he Worcestershire yeomanry cavalry, the attendance of gentlemen was very large, and the sheep elicited uni- ■ersal admiration. Were any proof required of the ;uperiority of Mr. Watkins's stock, it would be amply ;upplied in the character of the gentlemen who were )urchasers. The Marquis of Downshire, and several )ther influential gentlemen from a distance, were buyers. To them, of course, every flock in the kingdom is open. VIoney being no object, they have only their taste to )lease, and their judgment to satisfy. They have every )pportunity of inspecting and comparing different flocks, ind they pay a very high compliment to that one from ;vliich they select rams for the improvement of their )wn. But the greater number of sheep were bought by Worcestershire flockmasters, who, having had every opportunity to observe Mr. Watkins's sheep manage- nent in its every stage, and having so recently, at Northampton, been enabled to compare the best sheep produced by the first breeders, were satisfied that they 20uld not obtain better bred nor better,- developed sheep. The number of rams sold was thirty, and the price realized averaged within a shilling or two of ten guineas — ranging from £,^ to £^25. " But while he feasted all the great, he ne'er forgot the small." The clergy and gentry of Worcestershire, deeply interested in the welfare of the labourer, feel that he can adopt no better means to secure his own independence than by making weekly or monthly contributions out of his earnings, to some club based on sound and equitable principles, which, in return, shall give him a weekly sum during sickness, and make a provision for him in old age. Experience and calculation having shown that the principles of the " Worcestershire Society" (being those of the Beecher Clubs) are those which give the greatest return, and the best security for the invest- ments of the poor, it is felt to be only necessary that the objects of the society should be generally known in the parish of Ombersley, to induce the greater part of the labouring class — the younger ones especially ~ to avail themselves of its benefits. For this purpose Mr. Watkins, with that kindness and interest in the well- being of the poor, which universally distinguish him, invited the labourers of the parish to partake of a sub- stantial repast after the sale, and listen to an exposition of the principles of the society, to be delivered by the Rev. J. Pearson, whose sympathy for the poor always makes him the first to enlighten them to their own interest. A great number of labourers attended and listened with deep attention to the reverend gentleman, who addressed them very forcibly, but plainly, on the beneficial tendency of the institution, and warmly ad- vised them, after mature deliberation, and making them- selves thoroughly conversant with its nature, to enrol themselves members of it. They then separated, ex- pressing their gratitude to the rev. gentleman and to Mr. Watkins. The meeting was a most interesting one. May the principles for wliich it assembled soon be triumphant. May every poor man who was there do his best to make himself independent by " his own good right arm ;" and may every rich one do all he can to further the endeavour. MR. RIGDEN'S SALE OF SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. — Mr. Rigden's annual sale was conducted by Messrs. Verral and Son, on the 16th Sept. The practice introduced by Mr. Ellman, at Glynde, of having an an- nual sale of ewes and letting of rams, has been much appreciated by the flockmasters, as it affords them an opportunity of replenishing their blood from the parent stock. Mr. Rigden has, with much care, got together a first-rate flock, strongly imbued with the blood of Mr. Ellman and Mr. Webb. To arrive at the highest point of perfection in breeding is a work for which time, la- bour, zeal, and great judgment are required ; and al- though we cannot yet congratulate Mr. Rigden on per- fect success, yet he has commenced in the right course. Although the day was unfavourable, still the attendance was numerous, and included the Earl of Chichester, Mr. Webb, Mr. Saxby, Mr. Boys, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Hard- wick, Mr. Filder, and other influential flockmasters. The ewes averaged 45s. each, and one of the rams was let at 36 guineas to I\Ir. Tanner, whilst those sold realized from 5 to 20 guineas each. The ram lambs fetched about £i lOs. each. MR. DREWITT'S SALE AT PEPPERING.— The sale of the very superior flock of Mr. Drewitt, at Peppering, took place on Saturday se'nnight, under the auspices of Verrall and Son. The attendance, although perhaps hardly so numerous as might have been anti- cipated from Mr. Drewitt's high character as a breeder, was nevertheless extremely good, comprising many of the influential flockmasters in Sussex, besides some few well-known breeders from a distance. There were pre- sent the Earl of Chichester, the Hon. H. Gage, Messrs. Boys, Bitd, J. Ellman, Green, H. Hart, Henning (Dorset), Northeast (Wilts), Oliver, Padwick, Pittice, Rigden, Sadler, Scrase, Turner (Chinton), Upperton, Upton, Weall, Wicher, &c. Ample arrangements for the comfort of his visitors had been provided by Mr. Drewitt, both as to the means of conveyance from the railway station, and as to the satisfaction of the " inner man" on arriving at the place of sale. Owing to the pressure of the times, and probably also to the appear- ance of lameness from the remains of the epidemic in some of the first lots, the prices fetched for those lots were far lower than might have been expected, the first pen of two-tooths fetching but 62s., and the second 60s. per head. Subsequently the bidding became rather more spirited, the first pen of four-tooths being bought by Mr. Webb, at 105s. ; the first pen of six-tooths by Lord Chichester, at 88s. ; and the first of old ewes, by his lordship, at 80s. The highest priced ram was bouglit for Lord Portman at 32 guineas ; and the first ram lamb by Mr. Hart at 14 guineas. — Sussex Advertiser. FIRST-CLASS AYRSHIRE STOCK.— We are happy in being able to announce, for the credit of our Ayrshire dairy stock, that of late years their fame has drawn orders both extensive and tempting from distant lands. This may scarcely be understood by those who judge of the quality of such stock by the prices reported in our local markets, because the very first class seldom if ever are shown in a public market ; nor would they be parted with by their owners unless discovered by search throughout the county and lured away by high prices. One or two of the first class may be seen in almost every dairy ; and many farmers who compete at our exhibitions have a much larger proportion ; and lat- terly, since district and county competitions became fre- quent, much more care has been shown in rearing only those calves of good pedigree on both sides. Still, when 388 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. an extensive order reaches the county, the likely stocks are pretty closely scanned, as was the case a few weeks ago, when two Swedish gentlemen, assisted by Mr. M'Grigor, Bitton (one of our most successful prize- takers), selected 100 two-year-old queys, in calf, the average price of which was not less than ^^13 each ; and a couple of very fine two-year-old bulls. The first draught of 50 were sent off by rail last week vid Edin- burgh, Berwick, and Newcastle, for shipment at Hull ; and the remainder passed through Ayr to the rail early this morning. So beautiful a flock of young Ayrshire stock is a rare sight even in Ayrshire. These Swedish gentlemen, who have purchased freely in former years, are now pretty good judges themselves. If the animal shown pleases, they seldom stick about price ; but if tlie quality does not reach their standard, they decline to purchase, however cheap. The charge of transit for the lot to Sweden is about ,£700, being £:7 per head, in addition to about £"'1300 of first cost. — Ayr Advertiser. GREAT TUP SHOW AT KELSO.— The annual show of Leicester and Cheviot sheep, and competition for the premiums offered by the Union Agricultural So- ciety, as well as the market for the sale and hire of rams, took place at Kelso, on Friday se'nnight, when there was an unusual attendance of company from both sides of the Border, as well as from the Lothians, Fifeshire, and other distant counties. The number of sheep com- peting for the premiums was not so great as on some former occasions, but the quality, particularly in Leices- ter rams, was very superior. The first premium of £b for the best shearling tup of the pure Leicester breed was gained by Mr. Smith, West Learmouth, and the first premium for the best tup of the pure Cheviot breed, not above once shorn, was gained by INIr. Scott, Marvinslaw. After the awarding of the prizes, the great business of the day was the sale of Leicester rams, which was very numerously attended, both by buyers and sellers, who seem now to consider this as the great cen- tral market of the district for the disposal of superior sheep. The numbers entered with the secretary for sale by auction amounted to about 330, and others were brought forward, which were not so entered, to the num- ber of about 100 ; so that, over and above those com- peting for the premiums, there were considerably abov 400 Leicester rams on the ground for sale. Of the rami sold by auction, the prices ranged from £Z to ^^21 head. One of Mr. Thomson's (of Haymount) brough ,£21, another £'20 ; his whole lot averaged, we believe, about £'6 Is. Mr. Archbold's (of Riflington) highes price was £"13 10s. ; averags between £1 and £8. Mr Stark's (of Mellendean) average was, we believe, abou £6. Almost all the lots exposed to auction were clearei off, and a great many were disposed of by private bar gain at somewhat similar prices. Several very gooi sheep were to be had at from £^3 to £'5 a head. MENZION SALE OF CHEVIOT RAMS.— Thi important sale, near the source of the Tweed, came oi on Friday last. The weather was all that could b wished ; and there was not only a numei-ous but highly respectable attendance, many having come free a great distance. The sale was conducted by Mr. Olive of Hawick, with his usual tact ; and, considering the ex tent, was gone through in an incredibly short space The sheep submitted did much credit to the breeders and the ample prices at which they were knocked ol would, no doubt, remunerate, and at the same time iacit these gentlemen to further exertion in maintaining tha purity of breed and excellence for which their stock ha attained such celebrity. Several of the principal shea brought £"16 and £^17 ; secondary, £'10, £^12, j^. £'13 ; while a great many went off at prices from £^ £8 and £'9 10s. Indeed, such a prompt and spirite sale has scarcely ever been witnessed in the county c Peebles. The sale was concluded about two o'clock when Messrs. Aitchison entertained about 100 gentle men to a substantial dinner. Mr. William Aitchiso filled the chair with his usual ability ; and Mr. Johnston Hunterheck, the judge of the sale, ofliciated as croupiei — Dumfries Courier. THE BARROW-HALL FLOCK.— The celebrate flock of the late Stephen Shillito, Esq., was brought t the hammer by Messrs. Isaacson and Tattersall, on th 9th inst. The shearling ewes averaged 50s. each, on lot fetching 61s. The primest lot of stock ewes sold a ' 59s. A shearling ram fetched 25 guineas, a 3-shea ram, £Zi. The sale produced £'2,550.— Essex Herald REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. With the exception of a few small patches of corn in the late and mountainous districts, the grain harvest has been some time finished, and we have been put in possession of carefully considered esti- mates of the result from most parts of the kingdom. From the time that reaping was commenced, until nearly the whole of the crops were secured, the character of the weather was favourable, which allowed of the greater part of the corn being carried in good order : here and there a few stacks may have been put up too hurriedly ; but this has been the exception rather than the rule, and we are in- clined to think that a larger proportion of the produce was well got in than is usual in our variable climate. Wheat, being first in importance, claims the ear- liest notice; that rather more than an average breadth of land was sown with this grain is generally ad- mitted : the seed was well got in ; but owing to thf severity of the winter, and the extreme lateness o!; the spring, the aspect of the plant was anything but promising in the early part of the summer — indeed, nearly up to harvest time there were symptoms ol apparent disease, both in the ear and straw, which gave rise to fears that the yield would be deficient. During the last few weeks of its growth a great im- provement was, however, observable; and when cutting was commenced, it was speedily discovered that too lov/ an estimate had been formed of the crop. This has since become more and more evident, and in all those localities where thrashing has made most progress, the farmers express them- selves well satisfied \vith the quantity. Five quai'- ters is by no means unusual ; and we have heard of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SSi) X and even six and a half quarters to the acre. ;in the other hand, the quality, though good, is ijrtainly coarser than in some former seasons, and jie weight jier bushel is less. It is therefore pro- lable that the actual produce in flour will not turn ■ at so great as might at first be supposed ; still we ive no doubt that the yield (making allowance r that circumstance) will prove rather over that 'average years. It is yet too soon to ascertain hat the excess may be, but we feel satisfied that lere is an excess over ordinary seasons. The seed time for spring corn was fully as ^•ourable as that for wheat in the autumn, and viiig to fewer potatoes being planted than usual large extra breadth of land was devoted to barley, its, and pulse. Barley is probably the largest crop grown for •ars ; the reports from all parts agree in that spect ; and the quality is also, on the whole, well loken of. The accounts from Norfolk and other •unties, where this grain is most extensively cul- .'ated, state that in consequence of the extreme xuriance of the crop, it was extensively lodged ng before it was fit to cut, which had the eflfect ' injuring the quality to a certain extent ; it is ;vertheless asserted that a large proportion of the irley of this year's gro^\1;h wdll be found suitable r malting purposes, and that the weight of tlie .'St runs ^^^ll exceed 54lbs. per bushel. Oats have been more generally grown than in •dinary seasons, owing firstly to the reason al- iady stated, viz., the determination to substitute rain for potatoes ; and further, to the high prices hich prevailed during the winter and spring, for lis description of corn. The yield, though per- aps not quite so abundant as that of barley, is evertheless large, and the quality fine ; and it is ot improbable that in many districts where, in the rdinary state of affairs, the consumption of oats as to be pro^dded for by drawng supplies from ther quarters, the local growth may prove equal 3 the local wants. Beans appear to have suffered in all parts of the ingdom from fly, and are certainly a short crop : he deficiency is variously estimated ; but in look- Qg over reports from the difi'erent districts, we hbk we shall not be far wrong if we state that the iroduce is fully one-fourth short of an average. Peas are equally defective, and having been less xtensively planted than beans, are likely to com- nand relatively higher prices. The foregoing remarks are intended to apply to he crops grown in England : the result of the 5cotch and Irish harvests is not yet sufiiciently veil known to allow us to venture on a detailed ac- count ; but from all we have yet learnt we Ijelieve hat the crops of wheat, barley, and oats in Scotland as well as in Ireland, have turned out equally fa- vourable as with us. Potatoes, as we have already taken an opportu- nity of remarking, were not so generally grown as in former seasons, the prevalence of blight two consecutive years having naturally deterred many parties from venturing on so hazardous a crop. The early sorts have, however, turned out far better than was calculated on; and though the late kinds have not escaped the disease, the damage has not been near so fatal as it was last year. Within the last week or two we have certainly received very bad accounts from Ireland, respecting the late crop of potatoes ; but we do not place implicit reliance on the reports from thence, so many rumours ha\ing at dififerent periods been circulated, which on investigation haA'e proved either wholly incor- rect or greatly exaggerated. Taking a calm and unbiassed view of the result of the harvest of 1847, we think, there is ample reason for satisfaction ; and we feel fully convinced that so large a quantity of food has not been raised in these islands for some preceding seasons. In considering the probable eflfects which this state of things is likely to have on the future range of prices, we must not forget that stocks of old corn, of every description, were reduced to an un- usually low ebb at harvest time, not only in this country, but all over Europe. Still, \\dth a free importation farmers must make up their minds to comparatively low rates, and we certainly do not expect that the recent rise in the value of wheat will be long maintained. The ^fluctuations in quotations have been impor- tant since the beginning of the month ; at one time good red wheat was sold in some of the markets in the agricultural districts at 42s. to 45s. per qr., but this did not last long, as farmers were unwilling to sell at those rates. The first symptoms of a rally occurred about the end of the first week in Sep- tember, and from that time up to within these eight days prices continued steadily to advance. The rise commenced in the 'western markets and extended gradually to the eastward. At Mark Lane no particular advance took place pre\'ious to the 13th September, when, however, new wheat was in such lively request as to enable factors to obtain 5s. to 6s. per qr. above the rates of that day se'nnight. , In addition to the local inquiry, we had on that occasion several buyers from the near con- tinental ports, and during the succeeding week some further purchases of Enghsh wheat were made for shipment to France and Belgium. The Mon- day following, viz., the 20th instant, the show of samples by land carriage from Essex and Kent was small, and from more remote counties there was hardly anything fresh up ; and though the 390 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. foreign demand was then less active than it had previously been, the town millers were free buyers, and the stands were cleared early at a further rise of 5s. per qr., making the total improvement from the lowest point 10s. to 12s. per qr. Since then purchasers have acted more on the reserve ; and as it is very probable that so important a rise will have the effect of drawing larger home supplies to the London market, we should not be surprised to see the value of wheat again recede to very nearly the point it recently rose from. During the last week there has been much less eagerness to buy, and the business done on the 27th September was at terms 4s. to 5s. per qr. below those obtained on that day week. The arrivals of foreign wheat into London have not been quite so large as they were in August ; still, upwards of 150,000 qrs. have been received, which being considerably over the quantity taken off the market, a further increase has taken place in the stocks in granary, which cannot now be much below 400,000 qrs. The upward movement in the price of English was closely followed by holders of foreign wheat, and the difference between the lowest and highest points at which business has been done this month is at least 10s. per qr. At the period of the greatest depression good Polish Odessa wheat was forced off at 40s., and for high-mLxed Danzig 48s. to 50s. per qr. would at one time have been gladly taken. Buyers having, however, visited our market from Birmingham, Bristol, and neighbouring towns, as well as from some of the near continental ports, holders became more firm ; and on the 20th instant fair to good Danzig could not be bought below 58s. to 60s., whilst for the best Polish Odessa, 48s. to 50s. per qr. was paid. A reaction has, however, since occurred, and purchases might now be made at 3s. per qr. below the highest rates quoted. There has been a large consumptive demand for flour, particularly in the early part of the month, when the top-price of town-made was only 43s. per sack, and other sorts were obtainable at corre- sponding rates. Good brands of American were then freely offered at 24s. per barrel, and in some cases even lower. The improved inqviiry which followed soon led to an advance, and latterly the best marks of London manufactured flour have been held at 49s. per sack, whilst good sweet bar- rels brought 29s. at one time; indeed, many holders declined to sell helow 30s. per barrel on the 20th of September, though since the article has been offered at 28s. per barrel. Though the deliveries of new barley have hitherto been on a moderate scale in the country markets, and comparatively small supphes have appeared at Mark Lane, the knowledge that the yield of this grain is abundant has caused the maltsters a distillers to act with extreme caution, and the tt dency of prices has been decidedly downward The very best malting parcels have latterly be offered at 35s. to 36s., and very good samples 32s. to 34s. per qr. In the value of foreign bar no particular change has taken place since the cli of August. The price had, previous to that tir been greatly depressed ; and though no portion the decline has since been recovered, there has be rather a better sale, at former rates. The transactions in malt have been on a stric retail scale, and but very little variation has ( curred in the value of the article. Stocks of old oats being entirely exhausted in i parts of the kingdom, and the growers havi= hardly commenced thrashing the new crop, ■ 'I supplies coastwise into London have been excej' ingly small. From Ireland the receipts havea» hitherto been unimportant, but as the harvesW said to have yielded uncommonly well in the sis" isle, we may calculate on soon receiving increasi! supplies from thence. A few small parcels of n^ Irish have arrived at Liverpool, of excellent quali but, as yet, we have had no receipts from thence the new crop into London. Of foreign oats supply has not been so large as in August ; s quite sufficient has come to hand from week week to prevent any decrease in the stocks granary. The principal dealers have throughe the month acted with great caution, confining th purchases to as narrow limits as have been cc sistent ^\'ith their immediate wants ; but though 1 trade has not at any period been animated, pri( have, on the whole, slightly advanced, the best ( scriptions of Russian oats having recently co manded 22s. to 23s. per qr. — rates not obtainal at the time of our last notice. The future ran of prices will, in a great measure, c pend on the extent of the arrivals frc Ireland ; and as report speaks very favourably the yield of that crop, as well in the south as t northern parts of the island, we are inclined think that quotations will rule low. The quality of the new beans hitherto broug forward has proved better than expected. T.j earliest supplies brought comparatively high ratfi but prices have since receded, and good ticks ha lately been sold at 36s. to 38s. per qr. Old beai being scarce, have brought relatively high rate Egyptian beans were, in the commencement of tl month, forced off at very low terms ; and in son instances sales were made at 27s. per qr. Since the | sellers have manifested less anxiety to realize, ar at present the prices asked are 28s. to 29s. per q The supplies of new peas have hardly kept pai with the demand, and the value both of white an THE FARMEIVS MAGAZINE. 391 i y has advanced several shiilingci i)er cjr. ; the I mer having recently comnianded 50s. to 52s., oj; peas 43s. to 44s., and maples 45s. to 4Gs. per . Old foreign peas, for grinding, have been in [■ request ; but for such it has been difficult to ceed 36s. per qr. Indian corn, after having been neglected until e price was reduced to a point which allowed of : use for cattle feeding, suddenly excited attention, d large sales have been made both in Liverpool d London during the month, at terms not pre- n\s\y obtainable. Indian corn meal has also risen esteem; and from 15s. per barrel, the lowest int it was sold at, it has advanced to 18s. per rrel. Rye flour, of which there is still a good deal on 3 market, is found to answer well for feeding irposes, and latterly this article has been bought ;her extensively, at £G to £6 10s. per ton. In our last month's article we spoke of the .-Durable promise of the grain crops all over irope ; and all that we have since heard on the bject confirms the impression that the harvest of 47 will prove abundant in nearly all parts of the )rld. The latest advices from the United States speak the highest terms of the yield and quality of the ops ; and there is reason to believe that America .s grown a large surplus for exportation. The rmers having, however, made great profits by the gh prices during the spring and summer, would )t, it was thought, be willing to bring forward uch corn; indeed, the millers had found it im- jssible to buy at rates which would admit of the anufacture of flour with a chance of profit, nder these circumstances comparatively little asiness had been done ; and the stocks of old heat and flour being short at all the principal ■ Dtts on the sea board, the discouraging accounts om Great Britain had had less eflfect on quotations lan might have been expected. At New York, on the 31st of August, good rands of Genessee flour were still held at 5f dol. er barrel, and other sorts at corresponding rates, ery little was then being sliipped, and freights ad receded materially. Is. to Is. 6d. having been iken to Liverpool and 2s. per barrel to London. .1 the Canadian markets prices had also been ilerably well supported, superfine brands being ield at 25s. per barrel at Montreal on the 20th jltlmo. Our advices from the Baltic are just now very ninteresting. Supphes of the new crop have ardly commenced to come forward, and old stocks being quite exhausted, scarcely anything has for some weeks been done except for local consump- tion. In this position of affairs prices have become almost nominal, but for the trifling parcels sold equal to 44s. to 46s. per qr. has been paid at Dan- zig and Konigsberg. Though the corn crops, as already stated, have been very well secured in all par:s of Europe, the case seems to be widely different in regard to ])o- tatoes, and the probable deficiency of that im- portant root would, it was thought, prevent very low prices for grain, even if England should require to import less than usual. At Hamburg a good deal of speculation appears to have taken place in wheat, and an advance of 6s. to 7s. per qr. occurred about the middle of the month, probably in some measure caused by the rise in the English markets. For fine new red wheat on the spot equal to 56s. to 67s. per qr. free on board had been paid. In the Dutch, Belgian, and in some of the French markets prices of wheat were likewise, by the latest accounts, higher than in this country, and at present importations cannot be made from any part of the world to Great Britain with a pros- pect of realizing a profit. CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK-LANE. Septembek 27. Shillings per Quarter. NEW. OLD. Wheat, Essex and Kent, white 56 to 58 Ditto red 48 52 Norfoli and Suffolk , 48 50 Lincolnshire and Yorkshire Northumberland, Berwick, & Scotch. . — — Rye 34 36 Bakley . . Essex,") com. Malting 32 34 Kent, Norfolk, > DistOlers' & Grinding 25 30 and Suffolk . . 3 Chevalier 35 36 Malt. . Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk .... — — Kingston, Ware, and town made .... — — Oats . . Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lin- cohishire, and Yorkshire, feed .... — — Ditto, Poland and potato — — Northumb., Berwick, & Scotch potato — — Ditto, feed — — Devon & West Country, feed or black — — Dundalk, Newry, and Belfast, potato — — Ditto, feed — — Limerick, Shgo, and Westport, potato — — Ditto, feed — — Cork, Waterford, Dublin, Youghal, and Clonmel, black — — Ditto, white — — Gal way . . . : — — Beans... Ticks 36 38 Harrow and small 40 44 Peas... Boiling 48 52 Hog and gray 43 46 Flour. . Town made (per sack of 2801b) ... — — Norfolk& Suffolk, household (do.) .. — — 58to60 52 55 — 55 60 63 66 66 68 23 25 28 29 28 30 23 25 20 23 26 28 23 25 26 28 23 25 19 22 22 25 15 17 40 45 46 48 44 49 38 43 392 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings per Wheat. . Dantzic & Konigsberg, finest liigh mixed white Ditto, good mixed Ditto, red mixed Stettin and Rostock Danish Hamburgh and Pomeranian Black Sea (nominal) hard to soft Kiga, St. Petersburgh, and Liebau, soft Canada Spanish Buck or Brank Indian Corn Bar le v. . Hamburgh, Dantzic, Konigsberg, and Riga Ditto, Grinding Danish, !Mecklenberg, and Pomeranian Oats. . Dutch,brew,&Poland,Frieslaud, &Groninigen Danish and Swedish Russian Beans. . Tick Small Mediterranean Peas. . White boiling (none) Tares Flour. . United States Canadian Free. 51to56 51 54 49 52 52 54 49 52 52 54 46 4S 47 49 52 54 54 57 34 36 28 38 25 31 23 25 21 25 26 28 20 23 20 23 38 40 42 44 27 28 60 64 24 28 24 27 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. For the last Six Weeks. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Rye. Beans. Peas. Week Ending: s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Aug. 14, 1S47.. 66 10 40 7 29 1 40 2 54 5 42 10 Aug. 21, 1847.. 62 6 38 11 28 9 35 5 53 2 40 4 Aug. 28, 1847.. 60 4 37 9 27 4 34 7 53 3 39 11 Sept. 4, 1847.. 56 8 36 3 25 5 33 ^ 51 10 42 1 Sept. 11, 1847.. 51 4 33 1 24 7 32 4 47 7 43 2 Sept. 18, 1847.. 49 6 32 1 22 5 33 2 42 11 41 1 AggregateAverage of the six weeks which regulates duty 57 10 36 5 26 3 34 11 50 6 41 7 Comparative Aver- age same time last year 48 2 30 9 23 4 31 10 40 4 37 11 No Duties are now to l>e levied on the importation of corn or flour until March 1st, 1848. Account shewing the Quantities of Com, Pulse, and Flour imported into the United Kingdom, in the month ended the 5th Sept, 1847; the Quantities admitted to Home Consumption during the same month, and the Quantities remaining in Warehouse at the close thereof. Quantity 'Quantity en-j Quantity ^ ' tered for remaining in consumption, warehouse. Species of Grain. Wheat, from Britisli Possessions Barley, do Oats, do Peas, do Beans, do Maize or Indian Corn,do. Wheat, foreign Barley, d( Oats, do Eye Peas, do Beans, do Maize or Indian Coni,do Flour from British Pos- sessions Flour, foreign , imported. qrs. bush, 36082 1903 90-.' 1 o;)U"> 3474 403501 66400 2364.52 14140 2958 305.53 39555D cwts. qrs.Ibs. 357978 1 17 I00.39i8 1 22 qrs. bush. 36082 1903 ro2i 0'J9.> 194 3474 40.'J501 66400 236152 14140 295S 395.559 cwts. qrs.Ibs. 367978 I 17 1 ('06361 2 24 qrs. Imsh. 25 6 5732 746 3895 71 6 705 5 728 3 cwts. qrs.lbi-. 2118 1 18 20677 I 14 PRICES OF SEEDS. September 27. Red Cloverseed has lately been held at advaed rates, and to-day there were no sellers of fine Bord u under 42s. to 43s. per cwt. in bond. The advance e. manded checked the inquiry, and the business done as unimportant. Canaryseed could only be sold in i lil quantities, at our quotations ; and Mustardseed was ry difficult of disposal. Winter Tares were taken at a nt former terms. BRITISH SEEDS. Linseed (per qr.). . sowing 60s. to 63s ; crushing 46s to Is. Linseed Cakes (per 1,000 of 31bs. each) £13 to £] 10 Trefoil (per cwt.) 12a. tc is Rapeseed, new (per last) £30 to Ditto Cake (per ton) £6 < Mustard (per bushel) white . . 7s. to 7s. 6d. ; brown 8s. i Carraway (per cwt.) 36s. to 38s. ; new 38s. i< Coriander (per cwt.) 18s. tc Hempseed (per quarter) 35s. ti Canary (per qr.) 62s. to 63s. ; fine 64s. to FOREIGN SEEDS, &c. Linseed (per qr.) . . Baltic 48s. to 50s. ; Odessa 47s. to s. Linseed Cake (per ton) £9 to 0 Rape Cake (per ton) £6 to £6 s. Clover, red (duty 5s. per cwt.) per cwt 30s. to s. Ditto, white (duty os. per cwt.) per cwt 35s. to s. HOP MARKET. BOROUGH, Sept. 27. Large supplies of the new growth continue dail reach our market ; but although there has been ra- more business doing within the last few days, still demand is by no means equal to the supply, and pi have in consequence somewhat declined since our quotations. Mid. and East Kents, 90s. to 126s. Weald of Kents, 84s. to 94s. Sussex Pockets, 80s. to 90s. Duty, £175,000. WOOL MARKETS. LEEDS, Sept. 24. — The business transacted in branch of business during the past week has beea|« limited. Prices without alteration. LEICESTER, (Saturday last.)— The price of flfl Wools from the growers remains about the same as ] week, 24s. to 26s. per tod. LIVERPOOL, Sept. 25. « Scotch. — If anything, we have rather more dep for Laid Highland Wool ; holders are asking 7s., the manufacturers declare they cannot afford to] There has been rather more demand for good Highland, The demand for Crossed and Cheviot' still for the best kinds ; other classes are neglected. ^ s. d. s. d. Laid Highland Wool, per 24 lbs .... 6 0 to 6 8 White Highland do 0 0 10 0 Laid Crossed do .. unwaslied.... 8 0 9 0 Do. do... waslied 8 6 10 0 Do Cheviot do... unwashed 8 9 10 0 Do. do... washed 12 0 15 0 M'hite do. do 40 0 22 6 NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS, " Farmer." — Complete Grazier; or, Farmer's ai Cattle Dealer's Assistant. 7th edition, wi plates, price I7s, To be had of James Rid way, bookseller, Piccadilly. Printed by Joseph Rogcrson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand, Londi fij^ijiud ty Jtseph.Bjogarsari.'M.ifmibVtStrect. Strand 1341 THE FAEMEK'S MAGAZIE^E. NOVEMBER, 1847. No. 5.— Vol. XVL] [Second Seriks. RECORD OF THE SERVICES OF HIS EXCELLENCY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR HARRY GEORGE WAKELYN SMITH, BART., G.C.B., Governor-General, Commander-in-Chief, and High Commissioner of the Cape of Good-Hope, &c., &c., &c. Sir Harry Smith entered^ the 95th, now Rifle Brigade, in March, 1805. "Was Adjutant at the "Siege, Storm, and Capture of Monte Video," and was thanked by the Commander-in-Chief Sir S. Auchmuty, for his intrepidity. Was in the aft'air of " Coloniodel Sacramento," un- der Sir Dennis (then Colonel) Pack. Was taken prisoner at " Buenos Ayres," in the Church of San Domingo, with Gen. Craufurd. Pro- ceeded with the army to Sweden, under Sir John Moore, and with that army to Portugal. Was distinguished in the affair of " Calcavellos," on the retreat to Corunna. In 1809, again embarked for Portugal, with the Light Brigade, under Gen. Craufurd, and reached " Talavera" the morning the enemy retired behind the Alverca, and was sharply en- gaged skirmishing. Was particularly employed by Gen. Craufurd, in the Light Division, during the French Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, and in the various skirmishes of that period. At the affair of the " Coa" severely wounded, and much commended for his conduct at the moment. Was present in Massena's retreat; in every affair of Posts; "Pombala;" "Redinha;" " Casal Nova;" " Condesoa;" " Foz d'Aruz," where he was appointed Major of Brigade to the 2nd Light Brigade, and served in that ca- pacity, until the end of the war, in the Light Division ; " Sabugal ;" battle of " Fuenlos d'Onoro ;" ''Siege, Storm, and Capture of Ciudad Rodrigo ;" " Siege, Storm, and Capture of Badajos;" battle 3f " Salamanca ;" retreat from Madrid ; affair at "SanMillan;" battle of "Vittoria;" pursuit of the enemy after the battle of " Pamplona ;" distinguished in storming the heights of " Vera ;" also, on the storm of the intrenched camp of "Irun;" "Crossing the Bidussoa;" battles of "Neville," "Nive;" affairs near " Bayonne," "Torbes :" battles of " Orthes" and "Toulouse." In ISH em- barked in the Garonne with the troops under Major-General Ross. Appointed Deputy Adjutant- General, " Battle of Bladensburg" and capture of " Washington." The bearer of despatches to government, and highly commended by Major-General Ross. Was promoted to the rank of Major. Returned to America with Major-General the Hon. Sir E. Pakenham. As Assistant Adjutant-General ■vas most actively employed during the various affairs at " New Orleans," and appointed Military ■Secretary to Sir John Lambert, in whose despatches his conduct was particularly brought to notice, ^iege and capture of " Fort Boyer." On the conclusion of peace with America, returned to Europe. Was Assistant Quarter-Master-General of the 6th Division in the " Battle of Waterloo," and for his •onduct promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and also received the honorary distinction of During the army of occupation was Major-de- Place of Carabray. Upon the withdrawal of the .B. OLD SERIES.} 2 D [No. 5.— VOL. XXVIL 394 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. army of occupation, he joined his regiment, and took the command of his company at ThornclifFe; subsequently marched the regiment to Gosijoit in 1819, during the radical period in Glasgow and the large manufacturing towns in England. The Rifle Brigade, in October, were all out at target prac- tice, four miles distant from their quarters. The recall was sounded, and in four hours the whole regiment was embarked on board the " LifFy" frigate and "Hind" sloop of war. On the evening of that day the men of war were under weigh for Leith roads ; thus showing that the habits of the long and glorious struggles of our country had perpetuated the energies of our soldiers and sailors. The Rifle Brigade, on landing at Leith, immediately marched to Glasgow. He was much employed by Lieutenant-General Sir Thos. Bradford, Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, and the Lord Advocate, in the command of night patrols, and domiciUary visits to the adjacent towns and villages; and, foi his activity in this most laborious, harassing, and distressing duty — this " bellum in pace" in aid o1 the civil power, great judgment and, discretion were required; and for his conduct he was appointee Major of Brigade in the western district, which was given, under Sir T. Bradford, to the command o Major-General Sir J. Reynolds. Quiet being in some degree established, the General Officer ii command of the western district in Scotland was discontinued, but the Major of Brigade was maintained. He acted on his own responsibihty on all occasions of riot or apprehension of disturbance reporting to the Commander of the Forces alone in Scotland— a very pecuhar position for a Staf Officer to be placed in ; and, to his credit, it is recorded that he never had a controversial corres dence, or any disagreement whatever, with the various officers in command of corps during the fiv years he was thus employed. In 1823, during the royal visit of George IV. to Edinburgh, Sir T Bradford directed him to ])roceed to Dalkeith to organize the duties over His Majesty's persoi and palace, and to receive orders daily from the Lord in Waiting. The procession of His Majesty' landing visit to Holyrood House was given under the conduct of this Officer ; and so gratified wa His Majesty on the day of leaving Dalkeith Palace, that Colonel Smith was sent for and personal!; received His Majesty's thanks and marked approbation for the zeal, attention, and exertion displayed The appointment of Major of Brigade, in the west of Scotland, was discontinued in 1825, and Lieu tenant-Colonel Smith prepared to join his regiment at Belfast. He received the marked encomiym of Sir T. Bradford, the Commander of the Forces ; and the Lord Provost and Council of Glasgoi presented him with the freedom of the city, and the grateful thanks of the inhabitants, for the zea temper, and activity with which he had acted, in aid of the Civil Power, for the maintenance of tranquillit on many most violent and riotous ebullitions of the populace. This officer joined his regiment at Belfast, in the beginning of 1826, and was sent to command detachment of three corps at Downpatrick, until the corps embarked for Nova Scotia, While f Halifax, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith accepted an unattached Majority, on the half-pay ; was appointe Aide-de-Carap to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Nova Scotia. In 1828 was appointe Deputy Quarter-Master General at Jamaica. On his arrival Lord Keane administered the governmen and Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was the senior officer of the troops. In this double position Lord Kean directed his attention to the amelioration of many of the military branches, especially to the barrac accommodation, bedding, &c., all of which were greatly improved ; and His Grace the Duke of Wei lington expressed his approbation of the measures and the exertion of Colonel Smith, While in thi position, one of those awful visitations of yellow fever attacked the troops in Jamaica, and principally oi of the detachment of artillery and two newly arrived regiments — the 22nd and 84th, six companies each- swept off 22 officers and 668 soldiers in less than three months. On this melancholy occasion, Lor Keane was highly gratified with the exertions made, by placing the assaOed regiments in camp, and b the adoption of every measure tending to counteract the daily fatality. In the autumn of 1828, Lieu; tenant-Colonel Smith was removed as Deputy Quarter-Master General for Jamaica, and appointed De. puty Quarter-Master General at the Cape. He embarked in two days for England ; remained thre weeks in his native country, and then sailed for the Cape. He had an important command on the fron tier of the Cape of Good Hope, during the Kafir irruption into the colony in 1835-6, and was highly corr.| mended for his conduct by the Governor, Sir B. D'Urban. He was also thanked by the inhabitant of the colony at large, and subsequently by the Minister for the Colonies, Lord Glenelg, as deservin the " grateful acknowledgments of Her Majesty's Government, not only for his military services, bi for his zealous, humane, and enlightened administration of the civil government of the province place under his charge." Wlien ordered to take the command of the frontier of the Cape of Good Hopt he rode from Cape Town to Graham Town, a distance of 600 miles, in six days ; performing eac day's journey at the rate of fourteen miles an hour. In 1840 he was appointed Adjutant-General to Her Majesty's forces in India. In 1843, at the "Battl THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 808 of Mahnrajpoie," 29tli December, near Gwalior. Was Adjutant-General of Her Majesty's ariviy in India, and second in command in the field on that memorable day. Thanked in the public dis])atche.s, and the honorary distinction of Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath conferred upon him for his general seiTices, ;,Dm-ing these eventful services he was on the Staff of Major-General Sir Sidney Beckwith, K.C.B, Lieutenant-General the Right Hon. Sir. J. Kempt, Major-General Drummond G.C.B, Major-General Craufurd Lieutenant-General Lord Keane, G.C.B, Major-General Skerritt Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir LouTy Cole, i Lieutenant-General Sir J. Vandeleur, K.C.B. G.C.B. ' Lieutenant-General Lord Seaton, G.C.B. Lieutenant-General Sir B. D'Urban, G.C.B. Lieutenant-General Sir A. Barnard, K.C.B. Major-General Sir George Napier, K.C.B. Major-General Ross Lieuteuant-General Sir Jasper Nicolls, K.C.B, Major-General the Hon. Sir E. Pakenham, K.C.B. Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart,, I Lieuteuant-General Sir J, Lambert, G,C,B. G.C.B. The distinguished part taken by Sir Harry Smith in the memorable engagements on the banks of the Sutlej, in the campaign of 1845-G, gained for him the creation of a baronetcy, with the honorary ; distinction of a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, and the appointment to serve as Major-General on the staff in India. Those glorious struggles against a powerful and well-disciplined, but unprincipled eiicmy, whose decisive overthrow arrested the progress of invasion on our Indian empire, were hailed in England by a national outbreak of joy, as the despatches of their details arrived in rapid succes- sion ; and have for ever enrolled the honoured names of Hardinge, Gough, and Smith on tlie proud page of our country's history, among the most distinguished promoters of its truest glory, in their having Qiaintained, by their united efforts of indomitable bravery in the field, the stability of our Indian em- pire, and, by wise counsels and improvement of the advantages gained by the sword, the progress of that great and good work of Christian civilization which ought ever to follow the standard of our victories. Battle of Aliwal. However distinguished Sir Harry Smith may have been by the value of his sterling services in va- rious parts of the world, and through a period of no less than forty-two years, it was on the field of Aliwal that he displayed those pre-eminent miUtary talents as a commander that will for ever associate his name with the signal victory so gallantly and gloriously obtained on that locality, over a cruel and presumj)tuous invader ; a triumph of heroism and honour over barbarism and treachery, which not only awakens the remembrance of the gallant deeds of our countrymen in modern times, but recalls to our minds the chivalrous days, never to be forgotten, of Cressy, Poictiers, and Agincourt, and only finds its true parallel in the heroic struggle on the classic plains of Marathon. We shall, accordingly, confine the attention of our readers, on the present occasion, to Sir Harry Smith's own despatches of that engagement, and to the public sentiments expressed m Parliament by the Duke of Wellington* as Commander-in-Chief) in the House of Lords, and by Sir Robert Peel (as Prime Minister of Eng- (land) in the House of Commons. j '' Copy of a Pencil Express, written on the Field of Battle, bxj Sir Harry Smith, to the ' ^*^ Commander-in-Chief, " Bank of the Sutlej, 2Sfh January. "Hearing the enemy had received a'reinforcement yesterday of twelve guns, and 4,000 men last night, I moved my troops at daylight this morning to attack. I think I have taken every gun he had, and driven him over the river. My guns are now battering him from the opposite bank. He camfe out to fight me, I exi)ect fifty guns are on the field at least. My loss I hope not great. The cavalry * At the late installation of Prince Albert as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, a circum- stance occurred which is too striking to omit. The Duke of Wellington and Sir Harry Smith were standing together on the platform when the Queen, amidst the cheers of the spectators, had taken her departure. Three enthusiastic cheers were then given for " The Duke," and afterwards three for " Sir Harry," and a shout followed that rent the air. His Grace, evidently much gratified at this de- ' raonstration of public feeling, instantly took Sir Harry's hands in his, bowed to the multitude as re- turning thanks for him, and presenting him as one worthy of their applause. Who can wonder that 1 at this moment, overcome by feehngs which can alone be understood, the Hero of Aliwal was deeply 1 affected ? 2 D 2 396 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. charged several times, botli black and white, like soldiers —and infantry, vied \vith each other in bravery. To the God of Victory we are all indebted. God bless you, dear Sir Hugh. My Staff al] right— Mackeson and Cunningham, of the Political Department, bore heavily on some villages. The enemy required all I could do with such brave fellows to teach him to smm. (Signed) " H. G. Smith, Major-General." Major-General Sir Harry Smith, K.C.B., to the Adjutant-General of the Army. "Camp, Field of the Battle of Aliwal, Jan. 30, 1846. "Sir, — My despatches to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, of the 23rd instant [No received by the Secret Committee] will have put his Excellency in possession of the position of the force under my command, after having formed a junction with the troops at Loodiana, hemmec in by a formidable body of the Sikh army under Runjoor Singh and the Rajah of Ladwa. Thi enemy strongly entrenched himself around the little fort of Budhowal by breast-works and ' abattis, which he precipitately abandoned on the night of the 22nd instant (retiring, as it were, upon the for( of Tulvvun), having ordered all the boats which were opposite Philour to that Ghat. This movemen he effected during the night, and, by nnaking a considerable detour, placed himself at a distance o ten miles, and consequently out of my reach. I could, therefore, only push forward my cavalry gi soon as I had ascertained he had marched during the night, and I occupied immediately his vacatei position. It appeared subsequently he had no intention of recrossing the Sutlej, but moved dow to the Ghat of Tulwun (being cut off from that of Philour, by the position my force occupied after it relief of Loodiana), for the purpose of protecting the passage of a very considerable reinforcement c twelve guns and 4,000 of the regular, or ' Aieen' troops, called Avitabile's battalion, entrenchin himself strongly in a semicircle, his flanks resting on a river, his position covered with from forty t fifty guns (generally of large calibre), howitzers, and mortars. The reinforcement crossed during tli night of the 27th instant, and encamped to the right of the main army. " Meanwhile, his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, with that foresight and judgment which mar the able general, had reinforced me by a considerable addition to my cavalry, some guns, and the 2n brigade of my own division, under Brigadier Wheeler, C.B. This reinforcement reached me on tl. 26th, and I had intended the next morning to move upon the enemy in his entrenchments, but th troops required one day's rest after the long marches Brigadier Wheeler had made. "I have now the honour to lay before you the operations of my united forces on the morning of th eventful 28th January, for his Excellency's information. The body of troops under my comman having been increased, it became necessary so to organize and brigade them as to render thei manageable in action. The cavalry under the command of Brigadier Cureton, and horse artiller under Major Lawrenson, were put into two brigades ; the one under Brigadier MacDowell, C.B., an the other under Brigadier Stedman. The 1st division as it stood, two brigades : — Her Majesty's 53r and 30th Native Infantry, under Brigadier Wilson, of the latter corps ; the 36th Native Infantry, an Nusseree battalion, under Brigadier Godby; and the Shekawattee brigade under Major Forster. Th Sirmoor battalion I attached to Brigadier Wheeler's brigade of the 1st division; the 42nd Nativ Infantry having been left at head quarters. "At daylight on the 28th, my order of advance was — the cavalry in front, in contiguous columns ( squadrons of regiments, two troops of horse artillery in the interval of brigades ; the infantry in cor tiguous columns of brigades at intervals of deploying distance; artillery in the intervals, followed b two 8-inch howitzers on travelling carriages, brought into the field from the fort of Loodiana, by tl indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Lane, Horse Artillery ; Brigadier Godby's brigadi which I had marched out from Loodiana the previous evening, on the right ; the Shekawatte infantry on the left ; the 4th Irregular Cavalry considerably to the right, for the purpose of sweepin the banks of the wet nullah on my right, and preventing any of the enemy's horse attempting a inroad towards Loodiana, or any attempt upon the baggage assembled round the fort of Budhowal. " In this order the troops moved forward towards the enemy, a distance of six miles, the advanc conducted by Captain Waugh, l6th Lancers, the Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master of Cavalrj Major Bradford of the 1st Cavalry, and Lieutenant Strachey of the Engineers, who had been joint! employed in the conduct of patrols up to the enemy's position, and for the purpose of reporting upo the facility and point of approach. Previously to the march of the troops it had been intimated to nn by Major Mackeson, that the information by spies led to the belief the enemy would move somevvhei at dayhght, either on Jugraon, my position of Budhowal, or Loodiana, On a near approach to h ^vtposts, this rumour wa# confirmed by a spy, who had just left the camp, saying the Sikh army wf THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 397 actually in march towards Jugraon, My advance was steady ; my troops well in hand ; and if he had anticipated me on the Jugraon road, I could have fallen upon his centre with advantage. " From the tops of the houses of the village of Poorein, I had a distant view of the enemy. He was in motion, and appeared directly opposite my front on a ridge, of which the village of Aliwal may be regarded as the centre. His left appeared still to occupy its ground in the circular entrenchment; his right was brought forward and occupied the ridge. I immediately deployed the cavalry into line, ind moved on. As I neared the enemy, the ground became most favourable for the troops to i manoeuvre, being open and hard grass land. I ordered the cavalry to take ground to the right and i eft by brigades ; thus displaying the heads of the infantry columns; and, as they reached the hard |rround, I directed them to deploy into line. Brigadier Godby's brigade was in direct echellon to the ; -ear of the right ; the Shekawattee infantry in like manner to the rear of my left : the cavalry in direct ■chellon on, and well to the rear of, both flanks of the infantry ; the artillery massed on the right, and ■entre and left. After deployment, I observed the enemy's left to outflank me, I therefore broke into ipen column and took ground to my right. When I had gained sufficient ground, the troops wheeled nto line. There was no dust, the sun shone brightly. These manoeuvres were performed with the elerity and precision of the most correct field day. The ghsteningof the bayonets and swords of this , irder of battle was most imposing ; and the hne advanced. Scarcely had it moved ] 50 yards, when, t ten o'clock, the enemy opened a fierce cannonade from his whole line. At first his balls fell short, lut quickly reached us. Thus upon him, and capable of better ascertaining his position, I was com- )elled to halt the line, though under fire, for a few moments, until I ascertained that, by bringhig up iiy right, and carrying the village of Aliwal, I could with great effect precipitate myself upon his left nd centre. I therefore quickly brought up Brigadier Godby's brigade; and, with it, and the 1st rigade under Brigadier Hicks, made a rapid and noble charge, carried the village, and two guns of irge cahbre. The line I ordered to advance — Her Majesty's 31st Foot and the native regiments con- anding for the front ; and the battle became general. The enemy had a numerous body of cavalry n the heights to his teft, and I ordered Brigadier Cureton to bring up the right brigade of cavalry, 'ho, in the most gallant manner, dashed in among them, and drove them back upon their infantry, leanwhile a second gallant charge to my right was made by the light cavalry and the body guard, "he Shekawattee brigade was moved well to the right, in support of Brigadier Cureton, when I ob- erved the enemy's encampment, and saw it was full of infantry : I immediately brought upon it brigadier Godby's brigade, by changing front, and taking the enemy's infantry ' en reverse.' They Irove them before them, and took some guns without a check. " While these operations were going on upon the right, and the enemy's left flank was thus driven lack, I occasionally observed the brigade under Brigadier Wheeler, an officer in whom I have the ;Teatest confidence, charging and carrying guns and everything before it, again connecting his hne, nd moving on, in a manner which ably displayed the coolness of the Brigadier, and the gallantry of lis irresistible brigade— Her Majesty's 50th Foot, the 48th Native Infantry, and the Sirmoor bat- alion— although the loss was, I regret to say, severe in the 50th. Upon the left. Brigadier Wilson, v'ith Her Majesty's 53rd and the 30th Native Infantry, equalled in celebrity and regularity their com- ades on the right ; and this brigade was opposed to the ' Aieen' troops, called Avitabile's, when the ight was fiercely raging. "The enemy, well driven back on his left and centre, endeavoured to hold his right to cover the pas- sage of the river, and he strongly occupied the village of Bhoondree. I directed a squadron of the l6th Lancers, under Major Smyth and Captain Pearson, to charge a body to the right of a village, which ;:hey did in the most gallant and determined style, bearing everything before them, as a squadron, un- [der Captain Bere, had previously done, going right through a square, in the most intrepid manner, tvith the deadly lance. This charge was accompanied by the 3rd Light Cavalry, under Major Angelo, and as gallantly sustained. The largest gun upon the field, and seven others, were then captured, while the 53rd Regiment carried the village by the bayonet, and the 30th Native Infantry wheeled "ound to the rear in a most spirited manner. Lieut.-Col. Alexander's and Capt. Turton's troops of horse artillery, under Major Lawrenson, dashed among the flying infantry, committing great havoc, until about 800 or 1,000 men rallied under the high bank of a nullah, and opened a heavy but in- effectual fire from below the bank. I immediately directed the 30th Native Infantry to charge them, which they were able to do upon their left flank, while in a line in rear of the village. This native corps nobly obeyed my orders, and rushed among the Avitabile troops, driving them from under the bank, and exposing them once more to a deadly fire of twelve guns within 300 yards. The destruc- tion was very great, as may be supposed, from guns served as these were. Her Majesty's 53rd Regi- 398 THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. uient mo red fonyard iu support of the 30tli Native Infantry, by the right of the village- The batlle was won ; our troops advancing with the most perfect order to the common focus— the passage ol the river. The enemy, completely hemmed in, were flying from our fire, and precipitating themselves in disordered masses into the ford and boats, in the utmost confusion and consternation ; our S-inch howitzers soon began to play upon their boats, when the " debris" of the Sikh army appeared upon the opposite and high bank of the river, flying in every direction, although a sort of line was attempted to countenance their retreat, vintil all our guns commenced a furious cannonade, when they quickly receded. Nine guns v/ere on the river by the ford. It appears as if they had been unlimbered to cover the ford. These being loaded, were fired once upon our advance; two others were sticking in the river. One of them we got out ; two were seen to sink in the quicksands ; two were dragged tc the opposite bank and abandoned. These, and the one in the middle of the river, were gallantv) spiked by Lieutenant Holmes, of the 11th Irregular Cavalry, and Gunner Scott, of the 1st troop 2ni brigade horse artillery, who rode into the stream, and crossed for the purpose, covered by our gun^ and light infantry. " Thus ended the battle of AUwal, one of the most glorious victories ever achieved in India, by th( united efforts of Her Majesty's and the Honourable Comjiany's troops. Every r/un the enemy hat fell into our hands, as I infer from his never opening one upon us from the opposite bank of the river which is high and favourable for the purpose. Fifty-two guns are now in the Ordnance Park ; tw( sunk in the bed of the Sutlej, and two were spiked on the opposite bank ; making a total of fifty-si; pieces of cannon captured or destroyed.* Many jingalls which were attached to Avitabile's corps and which aided in the defence of the village of Bhoondree, have also been taken. The whole arm; of the enemy has been driven headlong over the difiicult ford of a broad river ; his camp, baggage stores of ammunition and of grain ; his all, in fact, wrested from him, by the repeated charges of in fantry, aided by the guns of Alexander, Turton, Lane, Mill, Boileau, and of the Shekawattee brigade and by the 8 -inch howitzers — our guns literally being constantly ahead of everything. The deter mined bravery of all was as conspicuous as noble. I am unwont to praise when ])raise is not merited and I here most unavowedly express ray firm opinion and conviction that no troops in any battle o; record ever behaved more nobly. British and native — no distinction; cavalry all vying with H.M.' 16th Lancers, and striving to head in the rejjeated charges. Our guns and gunners, officers and men may be equalled, but cannot be excelled, by any artillery in the world. Throughout the day no hesi tation — a bold and intreind advance ; and thus it is that our loss is comparatively small, though, deeply regret to say, severe. The enemy fought with much resolution ; they maintained frequen rencontres with our cavalry, hand to hand. In one charge, upon infantry, of H.M.'s l6th Lancer:^ they threw away their muskets, and came on with their swords and targets against the lance." * * ******** H. G. Smith, '' (Signed) P. Grant, Major, Mojor-Goieral Commanding)' Deputy-Adjutaut-Genercil of the Army. Duke of Wellington. — In the mean time the distant points of the frontier were threatened ; Ldoj diana was threatened — I believe it was even attacked, and the cantonments were burned : and then it wa that Sir Harry Smith was sent with a detachment of troops towards Loodiana, taking possession of varioii points on his road — Durrumkote and other places, of which the enemy had taken possession by bodies u troops which had crossed the Sutlej. And I beg your Lordships to observe that, when Sir Harry Smitl was sent, he had three objects in view : one to give security to the post at Loodiana, already reinforcei by the arrival there of General Godby after the battle : the others to keep up his commimications witl the rear by the town of Busseean, a point of great strength and importance, with a view to the com munication between Ferozepore and Loodiana, in the front line, and Ferozepore and Delhi in the rear the point from which the heavy train and the means of carrying on the siege in the ultimate ojDeration: were to come. These must have passed between twenty and thirty miles of the enemy, while thi' main body of the army at Ferozepore was not less distant than fifty. These were the objects, to securi which Sir Harry Smith v/as detached from the army. He marched upon Loodiana, and coramuni cated with the British commander there, who endeavoured to move out to his assistance. While hi, was engaged with the enemy on this march, which he made in order to perform a part of his instruc | " * Eleven guns, since ascertained to be sunk in the river ; total, sixty-seven. Thirty odd jingall; fell into our hands. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 390 tions— namely, to maintain the communication with Loodiana, they came out from the entrenched camp and carried off his haggage. I desire to explain that, because it was the only check which the gallant officer met with throughout the whole of this operation, and in fact it is the only misfortiuie, trifling as it is, which has lu^ppened during the whole operations that have taken place in that j)art of the country. This loss of the baggage, such as it is, has been written up as a great misfortune ; but, in point of fact, it could not be otherwise. He was obliged to march within sight of the entrenched camp, from which the enemy had an opportunity of attacking him on his march. I beg your Lord- shijjs to observe that Sir Harry Smith had not only to secure his communication with Loodiana, but likewise to secure his junction with General Wheeler, who, alone, was not able to contend against the enemy. He performed all those objects, was joined by General Wheeler, and then moved on to ittack the new position which the enemy had taken up near the river. And, my Lords, I will say upon , this, I have read the account of many a battle, but I never read the account of one in which more Ubility, energy, and experience have been manifested than in this. I know of no one in which an ! officer ever showed himself more capable than this officer has in commanding troops in the field. He ' brought every descrij)tion of troops to bear, with all arms in the position in which they were most Lapable of rendering service : the nicest manoeuvres were performed under the fire of the enemv with die utmost precision, and at the same time with an energy and gallantry on the part of the troops ) aever surpassed on any occasion whatever in any part of the world. I must say of this officer, that [ never have seen any account which manifests more plainly than his does, that he is an officer capal)le jf rendering the most important services, and of ultimately being an honour to this country. Sir Robert Peel. — The great battle was fought on the 28th of January, but earlier in that nonth Sir Harry Smith had sustained what some may consider a reverse. I allude to a period jefore his junction with Colonel Wlieeler, and with the five regiments from Loodiana. In the ibsence of all intelligence he encountered the enemy, and was exposed to serious hazard. Writing to 'jir Hugh Gough on the 21st, after he had succeeded in relieving Loodiana, he said that he had ac- ?omplished that object, but under circumstances not quite so fortunate as he desired ; and he used :hese expressions : " When within a mile and a half to my left of Buddowal, moving parallel with my column (which was right in front ready to wheel into line), and evidently for the purpose of interrupt- ing my advance, I saw the enemy. Nothing could be stronger for the enemy than the continued line of villages. He was moving by roads, while I was moving over very heavy sandbeds. He was in advance far beyond, on my right flank ; so far did he extend, and so numerous did he show his in- fantry and guns, and so well chosen for him was this line of villages, that wth my force he was not to be assailed ; and he opened a furious cannonade of from thirty-five to forty guns of very large cahbre, and, as usual, right well served. My object being to unite myself with the force from Loodi- ana, which every moment I expected to appear in sight, for it was nine o'clock, I moved parallel with the enemy, resolving to attack the moment the Loodiana troops reached me. He, however, so pressed upon me, that I opened in one body my eleven guns upon him with considerable effect, and moved up the 31st, and was preparing to form line upon this regiment, when the enemy most rapidly formed a line of seven regiments, with their guns between, at right angles with the line I was about to attack, while a considerable force was moving round my right and front. Thus enveloped and overwhelmed by numbers, and such a superiority of guns, I had nothing for it but to throw back my line on its right, which represented a small line on the hypotenuse of a triangle. The enemy thus outflanked me and my whole force, I therefore gradually withdrew my infantry in echellon of battalions, the cavalry in echellon of squadrons, in the direction of Loodiana, momentarily expecting to see the ap- proach of that force, viz., one regiment of cavalry, five guns, and four regiments of infantry, when I would have made a vigorous attack. The ground was very deep and sandy, and therefore very diifi- cult to move on. The enemy continued to move on as described for upwards of an hour, and vmtil I knew the Loodiana force was moving, not a musket was fired. Nothing could exceed the steadiness of the troops. The line was thrown back, under this cannonade, as if on parade, native as well as British, and the movements of the cavalry, under Brigadier Cureton, were, without any exception, the most perfect thing I ever saw, and which I cannot describe." * * * * Of the battle its-elf I will not speak ; the victory was complete, and it has been so admirably described by the illustrious commander, that I will not weaken the effect of his narrative. And what, let me ask, have been the services of this gallant officer ? These recent events have given new lustre to his glory : but he was at the capture of Monte Video — at the attack upon Buenos Ayres ; he served during the Peninsular war, from the battle of Vimeira to that of Corunna. He was then wounded in another action, but he was at the battles Sabagal and Fuentes d'Onor, and the sieges of Ciudad 400 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Rodrigo and Badajos, at the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes, the Pyrennees, and Toulouse. He was at Washington and New Orleans, and finally he was at Waterloo. What a series of noble ser- vices, and how rejoiced I am that there should be an opportunity, through his new and signal victory, of bringing before the gladdened eyes of a grateful country a long life of mihtary exertion, and an imbroken series of military honours. After he had achieved that success for which he was about to give him our special thanks — after he had driven back the enemy across the Sutlej, he instantly re- turned to rejoin his commanding officer. Sir Hugh Gough. He arrived on the 8th, two days before the decisive victory gained by the forces under Sir Hugh Gough and Sir Henry Hardinge. But for his services in the victory of the 28th of January, I propose that there should be a distinct and sepa- rate vote — distinct and separate from that which I shall recommend for that not more glorious, thaijgh perhaps more important achievement accomplished at a later date by the whole British array. , n: , * There is much to adorn and nothing to sully our victory, and I do hoj)e that now it has been achieved, it will give lasting ])eace to India ; that a general conviction will be felt of our power — a con* viction of the superiority of British arms that will ensure a long enjoyment of tranquillity to that country, and the application of aU our efforts for the improvement of its natural resources. I trust that this may be our last battle, and that hereafter we shall have nothing to do but to direct our at- tention to the amelioration of the condition of our Indian fellow-subjects. ■ ro SOJOURN IN ENGLAND. ,jg | During his too brief sojourn amongst us, on his return to this country, and the too short respiti afforded to him after his long ])eriod of mihtary toil under the trying influence of every climate. Sir ' Harry Smith has won the admiration of his fellow-countrymen by the devoted attachment he has evinced to his native land and to the yeomanry of England, with which he so highly prides himself in ])eing identified, and in having derived his own origin from their stalwart ranks. He was born at Whit- tlesea, in Cambridgeshire, about the year 1790, of highly respectable parents, and formed one of a family of eleven children, and he has himself borne filial testimony to the influence of an excellent mother in warning him by her earnest exhortations from the path of error, and in infusing into his youthful mind that devoted attachment to his country which ever dwells paramount in an English heart in a foreign land. " Shun the gaming-table," she said, " as you would avoid your dishonour and ruin ; and when you are called out in the service of your country, remember that you fight like an Englishman !" Sir Harry Smith accordingly never entered a gaming-house, and has never been inebriated in the whole course of his life; how he has fought for his country, others are left to judge. In whatever direction Sir Harry Smith has turned his steps, during his recent visit amongst us, he has been honoured and welcomed as a fellow-countryman, who by his gallant deeds has raised the name of Englishmen to a still higher and prouder pinnacle of renown. His frank and unassuming deportment, his high Christian and moral character, and the discharge of his duties in every station of life, whether as a husband, a friend, or a soldier, have shed over his private and public virtues a charm which has endeared him to every individual \vith whom he has been brought into communication : and his generous sympathy towards the soldiers who have served under him, and his constant reference to their essential aid in carrying out his plans, are repaid on every occasion by their devoted and enthusiastic attachment to their old commander. It was under the influence of this feeling that : Sir Harry Smith, on his accession to the honours conferred upon him by Her Majesty, requested permission to assume, as the supporters to his armorial bearings, a soldier of the 52nd Regiment and of the Rifle Brigade ; " for it was," to use his own words, " the Light Brigade that first taught me to be a soldier." This " Light Brigade" consisted of the 43rd, 52nd, and (as it was then styled) the 95th reghnents. It will be further seen in the engraving of these armorial bearings which we have given at the commencement of this record, that in the selection of a motto this feeling was still further displayed : " Inter milites miles" (or, " A soldier among soldiers"). On his again leaving our shores for a distant and disturbed colony, there is but one feeling of regret that one who has already done so much, should still, like the knight in Schiller's " Diver," be called upon to do still more; or, like the aged Dryden, be compelled " to die in harness." On the eve of his departure from England, as Governor-Cieneral, Commander-in-Chief, and High Commissioner of thp Cape of Good Hope, Lord George Lennox, on the part of a public meeting of the inhabitants of Portsmouth, presented Sir Harry Smith with an address on his again leaving this country for foreign service ; and Major Fraser and the Light Division gave him a sumptuous farewell banquet. "We cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of subjoining the characteristic replies of Sir Ijarry Smith on these occasions respectively : — , ■ * , * ' -.J 3a&dqauiai \ THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 401 ,H REPLY TO ADDRESS. r '*'My Lord, gentlemen of the brother services of the army and navy, and loyal inhabitants of Ports- mouth—Deeply do I feel the honour co fenrredon me by the presentation of this address. Your ;rreeting to me when I arrived in this country was deeply gratifying; your reception on the eve of my departure is still more so. I thank you with all my heart. When I observe that this address has been presented to me by one of my older comrades. Lord George Lennox, an officer as gallant himself as his fiimily is renowned for loyalty to its sovereign ; when I see the hero who brought out of action ;he " Shannon"— and not only her, but the enemy's frigate, the ' Chesapeake' — then I reflect that ;he honour is doubly great which is conferred on me this day. (Cheers). Gentlemen, I will not say Adieu my native land ;' but having an ardent hope and confidence in that Great and Omnipotent Power ,vhich has so repeatedly protected me (cheers), I trust that if it should be my good fortune to render my additional service to my Queen and country, I may be able to do it through other instruments ban that called war. (Cheers.) It is true that it can only be obtained through war sometimes, for leace is its legitimate object; but if I can avert war, I will. (Loud and long continued cheering.) If ■ can extend the blessings of civilization and Christianity in a distant land, where, without any affec- ation of humility, I can say that some years ago I sowed its seeds, it will be a gratification to me )eyond expression to do so. (Cheers.) My Lord George Lennox, I thank you with the heart of a ■omrade — with that heart which beats in your Lordship's bosom ; to you, my gallant comrades, I again eturn my sincerest thanks ; and believe me, gentlemen of the town of Portsmouth, no man is more ensible of your worth and the value of your principles than he who has now the honour to address •ou." SPEECH AT THE LIGHT DIVISION DINNER. '*f My gallant comrades and soldiers, I thank you sincerely. Scarcely had I returned to England, eceived as I was by my Queen and country, when all the members of the Light Division assembled ogether, and paid me one of the highest compliments ever paid to an elder soldier, by giving me a lublic dinner in London. The scene of their enthusiastic greetings is now made ahve in my ears by he method which you have adopted this night to cheer me (cheers). You, sir, have paid me a far ligher compliment by calling me a comrade of the Light Division than any encomium that has been lassed on me (cheers). It is true I was trained in the same school as yourselves ; and, having been rained in this school, my gallant comrades, every action that you see recorded upon these immortal clours (the 52nd) I am happy to say that I participated in (cheers). The glory which attaches to .ncient deeds is felt more by those who have contributed to them than by others — (cheers) — but when see that enthusiasm with which you revert to the seasons of ancient glory, then do I feel satisfied hat the same spirit which animated your forefathers operates in the gallant Light Division now filling he heart of every one of yon noble-looking fellows (tremendous cheering). It was always said by lis Grace the Duke of WeUington, of the old immortal Light Division — and when I mention it I beg he officers of the 60th Regiment to considei- that I mean them equally, for they pertain to the same ervice in every respect, they have equally distinguished themselves — ' When I have set the Light hvision to do anything which vvas difficult and dangerous, requiring enterprise, the next day I found hat division, with scarcely any loss, ready again to fight' (cheers). My comrades, believe me, the irst duty of a soldier is to destroy his enemy while he saves himself (cheers). I glory not in that tupid courage which smites down men, and makes what we call a ' butcher's bill.' He is the best ifficer who does the most with the least loss of human life (cheers). Having alluded to those memo- able words of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, do not suppose that I wish to detract from the other livision of that immortal army in the Peninsula. It was equally the fortune of that other division to listinguish themselves ; and, although we Light Division-men consider ourselves an example for ashion and neatness in the army, believe me, every British soldier, no matter what the number of his egiment is (and joyfully do I say it), is covered at this moment with the same glory (cheers). The ppearance of my old comrades and friends of the Light Division yesterday on parade rejoiced every 3eling of my heart. I there saw the same regiment, whether of the present day or the old soldiers, hey were made of the same stuff, the same spirit in the officers, and the same obedience in the men ; nd although we look back to deeds of glory of the ancient Light Division, I do believe the present ight Division to be as glorious, in a moral point of view, for there is no punishment in it now as hete used to be (cheers). Believe me, the tone of courage is taken from the officers : whatever the onduct of officers is, such will be the soldiers (cheers). And, gentlemen, if you knew the feeling of he British soldier in the field, if you viewed as often as I have the triumphant bayonet marching qually triumphant over the enemy, then would your devoted service be for the comforts and hap- I 402 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. piness of your men ('Hear, hear,' and cheers). Do not let it be supposed, gentlemen, because I talk of the comforts and happiness of the men, that I am one of those officers who, I regret to say, exist in the present day, who have a kind of twaddle in talking about ' the poor soldier.' In the country I am going to, I regret to hear it is said ' the poor soldier' sleeps here and sleeps there, ' the poor soldier' wants this and wants that. It is the duty of every officer to provide to the utmost for the comfort of his men; and when comforts are not to be had, 'bad luck to the shilling' (tremendous cheering long continued). And, my gallant officers, believe me, our soldiers are equally gallant men; and, where these comforts are not to be had, they don't call themselves 'poor soldiers,' they call themselves the glorious soldiers in the setvice of her Majesty — (cheers) — meeting the hardships and toils of English military life (such as exist on the frontiers of the land I am going to) with that degree of moral courage with which they encounter the enemies of their country, and with the glorious shout of Aictory (cheers). I speak from experience. I never yet saw the British soldier fail, either before bis enemy or in enduring the hardships of a campaign ; and it is because he knows that his officers endeavour to procme s.. erything they can for him. The starving population of Ireland do not com- plain, and say that it was the rich jieople's fault that they were in that condition ; no more do tlie soldiers, that they cannot obtain this or cannot have that. I mean to say, that due exertions and due precautions ought to be taken that every resource of the country is applied to the soldiers engaged in the war. Where this is not the case, we have all a right to say it might have been done better. The British soldier is a man of indomitable courage ; he requires only to be led, not to be urged : he requires, perhaps, to be restrained in his impetuosity in the discharge of his duty ; to be honoured by his Queen and his country (cheers). I do assure you, my gallant comrades, on this, which is probably the last night I may be upon the land of my forefathers, that I feel towards you, with every expre sion I am able to give, what I was designated by your gallant president — your comrade (cheers) — ai whether I am successful or whether I fall, the glory shall be to the soldier — the blame to me (cheersj. And now, my gallant comrades, it is hard to say ' Farewell;' but in the most difficult cases of farewell hope cheers us on, and I trust I may again return to my native land, to be welcomed by my count)}', but above all, l)y the old and present Light Division." Long continued cheering followed this inspiriting and soldierly address, which was re-echoed outside the house by some hundreds of the inhabitants, who gave three-times-three, as the cheers insidt subsided. We have only to add the following paragraph, from the Times of the 24th of September last, announcing the departure of the Hero of Aliwal from the shores of England, in our full hope and trust that his imjwrtant mission may be crowned with perfect success, and that at no veiy distant period he may return to us with still further claims on the gratitude of his native country. DEPARTURE OF SIR HARRY SMITH. "J " Portsmouth, Thursday, "This day, at twelve o'clock. Sir Harry Smith, family, and staff, embarked at the Victoria Pier'j their destination— the Cape of Good Hope: on which occasion th-e pier was most picturesqi decorated with flags ; and the bands of the Royal Marines, 52nd and 43rd Regiments, played sdfl splendid and suitable music. The pier was crowded with all the military officers of the garrison, atl a briUiant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen. The ramparts of the town, the Platform Battery^ Blockhouse Fort, the Round Tower, and the beach, were thronged with many thousands of spec-j tators eager to bid adieu to the gallant Hero of Aliwal. Lord Frederick Fitzclarence's carri^ conveyed the veteran and his family to the pier, where the barge of the commander-in-cl was in waiting to put him on board the ' Lightning,' which was to convey him to the ' Vernoti.1 At twelve o'clock precisely, Sir Harry arrived on the pier, which was the signal for one treraendoust shout from the assembled multitude, the bands striking up ' See the Conquering Hero comes !' After entering the barge. Sir Harry, surrounded by his staff, and Major Harvey, aide-de-camp to Lor! Frederick Fitzclarence, stood up and waved his hat to the assembled throng, which was followed 1' another shout, re-echoed by the thousands who lined the walls on either side the entrance of t! harbour, the beach, and landing-places. At twenty minutes past twelve o'clock the steamer got uml weigh, and put her gallant party on board the ' Vernon' Indiaman in about twenty minutes aftei', under a salute from that ship. Sir Harry seemed dee])ly moved at the demonstration. The ' ^ ernon sailed about three o'clock for her destination." mmt^"m\ q; J t THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 403 ALIWAL, THE PROPERTY OF SIR HARRY SMITH, BART. ENGRAVED BY J. SCOTT, FROM A PAINTING BY A. COOrEU, R.A. Every artist has his favourite subject, l)y which you may almost invariably identify the man, and ace out his rise and progress. Abraham Cooper is no exception here; for though excellent in de- neating auimal life of every variety, he must yet take for his crest one especial kind of the genus orse. In a hunting scene, or " the portrait of a favourite hunter" per se, some, though very few, light vie with hira ; at a Derby horse, or slashing set-to, one man perhaps excels him. At a Ijattle- iece, however, or in giving the form and character of the charger, none can claim to be his equal. It i here that he is perfect, and it is for that reason we selected him to paint the companion portrait to lat of the Hero, whose likeness this month graces the pages of our work. It would, may -be, look etter, considering the succession of subjects we have to produce, to avoid all comparison of one wth le other ; but still we must confess our pride in seeing this print " turned out" in the manner it is. )ur desire was to have as good and effective a portrait of the horse as possible ; and we believe we are iititled to say that our object has been fully attained. In every respect we look upon it as one of the lost beautiful and perfect engravings we ever had the good fortune to offer to the public. The Arab is always a good model, whether taken individually or made part in the grouping of a ictiu-e. The quick eye of a workman might occasionally show up a weak point or defective feature 1 his anatomy; but on " the general reader" these would seldom intrude, and at any rate would he alanced by many of a more catching and fashionable character. The really beautifid head and ex- ressive eye ; the light, elegant, blood-hke neck, good forehand, small clean leg, well set-on and well- arried tail, make him truly what the dealers term " a picture" to look at ; and appearance, with many f us, goes a great way. To the ladies the Arab is " the dearest love of a horse ;" to the exquisite " a •ce neat hack ;" to the turfite perhaps httle in his purity but a leather plater ; while to the soldier, v»'ho alls in his services on his own native soil, he is the highest-couraged, best, and gamest of chargers. It is in this last and most favourable character or capacity we have now to speak of him — as one of Ve highest-couraged, gamest, and best of chargers. His very name tells his story; and "Aliwal" - known at once from his appearing here as one who did good service on a glorious occasion. For six- Li;;l-twenty hours, from 3 o'clock on the morning before until 5 o'clock on the morning after, did he arry him on whose direction hung the fortune of the day; until at length, in the words of Sir Harry limself, " he began rolling about and looking round, as much as to say, ' You have had nearly all ,ou can out of me now.' " In fact it was time for reheving guard, and our only v/onder is how he -tood out so long. Aliwal is a pure Arab of fine symmetry and immense power, as the worthies word it at Hyde-park Corner. In the opinion of his gallant owner — no mean judge — he is particidarly good in the back, loins, and hocks. He was first called Mischief, an appropriate title itself, but changed to the more honourable one as the mark of merit, and in commemoration of the horse, as well as his rider, having on " that day done his duty." I AGRICULTURAL SUGGESTIONS. SJll fjoi {Continued from page 302.) '" No. IV. — Rotations. BY J. towers, MEMB. R.A.S., H.S. OF LONDON, &C. The close of the late glorious summer witnessed | in our calendars ; but to the observant eye it has presented phenomena which cannot be passed over in silence. During more than a quarter of a century it has been my lot to reside among farmers and gardeners in four different counties, remote from ea^h other, and varying much in qualities of soil, and in the mode I of tillage to which that soil has been subjected. the termination of a harvest equally superb and that has seldom been equalled. The character of the weather during the comparatively short period which passed between the barren appearances of the fields at the commencement of May and the end of August (which, to all intents, comprises the j entire summer of husbandry) has been registered 404 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Seasons have varied to a corresponding degree ; but in no instance have I witnessed results so ex- traordinary and instructive as were those which claimed attention during the course of the late agricultural summer. It has been a painful duty to obsen'e and report the great, the unpardonable loss of ground by un- cultivated wastes, superabundant] and ill-placed hedge-rows, fences, ditches, and patches of land covered with brambles, stunted bushes, and vile herbage. Furthermore, I have seen corn-fields, the nurseries of every sort of weed, ill-laid-out, and productive (as a natural consequence of inefficient husbandry) of little more than two and a half or three quarters of wheat per acre. There is much blame somewhere — in more quarters than one ; but as knowledge of causes and of science extends, the vices of a selfish system will ere long produce their own remedy, and lead to the adoption of a liberal system, which will enable the grateful earth to yield in abundance " its fruits of increase." In order to establish what has been advanced above, a comparison of the calendars will prove that there has been little rain of any consequence since the middle of November, 1846 ; and yet the fields and gardens, even in the parched districts of Surrey, have by opportune, yet very trifling sup- plies of rain, been enabled to produce in rich abundance. In 1846 the rain fell abundantly, and in gluts ; the storms were terrific ; yet such was the power of the sun during long-protracted intervals, that crops were parched, fruits perished, and potatoes failed far more, and to a greater ex- tent, through the loss of substance by drought than by the influence of disease. Turnips and swedes form an exception to the ge- neral richness of the season : they are poor in number and qualit}', and in some places are said to be devoured by grubs — that is, by a larva, which I beheve to be the caterpillar of a moth that emerges from the ground in April. The great ha- bihty of the turnips to failure from a variety of causes, and the fact, which cannot be denied, that in our loamy and warm counties the turnips never succeed so as to be compared \vith the noble crops produced in the north, lead us to consider seriously whether it would not be wise to adopt some other plant as a general substitute. Since I have resided in Croydon, I discover reason to believe that, had Kohl rabi been largely cultivated, there would at this moment have been fifty times the bulk of food for cattle and sheep, and that of first-rate quality. Mangold also affords proof that, in common with the Kohl, it can grow in almost any soil that is deeply tilled, and produce abundantly in very diy seasons. Mangold may not properly enter into the rotation ; but to the turnip-cabbage there cannot be, I think, any reasonable objection. Here, it i" sown in the early spring, on one side of a field; an( there are two varieties — one white, or palish greer the other purple, which has also purple mid-ribs t the leaves. These varieties are sown four rows c each alternately, according to the breadth and ex tent of the plantation contemplated. The plant are thinned, and the spaces sufficiently hoed froi time to time. The first or winter crop is set on early in summer, on ridges, over manure, in th , manner of the Scotch turnip culture, twentj'-sevei inches asunder, the plants fifteen to eighteen inche apart in the rows. They are put in by the dibbei \ the labourers being guided by the correctness c , the ridges. If the ground is just moistened by recently-fallen shower, and the root well firmed L the tool, the plants (which ought to have fou leaves, and be at least six inches long) rarely flac except under the influence of a powerful sun ; an then they rally during the night. I saw such plantation made about Midsummer, on a very hig plot, the soil stony loam over chalk, which now i full of bulbs, the leaves attached to them spreadin; so as to cover the spaces. It forms a beautift sight ; for the mass of food raised on the invul nerable pedestal-like stem is enormous. If com pared with a neighbouring field of turnips, th conclusion would, as respects bulk, be inevitable. The second transplantations for spring food ap pear to be just completed : the rains of Septembe and the first week of October have started the whol into activity; and, as the workmen say, " nothiruj no severity of weather, can hurt them." One posi tive fact is of very gi'eat value, and such offers it self. Within a quarter of a mile of my residence i a field of about forty acres, the property of ; wealthy person, and who is liberal toward his land , which is a rather light, sandy loam, over gravel lying at the depth of two feet. This field bor three crops of corn, say ten of wheat, the earlies ripe and first harvested in the county. By th( west side of this portion was a small belt of lu cerne ; within that, eight or more rows of purpl( and white seedling Kohl rabi. When the whea was carried, and so soon as the ploughs conic work, the ground was turned and re-turned on thf flat (there is no water-furrow), manured, and the manure ploughed in. The lucerne belt ^vas alsci ploughed up, and the whole plot planted by de-, grees with the Kohl, which now (Oct. 12) has taken secure root, the first-set portions horse-hoed, and in vigorous growth. The second portion of this fine piece of land is covered with young clover, and that which was under oats manured wthjhe refuse of old Kohl-roots, left to decay after being fed off", is now a mass of verdant rye for spring fodder. I have thus arrived at a point where an THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 405 nproved course of rotation may be suggested, and 'Wch will obviate tbe necessity of siimmer-fallow 1 eVery case excepting that of absolutely strong lay. There are two very important considerations hich refer to the courses of cropping generally, r with very few exceptions as to locality or soil — rst, that some green crop should precede that of rain, whether it be wheat, barley, or oats ; and to lis green crop the manure should be apphed in ifficient quantity to carry through a rotation, at ast if it extend only to four courses. Second, lat clover, to say nothing of its liability to dete- orate, tends to harbour the grub or larva called ire-worm, if not those of the " crane-fly" or long-legs," and the cockchafer or rook-worm, a larauder of the very worst description. Now, len, considering that, by the consentient evidence " the noblest agriculturists of the day, the turnip : the south of England cannot vie with that of the orthern counties and of Scotland, I propose to jandon it in the course which I beg to suggest as orthy of probation ; and again, for the reason )ove offered, I would repudiate in toto, as a rule, le i^ractice of sowing any grain crop whatever im- lediately after clover-ley. Of potatoes some doubt ■mains, especially as respects the late or winter , ivieties. Our experience of the failure of this in- stimable tuber, followed by its partial restoration, mst have satisfied every just person that we have 0 substitute for it ; and therefore that, so far from bandoning the culture, we ought to consider it an bsolute duty to cherish and protect it to the tit- lost. There is not any crop that more effectually leans a plot of ground ; and as the present year 1847) has given unerring proof that all the early arieties of potato, from the first spring Hdneys to hose of the highly-prized shaws which are housed a August and September, have been taken up in lound condition, we ought to confine ourselves for he present to those early and middle-early va- ieties. ; The order of rotation, founded upon general principles — which may, however, admit of local uodification and extension — appears to be the fol- owing : — .. The green crop {KoJil, or field-cabbage) to take the lead ; the ground pi'eviously enriched with a liberal supply of farm-yard manure, with which is incorporated about a peck of fine bone-dust, and half as much common salt and coal-soot, to every ton of the dung. i. Barley or oats, with clover. ' . Clover, for hay. t. Potatoes, as a cleaning crop; or beans, twenty- seven inches between the rows, turnips be- Uveen them for autumn, as by Mr. Davis's practice. 5. Wheat, in drills twelve inches asunder. Peas may take the place of beans ; and, as a preventive of the wire-worm after clover, a liberal dressing of soda-ash may precede the potato or beans. Mangold is properly a detached crop. I find it wonderfully prolific about Croydon this year, not- withstanding the extreme drought of the spring and summer ; and now, boys are in the fields col- lecting the lower leaves for swine. Farmers plough the wheat- stubbles too late. Were the work done immediately after harvest, rye for spring feed could be sown in August and Sep- tember, and tares for the like purpose much about the same period. Wheat also is sown too late in the year to admit of a fair trial of thin sowing. Much must be unlearned ere we can expect to suc- ceed in the adoption of new principles. Every- thing must undergo reform, from landlords' cove- nants to tenants' practice. Time and suffering begin to instruct and to make converts of those who were once the most strenuous opposers of whatsoever presented even the shadow of a change; there is, consequently, some hope of amelioration. On the subject of manure, I have recommended, as above, the addition of a phosphate, in the form of bone-dust j that of a salt with an alkaline base, common salt ; and of a salt of ammonia combined with much carbon, in the state of soot. Had ana- lyses proceeded so far as to determine with preci- sion the organic and inorganic constituents of all the plants of the farm, and those also of all earths and soils, we might manure and crop upon un- erring principles ; but such is not our position. We are not far advanced. Experiments and re- sults are at variance; and so they must be if soils and treatment vary. However, we progress ; and, by patient assiduity and close observation, can as- suredly hope to arrive at a prosperous issue. If, from anomaly of position, it will be perhaps impossible to attain to a certain and trustworthy knowledge of atomic structure, we are sure that drainage, labour properly directed, generous, timely manuring, and a strict attention to cleanliness of culture will effect wonders ; and if with these there co-exist a kindly feehng between landlords and tenants, agriculture must prosper and remunerate. As I have said so much upon the turnip, I pro- pose in my next to treat rather at large upon it and the varieties, more especially as respects the yield of the crop, when in a state of health, in a chmate which it affects. rmj QiiJ Oct, 13. 406 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE FOOD OF LIVE STOCK. BY CUTHBERT W, JOHNSON, ESQ., F.R.S. There are few portions of agriculture that have derived more benefit from patient and steady at- tempts at improvement tlian tlie profitable manage- ment of cattle. This has arisen partly from the increased security of agricultural tenure and of pro- perty, and still more from the efforts of various great breeders, aided and encouraged in our days by the rewards and exhibitions of the Smithfield Club. Time has, indeed, done wonders in this way. Our Saxon forefathers, who were content with the coarse, large boned, grass and hay fed stock of those days, would indeed be astonished, could they witness the progress which time has produced in the way to which I have alluded. An old Saxon manuscript, quoted by Sharon Turner (Anylo- Saxons, vol. ii, p. 54G), in giving a conversation be- tween a shepherd and a cowherd, incidentally af- fords a vivid picture of the pleasant kind of visitors to which the owners of stock in those days were exposed, and the way in which that stock was managed. The she})herd says, " In the first part of the morning, I drive my sheep to the pasture, and stand over them in heat and cold with dogs, lest the wolves destroy them. I lead them back to their folds, and milli. them twice a day ; and I move their folds, and make cheese and butter ; and I am faithful to my lord." The cowherd rephes to him, " When the ploughman separates the oxen, I lead them to the meadows; and aU night I stand watching over them on account of thieves ; and in the morning I take them to the plough, well fed and watered." Such were some of the difficulties with which the little farmers of those days had to contend — with a bad security of tenure for a bad breed of stock — exposed on aU sides to depre- dations, without any green winter food, we need hardly feel surprised to find few indications, for many ages of England's early agriculture, of any very correct principles in the management or choice of food for live stock. Strange advances have been made since then, and recent researches have shewn that the tide of improvement has not yet ceased to flow on. In this advance, too, the efforts of the English Agricultural Society have done great good service ; as from the experiments they have stimu- lated, and the lectures they have originated, new and startling facts have been diflfused amongst the farmers and other stock-owners of our countrj', as to the true economy of food, its nature, and its mode of operation : these, as a natural ci\ quence, have stimulated the farmer to verify ai! reap the advantage which these laborious chemic investigations suggested — advantages which m; be plainly traced in the valuable papers on t management of sheep, to which I shall present allude. The nature of food, and the way in whii it operates in the formation of the flesh and blo( of animals, as I have in another jjlace had occasion remark {Supplement to British Husbandry, p. 16 has been thus explained by Dr. Lyon Playfair [Joi R. A, S,, vol. iv., p. 216), in his lectures deliver to the members of the Royal English Agiicultui Society ; — " All vegetable food has been found to contair peculiar substance, which, though it differs in a pearance and inform, according to the source Ire whence it is obtained, is in reality the same hoc It has received the name of gluten or albumen, a is precisely identical, in chemical composition, w! the albumen obtained from the white of an eg Tliis substance is invariably present in all nutritio food. Chemists were surprised to discover that tl body never varies in compo sition ; that it is exac the same in corn, beans, or from whatever plant is extracted. But their surprise was much i creased when they remarked that it is quite ider cal with the flesh and blood of animals. It consis Uke the latter, of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, a oxygen, and in the very same proportion in 100 par By identity in composition is not meant a mc similarity, but an absolute identity; so much : that if you were to place in a chemist's hand soi gluten obtained from wheat flour, some dry alb men procured from the white of an egg, a fragme of the flesh of an ox or of a man, or some of thi dried blood, and request him to examine their d ference, he would tell you, strange as it may appe: that they are precisely the same, and that with the refinements of his science he was unable to c tect any essential difference between them. Tht is much difference, indeed, in external appearanj and in structure ; but in their ultimate compositi there is none. To render this more obvious I sii join the composition of these various sul)stanc( as obtained by different chemists, who execut their analyses without any knowledge of the resu obtained by the others : — THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 407 Gluten from Flour (Bous- sin- gault.) Casein from Peas, (Scherer-) Ox Blood. (Playfair) Ox Flesh. (Playfair) 54.2 7.5 13.9 24.4 54.138 7.15G 15.672 23.034 54.35 7.50 15.76 22.39 54.12 7.89 15.67 22.32 100.0 100.0 100.00 100.00 parbon . Ilydrogen I Nitrogen, t )xygen . " These analyses do not differ from each other lore than the analyses of the same substance usu- lly do. Thus we are led to the startling conclu- ion, that plants contain with them the flesh of nimals ready formed, and that the only duty of nimals subsisting upon them is to give this flesh place and form in their organism. When an ani- lal subsists upon flesh, we find no difficulty in xplaining its nutrition ; for the flesh being of the lame composition as its own body, the animal, in a hemical point of view, may be said to be eating self; nor, with a knowledge of this identity of egetable albumen with flesh, is there any difficulty 1 comprehending the nutrition of vegetable feeders. Hants, then, in reality form the flesh of animals ; nd the latter, merely appropriate it a place in their rganism." It follows, then, as a conclusion, that the analysis f any vegetable substance pretty accurately indi- ates its nutritious powers. It has been shown by 'oany laborious chemical researches (to use the >7ords of Dr. Playfair) that there are two kinds of :ood. The first, which contains nitrogen, is exactly f the same composition as the principal tissues of he human body, and is the only substance which an supply the waste of these tissues. The second :ind of food is that destitute of nitrogen, such as tarch, gum, and sugar; all of which are destined or the support of respiration and consequent heat 'f the animal. The latter kind of food, when in ■xcess, is converted into fat, but never into muscle. The increase of flesh in an animal consists in two changes of the matter of food, without any altera- ion in its composition. The albumen or nitroge- lous constituent of the food is first converted into olood, without decomposition, and the blood is Hfterwards converted into flesh. I In order to show that the transformation is |ictually effected without change, we have only to igain refer to the following results of the analysis of i'egetable albumen of ox blood, and of flesh : — Vegetable Albumen, Carbon .... 55-160 Hydrogen . . . 7*055 iNitrogen . . , 15-996 jOxygen . . . 21-18 As muscle, then, is formed only by the albumen or gluten of the food, which albumen is in reality flesh itself, we can ascertain the comparative value of food, as far as the production of muscle is con- cerned, by estimating the exact quantity of the nitrogenous constituent of the food. The fol- lowing table (continues Dr. Playfair) contains the approximative, though not perfectly accurate, in- formation relative to the value of food for the sup- port of respiration and production of fat : — Unazotized 100 lbs. Albumen. matter lbs. lbs. Flesh . . 25 0 Blood . . 20 0 Beans . . 31 5li Peas . 29 51i Lentils . . 33 48 Potatoes . 2 25 Oats . 11 68 Barleymeal Hay . Turnips Carrot . . 14 8 1 2 681 68i 9 10 Red-beet . H 8.^ Ox blood. Flesh 54-35 54-12 7-50 7-89 15-76 15-67 22-39 22-32 Admitting these chemical researches to be cor- rect, the next step seems naturally to be to test the rate of conversion of vegetable into animal matter, by different breeds of animals, and from different varieties of the same food. The first question is illustrated by the trials of Mr. R. Smith, of Burley, reported in his valuable Prize Essay on Sheep {Jour. Roy. Agri. Soc, vol. viii. p. 9) ; where, speaking of the Southdowns he observes — " When mixed with other breeds they are found to produce more lambs, and give more support to them ; but they produce less value of wool, and consume more food, which is shown by the foUowng experiment: On the 1st of Novem- ber, 1830, 100 Down ewes were placed on the one side of a turnip field of seven acres, and 100 Lei- cester ewes on the other side : they were each allowed all they chose to eat. On their meeting, the land was measured on both sides, when the Down ewes were found to have eaten a trifle more than four acres out of the seven ; the crop being an even one, and the ewes penned across the lands. Other experiments, made by some excellent War- wckshire farmers, serve to illustrate the same very important inquiry" {Johnson and Shaw's Farmers' Almanac, 1848, p. 37). In some experiments made in 1844 at the Earl of Radnor's farm at Coleshill, by Mr. E. W. Moore, upon the feeding qualities of various breeds of sheep, lots of five sheep each were selected. The Leices- ters from Lord Radnor's (in the first of these trials two of the Leicesters had diseased livers, and never recovered), the Southdowns from Mr. W. H. Rickards, the half-breds from Mr. G. Dykes, and 408 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the Cotsvvolds from Mr. Newman, all of Coleshill, They were weighed and put up January 23, and weighed at the end of three months, when the fol- lowing was the result {Jour. Roy, Agri. Sac, vol. vii. p. 295) :— Sheep, Food consumed. Increase weighing y^ of weight. r s each. Hay. Pulse. Swedes. each. lbs. lbs. Pints. lbs. lbs. lbs. Leicesters. . 53 199 408 5,136 85 or 17 Southdowns 44 209 424 6,198 100 — 20 Half-breds 68 214 449 6,750 100 — 20 Cotswolds 69 215 438 7,209 115 — 23 But the inquiry, as I have already noticed, leads us to another object of the greatest interest to the owner of stock — the comparative feeding properties of different specimens of the same food. This re- search, amongst many other valuable questions re- lating to the management of sheep, will be found experimentally examined by Mr. T. E. Pawlett {Farmer's Magazine, ante p. 213), where it will be seen that in some trials with Skirving's swedes against the old purple-topped A'ariety, the Skirving's proved of inferior feeding quality for lambs ; the lambs fed with the purple tops gaining on an ave- rage in a month Bibs., whilst those fed with Skir- ving's gained only 5lbs. And in another trial of six weeks' duration, with two other lots of lambs, those fed with the purple tops each gained on an average ISlbs.; whilst the Skirving fed gained I61bs. It seems, too, that the nutritive power of Swedish turnips is rather increased than otherwise by being pitted for some time. In two different comparative experiments commenced in February, 1846, the lambs fed with pitted turnips gained in Experiment No. 1, in six weeks, on an average, 19Albs. each; the lambs fed on the fresh-drawn turnips, I72lbs. each. And in Experiment No. 2, the lambs gained when fed with pitted turnips l6|lbs. each; when fed with fresh-drawn turnips, 15^1bs. each. And, again, the good result of giving dry food with the root crops to sheep (so well explained by the chemical philosopher) are verified in the papers of the practical farmers I have quoted to a very valuable extent. They have shown, too, that the benefit of feeding stock with a portion of dry food is not confined to the mere formation of muscle and fat, but that it economizes the con- sumption of green food, greatly improves thejjower of the manure thus produced, and very materially increases the fertiUty of the soil. These investigations will not be lost upon the in- telligent English farmer, He will not only value them for what they do serve to determine; h they will possess in his opinion a far greater vali from their indicating the path to still more in portant researches in feeding live stock. GROWTH OF TURNIPS BY ARTIFICIA MANURE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TARMEr's MAGAZINl Sir, — Agriculturists are much indebted to M Page, of Dorking, for his experiments in turn growing, as reported in your number for Jun 1847, p. 508. There has, however, been such general failure of the turnip crop since that repoi and the cultivation of it is of so much importanc that I am induced to send you an account of thr pieces of turnips, of 13 acres each, which I ha just seen on the farm of Mr. Hickson, of Houghai near Grantham, Lincolnshire. The first pie (No. 1) was manured with inch-bones, &c., ai followed a white grain crop. On this piece the tu nips are a failure. No. 2 was also after a whi grain crop, and manured with bones dissolvi with acid. On this piece there is a little mc than half a crop of fine white turnips. No. 3 was al manured with bones dissolved in acid, in the sai proportion as No. 2. But the turnips on tl piece followed beans, and there is now as fine a cr to be seen on this piece as can be found in ai part of the kingdom. The soil on all three piec is the same, and seems to be just on the tra sition from a rich loam on the banks of the Witha and the sand land that prevails in that district. Mr. Hickson is well known as the breeder ai feeder of several kinds of sheep, for which he 0^ tained prizes ; and I feel assured, from his gre urbanity, that he would have much pleasure in e plaining anything further on the subject of his tu nip crops which may have escaped the notice of Yours, &c., Lynn, Norfolk, Oct. 5. J. S. P.S. — Perhaps I ought to add that this ocqup tion of Mr. H.'s forms a part of the estate of S John Thorrold, Bart,, who is so great a friend agriculture. THE GROWTH OF WOOI/.— The following tab^ shows the diflference in the wool growing facilities of tl countries mentioned. No. of Sheep, lbs. of Wool. She«: England & Wales . 20,500,000 112,000,000 4,1 Scotland .... 3,500,000 France 39,000,000 93,000,000 2.( U.S Free States . . 12,144,468 27,488,407 2-' Do. Slave do. . . 7,166,906 8,313,707 !•? THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. m THE LONDON FARMERS' CLUB. LECTURE ON THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. The monthly meeting of the members of this club las resumed at the Club-house, after the usual interval Liring the harvest months, on Monday, October 4. The subject appointed for discussion was " The Dis- ises of Cattle," Mr. Cherry having undertaken to open by a lecture. The Chairman said : Gentlemen, — I am happy meet you again on this occasion, when we are about resuDie the discussions of the club after an interval of ree months. The club has, I think very wisely, ar- nged that during the harvest months it will not hold I i monthly meetings. During the late harvest we have d a period of extraordinary anxiety to tenant-farmers, 16 of which, for anxiety, I should think no man had er met with its equal. Previous to the harvest, there is the prospect of a blight amongst the corn ; and, but r the kind interposition of a wise Providence, a blight Dst serious and disastrous to this country in its conse- ences would have occurred. But I am happy to say, lat indeed you all know, that we have had a most extra- dinarily fine harvest, and have obtained abundant ops. We must not forget, however, that at the com- incement of the harvest our old crop was fully ex- usted ; and I believe it is admitted by the oldest trader Mark-lane, that never before were the granaries of igland and Europe at such a low ebb. Therefore, al- j ough we have an abundant crop, we must take care not waste that crop, especially as it is not equal to crops 'iicli we have had within the last ten years. I hope id trust, then, that the farmers of this club, and the iblic in general, will not be led to suppose from the jtements which have gone abroad (namely, that we ive had an extraordinary production, and that in con- quence corn will be found to exist in the greatest lundance), I hope that they will not be led by such jtements to waste that which Providence has so kindly ven to us (Hear, hear). During the last three months iportant subjects which had previously been discussed \r this club have been taken up by many leading men, jia'it various public meetings; and I am happy to say 'at the two most important subjects considered here — Inaht-right and the malt-tax — are progressing fa- mrably. I think the farmers of England are much in- ibted to Lord Stradbroke, who, at a late meeting in iffolk, came forward and expressed, not only his own inriments, but the sentiment of every man who is UiiiciQs for the advancement of agriculture in England, at something is now required to be done for the se- ttiPf of capital to be invested in the soil (Hear, hear). /have no doubt that every one connected with the land liU soon perceive that it is his interest to investigate jl^tjSubject fully, and that in the course of a short prtod we shall see justice done to the tenant-farmers ^ear, he&r). With regard tg tb? !iialt-tax, J can only say that wherever I go I find that those who were ad- verse to discussion last year now see the necessity of a change. Even the great maltsters themselves complain of the monopoly of the brewers, and are anxious to see .this obnoxious tax repealed. In my capacity of chair- man of this club, I ask you to do your utmost in your farmers' clubs and at your market-tables to hasten the repeal of the malt-tax, and also to obtain security for the investment of the farmer's capital (Hear, hear). Gen- tlemen, we have selected a subject for discussion this evening which is a most interesting one to every house- holder in this kingdom. All present must be aware that the high price of meat is, in some measure, attri- butable to the serious losses which have occurred within the last few years as regards the cattle and sheep of this country. In my own county, during the last three years, the disease has decimated the number of cattle ; and I am sorry to say that at the present time its ra- vages are so great that many of our leading farmers have declined purchasing any, in consequence of the serious losses which they have encountered and which they wit- ness around them. There is not only the loss by death, but the loss of flesh, the exhaustion of the carcase, con- sequent upon the disease (Hear, hear). I believe that the public are not aware of the great loss to the com- munity which this disease has occasioned within the last few years, and I fear that in all the districts of England from which I can obtain information the loss is still inci"easing. I know that in my own part of the country it has of late been very much increased by the introduc- tion of foreign cattle. Instances have occurred — and perhaps I may, in the course of the evening, relate them to you — which show that when part of a herd of English cattle are sent out to graze with cattle which have been confined in close shipping and brought from abroad, they will catch the contagion, and very serious losses will occur. Many of my own friends and neighbours have sustained most serious losses, some losing from twenty- five to forty, and in extreme cases even fifty, per cent, of their cattle ; and up to the present time no one has come forward to recommend any remedy or cure which can be depended upon. Within the last two or three years I have done all that I possibly could, in connec- tion with the Royal Agricultural Society, to invite the attention of the Veterinary College to this subject. We have contributed annually £"200 a year, and I think that up to the present period we have not received our quid pro quo. I hope that in future we shall have it. The attention of the society is now directed to the subject, and a premium of £50 has been offered for the best essay on the disease. I fear that this may in some de- gree check discussion this evening ; for I am happy to hear that our friend Mr. Cherry, who has so kindly come fQrw3,rd %o give ys Jus experience on the subject, 3 E 410 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. intends to be a competitor for the prize. Tliis may prevent him from giving us that information wliich he would otherwise be happy to furnish. Still, T feel per- suaded that what he has to say on the subject you will hear with attention, and that whatever information is communicated will be given with a sincere desire to be- nefit the agricultural interest and the community at large. I feel rather strongly upon this matter. I re- gret that a greater number of the large graziers of the kingdom are not present. I can only attribute the fact to the early period of the year, for I know that in reality they feel great anxiety upon this subject— a subject on which I hope that, though this is the first discussion, it will not be the last (Hear, hear). I now beg to in- troduce to your notice Mr. Cherry. Up to this time that gentleman has been a stranger to this club ; but, from all I know of him, I feel persuaded that he will make himself useful to its interests. Mr. Cherry then rose and said : Gentlemen, — In making the offer which I did spontaneously, so long since as the month of February last, to Mr. Hobbs, your chairman, I did so merely with a view of making what little information I possessed serve the purpose, if not of arresting, yet in some degree of mitigating, a dis- ease which is so prevalent, and from which we are suffering such ravages. It is not a trifling matter to contemplate which has baffled almost all attempts hitherto made to arrest its progress. But it strikes me that the efforts which have been made have not been made in the right direction ; that we have all been looking at the disease medically, and seeking to arrest that, instead of removing the cause which produced it. Now we must look first at the condition of the animal which is infected ; secondly, at the condition which the two bear relatively to each other ; and further, we must inquire what classes of animals have suffered the least, and why they have suffered the least : and by this means we must endeavour to ascertain whether the carrying out of plans which have been productive of good in one animal may not be equally productive of good in an- other, if followed out on the same broad and general principles. For the reason stated by the chairman, I feel myself in some measure tied on entering into a sub- ject which is a very favourite one with me, and upon which I had prepared a good deal of matter to lay be- fore you on this occasion ; and understanding that I shall be prevented by the mles from dealing with any previous matter, I trust you will pardon me if I do not enter into that so fully as I had intended to do. There are two distinct branches of the su^iject— one, the epi- demic considered in itself as a disease ; the other, that general condition or management for which we have not a word in the language, but which is called " the science of hygiene," or the doctrine of health, and its preserva- tion. This latter is a subject which has been long treated on the continent, though greatly neglected in this kingdom, and it is one of essential importance, I think we shall find, on examination, that as much mortality arises amongst animals from the want of attention to the preservation of health as from the disease itself (Hear, h^ftr j . If I may judge from my own observatioa and experience in this matter, I should say positively that such is the fact. But in order to be quite within the mark, let us take a smaller proportion — a fifth or a sixth. If you suppose that the entire loss is 10 per cent. — and I know it has been estimated at 15 — and if you take a fifth of that amount as being preserved, that will, oi course, make two out of every ten. I have here a table giving something like an approximate estimate of ^i numbers of cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses in Great Bri- tain. I estimate the cattle (that is, bulls, cows, ox^n, heifers, steers, and calves over three months old) ai 8,000,000 ; sheep of all descriptions (that is, rams, ewes wethers, tegs, and lambs over three months old) a 50,000,000 ; hogs (that is, boars, sows, store pigs, an( pigs over two months old) at 12,000,000 ; horses (tlia is, stallions, brood mares, geldings, mares in work, colt and fillies after weaning) at 2,500,000. Now, I amwel aware that much greater numbers have been statec Calculations have reached as high as 120,000,000 for th aggregate of animals, while I estimate the numbers i only 72,500,000. Then, as to value, supposing you pi cattle as low as 5/. per head, the whole amount will b 40,000,000^. ; sheep, reckoning them altogether at 1 per head, will amount to 50,000,000/. ; hogs, at 1/. p( head, 12,000,000/.; and horses, at 20/. per hea( 50,000,000/. Now that gives as the total amount on! 152,000,000/. ; I find that some have placed the aggrc gate value as high as 316,000,000/. I think the one e; timate is as much too high as the other is too low ; bi the calculation of 150,000,000/. is quite sufficient show the immense value of the property which we ha' to deal with. Now, if upon that basis we take a rat of 2 per cent, as lost annually, we shall have upon ca tie a loss of 160,000 annually, worth 800,000/. j at 3 p cent., 240,000, worth 1,200,000/.; at 4 per cent 320,000, worth 1,600,000/. ; at 5 per cent,, 400,00 worth 2,000,000/.; at 6 per cent., 480,000, wor 2,400,000/. Then, upon sheep, at the ratio of 2 p cent., there was 1,000,000, worth 1,000,000/. ; at 3 p' cent., 1,500,000, worth 1,500,000/.; at 4 per cent 2,000,000, worth 2,000,000/. ; at 5 per cent., 2,500,00 worth 2,500,000/.; at 6 per cent., 3,000,000, wor 3,000,000/. The loss upon hogs, at 2 per cent., 240,000, worth 240,000/. ; at 3 per cent., 360,00 worth 360,000/.; at 4 per cent., 480,000, wor 480,000/. ; at 5 per cent., 600,000, worth 600,000/ at 6 per cent., 720,000, worth 720,000/. The gro value of cattle, sheep, and hogs thus lost will be, at per cent., 2,040,000/. ; at 3 per cent., 3,060.000/.; 4 per cent., 4,080,000/. ; at 5 per cent., 5,100,000/ and at 6 percent., 6,120,000/. ; while, if you take t loss at 10 per cent., which would not perhaps be an e aggeration, you will find that the gross value of the an mals lost amounts to 10,000,000/. per annum. If on- one-fifth of these animals can be preserved, we then ha the money value of 2,000,000/., now utterly lost andt tally irrecoverable (Hear, hear). We must also loC|k, this question in a political point of view. Our pflp'j lation is increasing rapidly year by year, but our stoc are not increasing in the same ratio, and we have be obliged to gs to the fsreigner to obtala iox^O-}^'^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 411 fertain number of animals. Suppose the cost of the animals imported to be ,£2,000,000 per annum, jthe country is annually drained of a large amount, I of which it is not likely ever to receive one farthing ;baClc again. Therefore, I consider it a matter not only iof personal, but even of national, importance that we should endeavour to preserve our animals. But the question is, Hovr is the existing evil to be met ? Now, in the first place, we may take animals individually, as regards their situation and position, and inquire in what state they are generally found existing. In a domesti- I :ated state all animals are more prone to disease than i:hey would be in a natural state ; but we find that those inimals who live in the closest approximation to a state jf' nature are still greatly disposed to disease. For ex- imple, a sheep lives in a nearer approximation to a natu- •al state than any other of our animals ; yet with how nany diseases is it afflicted, and what ravages are fre- juently made in a flock ! From three to six per cent, nay be taken as the average annual loss in that class of inimals alone ; and at that ratio we sustain a loss of f'1,.^00,000 per annum. Besides, we must look at he state of the animal in progressing towards a condi- ion in which he will become fit food for man. We iiust look, first, at the animal itself ; secondly, at the OSS of food which would be useful for another animal ; md, thirdly, we must take into account the money re- [uired to replace that which has been lost. We must ;mbrace in our calculation not merely the loss of an inimal, but the capital required to replace our loss. Then the question arises, as to the general treatment of inimals ; but before I proceed to that, I will make a few )bservations with regard to the spread of the epidemic. The first trace which I had of the malady was in the ^ear 1835. In that year it commenced individually, ind terminated in death after an illness of several Months ; however, very few cases occurred, and what Mok place in that year was only the avant courier of what (Tas soon to follow. The matter went on thus until the "ollowing year, when I was called upon to attend that (vhich appeared to me a iiew disease. The first patient that I had under treatment for this disease shortly died ; and the investigation after death showed the outlines of tnorphitic appearances. Other cases rapidly occurred ; and in July and August, 1836, the characters of the dis- ease were rapidly developed. The first case occurred in Berkshire, just on the borders of Oxfordshire ; and the disease next appeared at Brixton Hill, in Surrey. If you draw a line on the map, you will find that the dis- ease proceeded as nearly as possible from east to west and from west to east. In about two months it reached London ; gradually it went back into the east, and it doubled upon itself to the west again. That Was the malady under which the horses suffered. In the following month of January it had got such a head that its ravages attracted great alarm ; the frost, which was rather severe, brought it out with terrific violence, and the whole kingdom was suflfering under it. But jstill, up to that period, other animals had escaped. Just iSfter this I went, in the pursuit of my practice, into the r«(«t«f Hcgland. There I began to turn my attention to sheep, finding them in larfte numbers, and in a more favourable position for the investigation of disease thaa animals kept under corn, or treated artificially. The first cases of disease which I found were of a highly in- flammatory type. In 1840 the disease broT and nights, our sheep were driven through about h a mile of a lane which the Welsh sheep had passed 0 • a fortnight before ; previously we had no symptom 01 tie disease, and now eight out of ten are infected." Ir. Cherry observed, in reply to Captain Aitchison, tl; he had collected from his statement, that the stable ii^hich the horses spoken of by him had been confined n close and hot, and probably there was an accumula- ^i of filth in it; whereas the yard was comfortable. lier such circumstances the latter might be the best fithe animals at night. If it is possible, however, to 0 iin a well-ventilated and well-managed stable for tin, then there could be no comparison between the 0 n air and shelter. To animals shelter was every- tig, and the grand object was to combine warmth with F ity. The children who run wild about the streets of 1 idon during the day, continued healthy on the whole, 8 ong as they had shelter at night. He had invari- *|r found that horses which were exposed to cold .'We not able to perform the highest amount of work. •^1* regard to the epidemic, I must say that, notwith- standing what I have heard this evening, I have strong doubts whether it is contagious. I have seen half of a flock taken, while the remainder have escaped. Nay, I have seen a hedge-row dividing two sets of ani- mals, and those on one side have been infected, while those on the other continued free. Mr. Aitchison : And all belonged originally, per- haps, to the same flock .' Mr. Cherry : Yes. I am not at all influenced by the allusion to a century ago. In the Gentleman's Magazine for, I believe, the latter part of the year 1756 (I speak from recollection), there is an account of a conviction by two country magistrates for driving infected cattle along a road, contrary to an order in council. Still, he repeated, they liad nothing to do with the history of the last century so far as the epidemic was concerned. A great many animals died at that period, but they knew scarcely anything of the cir- cumstance, and the diseases disappeared entirely about the year 1760. The existing disease had been going on from 1835 to 1847, and quite enough was seen and known to enable them to deal with things as they are. They wanted to understand the disease. They did not want to be told what pleuro-pneumonia was ; they knew that it was a disease of the lungs ; but they wanted to know what produced it. Again, what was sore mouth .' whence did it arise ? and how could it be checked or stopped .'' These were the questions which they were interested in discussing, and, if possible, solving. The truth was, they had been looking for that which they could not find — a remedy applicable at all times and under all circumstances. He had never yet seen two animals affected alike ; and, if he might speak of treatment, he had never given the same dose to two animals placed side by side. One question which pre- sented itself was whether contagion was capable of being given to an animal in health. It was not a question merely between an animal susceptible of disease and another not so. To illustrate the nature of suscepti- bility, he would observe that half-a-dozen animals might be put into damp beds on the same night : one would have rheumatism, another gout, another fever, and so on. What was done simply brought out the idiosyn- cracy of the system. It was found in practice that an animal in a state of susceptibility, if brought into con- tact with another animal on which the disease was in an advanced stage, would suffer from the contact. We were strangely at war about the word "contagion;" but we must look at things as they are. He felt satisfied that a great many of the symptoms connected with the breaking out of disease in animals were the result of vitiated, and therefore injurious, food. They knew that disease existed in apples and potatoes to a fearful extent ; and in all seeds they found occasionally a want of vital energy. Animals were often prone to disease by inheritance, receiving in tlie process of for- mation a condition which rendered it susceptible to attack. Take the case of scour in lambs. As regarded that disease the treatment was applied in the wrong direction. Properly, medical treatment should be ap- plied rather to the dam than to the young. 420 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. AiTCHisoN remarked upon the carelessness of far- mers in breeding from animals without knowing the state of their constitution. He felt convinced that most dis- eases amongst sheep, cattle, and horses arose from their own negligence ; they did not take sufficient care to have a healthy sire and a healthy dam to produce that which would afterwards re-produce (Hear, hear). They must in future attend more to this point, and to the general susceptibility to disease (Hear, hear). Mr. Gedney made a few remarks on the import- ance of insuring stock as a means of preventing or miti- gating loss arising from the epidemic. It was a practice which he himself invariably followed. With regard to feeding cattle under cover, he had himself done so for several years ; and though he did not remove what was created under six or eight weeks, he had never found any injury or inconvenience arising from the prac- tice. There was a great deal of talk about gypsum. He himself used straw, and experience taught him that where sufficient was supplied, there would be no unpleasant escape. His cattle yards would be found by visitors as sweet as that room (laughter). The Chairmax said, that as they had exceeded the usual time allowed for discussion, he must now make a few closing remarks. He had listened with considerable pleasure to the interesting and able address of their friend, Mr. Cherry ; and he felt that he would be expressing the sentiments of all present when, in due time, he should move a vote of thanks to that gentleman (cheers). But before doing so, he wished to say that he (the Chairman) had considerable experience with regard to the charac- ter of the diseases which were prevalent amongst sheep and cattle, and to modes of treatment. The subject for discussion that evening was the diseases of cattle gene- rally ; but the two diseases which were uppermost in the minds of all farmers were pleuro- pneumonia and the disease called the epidemic. He was not quite sure whether or not Mr. Cherry regarded these as two separate diseases ; perhaps he would inform them. He fully concurred with him, however, that a vast deal rested with themselves as re- garded the management of their cattle. In the course of his life he had had his cattle attacked once by the epidemic, and his sheep twice ; and, on examination, he found that in both those cases the attack arose out of his own mismanagement. He believed that the disease called the epidemic first made its appearance on the coast of Norfolk about nine years ago. Its course throughout the country was from east to west ; and be- fore he had observed it a fortnight his cattle and sheep were attacked by it. He asked himself the question, how it was that his animals were attacked, while those of his neighbours were not ; and he soon found that it was owing to the fact of their having been badly treated just before. A herd of cows lay by night on some wet leaves, which, according to custom, were carried into the yard late in the autumn for the purjiose of making manure. At that period the straw crop was very short. On another occasion, within the last twelve months, a young shepherd of his had kept a flock of sheep in an exposed situation on a heath, at a time when the weather was very bad. They were, in consequence, atta^U with violent disease ; and his loss was very great. ] was persuaded that if they looked more to the state the atmosphere, and to the situation of different loca ties, they would suffer to a much less extent than tb did at present. He was one of those who thought 1 disease infectious ; and he had one or two letters fn friends of his which tended to support that view. 1 animals brought into the country from abroad were creasing the disease to an extent which the public gei rally little imagined. He would read a few practi remarks made by a practical farmer in Essex : " I hf no doubt in my own mind," he said, " that the causi ' the disease is the introduction of foreign cattle. I s twenty-two shorthorned steers into a parish in the ecu of Suffolk, and kept some of the lot at home. Fo Dutch bullocks were introduced into the park, j arrived from Holland ; they were diseased, and eight i of ten of the lot soon died. The consequence was t all the different herds, belonging to different parties, came diseased. One friend of mine had eight put out of which five died. Four of mine died in the pn and two were attacked after I had got them home, these two, one, owing to my absence from home and neglect of the farrier, was not attended to properly ; other, as soon as taken, I had pegged in the dewlap? hellebore, gave it a pound of salts, and a strong blii ■ on each side, just behind the forelegs. This bulb was recovered, and is now apparently doing well. ' ; one neglected died in two days. They were both pie: ■ fully supplied with gruel. It appears reasonable . think that the greater amount of external inflammat you can produce about the region of the lungs the grei • the chance you have of checking the disease. That i ; contagious I have no doubt, from the fact that a g : part of my flock at home was in a perfect state of hei i until the arrival of the foreign animals." This is om t the best grazing districts in Essex. Many of the le • ing graziers have given up purchasing animals i autumn, in consequence of the disease ; which, of cou , must have an injurious effect on the production of c i (Hear, hear). Mr. Cherry appeared hardly to be aw ; of the practice of box-feeding, under which the sti ' and manure were trodden down, and the ammonia ; allowed to escape. Mr. Cherry had stated that m ' animals caught the disease from consuming food wl > was not in a healthy state. Such being the case, J question naturally arose, whether the public itself mit not be receiving injury from the consumption of ( t which was sent up to Smithfield and Leadenhall marl ■ to be sold, perhaps, at an inferior price. This mai ' was certainly well worthy of the consideration of ( ■ vernment, and he hoped that increased attention wo^^ be given to it. Mr. Cherry said that the speech just delivered/ the chairman fully sustained the conclusions at which « (Mr. Cherry) had arrived on that subject. He had '■ intended to assert broadly that the disease was not c ■ tagious. He had only intended to qualify the w contagion; being satisfied that the disease was much '< the effect purely of contagion than was generally si THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 421 ised. There was great confusion of ideas produced by e use of the words " contagion" and " infection," as they were synonymous. " Contagion" came from tlie utin root con and tingo, to touch with ; whereas " infec- m" signified floating on the water or in the air. Tliey knew that the miasma of marshy ground produced sease simply from infection, floating, as it did, in the I-;' but that was very different from diseases produced I the act of touching. They onght carefully to observe is distinction ; and to remember that what was often okenofas the rule was in reality an exception. He lieved that he could point out the causes of the existing idemic, and that means whereby it might be exceed- ingly mitigated rested with themselves ; but for the pre- sent he must forbear. The subject of generation was especially important. In the year 1841 he pointed out the consequences which must inevitably result from breeding with infected animals ; and what he then fore- told had since come to pass. He had never seen a type of disease in one animal, which he had not afterwards found in another. The principle was found in universal operation. A vote of thanks was then given to Mr. Cherry, and briefly acknowledged by that gentleman, which ter- minated the meeting. BURTON-ON-TRENT FARMERS' CLUB. iWHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL IMPEDIMENTS TO AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT? ihe monthly meeting, held on Thursday, the 23rd 1 feeling that I appear before you in the double capacity :ember, there was a much larger attendance of of landowner and land occupier, and consequently par- mbers than usual, attracted by the interest of the bject which Mr. Colvile had engaged to introduce to ; consideration of the club. The president, Mr. orthington, was in the chair. Amongst a highly influen- 1 and numerous body of members present, we no- ed Matthew Gisborne, Esq., the Rev. T. Eschalaz, I. Chawner, Esq., of WalL C. W. Lyon, Esq., Mr. ibiuson, of Tamworth, W. Daniel, Esq., Mr. Hellaby, ticipating in the interests and anxieties of both, I shall to the best of my ability and power bring the subject under your consideration. I wiU endeavour to show, without " favour, fear, or affection," what I believe are those causes which retard and hinder the full development of British husbandry. In my judgment, then, there are five great chief causes. Of these I place first in order, a want of security to the r. J. Harding, Mr. G. Lowe, Mr. C. A. Hawkes- I tenant that the capital he may invest in the cultivation rth, Mr. Darley, Mr. Coxon, Mr. W. Hopkins, Mr. Dlbrook, Messrs. W. lliggott,'S. Higgott, and J. Hig- tt, Mr. D. Hopkins, Mr. Wagstaff", Mr. J. Faulkner, r. Unthank, Mr. W. Greaves, Mr. J. Lees, Mr. J. opkins, Mr. Smith, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Hopkins, of -ishton, Mr. Lee, Mr. Thacker, Mr. Timms, Mr. jrnays, Mr. Smalley, Mr. Gibson, Mr. F. Leedam, &c. It appears that Mr. Colvile had been requested by the lb to state his views upon this important subject, and iving complied, he i-esolved to plunge manfully into it, ud state his opinions fully, whether pleasing or dis- easing to individuals. After the preliminary business of the evening, Mr. Col- le read the following essay on the impediments which ijpose the advcuicement of an improved system of agri- iltare. JXSIDERATIONS AS TO WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL IMPEDIMENTS TO AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT. The subject to which I have undtrtaken to call your toation this evening, is that proposed in the question have just read — " What are the practical impediments I agricultural improvement .'" or, in other words, hat are the causes which prevent the whole of the soil : Great Britain yielding that amount of produce wliich idi,viduals in isolated cases have proved it capable of isairing .' I am fully conscious how unable I am to I'e^ this subject with perspicuity, and to trace in all its jvied ramifications this truly important and comprehen- ve (question ; but, relying on your kind indulgence, and and permanent improvement of his land, if judiciously expended, will be restored to him at the termination of his tenancy, or that he shall be allowed to hold his land for so long a period as will enable him to reimburse himself for the capital so invested. The second cause is want of skill on the part of the occupier. The third : Small farms. The fourth: Ignoranceor prejudice, or both, on the part of the labourer. The fifth : The practice of preserving hares and rabbits, or permitting them to exist on cultivated land, more especially on arable farms. I dare say you will expect I should add to my cate- gory of chief causes a want of capital on the part of the occupier. There can be no doubt this is a most grievous impediment, but I cannot give it a place in my list of chief causes ; I would describe it as an eflfect rather than a cause. Every man knows that capital, by an instinctive movement, shrinks from insecurity, and more readily invests itself wherever security exists. I feel, therefore, that whenever the first impediment I have named to agricultural improvement is removed, this secondary cause will cease to exist ; you will then find the daily increasing wealth of this countiy, which our own prejudice and ignorance have warned off the land and banished to other countries in search of investment, will then, under a better system, as naturally seek refuge in the improY^inent, and copsecjuent fertility of our owa 422 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. soil, as if it were secured on that soil itself in the shape of a mortgage. I will not now stop to detail to you the various evils incident to, and inseparable from, our present system — evils arising from wet land, high an 1 crooked hedges, shallow ploughing, and the like ; these, no donbt, are serious obstacles to the production of corn, beef, and mutton. They have been described as they have been felt ; often enough already described in the after dinner speeches of those who would do well to take the beam out of their own eye before they essay to remove the mote from that of others. For the offences against good farming, these are the persons indirectly answer- able. For. what competent and impartial observer can doubt that, if the five cardinal impediments I have named were removed ; if security were given to the tenant; if wealthy and intelligent men, aided by well- educated labourers, and protected from the destruction caused by hares and rabbits, were to cultivate the land, that beneficial effects would as surely follow the removal of prejudicial causes as day follows night .' Assuming that, so far, you concur in the opinion I have expressed, I will now separately consider these five cardinal impe- diments, and state the means I should adopt for their removal. The first I stated was the neglect of the landowner to give security to the tenant for the capital invested in his land. Now, I go all lengths with those who advocate the necessity of this security. I believe it to be both expedient and just, ai:d that it would conduce as much to the benefit of the landlord as the advantage of the tenant : yet I wish it to be distinctly understood that I cannot be a party to demand from the legislature any measure which should compel the landlord to let his land in any particular way, or which would have the effect, when once let, of subjecting the land to charges in consequence of such letting. On the contrary, I shall resist any measure which, if obtained, would be an unwarrantable interference with the sacred and, I hope, inviolable rights of private property. I have yet to learn on what ground the legislature could, with any plea of justice, assume the right of dic- tation to an owner of land, in what way he should let that land, any more than it could with justice dictate to the draper or grocer on what terms he is to sell his yard of linen, or pound of sugar ; neither do I know why parliament should especially watch the money which a man invests in the cultivation of land, while it leaves him unguided and uncared for as to the investment of his capital in any other security. If a man choose to invest his capital in the cultivation of land, or in any other way, and neglects to fence himself with security commensurate with his risks, he acts the part of an im- prudent, I might say, a foolish man, and must bide the consequence of his folly. I will not rest on my own opinion alone ; but in support of the ground I have taken, that this compulsory tenant-right, sought for by some, would be both unjust and unconstitutional, I will quote an opinion which can neither be gainsayed nor re- futed. Blackstone, in his " Commentaries on English Law," thus writcE 1— »" So gre«t, moreover, is the re- gard of the law for private property, that it will r authorize the least violation of it ; no, not even for I general good of the whole community." And in c( roboration of the opinion I have given, that tenant-rij is a matter in which the legislature has nothing to do will quote from a speech of Mr. Grey, of Dilston,, gentleman of undoubted ability, and himself a gr; champion of the rights of tenant farmers. At a meet ©f the Hexham Farmers' Club, speaking of tenant-rig he says : — No legislation could embrace with sufficient nicety so licate a subject. It was within the reach of the farmer, w engaging in an undertaking, to put down such covenants i would give him " tenant right." If the owner of the 1 had an objection to grant a lease for years, then the seen • must assume the form of compensation for imexhausted . provements. All this must be matter of individual arrai • ment. Ijegislation could not interfere with advantage. ; would lead to everlasting disputes and arbitrations — arbitrat i which would often be decided on the most fanciful princi] , Every man must make his own covenants, and thereby en ; himself to establish by law those strong claims which e' - tenant farmer possessed in equity, not only for the recc ' of his capital, with interest thereon, but also a fair remun • tion for the intelligence and labour expended in the cultiva i of the farm. No law could place the relations of land I and tenant on an equal basis. Each must see to his i rights ; and no landlord, M'ho knew his own interests — his - terest in having a good tenantry — would scruple to grant t i proper securities. Now, let us take an illustration. It would be right, if the law could compel one i i to hire another's land, that the law should also con I the owner of that land to give the man security lor s capital. So too, by a parity of reasoning, it m: t before the abolition of protective duties have been ■ gucd that, as the law compelled the people of this coui j to buy their food from the home producer, therefore 3 law should also compel the owner of the land to j j that home producer such encouragement as would 3 likely to make him provide the greatest possible quan } of food. But that encouragement no longer exists. ' 3 patent which the landowners held, for providing the f I of the people, has expired. The people now can i their food in the market of the world ; and the ownei f land injures no one but himself if he does not let 3 land at all, or lets it in such a way as will result ir i inefficient cultivation. But I know it will be said f you refuse a law which shall compel the landlord to - munerate a tenant when he quits a farm, for imprc ■ ments m.ide during his tenancy, why by law con 1 the tenant to pay at the expiration of his tenancy r dilapidations ? I will reply to your question, and I that as I cannot seek for the first power, I wish to • peal the second. I wish to take my stand on higher principles— to t my cause on equity, not on law. I want to see the cupier of land and the landowner meet on the br 1 basis of mutual justice. They are both free agents— ' one has his money to invest, the other has his land ) let. They have each an equal right to make their b • gain— the oae has to provide for the proper cultiVR< i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 428 f the land, the other for the security of the money to e invested. I sincerely desire to see landlord and tenant ound together by those ties of good feeling and friend- |hip, which, as the sons of the soil, they are happily so redisposed to cultivate. I believe this can be best roraoted by clearly defining the relative duties of iindlord and tenant. Nothing so much cements friend- jiip between man and man as a knowledge that they .re acting fairly and honourably and openly towards ich other. Under this conviction, therefore, I shall proceed to fl'er for your consideration a form of as;reement, which adopted will completely remove my first impediment. ; will put the landlord and tenant in their true relative , ositions : it will no longer allow the tenant to come pgging, like a pauper, for a few bricks or tiles, or ermit the landlord to be scared from visiting his pro- ;rty lest he should be annoyed by these importunities ; specifies the respective duties of the contracting par- es, and liy this means gives the landlord a fixed and irtain income, which hitherto it has been his reproach lat he has never enjoyed ; and it will make both parties ilfil, to the letter, the terms of their agreement. An ;reement, thus conceived in justice and carried out ith integrity, will be found far more binding than any )ntract autliorized by acts of parliament. The agreement I propose would be as follows : — Memorandum op Agreement made this twenty-fifth ly of March, one thousand eight hundred and be- een A.B., of in the county of on the one irt; and C. D., of in the county of on the lier part. Tliat is to say, the said A. B. agrees to let unto e said C. "D. all the lands and premises situated at oresaid, comprised in the annexed schedule, comprising acres or thereabout, from the twenty-fifth day of [arch, one thousand eight hundred and for the term ' sk years, at and for the clear annual rent of , , lyahle quarterly when demanded ; and the said C. D. doth 3reby agree to become tenant to the said A. B. for the same, pen the terms and conditions herein specified. And it is ;rehy agreed by and between the said parties, that the said . D. shall not, during his tenancy, underlet, or in any wise irt with, the possession of the said lands and premises, or ty part thereof. And it is hereby agreed that the land-tax lirtlie said land and premises shall he paid by the said A. B., iid that all other taxes and rates, for and in respect thereof, lall be paid by the said C. D. And it is further agreed that le said A. B. shall have power by himself, his servants, or lends, to enter upon the said lands and premises for the pur- ose of sporting tiiercon, or for viewing the same, or for lliug or carrying away any trees, wood, or timber, doing re- lirs, and for all other reasonable purposes ; hut, nevertheless, IS agreed that the said C. D. shall have permission at all ines, by himself or servants, to kill or take all hares and ihbits which may be upon the said land or premises; and it |i hereby agreed that the said C. D. shall, at all times during is tenancy, at his own expense, uphold, maintain, and keep ititf'SBSd land, with the ditches, hedges, drains, gates, posts, 'Sift, soughs and fences belonging thereto, and likewise the uildings and premises, upon the said lands, in good and sub- stantial repair and order ; and th.it he shall, oiice at least in iverjf three years, peint with good oil and lead paint all the '«odwotk and itoawork upon the said lands aad picmiteis that now are painted, as well as such woodwork and ironwork as may hereafter he erected, at the request of the said C. D. The tliorn or quick hedges upon sucii parts of the said lands as are not hereafter stipulated to remain ni permanent pasture, shall be neatly trimmed, at least once in every year, and kept at or about the height of 3 feet G inches. And it is hereby agreed that the said C. D. shall and will deliver up the peaceable and quiet possession of the said lands and premises to the said A. B., or his successors, in such good and tenantable condition, at the expiration of the aforenamed term of six years, or at the expiration of any one succeeding year, upon twelve months previous notice in writing to that effect being given, under the hand of the said A. B., his agent or successor, or upon twelve months' previous notice in writing to that effect being given by the said C. D., his executors or assigns to the said A. B., his agent or his successors. And it is further agreed that the said A. B. shall, at his own expense, on receiving notice in ■nTiting, from the said C. D., do and make all necessary permanent improvements, such as building, draining, road making, or new fencing, provided such improvement shall not in their costs amount to more than ten per cent, in one year, upon the amount of the gross annual rent of the said landlord and premises ; the said C. D. paying (if he remain tenant) to the said A. B., in addition to the before agreed upon annual rent, the sum of £6 10s. per cent.* per annum for 20 years after the completion of the work, upon the amount of all such outlay as may have been incurred in draining, and the sum of £5 per cent, per annum, without limitation as to time, upon the amount of all such other outlays as may have been incurred at the request of the said C. D. ; and in the event of any dis- pute arising, as to what may be properly considered necessary improvements, the matter shall be referred to two competent persons, being inditferent and disinterested ; one to he chosen by and on behalf of each party; and in case of their not agree- ing in respect thereof, then by an imipire previously chosen by the said persons. And it is further agreed, that in case the said C. D. shall break up, or convert into tillage, any of the fields or enclosures numbered in the annexed schedule with the numbers , without permission in writing from the said A. B., he, the said C. D., shall pay the sum of twenty pounds per acre as and for additional rent, for all such lands so broken up ; and it is further agreed, that in the event of the said C. D. neglecting to do any of the needful repairs hereinbefore named, or to keep the hedges neatly trimmed as above described and agreed, the said A. B. shall have power, after giving four weeks' notice in writing to the said C. D., to cause the same to be done, and charge the costs of such repairs and hedge trimming as and for additional rent. And it is further agreed that the said C. D. shall consume and use upon the said lands the whole of the fodder, straw, stubble, roots, and green crops, and manure, which shall arise or be made from the said lands ; and shall also manage and crop the said lands in a good and hushandlike manner ; that is to say, shall have in every year at least one-fourth of the arable part of the said lauds in clover or grass seeds, one-fourth in sumuicr fallow, turnips, or other green crops, and at least two-thirds of the pasture of the said land shall every year be grazed. And it is further agreed that the said C. D., his executors or assigns, shall, on the twenty-fifth day of March in each year, serve the said A. B., his agent or successors, with an account, according to form (A) in the schedule hereunto annexed, of all bones, oilcake, or other purchased manure or food, which may have been used or consumed by sheep or cattle, upon the * Th9 per centage at \vhich money is lent by the government iindsr the Land D.-ainage Act, and which provides for tho liqui' dation of the Uebt in 20 j^sftre. 424 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. said land or premises, during the year then last past ; in ex- change for which account the said A. B., his agent or suc- cessors, sliall, in two months after the delivery of such accounts, in return dehver to the said C. D. a receipt according to form (B) in the schedule hereunto annexed. And in case of the said C. D. leaving the said lands and premises, the said A. B., his agent or successors, shall, on the production of the receipt or receipts above described, pay to liim, or cause to be paid to him by his incoming tenant or tenants, a full and fair compensation for all unexhausted improvements, in the following proportions : that is to say, oilcake one-fourth for the first year, one-eighth the second year, where no grass has been taken ; bones one- third to be deducted after each cro > ; pasturage to be consi- dered as half a crop; rape-dust, or other manures which are not supposed to be exhausted by one crop, in the same manner ; the labour, rent, and taxes upon all fallows duly cleaned and managed ; also upon all turnip fallows, deducting one-half the value of the crops when eaten on the ground, and deducting the full value when the turnips are drawn ; and for the seed and labovur upon all wheat sown, where such wheat has been sown in due season, and in proper manner ; and for all manure made in tlie yards during the last six months of tenancy (artificial food in manure not to be valued) ; the amount of sucli compensation to be assessed by two competent per- sons, being indifferent and disinterested, one to be chosen by or on behalf of each party ; and in case of their not agreeing in respect thereof, then the amount shall l)e decided by an um- pire, to be appointed by such persons before they proceed to their arbitration, and whose award shall be considered final. And it is lastly agreed, that in case of the said C. D. leaving the said lands and premises, he shall give up the possession to the said A. B , or his incoming tenant, of a sufficient stable for horses, and of such lands as shall be required to be sown with beans or oats, or shall be required for fallowing during the ensuing summer ; such possession to be given on the first of February immediately preceding the expiration of the notice to quit. As witness our hands, &c. THE SCHEDULE ALLUDED TO IN THE ABOVE AGREEMENT. Quantity. No. Description of fields Cidtivation. a. r. p. Form A. I hereby require you to take notice, that I have during the past year used and consumed, with cattle and sheep, the follo\\'ing articles on the farm in my occupation at Name of article.! Of whom bought. Price. Q\iantity. Dated March 25th, 18 . Signed Form B. 1 hereby admit that Mr. has, during the year end- ing March 25, 18 , used and consumed, with cattle and sheep, on the farm occupied by him at the following ar- ticles : — Name of article. Price. Quantity. .Dated May 25th, 18 Signed The great ruling principle of this agreement is justic You will see I have provided, that, for six years certai the tenant shall have secured to him the occupation the farm on which he has entered. I do this becaust man generally finds a farm foul, and as it requires a ce tain time before a new farm gets into proper work, i compensation which valuers would award him would r compense him if ejected before the termination oftli period. It is therefore just he should have this she lease assigned him. Subsequently it will lapse into i annual holding with a twelvemonth's notice to quit, less time is not just to the occupier as he may have look out for another farm, which six months would ii so easily enable him to find : a longer time would r be just to the landlord, as the tenant would have tj opportunity of letting his land get foul. I I have given the tenant the right to kill hares androjl bits on his farm, because it is not just a man should kfr^| stock on land which he lets to another at its full vah I have specified exactly what repairs, &c., should done by the tenant, so that the landlord be not unjusi called upon, periodically, to pay a heavy bill for repaii and I have provided for the due performance of su covenant. I have agreed to do all requisite permant improvements at a per centage according to their dui bility, taking care not to he called upon to make fool alterations, or to have to lay oat an inconvenient si annually. I have tied the occupier to such a course of husbanc that he cannot impoveiish his land, yet have given h full scope to improve it. I have allowed him, on qu ing, a full remuneration for all unexhausted tillages, I to prevent fraud and disputes I have required an anni statement of manure used, and cattle food consumi which statement will also serve as an index as to hi the occupier is farming. On agi-eements framed on t princi])le the barren heaths of Lincolnshire have attain a degree of fertility which more favoured districts canr boast of, and under its protection the farmer may w safety invest his capital. I believe it to be good for t landlord and good for the tenant when once in pc session, but there is an objection to it, and that is a vc serious one. That a man succeeding a tenant, who 1 farmed under this agreement, has probably to pay 1 predecessor a heavy bill for unexhausted improvemen and has to pay it at a time he can least afford it on e ;^ tering his farm. If this should be to any one an ins perable objection, the only remaining way to remo our first great impediment is to give a lease; this shot be for not less than nineteen years : a shorter peri would not enable the occupier to reap the fruits of 1 labour J but as circumstances might much vary intbl,, period, it would be just for both contracting parties tbi. the rent should fluctuate in part according to the val of the staple products of the farm. To a lease so co stituted I see no objection on the part of the lessee, e cept that he must be tied down more strictly to a part, cular course of cropping than he would under a sh9rtjt tenure ; and with regard to the produce rent this objei tion may be added, that produce often sells high becaii it is scarce, and the tenant consequently would feavC THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 425 ay most rent when he had the least to sell : this evil owever is palliated if not obviated by taking only half le rent in produce, and having that half valued accord- ig to the average prices of certain articles during a eriod of three years. At the end of each year, adding I the average prices of that last past, and striking out le average prices of the first of the three in the manner le tithe-rent charge is estimated, only taking the ave- ge of a shorter term of years. But as no agreement bich the ingenuity of man can frame will make a bad rmer farm well, the great objection on the part of the 3Sor is his inability to get quit of men he may find not le or willing properly to cultivate his land, or if he be fortunate as to secure a competent person as tenant, d such person unhappily should die before the ter- ^nation of his lease, then the same objection in an ag- avated form exists with regard to his successor, in lose appointment the lessor has no voice, and who is Dsequently less likely to be a competent person than it one to whom the farm was originally let. With regard to the produce rents I think them pecu- rly advantageous to the landlord, for though I have en heard of a landlord remitting rent when corn, ;ese, or meat, were low, I have not yet heard one in- nce of a tenant offering to pay more rent when those icles were high. There is one more consideration re- ing to this part of the subject, though we have pro- ed the means of removing our first great impediment, : there are some who cannot benefit by it ; these are iors,life tenants, and others, who are legally restricted : , therefore, to make our work complete must go to •Uament, and seek, as far as our interest is concerned, emoval of these disabilities : that those who are will- ■ but not able to assist in displacing this great mbling block to our social advancement may then d their aid. Saving gone thus far — having provided means that aid secure to tenants of land a safe investment for ir capital, and a full field for their enterprise, we st now, as the advancement of the science of agricul- e is our object, take care that none shall participate -he advantages but those who will profit by them ; must therefore now consider our second great im- ;liment, " Want of skill on the part of the occupier," i I as no one can doubt that want of skill must be a se- as impediment to the development of any art, and t however valuable the materials may be on which he ■ to work, he cannot, unless he be a complete master Jhat art work up those materials to the best advan- ' e. Now can any person look through the length and 1 adth of the land and say that the farmers, as a body, i making the best of their materials ? Are not many iieded from producing the quantity of corn and meat 'ich their respective lands would really, if skilfully naged, yield, from ignorance of the means of obtain- this desideratum ? and are not many hindered from ducmg these articles at the least possible cost because ' y are the slave of prejudice, that child of ignorance ? • i though I cheerfully admit that many farmers are ' using themselves from that sleep in which they have ? slumbered, and in which their less discerning brethren still so soundly repose, they are yet at least in the position of every other man who awakes from heavy sleep, and are rubbing their eyes in doubt as to where they are, and what they are doing. I believe this illus- tration faithfully pourtrays the true position of agricul- tural knowledge ; though many are good practical ftirmers and understand effects, I fear but few understand causes. Long experience has taught men that certain things an- swer, but others do not ; but they cannot grapple with first principles. They can tell you from what causes such and such effects arise : they may know that on some soils lime has an effect, on others none : they may be aware that white crop after white crop cannot in per- petuity be produced, or that land becomes sick of clover; but few of them , I fear, are cognizant of the exact causes that produce these effects. Be assured, till we become so informed, we shall be always working in the dark and to disadvantage. Let me say then to those farmers who are really anxious to acquire information, " go on and prosper ;" be not satisfied that you are better than your neighbours, but be determined to aim at perfection ; the more you leai'n the more you will find you have to learn ; you will find every step you take in advance full of interest and satisfaction. To those however who still sleep I must speak a little louder ; let me tell them un- less they wake they perish. I speak not in the voice of reproach, but of love ; I know their kindness of heart and their many virtues, and for the love I bear them I bid them awake. Cheap corn and bad farming can never agree. Such men may delude themselves "that ignorance is bliss," and that therefore " it is folly to be wise:" but let me remind them that the bliss of ignorance has terminated : that they, heavily laden, have now to contend with the lightly burdened corn growers of Europe and America ; and that nothing but the greatest skill will allow them to keep their place in the race of competition. Let me entreat them to remember that to remain behind is ruin. If they vnll see their danger the evil may yet be averted. Let them plough up their deep-rooted prejudices, and at once commence the work of reformation ; let them send their sons to be educated where their minds will be expanded, their home-bred prejudices rubbed off, and the faults of the system of the fathers demonstrated. Let them do this and all may yet be well. My third cardinal impediment is " small farms." In attacking this evil I wish it to be understood that the remarks I shall offer are not intended to apply to those farms which are wholly in permanent grass ; but with regard to plough farms, I believe it to be a serious im- pediment. First, because small farms do not command the attention of men possessing the same amount of capital and skill which those of greater extent secure, which tends to a less spirited cultivation of land and lowers the general standard of land occupiers. And, secondly, because I consider that farms which are too small to allow the farmer to introduce, with advantage, all the mechanical aids science has offered him, are a se- rious hindrance to the economical manufacture of agri- cultural produce. I know how much has been said and written on this subject, and what a strong prejudice 2 F 426 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. exists with the sentimental part of the community in fa- vour of small farms, thatched houses, lazy ploughmen, and pipe-playing shepherds. We have Oliver Goldsmith lamenting their abolition. He says — " A time there was ere England's grief began. When every rood of ground maintained its man." Now I don't believe these were England's happiest days. I believe if you take a well-cultivated farm of 800 acres, you will find more men employed upon it, than if it were cut up into sixteen 50 acre farms ; and, moreover, you will find the men more intelligent and better paid. I believe they will be found better for both landowner, occupier, and labourer ; the same imple- ments that will do for 50 will often do for 800 acres. If we had only small farms, that giant steam which al- ready thrashes our corn, and I hope, ere long, to see plough our fields, would, as far as agriculture is con- cerned, be born in vain. To the landlord small farms are more expensive in the erection of buildings, and though they might, under the feudal system, have had their advantages, and be well enough in the days of ro- mance and poetry, I believe them to be wholly unsuited to the enlightened age in which we live. I must now trouble you with the consideration of my fourth impediment, which I have styled " Ignorance or Prejudice, or both, on the part of the labourer;" and as even royalty cannot find a short road to knowledge, we shall find the removal of this impediment no light or easy task. Every one who has taken a practical part in the cultivation of the soil, will admit, if he has sought to alter the system before time pursued on the land he farms, what a serious impediment this is ! Any person who may attempt to introduce any particular way of executing an operation in husbandry which has been found to answer in other districts, but to which the la- bourers in his district are unused, will find, if he be not master of more than common courage, that the preju- dice of his labourers will frustrate his laudable endea- vours ; and if his ambition be to substitute any imple- ment that will more effectually or speedOy perform the object for which it is intended than those hitherto em- ployed, he discovers to his cost that the prejudice of his labourers against its introduction, and their ignorance of its mechanism and powers will form a most serious im- pediment to its utility. But now to the remedy. The antidote to ignorance is knowledge ; and as knowledge is antagonistic to prejudice, it is the duty of all who are interested in the improved cultivation of the soil, if they are actuated by no higher motives than those of self-in- terest, to give knowledge to the labouring classes — to give an education that will not only enable them the better to use the tools and implements they have to work with, but will give them principle which will show them they should be really interested in promoting the wellbeing of the master they have contracted to serve, which will cause them to do the task their master pays them to perform; not because they fear a neglect of duty would cause their dismissal or punishment, but be- cause they are aware that such neglect would be doing their employers a serious wrong. Farmers ought to sonsider hew great a pecuniary loss they sustain by hav. ing ignorant, prejudiced, and unprindpled labourer and to remove this evil they ought, therefore, to u their best endeavours to provide and maintain prop parochial instruction for the labouring classes. This the first duty of every farmer. The next is to see tb the children of the labourers profit by such educatio and remain at school till they have attained the requir information. If farmers would agree to employ young person till he or she could produce a certifici of proficiency in the ordinary branches of knowledge, believe such a plan would be attended with the happi results ; but though the above is sure in its effects it slow in its operation. We must therefore enquire there be any mode more ready at our command and i mediately available to attain this object. I think most likely and speedy way of sharpening the wits, 8 rubbing off the prejudices of agricultural labourers, wo be at once to repeal the law of settlement. With- : entering into the political consideration connected \^ . this question, I am of opinion that, confining the seti ment of a labourer to the small bounds of a parish, . serious impediment to agricultural improvement ; an am consequently convinced that the wider you ext . the bounds of his settlement, the more you will rem i his prejudices and excite his energy. The disadvanta | the farmer and labourer both suffer from, as i ' situated, have been ably expressed in the follow ; resolutions drawn up by the Guardians of the Docl* ; Union. 1. That many laboiu-ers are compelled to reside in pari i where they are not legally settled, because there are not d • lings for them in those where they work, and where they t settled. That this want of cottages is attributable to the « like which owners of land have to build upon their estates, - cause of the expenses to which that property becomes li e by every additional settlement, and because many se - ments have been made, and in future nearly all wdl be re •, simply by residence. 2. That this discouragement to the building of cottages s the effect of compelling labourers to go greater distances ( f to their work, and they are obliged to hire such dwelling: ^ they can meet with, often without either garden-groniK T yard-room sufficient for ordinary accommodation, orevenfo fl common decencies of life ; and they are transferred as teu s from the property of a large landowner, where the rents e usually moderate, to that of the small proprietor, with w a the rent is more an object as an income, and therefore i e frequently high in proportion. 3. That the rate-payers of the larger parishes have cans o complain of an amount of rate consequent upon the infli )f labourers working elsewhere. 4. That the union of all the parishes as one, for the purj 's of settlement, will fix the expense of each parish in futuf' 'it the same proportion as was determined by the scale of 5- rages declared in June, 1846, and that therefore there wi|ie no reason on the score of settlement or probable increas 'i expense, to prevent the building of cottages upon or lieai '« farms where labourers are employed ; neither will there be y increase of rates because of an increase of residents. 5. That the union of parishes will give a greater freedo « choice to the labourer in seeking employment, and 'to f* master in choosing his labourer ; it will no longer be the i'" tidual farmer whom the labourer can aanoy, by throwing ^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 427 ■If upon the parish, because he and his master cannot agree ; ;itlier will it be the interest of the farmer to decline employ- ■ ig an active workman, because he belongs to another parish, 1 • because there is a surplus of labourers in his own. i 6. Workmen of character, skiU, and good conduct, will be ore sought after by the master, and therefore the advantages ■ skill, character, and good conduct, will be more clearly uu- ^rstood by workmen. j 7. All expenses attending removals between parishes in the lion, will be avoided ; and the management of the affairs the union, as regards the administration of relief, and the counts to be kept by the several officers, will be greatly faci- I ated. I These resolutions show the advantages of an extension settlement to unions, and would be as applicable if fill settlements were entirely abolished. We all know the law now stands how many a worthless and ineffi- •nt labourer gets employment for the sake of " keeping n off the parish," to the great detriment of the well- ;posed and able workman. This out-door pauper ows very well that if he does such a day's work as vnW ;t pass muster, the fear of having him on the rates 11 secure his employment. Mr. Chadwick, in his evi- iice before the select committee of the House Commons, on the law of settlement, speaking of \ parochial settled labourer, says, his "condition one in which, if he work hard, or idle away his le, he will not proportionably advance himself Dne in which you predispose him unfavourably, 1 put him in circumstances to be unworthy of his e." If the law of settlement were abolished, you then uld find that the farmer, in engaging his men, would ik only at their real qualification of character and lity, and the labourer, unbound by local ties, would 1 his labour in the best market, and, stimulated by upetition, would prove better worth 14s. a week to his ployers, than the demi-pauper at 9s. You would ;n no longer hear of pulling down cottages and clear- ; parishes ; but the Englishman's settlement being und by England alone, every landowner would strive provide such comfortable and commodious dwellings bis estate, as would encourage the residence of able 1 d efficient men to cultivate his acres. :I now come to my last impediment, " The Practice of eserving Hares and Rabbits on Cultivated Land." I 1 happy to think that where the owners of land are so iposed, the remedy is as easy as the grievance is heavy, ,d in treating this subject, I am consoled by knowing ^; it injury done by these animals to the crops of a farmer ■act a matter of opinion, but a matter of fact. ^ T will ,t dilate on the indirect moral and social evils to the ,tire agricultural population, which are caused by eping hares and rabbits in large quantities — the .nptation to the labourers, the endless disputes and tioseqaent bad feeling which they cause between land- ' dand tenant ; but I will simply say as they eat and '.istfoy root and corn crops, and injure hedges, they are .)re or less, according to the number kept, an impedi- ^imt^to agricultural improvement. But on this I must * ce the same ground I took on the question of tenant- ';lrt. I cannot join in seeking any legislative inter- "nseexeept to allow ©wner and occupier of land to kill hares on their own property, or holding without having to pay Government for a certificate for so doing. I can- not see what business the legislature has to interfere with what a man may choose to keep on his property ; but this I know, that no wise man will take a farm without stipulating for their destruction; and no land- lord who wishes to see his laud well farmed will have them on it. I have now set before you what in my judgment ap- pears to be the great impediments to the full develop- ment of British agriculture. To the landowners, let me say, though you may justly resist parliamentary interference with your property, you will not long be able to withstand that moral force which the rising and rushing tide of public opinion is bearing down upon you. Concede, therefore, at once, the just and reasonable demands of the tenant farmers. To the tenant, let me say, if the landowners provide a field for your capital and intelligence, you must not let it lie fallow ; the feudal system is passing away ; those great commercial principles of buying in the cheapest market and selling in the dearest, will extend themselves in another form to agriculture. Landlords must look for the best tenants Great Britain can produce. Railways, which are daily bringing the producer and consumer nearer together, are also hourly abolishing those ties which bound men to particular localities. England is now what a county was 100 years ago. I am not anxious to destroy, but to preserve. I wish not to seek for new materials, but to improve and render efficient those which already exist ; but let me warn tenant farmers of this : if they will not qualify them- selves for the altered circumstances of our social condi- tion, a new race of men will spring up in their stead. Can it be doubted if my first and last impediments were removed, that those will not be found who are ready to exchange the cares and turmoil of city life for the repose and delight of agricultural pursuits, with their ever-va- rying and never-ending interest .' and while he securely invests his capital in an undertaking that will return him an interest of from five to thirty per cent., he can feel that he has assumed a position that will enable him to better the condition of his poorer neighbours ; to in- crease the common stock of human food ; and, as im- proved husbandry recjuires more hands, he may increase in the same ratio the number of the home consumers, and consequently indirectly benefit the class from which he sprang. The wisest of men has said, " He who spareth the rod hateth the child." I have not, therefore, feared to ex- pose the true evils with which we have to contend. I have dragged these impediments from their hiding place, I have swept from off them the dust with which some have sought to hide their deformities. I have exposed them to the broad glare of daylight, and there I leave them to your tender mercies. For myself, let me say that in the remarks I have thought right to offer, I have spoken as I promised you, "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," and I have dealt with all classes vrithout favour, fear, or affections 3 F 2 428 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. I am aware what little gratitude candid friends meet with in this world. I know I have gone too far to please some, and not far enough to suit others, and the penalty I shall consequently have to pay for my rashness ; but be this as it may, I have a feeling that I have fearlessly discharged the duty you imposed upon me. And if I have advanced agriculture one step — if I have convinced one landlord of the justness and expediency of giving se- curity to the occupier of his estate — if I have awakened one farmer to the danger of his position, or improved the condition of one single labourer, then I shall cheer- fully abide the consequences that may ensue ; trusting that though you may doubt the soundness of my judg- ment, you will be assured of the integrity of my motives. [Before reading the form of agreement, Mr. Colvile stated that there were a few matters of detail in which he did not entirely concur, but he had introduced them be- cause he thought the agreement would be more likely to be carried into effect with than without them.] Mr. Chawner : It was not my intention to take part in the discussion of this evening, but I will make a few short remarks on its subject. Let me first, however, congratulate the club generally upon the praiseworthy perseverance with which it has carried out the objects proposed at its first establishment. The club (if it ceased to exist to-morrow) would deserve the thanks of every landowner and occupier in the district, for having eli- cited from the honourable gentleman the admissions, as to the practical impediments to the advancement of agri- cultui-e, made this evening in the excellent paper which he has read to us. Such admissions, emanating from one who occupies such a position, cannot fail fo have a cnsible influence in promoting the advance of agricul- tural improvement. He has taken so wide a range in gathering up the hindrances to good farming, that it would be impossible to follow him through all the de- tails of his paper ; a thorough examination of it would serve as the subject of many evenings' discussion. I understand him to say that the impediments may be di- vided amongst the landowners, occupiers, and labourers. I think it will materially disembarrass the subject, if we cease to talk of the interests of the landlord and tenant, and confine ourselves to this point, " How shall we best improve the cultivation of the land .'" For, if we suc- ceed in satisfactorily answering this question, we shall serve at once, not only the interests of the owner, occu- pier, and labourer, but of the consumer too. To every suggestion offered on this subject, I would apply this test -" Will It improve the cultivation of the land.'" When Mr. Colvile alluded to schedule A. in the agree- ment he has read to us, I was in hopes he would pro- pose to put into it all those clauses which we find in old leases, just as the present Prime IMinister placed certain boroughs in it some few years since. His agreement would require much laboured discussion. My own opinion is, that security and permanency of tenure being made the basis of arrangement, the covenants of the lease should be as simple as possible. Although he quotes the authority of Mr. Grey, of Dilston, against arbitrations, I am glad to find that he proposes a recourse tp arbitration "vhea any difiBculty occur? between owner and occupier. The landowner should covenant for clea and good husbandry ; he should enter by his agent at h tervals — say every two years — and, with the represent; tion of the tenant, examine the state of cultivation of tl land, buildings, &c., and compare this with the state the property described in a schedule appended to tl lease when the tenant first entered. The dilapidatifli j or material improvements should be valued and adjustt at each inspection. If at any time the dilapidations 1 found to increase, I would give the landlord a right enter and determine the lease ; so convinced am I that bad farmer is apublic nuisance, and ought to be suppresse With respect to the impediment offered by the tenant namely, want of capital and education — I entirely agr with Mr. Colvile. The first fault is, perhaps, the cons ! quence of the present unsatisfactory state of tenure in tl country. The tenant derives from three acres of la the amount of produce he ought to obtain from tw but to increase his produce, he requires the investrae of greater capital. Now, of all the industrial avocatic pursued in this country, as there is none more pleasai so there is none less profitable than the cultivation the land. Is it likely, therefore, that men will tempted to embark their capital in farming, unless th enjoy at once security for its return and a perman( occupation ? As regards the education of a farmer entirely agree in what has been said. If two men st together in the management of a farm — one brought at the plough-tail, and the other having received a gc general education— the former will perpetuate prejud without improving practice ; the latter, by joining the( with practice, will reap the beneficial results of bo' The ignorance, the want of skill, and the aversion novel methods of the labourer, are impediments to gc > farming ; but it is the misfortune, and not the fault the labourer, that he is as he is. For what encoura; ment do we give to skilled labour in agricvilture .' Thi is an equal rate of wages for all labourers on a farm, nearly equal, whilst the artisan is paid for each step makes in improving his skill, and the full value of increased ability is estimated to a fraction. This inji tice woiild be in great measure remedied by the proj sition of Mr. Colvile, followed out, as it must be, the abolition of parochial settlement. The good a skilful labourer will soon discover the benefit of an f tended market, and the encouragement he meets w will of necessity improve the succeeding generation, am aware that I have omitted many points in this o dress, but I feel that I have trespassed already too mDi on your patience. I cannot, however, sit down withd thanking the hon. member for the very able manner which he has handled this very difficult subject. Mr. W^M. Greaves made a few remarks on l( question, whether large or small farms were most aidm' tageous. Looking to actual practice, he thought that 1 largest farms did not employ most labour, nor yield t highest average of produce. Mr. Daniel remarked that if equally well condticti large farms would yield a higher average produce w less expenditure of labour, and would therefore sent larger amount of produce to rparket, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. i^9 Mr. Coxox, clerk to the union, said that he believed t would be beneficial both to the labourer and to the armer if the law of settlement were framed to facilitate nstead of preventing, a man from carrying his labour to he place where there was most call for it. Where la- jourers were too abundant, many must necessarily be employed merely to avoid maintaining them by the )arish. It resulted that there was less encouragement or the best workman, and that the farmer paid dearer or a given amount of work. That must operate as a lindrance to agriculture. Mr. A. Bass remarked that he himself might set up . claim to that part of Mr. Colvile's agreement between indlord and tenant, which stipulated that the tenant hould give in yearly authenticated accounts of such nprovements on the land as he intended to found a laim to compensation upon. When the subject of jnure of land was brought before the club three years go, he had proposed, as a substitute for that best mode f tenure, a long lease, an arrangement which embraced le feature now claimed by Mr. Colvile as a novelty, le could not consent to Mr. Colvile's objections to a ■gislative interference between landlord and tenant ; he Duld not think such interference either useless or inju- ous if discreetly applied. He granted that in his pinion Mr. Pusey had gone too far when he introduced clause into his bill which made it compulsory on the indlord to make compensation according to a fixed :andird, and without allowing him to modify the opera- on of the land in particular cases by special agreement, 'hat he admitted was an invasion of the leading prin- iple of the common law, and of common justice, and 'ould act injuriously on the interests of the landlord. >ut if the law which gave compensation to the tenant )r unexhausted improvements according to a fair valua- ion, should not abrogate the power of the landlord to nter into special agreement with reference to such com- ■ensation, he thought all just objection would be re- aoved. Such a law would only be operative where no pecial agreement existed ; but he was convinced that in ■ractice it would not be superseded by agreements which ounteracted its intention. A good legal title to com- «nsation would operate chiefly by inducing good special greements, and by encouraging the habit of granting Jases. It would, no doubt, be difficult to form a general ale for compensation that would meet every particular, nd landlords would therefore have recourse to modifying greements. But in the understanding between landlord nd tenant there is now an implied compact that a tenant hall be remunerated for improvements, either by con- inued possession of his tenancy or by compensation, 'pecial agreements, therefore, would seldom be framed a a spirit contrary to a good law ; and if in efi"ect a indlord should offer an agreement which said "you hall carry on your land extra manures, drain, marl, or ime it, wholly at your own proper risk," he would be an ager tenant indeed who should accept such terms. Mr. ^civile had admitted that the law as it now stood gave a laim to the landlord for dilapidation without a corres- loading claim to the tenant for improvements, and would emedy this inequality by taking away the claim of the landlord. But in his opinion there was no likelihood of getting the landlord's consent to abandon their title to compensation for damage done to their land. Neither did he agree in thinking such a surrender of their right would be the best way of doing e(.|ual justice to both parties. It would be better to continue the fair right of the landlord and to admit the tenant to an equal right. To do otherwise was to make a law which de- nied justice to both. He was much gra.ified to hear Mr. Colvile's opinions on the expediency of modifying the game laws as to give no longer the injurious protection to hares. He had learned from naturalists that the food of the partridge consisted so much of insects and grubs that he thought it might fairly be said to earn its own living on the land. By taking hares out of the game list the farmer would certainly be benefited greatly, and one, perhaps the greatest incentive to the offence of poaching would be greatly lessened. He was happy to find that though he might differ as to the details of the best tenure with Mr. Colvile that in the main principle of giving perfect security for the capital of the farmer, that he could congratulate the ciub on having within it so influential an advocate of their joint opinions as Mr. Colvile. Mr. Colvile, in reply to Mr. Chawner, said that the opinions to which he had just given utterance were not newly adopted ; for that he had, as president in the first year of the formation of the club, more than five years ago, brought forward for discussion the best mode of tenure ; and that he had then strongly contended for the principle of increased security, as best calculated to en- sure the interests of both landlord and tenant. Loud and long-continued applause followed Mr. Col- vile's address ; and after it had subsided, a vote of thanks was proposed to him by the Rev. Theodore Eschalaz, seconded by Matthew Gisborne, Esq., and carried unanimously. On the question being put by the president, the club resolved — That the causes which hinder the progress of agricul- tural improvement were justly stated by Mr. Colvile in his address ; and that a secure mode of tenure, a better education of the farmer, and greater freedom of removal to the labourer, would remove the hindrances. We understood this to be the sense of the resolution, which did not go to pledge the club to the details of Mr. Colvile's plan of tenure. — Derby Reporter. THE TESTIMONIAL TO MR. GEO. THOMP- SON, OF PRESTVYOOD.— We are happy to hear that the subscription list for presenting this gentleman with a suitable testimonial for his valuable services in behali' of the Stewponey Agricultural and Branch Societies is ra- pidly filling up. Mr. Wilson, of Aston, announced at the Agricultural Society's dinner, on Tuesday last, that upwards of ^£"100 had been already subscribed, and that more was expected. The presentation is fixed to take place at the annual meeting in December next. — Ten Towns Messenger l>oo ^aioQ^ib yofl asav aoasvioifi Qt 430 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The seventeenth annual meeting of this society took place on Thursday, Sept. 30, in the new Haymarket, at the north end of the town ; the use of which was given by the Corporation. The weather was fine, and the at- tendance numerous, REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF FARMS AND CROPS. Having already laid before the committee full par- ticulars as to the merits of the different claims upon the society, which came under our inspection, we now beg to offer a few general remarks. The competition for the prizes for the Best Culti- vated FAKMshas not been so great as in former years, but the good management of those to which prizes have been awarded has never been surpassed. In the claims for Drainage we are happy to say there has been fair competition, and that the nature of this work seems every year better understood and better done. We have directed our inquiries, in several instances, to the expense of the operation, and we beg to lay before you the particulars of one of them — that of Mr. Mawds- ley, of Orrell, who has been awarded a prize. This claimant has drained fifteen acres during the past year in three fields of sandy loam, on a subsoil of " foxbench" and clay. The drains were cut six, seven, and nine yards apart, varying, of course, according to the nature of the subsoil ; they were from thirty- sis to forty inches deep, and were laid with tiles and slate soles. The total length of the drains was 7249 yards, and the number of tiles used 22,000, about one foot long each. The drains were all cut on the parallel system. The tiles had to be carted about ten miles, and the soles five. The following are the particulars of the cost as near as we could ascertain it : — 22,000 tiles, at 203. per thousand £22 0 0 22,000 soles, at 14s. per thousand 15 8 0 Cutting the drains, 906 rods, of 8 yards each, at GU\. per rod 24 10 9 Laying and filling- ditto, at 2d. per rod 7 11 0 Carting tiles 11 0 0 Carting soles 3 6 0 Placing the tiles and soles along the side of the drains 3 15 0 For 15 acres £87 10 9 Average cost per acre £ 5 16 6 Half the cost of the tiles and soles was defrayed by the landlord. It will, no doubt, be noticed by many of the members that the prizes for Laying Down Land to Grass have, generally, been won by the tenants of Richard Watt, Esq., in Speke ; and it maybe interesting to some of them to know what system is there pursued. Before giving an account of the seeds usually sown, it is proper to notice the rotation of cropping. The land, after lying four years in grass, is broken up for a green crop ; after this follows wheat, and then barley, oats being rar sown. The grass-seeds are sown with a drill kept for i purpose, immediately after the barley. The follow; were the seeds sown, per statute acre, upon a field light sandy loam, by Mr. M'Farline, the resident agi; and manager of the farm in hand, and to whom medal has been awarded : — One bushel of perennial r grass, one peck of hard fescue, one peck of meadc fescue, one peck of meadow-foxtail, three lbs. of rou| stalked meadow-grass, three lbs. of smooth ditto, three) of crested dogstail, two lbs. of rib grass, four lbs. of cc grass, four lbs. of white clover, and three lbs. of tref Previous to sowing these seeds, the land is well harrow 1 and rolled, and after sowing it is again harrowed wit i light harrow and rolled, and by these means the surf i soil is rendered as fine as possible, which is essential ; the perfect vegetation of the grass seeds. We inspec I the crop on the 8th June, previous to its being mown, ; 1 when the grasses were many of them in flower. Altho i we could not identify all the grasses which had b i sown, we noticed many of them, and found the land i be completely filled with good herbage, and free fi . weeds. The crop was also heavier than any we have ■ spected for this society. When it is considered that '■ grass crops are viewed two years after sowing the set , when grass lands generally look the worst, and when ; in this case, the produce of the previous year had b i twice mown, it is a proof what may be effected by g i cultivation, and does away, in a great measure, with objection which is commonly entertained to the breal ; up of old grass land. The Eradication of Old and Useless Hedg , accompanied with the filling up and draining of -' ditches, is carrying on in the district to a great ext , and the claimants for the prize have been much n J numerous than usual. We think it but right to m s one of the unsuccessful competitors, (Mr. Ratliff, f Bold,) who has not only eradicated most of the old fer } upon his farm, but has planted neiv ones, and reforrl the fields. He has also enclosed a large piece of m ^ land up to a public road, has drained the greatest par ( his farm, and effected other improvements at a consic • able cost. The whole reflects great credit upon his s 1 and enterprise, and must be pleasing to his landlc » Henry Houghton, Esq., (by whom it is also right) state he has been encouraged and assisted,) and must? useful as an example in a neigbourhood where such • I^rovements are much wanted. We now come to speak of the Season and the Ceo • Considering the lateness of the spring, the harvest of i ' district was earlier than could have been expected, havi; commenced about the middle of August, and ended', ' the most part, in the middle of September. The weat ' during the early part of the season was remarkably fi and the corn was gathered in good condition ; during '■ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 431 latter part, the weather was less favourable, and the ope- latioa of gathering frequently interrupted by rain. ' Wheat this year was thin of root, in many places, but i;vas generally well fed, with the exception, in some cases, )f a deficiency in the grains, which we believe to have )een destroyed by a grub or insect at the time of forming ; levertheless, the yield is better tlian usual, and the crop, ve think, cannot be considered less than an average. Oats and Barley, which have been sown to a greater •xtent than usual, were both good crops. Beans, of which but few are grown, though more than ormerly, were attacked with the black fly about the time f blossoming, which proved very injurious ; so much so, hat the crop in many instances was of an inferior de- cription, and in others quite a failure. The Grass Crop has not been so abundant as usual ; ertainly, inferior to that of last year, and more parti- ularly the second crop of clover. After-grass has also been rather deficient. Pas- irage became very scanty during summer, but was un- sually good in quality, and has recently, in conse- uence of the showery weather, been much improved in uantity. Potatoes are again diseased ; but so various are the pinions as to the extent of the same, that we hesitate to ive a confident report as to what may be the result. In )me districts the crop is apparently better than last ear, in others much the same. The season is now ivourable for the gathering of this root, and when that completed, more correct information may probably be btained. As to Early Potatoes, which are grown so exten- vely in various parts of Lancashire and Cheshire for the /iverpool and Manchester markets, it is satisfactory to ;ate that they have been quite an average crop, and lore than usually profitable to the grower. The Turnip Crop last year, for which prizes are ow awarded, was, in consequence of the mildew, lighter aan usual ; but this year they have sprung up well, and itherto have had no severe check. The growth of this seful vegetable is greatly on the increase, and we fre- uently meet with land, now, by means of draining, ubsoil ploughing, and improved implements by which to ?ork the soil, bearing this useful crop. The average iroduce per acre is perhaps greater in this district than (I any other part of the kingdom ; and when the root is onsumed on the premises, as it usually is, except on arms near to large towns, a considerable quantity of ;ood manure is thereby made upon the spot, and re- urned to the land. In speaking of this crop, we think t right to notice the common turnips, grown last year •y Mr. Hart, of Puddington, and for which he has ob- ained the society's prize. This crop was grown upon a loor dark-brown soil, inclining to heath, with two cwt. >f African guano, and two cwt. of super-phosphate of ime. With this small quantity of manure per acre he •ad twenty-two tons fifteen cwt. of turnips, known as ' Dale's Hybrid," and "White Globe," exclusive of ops ; and Mr. Hart informs us the land has since pro- jluced an excellent crop of oats and barley. I In concluding this report we have great pleasure in stating that, although much remains to be done (which the numerous fields still covered with rushes bear testi- mony,) there is still a visible and progressive improve- ment going on in this district, and, we trust, as facihties are now being afforded by Government loans for the drainage of lands, these improvements will progress more rapidly than they have hitherto done. William Langton, "1 t Henry White, ' | Inspectors. Sept. 30, 1847. The following were the judges : — For Cattle, Mr. G. Dale and Mr. Ellison ; Horses, Mr. J. Crisp and Mr. R. J. Beckett ; Sheep and Pigs, Mr. Torr and Mr.Pagan; Implements, Mr. G. Smithies and Mr. R, C. Lowndes. The dinner took place in the large room at Lucas's Repositoiy, Great Charlotte-street. The chair was oc- cupied by Lord Lilford ; and at the principal table we observed the following gentlemen : — Gilbert Greenall, Esq., M.P. ; William Brown, Esq., M.P. ; William Cross, Esq. ; William Hall, Esq. ; — Talbot, Esq. : W. Ledger, Esq. ; J. W. Wilson, Esq. ; Mr. Councillor Parker ; Mr. Councillor Proctor ; and Mr. Councillor Glazebrook. The number that sat down to dinner was about two hundred. After the usual loyal toasts were given by the Chair- man— Mr. Smithies, of Bickerstaft'e-hall, proposed the health of the Earl of Derby, the patron of the society — a landlord who was thoroughly determined to improve not only the condition of his land, but he wished also to see his tenants prosperous and happy. He did not im- prove the land solely for his own aggrandisement, but he wished to see the tenant farmer improve ; and, as a meeting of farmers, they should give him a most hearty cheer. He begged to propose " The health of the Earl of Derby, our patron." (Drunk with three times three.) 'The Chairman then said— Gentlemen, first in the list now before me stands the health of my Lord Stanley (enthusiastic cheers). Gentlemen, I am not surprised at the cheer with which that name has been received. Deeply indebted as I am — deeply as I feel my obliga- tions, both personal and private — to that esteemed noble- man, whose talents, whose undeviating integrity, and whose conduct through life has been unswerving and firm — deeply as I feel my obligation, I can only the more deeply and sensibly feel my own incapacity to supply his place. I shall only echo your feelings by proposing that the toast be drunk with all honours. I propose " The health of Lord Stanley," with three times three cheers. (Drunk with great enthusiasm.) The Chairman, after some preliminary remarks, said : We are met as a social meeting, certainly with every respect and regard for our neighbours and those around us ; but we are met also, allow me to say, with a much higher purpose, and with a more extensive aim (Hear, hear). I have already said, that if the science of agriculture is to be pursued, it ought to be pursued by those who can combine sci- ence with practice. To that combination I cannot indi- vidually lay a claim ; but there are those around me who 432 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. will, 1 hope, this evening tell us honestly, freely, and fairly, what are the successful results of science applied to agriculture (applause). I have no doubt in my own mind that science applied to agriculture, under proper regulations and under proper amalgamations, will eventually prove to every practical farmer that science is to be his polar star in the first instance, but that prac- tice, in the end, will bring him through (applause). If I were inclined to speech making — although, I confess, I am a very indifferent speaker — I might bring before you, in very great detail, the results of practical science as applied to agriculture ; but I feel that there are those around me who are much better acqiiainted with practi- cal agriculture than I can pretend to be. There are, however, some facts which are alluded to in the report to-day that, perhaps, you will allow me for one moment to refer to. I see it stated that the committee continue still in favour of deep draining. Now, gentlemen, this is a fact which I hail with satisfaction and with entire concurrence. In the little practice which I have had in draining, I have always found that deep draining, if pro- perly undertaken, cannot fail to produce the most bene- ficial results. I am aware I am not speaking the opinion of some of the gentlemen around me, but I only allude to what I know to be the case ; and if I am called on to give the facts, I will give them. Gentlemen, the toast with which I shall conclude is, " Success to the Liver- pool Agricultural Society" (loud cheers). I repeat again, success to the Liverpool Agricultural Society (renewed cheers). I know not whether, standing in this place, I ought to sound a note of triumph, or to sing its requiem. I don't know whether we shall again meet as members of the Liverpool Agricultural Society. Amal- gamation is a great topic of the day, and I have heard it stated, since I came into this room, that an amalgama- tion is to take place between this society and another so- ciety, which I am most delighted to hear (applause). I am quite sure that, in all pursuits, unanimity, cordiality; and co-operation must effect a great deal (applause) , and, moreover, gentlemen, I cannot but remember that, in urging this topic, I am only urging a topic which, from this place and from this chair, I heard with so much more force and so much more vigour — with so much more energy and with so much more stirring truth — urged by my Lord Stanley (applause). Well, then, gentlemen, are we united ? Is there to be from this time a Liverpool and Manchester Agricultural Society ? Is it, or is it not ? I have reason to believe that ar- rangements will be made which will amalgamate the two societies, and enable them to work, I trust, with har- mony and co-operation. That thei'e have been difficul- ties in the way of this result, I am perfectly well aware. Efforts — most praiseworthy efforts— have been made to bring about this consummation, and it is, happily, now effected. I feel, however, that, in proposing to you to drink, with three times three, success to the Liverpool Agricultural Society, I shall call on you to do that with some mixed feeling, perhaps, but to do it with cordiality, even if it should be for the last time you drink success to the Liverpool Agricultural Society (drunk with tre- mendous cheering. William Brown, Esq., gave, "The health nder he best course of management, £5. — One claimant ; not suffi- :ieat merit. To the owner and occupier of any farm of not less than 150 itatute acres, who shall most effectually drain the greatest [uantity of land in proportion to the size of the farm (the Silver Medal). — To Michael Hughes, Esq., of Shirdtey-house, lear St. Helen's, for draining 48j acres on a farm of .206, with 11,363 yards of tile and cinder drains. To the tenant and occupier of any farm, of not less than 50 statute acres, who shall most effectually drain the greatest (uantily of land in proportion to the size of the farm, £8. — I'd Mr. James Warhurton, of Bewsey, near 'Warrington (tenant 0 Lord Lilford), for draining 25 acres on a farm of 200, with i2,360 yards of tile drains. To ilr. James Kerfoot, of Faeuol Jach, near St. Asaph, a medal, as an extra prize, for draining ;7 J acres with 18,933 yards of tile and stone drains, on a farm if 280. To the tenant and occupier of any farm of not less than 70 tatute acres, who shall most effectually drain the greatest (uantity in proportion to the size of the farm, £4. — To Mr. Richard Mawdsley, of Orrell (tenant to the Earl of Sefton), or draining 15 acres, on a farm of 84, with 7,249 yards of tile Iraius. To the tenant and occupier of any farm of not less than 40 tatute acres, who shall most effectually drain the greatest (uantity of land in proportion to the size of the farm, £3.— "o Mr. Samuel Parsonage, of Great Sankey (tenant of Lord .ilford), for draining 4 acres on a farm of 5G, with 239j yards if tile drains and 4,613|^ of cinder drains. To the tenant and occupier who shall most efficiently sub- oil plough the greatest quantity of land in proportion to the ,ize of his farm, the quantity done being not less than four tatute acres, £3. — To Mr. Samuel Jenkins, of Belgrave, near Chester (tenant to the Marquis of Westminster), for subsoiling ,4 acres on a farm of 100. To tl>e owner and occupier of any farm who shall in any one ,'ear lay down the greatest quantity of land, in proportion to ;he size of the farm, for meadow or pasture, in the best manner md cleanest from weeds, and sown with white clover and other permanent grass seeds, the Silver Medal. — To Richard Watt, Esq., of Speke, for laying down 15 j acres on a farm of 120. To the tenant and occupier ef any farm who shall lay lown the greatest quantity of land, in proportion to the size of the farm, not being less than 12 statute acres, for meadow 9t pasture, in the best manner and cleanest from weeds, and sown with white clover and other permanent grass seeds, £4. — One claimant. Ineligible, having ebtained a prize for his farm. To the tenant and occupier of any farm (being solely de- pendent upon farming for a livelihood), who shall lay down the greatest quantity in proportion to the size of the farm, not being less than 12 statute acres, for meadow or pasture, in the best manner and cleanest from weeds, and sown with white clover and other permanent grass seeds, £4. — To Mr. James Langshaw, of Speke (tenant to Richard Watt, Esq.), for laymg down 15j acres on a farm of 99. To the tenant and occupier of any farm, not less than 100 statute acres, who shall most judiciously cover with marl the greatest quantity in any one year, not being less than 10 sta- tute acres, £3. — To Mr. John Birch, of Orrell (tenant to the Earl of Sefton), for marling 23 acres, on a farm of 110, with about 60 cubic yards per acre. To the tenant and occupier of any farm who shall construct the best reservoir on his farm for the reception of dung water, either for floating meadows or pastures, or fer carrying off in water carts, £3.— To Mr. Ralph Webster, of MelUiig (tenant of Lord Skelmersdale). Te the tenant and occupier who shall plant the greatest length of whitethorn hedge, not less than 100 perclies, after the most approved methods, £3. — To Mr. Richard Jlawdsley, of Orrell ^nant to the Earl of Sefton), for planting 927 yards on a farm*f 54 acres. To the tenant and occupier who shall, at his own expense. eradicate the greatest length of old fences in proportion to the size of his farm, for the purpose of laying out his fields in a form and size better adapted to the cultivation of the land, £3. — To Mr. John Jenkinson, of Speke, tenant to Richard W^att, Esq., for eradicating 3283 yards of old hedges on a farm of 190 acres ; gaining thereby about 3 statute acres of land. To Charles Whitfield Harvey, Esq., of Walton, for eradicating 3088 yards on a farm of 130 acres, at Bickerstaft', held by him under the Earl of Derby. Crops. To the owner and occupier who shall have the best crop of Swedish turnips, not less than four acres, the Medal. — To John Ireland Blackburn, Esq., of Hale-hall. Weight of bulbs, 34 tons 4 cwt., and tops. 4 tons 8 cwt. per acre. To the tenant and occupier who shall have the best crop of Swedish turnips, not less than six acres, £5. — One claimant ; not sufficient merit. To the tenant and occupier who shall have the best crop of Swedish turnips, not less then four acres, £4. — To Messrs. John and James Arden, of Penkcth. Weight of bulbs, 24 tons 4 cwt. ; tops, 7 tons 5 cwt. per acre. To the tenant and occupier who shall have the best crop of Swedish turnips, not less than two acres, £2. — To Mr. Richard Uobell, of Leftwich, near Northwich. Weight of bulbs, 26 tons ; tops, 6 tons 18 cwt. per acre. To the tenant and occupier who shall have the best crop of any other kind of turnips, not less than four acres, £2. — To Mr. Thomas Hart, of Puddington. near Neston. Weight of bulbs, 22 tons 15 cwt. ; tops, 7 tons 2 cwt. per acre. To the tenant and occupier v.'ho shaU have the best crop of mangel wurzel, not less than two acres, £3. — To Mr. Richard Dobell, Leftwich. AVeight of bulbs, 33 tons 4 cwt. ; tops, 11 tons 15 cwt. per acre. To the tenant and occupier who shall have the best crop of carrots, not less than one acre, £2.— No claimant. To the tenant and occupier who shall have the best crop of Scotch cabbage, £2.— Mr. Richard Dobell, Leftwich. Weight, 39 tons 1 cwt. per acre. To the owner and occupier,'resident within the district, who shall produce at the annual exhibition the best sample of white seed wheat, of his or her growing, the quantity shown not to be less than four bushs., the Silver Medal. — To Mr. William Knowles, of Bottle. Horned Cattle. For the best bull of any breed under four years old, belong- ing to any person within the limits of the society, £15 — To Sir Thomas de Trafford, Bart., Trafford-park, the Medal, in lieu of the prize. — Second best, Samuel Sandbach, Esq., jun., Handley, near Chester. Por ditto, above one year and under two years old, £10 — To R. C. Lowndes, Esq., Club Moor, West Derby. For the best bull of any breed, above two and under three years old, belonging to any person solely dependant upon farm- ing, £10 — To Mr. William Boyes, Speke, near Liverpool. For the best bull of any breed, above one and under two years old, belonging to any person solely dependant upon farming, £5 — To Mr. William Atherton, Upholland. For the best cow or heifer of any breed in milk or in calf, £5. — To Samuel Sandbach, Esq., jun., Handley. For the second best ditto ditto, £3— To Mrs. Mary Ann Hill, Canterbury-street, Liverpool. For the best two year old heifer, of any breed, £5 — To Gil- bert Greenhall, Esq., M.P., Walton-hall, near Warrington ; the medal. For the best cow. of any breed, in milk or in calf, belonging to any person solely dependant upon farming, £5 — To Mr. James Birch, Sefton. For the second best ditto ditto, £3.— To Mr. Edward Ko- gerson, Fazakerley. For the best two year old heifer, of any breed, bred by and belonging to any person within the limits of the society, solely dependant upon farming, £3— To Mr. John Gore, Roby. For the second best ditto ditto, £2— To Mr. Wm. Palin, Stapleford-hall, near Chester. For the best one year old heifer, of any breed, bred by and belonging to any person within the limits of the society, solely dependant upon farming, £3— To Mr. William Atherton, Up- holland. i34 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. For the second best ditto ditto, £2 — To Mr. Abraham Tur- tou, Halewood. Horses. For the best cart stallion, £8. — To Mr. William Atherton, UphoUand. For the second best ditto, £4. — To Mr, Henry Jump, Liverpool. For the best three year old colt, for agricultural purposes, £5. — To Mr. Humphrey Hulme, Melling. For the best two year old colt, for ditto, £4. — To Mr. Juhn Jessaman, Coruish-hall, near Wrexham. For the best yearling colt, gelding, or filly, for ditto, £3. — To Mr. Nathan Mather, Blackrod, near Wigau. For the best two year old gelding or filly, for ditto, £4. — To Mr. Ellis Ambrose, Sheviugton, UphoUand. For the best three year old gelding or filly, for ditto, £5. — To Mr. William Lightbound, Liverpool. For the best brood mare of the cart kind, £4. — To Mr. Wil- liam Lightbound, Liverpool. For the second best t)rood mare of the cart kind, £2. — To Mr. Charles Kenyon, West Derby. To the person, being solely dependant upon farming, who shall show the best pair of horses for the general purposes of agriculture, £5. — To Mr. Joseph Ledson, Sefton. To tlie person, being solely dependant upon farming, for the second best pair of horses for ditto, £3. — To Mrs. Margaret Howard, Knowsley. Sheep. For the best pen of three yearling long wool ewes, £3. — To Thomas Talbot, Esq., Tjane-house, Lancaster. For the best long wool ram, under three years old, £2. — ^To Thomas Talbot, Esq., Lane-house, Lancaster. For the best pen of five long wool lambs, £2 10s. — To E. C. Lowndes, Esq., Club-moor, West Derby. For the best pea of three yearling short wool ewes, £3. — To the Earl of Derby, Knowsley — the medal. For the best pen of five short wool lambs, £2 lOs. — To the Earl of Derby, Knowsley — the medal. For the best pen of five fat wethers, £2. — To Mr. George Smythies, Bickerstaff'-hall. For the best pen of five fat ewes, £2. — To E. C. Loundes, Esq., West Derby. Pigs. For the best boar, of any kind, not more than 2 years old, £3.— To Edward Twemlow Booth, Esq., Twemlow-hall, Cheshire. For the best boar, of the small breed, not more than 2 years old, £3. — To Mr. Samuel Newton, Manchester. For the best boar, of any breed, £3. — To Mr. Brazillia Mar- tin, Salford. For the best sow, of the large breed, not more than 3 years' old, £2 10s.— To Edward T^vemlow Booth, Esq., Twemlow- hall. For the best sow, of the small breed, not more than 3 years' old, £2 10s. — To Thomas Talbot, Esq., Lane-ho\ise, Lancaster. For the best sow, of any breed, £2 10s. — To Mr. A. F. Moore, West Derby. ExTKA Stock. To the landlord who shall keep the best stallion, of any breed, to serve the mares of his tenantry gratis, the Medal. — To the Earl of Derby, Knowsley. For the best pair of draught horses employed in Liverpool, £4. — To Mr. Moses Housley, Liverpool. For the second best ditto, £2. — To Messrs. Woodall and Jones, Liverpool. A Medal awarded to Messrs. T. and H Horbridge, of Liver- pool, for the best cart stallion, excluded from entering, having obtained the prize last year. Vegetables. For the best six roots of Swedish turnips, £1. — To Thomas Weld Blundell, Esq., of Ince-hall, near Liverpool. For the best six roots of mangold-wurtzel, the Medal.— To Harold Littledale, Esq., Liscard-hall, near Birkenhead. These roots were grown with guano only. Implements. A silver medal was awarded to each of the foUowing exhibi- ters :— . Mr. William Cro3skiIl,Beverley, for a Ducie drag, price £] 10s. Mr. Thomas Whalley, seedsman, Liverpool, for a gener collection of implements, aud more particularly for his coi drill, steam apparatus, and ploughs. Mr. Robert Elliot and Son, Oxford-street North, Liverpo( for a general collection of implements. Mr. John Whitehead, Preston, for Ids improved two ai four-horse thrashing machines, price £28 and £35 ; and for i improved tile machine, price £30. Mr. James Honderwood, Wotton, for a single plough, dr plough, and scarifier. Mr. William Thomas, Comus-street, Liveqiool, for a go( collection of implements. Messrs. John and James Turner, Great Homer-street, Live pool, for a good assortment of implements. Mr. John Craig, of Liverpool, for two sack-weighing m chines. Mr. John Comes, of Barbridge, near Nantwich, for foi chaff-cutting machines. The following implements were commended by the Judges :- Mrs. Cartmell, London-road, Liverpool, large mill for crusl ing oats, beans, &c., and also turnip-cutter for sheep or cattl Messrs. R. Elliot and Son, Liverpool, an improved tw' horse cultivator. Mr. W. H. Peake, 100, Dale-street, Liverpool, for a tapi barred field gate. Mr. James Honderwood, Wotton, a four-horse grub harrow Mr. William Thomas, Comus-street, Liverpool, for a pair i patent iron wheels. IMr. Abraham Vickers, Manchester, two hay-cutters. Messrs. John and James Turner, Liverpool, for a turni] drill aud a pair of potato harrows. Mr. Wm. Ashcroft, Halsall, near Ormskirk, a collection i superior roots of turnips and mangel wurzel j some of the latti grown in 1846. Several Prizes were also awarded to Labourers an Farm Servants, after which the Chairman propose " The Members of the County." The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm. Wm. Brown, Esq., was loudly cheered on rising t respond to the toast. He said, — Gentlemen, permit m to return you my best and most respectful acknowledg ments on behalf of my colleagues and myself for th honour you have done us in drinking our healths. What ever differences of opinion may exist amongst any o our constituents and ourselves as to the best mode o managing our private or our public affairs, the cultiva tion of a farm or the construction of a ship, I have n( doubt we are very sincerely anxious for the general pros perity of the country ; although we may travel by dif- ferent roads, we hope to arrive at the same end. I an sorry to see any discouragement given to such societief as this, as the very object of our meeting is from a dif-j ference of opinion to elicit truth for our guidance. Wit! I respect to the landed, the manufacturing, and com-! mercial interests, I consider them one and indivisible, i The prosperity of agriculture is necessary for the ad- 1 vancement of manufactures and commerce, and their profitable pursuit is essential to the interest of agricul-| ture. It is exceedingly pleasing to see, go where you will, that the landlord and the farmers have really put their shoulders to the wheel in removing useless hedges, draining, and making other improvements that will enable them to meet any competition, arrive from where it may (applause). The unhappy visitation with which it has pleased Providence to visit us, so materially raising the price of all kinds of provisions, one would infer, in a | THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 435 pecuniary point of view, would be beneficial to the farmer. I cannot take this view of it ; for high prices will so stimulate production everywhere, that, I fear, prices will fall below a fair remuneration. Steady, re- munerating prices are what we must all wish for, when the landlord would know what to expect for his land, and the farmer what he could afford to pay, and to ad- just their interests equitably ; but, until the effects of this famine are over, this is impossible. Although the price of grain will be lower the coming year than the ' past, I hope the extra yield will make it equally remu- inerative to the farmers: quantity will make up for price. I do not expect that the price of stock will give . way so much as the price of grain ; we have not the same range of supply, nor is it so quickly produced. I have just returned from a short excursion through Bel- gium and Holland ; they complain bitterly that our wants have raised the price of everything, and that they will have to pay more for their labour and more for thsir farms, and which will put them in a less advantageous position to furnish us supplies than hitherto, and less able to compete either with the agricultural or manufac- turing interests of this country. As it cannot be sup- posed that I have much practical knowledge of farming, I will not occupy your time, which would interfere with the remarks of other gentlemen who have it in their power to give much useful information. Mr. Brown resumed his seat amidst loud applause. The Chairman : I beg to give you the successful candidates, and coupled with that I give you the health of Gilbert Greenall, Esq. (Drunk with loud applause.) Gilbert Greenall, Esq., returned thanks. The Chairman proposed " The health of the Judges." Mr. Ellison replied, on behalf of himself and his colleagues. He said he felt great pleasure in seeing the number of fine cattle that had been exhibited before them in the show, at the early part of the day. He de- scribed several of them, and pointed out those beasts and the various features which constituted good fat cattle, which was not their size merely, but the general plump- ness and proportion in the various parts which they presented. He then went on to speak of draining, which he contended ought to be done by the landlords, as it was for their interest ; but he approved of a charge of five per cent, to the tenant on the outlay. The tenant, who had only a short lease in the land, could not be ex- pected to do it. Draining was being better understood than ever it had been before, and large quantities of land had been drained and brought under cultivation that was never considered capable of being so some yeai's ago. Another thing worthy of remark was the introduction of guano. In 1815, when he entered on the farm he oc- cupied at Sizergh, near Kendal, he had only sufficient manure for seven acres of turnips, and before the intro- duction of guano had so far improved in the raising of different manures, that he could have twenty-five acres of turnips, but after guano and bones came into use, he could grow fifty-four acres of turnips and fifteen acres of rape. He considered the introduction of guano into this country as a great boon to the farmer ; it gave him the chance of disposing of his farm-yard manure for other crops. He now grew more turnips on his farm than were grown in the whole parish of Kendal (which contains 68,000 acres) in 1807, the year he went to Sizergh. The Royal Agricultural Society had told them that by combining certain things together they might make something equal to guano ; and, if they would only enlighten the farmers on that point, they would confer a great obligation. With respect to pota- toes, they were all well aware that there had been a disease ; although it was not this year so great in his opinion as it had been previously. He thought Provi- dence had afflicted them with it, so that the farmers might be put on the alert and be compelled to make use of their energies. He had tried washing the potatoes and drying them in the sun as a preventive to the dis- ease, and recommended his fellow agriculturists to try the experiment. As to the amalgamation, it might be very well as regarded Manchester and Liverpool ; but he hoped they would not do away with the local socie- ties, as they were exceedingly valuable : when a man got a prize his neighbour came to him, saw the means he had adopted, and obtained information, by which agri- culture was improved. He concluded by recommending a system of co-operation between tenant and landlord, as the best means of bringing land under cultivation and stimulating both parties to exertion. (The speaker was loudly cheered throughout the delivery of his practical address.) The Chairman then proposed the health of Mr. White. Mr. White rose and said — My lord and gentlemen, I regret that the acknowledgment of this toast has not fallen into the hands of our respected friend Mr. Neil- son, who has so generally responded to it, and whose absence we must all regret on this occasion. I am sure the committee are anxious to promote the interests of the society, and as far as I am concerned, I have endea- voured to secure fair play to every man who has claimed it as a competitor for the premiums ; and I hope, so long as I hold the honourable position I now do, I shall dis- charge the duties of my office in the same satisfactory manner which you are pleased to think I have hitherto done (applause). The Chairman said there is one more toast before the final toast of the evening, which I am anxious to pro- pose from the chair ; it is the Royal Agricultural Society of England. (Drunk with applause.) Mr. Shaw, in reply, said, — My Lord and Gentlemen, as a stranger amongst you, I trust you will not for ons moment think that I have thrust myself forward on this occasion ; but having been requested to respond to this toast, I feel it my duty to do so, just as either of you would have done, having been so called upon. The Royal Agricultural Society of England at all times feels grateful for the good and kindly expression of feeling towards them on the part of local societies. Your noble Chairman has expressed his regret that there are not more landlords present ; but I am sure the manner in which you have received this toast will not be less ac- ceptable to that society oa that account, for they feel 436 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE* perfectly convinced that, unless the course they pursue meets with the approval of the practical farmer, the ob- jects they contemplate will not be successfully carried out. There is no society in this country from which such a toast will be received with such satisfaction as from the Liverpool Agricultural Society. Engaged for a long period in pursuits immediately connected with agriculture, I have always looked forward with a degree of interest to the meetings of this society, because I felt perfectly convinced that in reading the reports of its meetings I should learn something of benefit to the im- provement of agriculture (applause). The health of one of your patrons has been received to-night in terms which tell me that there is something sterling about the course he has pursued, which meets with your unquali- fied approbation — (cheers) — that the course pursued for the promotion of the agricultural interests of the county and the good of the tenantry, by the house of Derby, is such as to deserve your commendation. Gentlemen, your noble Chairman has alluded in warm terms to that close relation which should subsist between land- lord and tenant, and in no way can such a relation be better fostered than by the conduct to their tenantry of the noble house of Derby — conduct which oifers a secu- rity to the capital of the tenant farmer, without which no man of common prudence will invest his capital in agri- cultural pursuits. A statesman of high talents, well known and respected when he represented his own country at the British Court, Mr. Webster, addressing his fellow-countrymen, the inhabitants of the United States, observed that ' ' nothing could compensate a nation for the dependance upon others for food." The events of the last two years have signally confirmed the truth of this pro- position ; and I doubt not that many who held it of little importance whether we were supplied with grain of native growth or obtained it from foreign countries, will now have been convinced of the injury which has re- sulted from being compelled to expend twenty millions in the purchase of food from abroad. To this fact, I believe, may be ascribed the disasters which now afflict us. The importance of agriculture, the foundation of all prosperity, has now more then ever been established. Whether as regards corn or cotton, this remark will hold good. There is no place in which the effects of the failure of the cotton crop will be better understood than in this town. After some further remarks upon the bad policy of this country ever becoming dependent upon foreign countries for a supply of agricultural products, and the desirability of promoting home-growth as far as possible, Mr. Shaw observed. The strong expression of approbation made this evening on the appearance of the labourers to whom prizes have been awarded for long and faithful services, some as long as forty years, shows how highly you appreciate those individuals who perform their duty. All have duties obligatory upon them in their re- spective spheres : labourers, tenants, and landlords have each their duties, and the public will not beslow to express approbation or otherwise when merited. With respect to what had been said by the Chairman on the subject of science as applied to agriculture, he would warn them against any implicit reliance upon science unsupported by practice. Experiments should be tried upon a smal scale, when the loss, if any, could not be great. He wa of opinion that practice should stand first ; and what ever science theory might have, let it be estabhshed b practice alone ; theory should be the result of practic properly carried out. He concluded by thanking ther for the honour which had been conferred upon him i associating him with the toast (applause). The Chairman said he was happy that several of th speakers had given him an opportunity of expressing Li feelings from the views which they had taken. He woul not enter into a lengthened dissertation as to the differ ence between theory and practice, whether theory shouL be at the cart-tail, or practice at the head of the hers (laughter). But he would say theory and practic would produce results which no man could at pre sent appreciate. With i-espect to deep draining tber was a difference of opinion, but facts would speak fo themselves. He then read some experiments by a prac tical farmer. In 1845 he drained 175 acres of arabl land, at a cost of ^£"1,191, being at an average per acr of ,£"'6 I7s. ; in 1845, 155 acres of arable and 20 acre of pasture land were drained at a total cost of j^l, 19 19s. lid., the average cost of arable being ^7 4s., am the pasture ^4 6s. ; in 1847, by the operation of deej draining, 120 acres of arable and 44 of pasture wen drained at a cost of ^'1,448, being an average cost oi arable of £7, and pasture of £3 7s. The total of tin three years' draining on 450 acres of arable and 64 o pasture, with 26 of level subsoil, was done at a tota cost of ^4,836 8s. lid. That would give some idea o what was done in the way of deep draining, which wa of great advantage to the land even when every othe means failed. Some remarks had been made as to thi draining being done by the landlord, but what he hac stated was not accomplished on that principle (hear hear). He mentioned several other instances when deep draining had been most effectual m various parts o the country, and concluded by observing, that the sys- tem which had been recommended of allowing the land- lord to drain and charging five per cent, on the outlay; was not at all an objectionable one ; draining was ne- cessary, in fact indispensable, and was for the natural advantage of the agriculturist and the owner of the soil (cheers). The company retired shortly after nine o'clock. — Liverpool Mercury. AWARD OF PRIZES TO THE TENANTRY OF J. H. H. FOLEY, ESQ., M.P. — On Thurs- day, according to annual custom, the award of prizes to the tenantry of J. H. H. Foley, Esq., M.P., took place. The judge was J. Mathews, Esq., who was accompanied in his inspection of the various farms by J. H. H. Foley, Esq., M.P., the libpjal proprietor of the estates ; Hon. W. Coventry ; Hon, ( and Rev. A. Talbot ; — Wickstead, Esq. ; H. Foley, i Esq.; E. Marriott, Esq.; Rev. E. W. Ingram; and the whole of the tenantry. Great admiration was ^'■.| The several ploughs started at seven o'clock in the 1 1 lorning. Competitors in Class 1 met on the Stamford- i )ad, near Catmose Lodge ; Class 2, on the Burley- : \ )ad, near the Winchilsea Arms ; Class 3, on the Up- li! iogham-road, near the Rutland Arms ; Class 4, on the i rook-road, near the railway ; and the Champion Class, 1 the Uppingham-road, near the Brick-kiln. Thefol- iwing gentlemen officiated as The Judges. For the Champion Class, and Classes 3 and 4, Mr. iutfast, Teston, Maidstone; Mr. D. Larratt, Thurlby; od Mr. Cattle, Inkersole, Thorney. For Classes 1 and 2, Mr. Sills, Casthorpe ; Mr. lilby, Queniborough, Leicestershire ; Mr. Shaw, Coton ind, Northamptonshire; and Mr. J. Painter, jun., urley. THE DINNER. At four o'clock the annual dinner took place at the j gricultural Hall, when nearly 200 gentlemen partook if a sumptuous repast, provided by Mr.'Lumby, of the i rown Hotel ; everything in season was bountifullv Applied, and judiciously arranged. Richard Westbrook aker, Esq., presided, and Robert Hawley, Esq., occu- ied the vice-chair. On the right and left of the Pre- dent were Viscount Campden, the Hon. Gerard Noel, I. P., the Hon. Henry Ncel, J. Eagleton, Esq., John lorris, Esq., &c., &c. ; and the general comjjany )mprised the leading agriculturists and gentlemen of jie county. ! The Rev. J. Stackhouse, of Uffington, who offi- ated as chaplain, having said grace, the good things on 16 tables were discussed ; after which the cloth was 'awn, and an excellent dessert supplied. The Chairman then rose and proposed the health of le Queen, which was received with every demonstra- pn of loyalty. This toast was followed by the other loyal toasts, which were suitably introduced by the Pre- sident, and warmly received by the company. The Chairman then proceeded to the more imme- diate business of the evening. Before reading the award of the judges, Mr. Baker observed that it would be remembered that he had promised to obtain the ser- vices of nine gentlemen from nine different counties to officiate as judges. Two of the gentlemen, however, who had undertaken that responsible office, had been prevented by domestic affliction from fulfilling their en- gagements ; and therefore he had been obliged to de- pend upon the seven gentlemen who had that day made their award. The first prize was a silver cup given by the Earl of Gainsborough ; and this was not the first cup given by that nobleman for the encouragement of agriculture. The first prize of this description was offered by Sir Gerard Noel (father of the present Earl), who during his life had given fourteen cups ; and ten had since been given by the Earl of Gainsborough. Mr. Baker then read the award in the first class — Class 1. A Cup, value ten sovereigns, given by the Right Hon. the Earl of Gainsborough, to the Farmer's Son, of Rut- laodshire, not in business for himself, who shall plough in the best manner half an acre of land, with four horses, not less than four niches deep, horses abreast without a driver. No winner of the first prize in any former year was allowed to plough in this class. Awarded to Samuel Sharp, of Ridling- ton. The other competitors were John Addock, Stretton ; Philip Ashton, Greetham ; Jolm Berridge, jun., Barrow ; John Cathn, Uppingham ; Henry Fhnt, Cottesmore ; Charles Keen, Empinghara ; William Laxtou, jun., Cottesmore ; William Rowell, Ridlington ; Charles Royce, Erapiugham ; Richard Seaton, Manton ; John Sewell, Uppingham ; William Spring- thorpe, M''hitwell ; Joshua Tewson, Edithweston ; Charles Tucker, Exton ; John Woods, Beaumont Chase. Viscount Campden presented the cup to Mr. Sharpe amidst loud applause. The Chairman then read the award in Class 2. Five Sovereigns, given by the Earl of Gains- borough, Viscount Campden, Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bart., Sir Richard Sutton, Bart., G. J. Heathcote, Esq., M.P., George Fludyer, Esq., Richard Westbrook Baker, Esq., George Finch, Esq., and others, to the Ploughman of the county, who sliall plough half an acre as in Class 1. Awarded to William Scott, ploughman to Mrs. Johnson, of Branston Leicestershire ; second best, four sovs., to Thomas Gascoigne, ploughman to IMrs. Ashbourn, of Croxton Kerriel ; third ditto, tliree sovs., to John Groom, ploughman to Mr. Thomas Park- insoji, of Ryhall ; fourth ditto, two sovs., to John Bottomlej^ ploughman to Mr. John I>alby, of Exton ; fifth ditto, one sov., to John Hibbitt, ploughman to Mr. James Hammond, of Exton : sixth ditto, half-a-sorereign to William Eyre, plough- man to Mr. J. Dobiiey, of Greetham ; seventh ditto, a crown, to William Martin, ploughman to ]\Ir. T. W. Fowler, of Exton. The judges commended the work of "William Sharp, Charles Toon, and William Dawson, In this class the 2 Q 443 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. silver cup, value five sovereigns, given by Sir Gilbert Heathoote, Bart., to the owner of the first prize plough, was carried off by Mrs. Johnson, of Braunston, Lei- cestershire. John Morris, Esq., proposed the health of Mrs. Johnson, which toast having been done justice to by the company, The Chairman proceeded to announce the successful competitors in the- nest class. Class 3. To the Ploughman of any county, who shall plough as in Class 2, and who has never won a prize or pre- mium at any ploughing meeting. First prize, four sovs., awarded to Walter Hotchkin, ploughman to Mr. Isaac Tucker, of Extoii ; second best, three sovs., to Thomas IManton, ploughman to Mr. Charles Rowell, of Ridlington ; third ditto, two sovs., to Edward Buckle, ploughman to Richard West- brook Baker, Esq. ; fourth ditto, one sov., to William Wig- gington, ploughman to Mr. Sturgess, of North Luffenham. The judges commended the work of Robert Little- dyke, Joseph Webb, and Henry Martin. The Chairman said before reading the award in the next class, he wished to reiterate a striking remark which had been made by every one who had witnessed the plough-field, with reference to the masterly work of the youth, under eighteen, who had won the first prize. A general feeling had been e.xpressed that a finer piece of work had never been executed in the county of Rutland. He made this remark with the utmost confidence, be- cause, without one exception, the company, as well as the judges, had spoken of it in the strongest terms of approbation. Class 4. To the Ploughboy of Rutlandshire, under 18 years of age, who shall plough half an acre as in Class 2. First prize, four sovs., awarded to Thomas Dawson, ploughboy to Mr. Henry Tyler, of Exton ; second best, three sovs., to John Smith, ploughboy to George Savill, Esq., of Casterton ; third ditto, two sovs., to J. Beavor, ploughboy to Mr. Peter Atkinson, of Cottesmore ; fourth ditto, one sov., to Thomas Cox, ploughboy to Sir R. Sutton, Bart. ; fifth ditto, half a sov., to Eli John Easton, ploughboy to Mr. Walker, of Greetham ; sixth ditto, a crown, to John Tyers, ploughboy to Mr. Joseph Freestone, of Uppingham. The silver medal, given by William Leake, Esq., to the owner of the first plough in this class was awarded to Henry Tyler, of Exton. The Chairman, in presenting this handsome medal, whicb bore a suitable inscription surrounded by a wreath of wheat, to Mr. Tyler, spoke in laudatory terms of Mr. Leake, who had offered a similar premium at this meet- ing for fifteen years. Although now incapable of attend- ing their meeting, the heart and purse oI'Mr. Leake was with them, and he (the chairman) hoped the company would join him in drinking the healths of Sir Gilbert Heathcote and Mr. Leake, who had presented cups and medals, and also the healths of those gentlemen who had subscribed so liberally to the premiums for the plough- men and boys (applause). The Chairman said he had now read the awards in the four classes which last year they had good reason to hope would be forthcoming in 1847. It would be fresh in the remembrance of most present that last year, find- ing that other societies which had copied the rules anc regulations of the Cottesmore meeting were treading ir their footsteps, it was thought advisable to establish ano. ther class. This idea having also been taken up by kin- dred associations, it was for the Cottesmore meeting t( do something more, and therefore they bad come ou this year with a champion class, and offered a gold cup open to all the world for competition, but on this condi tion— that no man should be allowed to contend wh had not carried off a first prize at the Cottesmore or som other public ploughing matches. Twenty-nine persons from various parts of the country, had entered and con tended for this cup, and where had the prize fallen? T the son of a Rutlandshire farmer (applause). A Rul landshire farmer's son, then, could stand against all th world (applause). The Chairman then read the award- The Champion Class. — To the Farmer, Farmer's soi Ploughman, or Ploughboy, who shall plough as in class 1, an who has won a first prize at a public ploughing meeting ; fir- prize, five guineas, awarded to Mr. J. L. Bromhead, of Belmi thorpe (loud applause) ; second ditto, four guineas, to Jaim Goodyer, ploughman to ]\Ir. J. L. Arden, of Dyke. A chan _ pion cup was also offered to the farmer or farmer's son, or, won by a ploughman or ploughboy, to the employer. The otli'l competitors were : — Hodgkiu, Henry, jun., ploughman to W\ J. L. Arden, Dyke ; Bellaers, AViUiam, with R. W. Batei Esq., Cottesmore ; Berridge, Thomas, with Mr. Saml.Benii Bickerings Park, Beds ; Bland, Mr. George B., Ryliall, plofl man to himself; Brown, Jlr. R., jun., Market Overton, ploi] man to himself; Landford, Charles, with Mr. Edw. DaM Tickencote ; Downs, Mr. Richard, Ryhall, ploughman to self; Allen, William, with the Earl of Gainsborough, Elf Park; Newbold, Eli, with the Earl of Gainsborough, Park; Gillson, Mr. Thos., Scottlethorpe, ploughman to self ; Munton, John, with Mr. Thomas Godfrey, Greetlja Gregory, Mr. Fras., Wing, ploughman to himself; Hibfi Joshua, with Mr. James Hammond, Exton ; Jackson, with Mr. Jackson, Sproxton; Burdett, John, with Ml* Jelley, Tickencote ; Southam, William, with Mr. W. '. niiig, Elston, Beds ; Morley, Mr. Wdliam, Withara-on-1 Hill, ploughman to himself; Ward, William, with Mr. Nicliolls, Ilungerton ; Painter, Mr. Benjamin, Burley, plo man to himself ; Richards, Mr. Lewis, Glenn Lodge, Ketlj ing, ploughman to himself ; Rimmington, Mr. R., Greetl ploughman to liimself; Rowell, Mr. Bassett, Ridling ploughman to himself; Richardson, Charles, with Mr. G.^ Rudkin, Exton; Barrett, James, with Mr. G. R. Kudkin, j ton ; Smeaton, Mr. F.. Mauthorpe, ploughman for him,* Gregg, George, with Mr. R. Smith, Burley ; Underwood, G., Sywell, ploughman for himself. The Chairman, in presenting the cup to Mr. Brpd head, said that one important feature in connection wfl the award of this prize was that Mr. Bromhead was VI tor in the capacity of man as well as of master, and, had great pleasure in depositing the prize of five guinfl in the cup, and if Mr. Bromhead was ever in want of farm, let him take that prize in his hand to the landlo as a character (loud cheers). Mr. Brombead's heal was then proposed from the chair, and received wi deafening applause. The Chairman said there was one other prize award in this class. A gold medal had been ofi"ered the maker of the plough whick yfou t^e cjiapapion cd THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 443 They were well aware that for some years plough mak- ing had beea attended with very great success, and no part of England was more anxious than Rutlandshire that there should be competition amongst plough- makers. On the present occusion there had been extra- ordinary competition amongst the makers, and the winning plough in the champion class was manufactured by Mr. Bird, of Casterton (applause). The Chairman then presented the medal to Mr. Bird, observing that it was only justice to say that the implements manufac- tured at Mr. Bird's establishment were very suitable to the Rutlandshire soil, and were very generally approved. The health of Mr. Bird was then given by the Chair- man, and briefly acknowledged. The ChairmajST next proposed " the unsuccessful candidates," and in doing so announced that his friend Mr. Ransome had kindly forwarded twenty guineas to be distributed in any way which might be thought ad- visable (applause). He (the Chairman) thought this sum could not be better expended than in giving to every losing candidate a crown. This had been done, and he now proposed the healths of the unsuccessful candidates, with crowned heads (laughter). The Chairman then read an interesting tabular state- ment of the proceedings of the Cottesmore meeting dur- ing the last twenty years it has been established. This iocument contained, amongst other information, an iccount of the number of ploughs which started at each meeting, the number of cups awarded, the amount of noney given in premiums, the names of the judges, and successful candidates, &c. Having done so, the worthy Aairman said, he had now, he trusted to their satisfac- ion, completed his twenty years' management of the Cottesmore ploughing meetings, and he must now leave :hem to other hands (loud cries of " No, no"). Not hat he wished for a moment that those matches should 36 allowed to decay ; on the contrary, he was as zealous 'or their perpetuation as ever ; but after twenty years' ;lose application and most strict and unrelaxed exertion, a which there really was something like hard work, and mth many other claims upon his time for public good, le did hope the company would be satisfied with the ulfilment of a promise made to Sir Gerard Noel, that le would for twenty years devote his best energies to- .vards the improvement of this department of the agri- iJuTture of Rutlandshire. He had now completed his twentieth year, and to continue it longer single-handed vas a task he did not feel equal to. Without assigning jurther reasons, then, he must be allowed to withdraw ixom the individual management of the Cottesmore ploughing meetings, in the hope that they would be (aken up by other parties, and conducted even beiter hail tbey had hitherto been (loud cries of " No, no"). The Chairman said he was anxious to propose a oast, which he hoped would be drunk even more leartily than any which had preceded it. The toast was >ne of great importance, because without the services of 'jentlemen from different parts of the country to officiate ff'-judges, meetings of that description could not be arried out efficiently. On no previous occasion had a iQpre difficult task been imposed upon the judges, and [ greater skill had never been displayed. Several of these gentlemen had, at considerable inconvenience, come long distances for the single purpose of deciding the pre- miums that day, and the matches were never judged by gentlemen who had given more general satisfaction ; he should, therefore, beg to propose the healths of the judges, with many thanks for their services (applause). Mr. Sills, of Casthorpe, in returning thanks, spoke in high terms of commendation of the work in the dif- ferent classes. At one time the farmers of Rutlandshire were laughed at for their bad ploughing, now they stood preeminent. He had seen a great deal of ploughing in different parts of the country, but none equal to what he had witnessed that day (applause). It was well known to all that the Cottesmore meeting was early in the field, and that not only the neighbourhood, but the whole county were indebted to his friend Mr. Baker, who carried the business forward with unrivalled energy (ap- plause, " True, true"). Mr. Shaw, of Coton End, Northampton, also re- turned thanks, and in the course of his observations im- pressed upon the company the necessity of obtaining tenant-right, which he contended v/ould be better for the landlord, the tenant, and the labourer. He believed the hearts of the people were with the aristocracy, but the aristocracy must work. This was a business country, and if the aristocracy would not go forward with the times, the merchant princes would (applause). He praised the work of the day generally. Samuel Cheetham, Esq., of Oakham, said the next toast had fallen into his hands, and in connection with that toast he had the great honour to present to their Chairman, as a trifling acknowledgment of the gnat services which he had rendered to agriculture, this testimonial (applause). They had heard, in the course of the observations which had been made by preceding speakers during the evening, that these ploughing matches had been carried on for twenty years, and that Mr. Baker had, during that time, given the greatest en- couragement to agriculture, not onl;/ in ploughiny, but in all the various branches of agricultui'e. With what success, they knew as well as himself (loud applause). Whether they looked at the commencement of these meetings, when but nine ploughs started, or at their pro- gression up to the present time, the results were the same — a marked difference not only i.i the ploughing of the county, but, as Mr. Sills had observed, in the gene- ral agriculture of the county had been manifested, and this he feaidessly asserted had been brought about by the untiring exertions of Mr. Baker to promote and im- prove the art of ploughing (loud applause). He did earnestly wish that the presentation of this testimonial had fallen into other hands ; he was, however, only se- lected as the mouth-piece of the whole county of Rut- land (applause). He had had the good fortune to be one of a committe of gentlemen appointed to receive contributions, and he could tell them honestly and can- didly that every person had subscribed in the spirit which, as inhabitants of the county of Rutland, they ought to do ; and those who had not thought well to give their pecuniary assistance bad, without excep. 2 q2 444 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tion, spoken in the highest terms of gratitude and praise of Mr. Baker and his exertions (applause). He thought perhaps the committee might feel in some measure proud in having chosen the Rut- land plough as tlie design for the testimonial, inasmuch as the Rutland plough was made by Mr. Ransorae at the suggestion of Mr. Baker, showing at one and the same time his fostering care for the art of jilougbing, and also that he possessed considerable me- chanical genius (loud applause). He (Mr. Cheetham) had certainly been taught, and he was in some measure a believer in the doctrine, that good and ill are so nicely and evenly balanced, that they never met with a hill without a dale ; the highest enjoyments of life were rarely unmixed with alloy. That was their present position. All rejoiced at the success of the ploughing meeting, and the benefits which were conferred upon agriculture thereby, but they could not help feeling re- gret that this should be their concluding anniversary (cries of " No, no"). He trusted, however, to hear more of that before the evening terminated, and he hoped that the matter would be taken up in a manner which would do credit to the county. Mr. Cheetham then presented the testimonial to Mr. Baker, and said — " The most pleasing part of my duty is to present you, sir, with this testimonial, which I hope you will accept at my hands as a small acknowledgment of the benefits conferred upon agriculture by your exertions to improve the art of ploughing ; and may you live long to reap the reward of your labours, and be a blessing to your family and friends, and may your descendants in ages yet un- born point to it with pride and pleasure as a trophy of their ancestor's deserts !" (loud applause). He would not now ask them to fill bumpers to the health of Mr. Baker, but to fill as they felt, and do that justice to the toast which its merits demanded (loud applause). The testimonial is a small silver plough, standing upon a silver plinth, representing a mound of earth covered with herbage, wild flowers, and plants, elegantly ornamented with oak foliage. The plinth rests upon a rosewood base covered with crimson velvet, and the whole placed under a glass shade. It is wrought exqui- sitely, and with great taste and judgment, dead and bright silver contrasting beautifully in its composition, and is the production of Mr. Benjamin Smith, of 12, Duke-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields. The inscriptions are engrossed upon shields of bright silver, one on each side. The principal inscription is — " This tribute of respect was presented to Richard Westbrook Baker, Esq., on the twentieth and concluding anniversary of the Cottesmore Ploughing Meeting, held at Oakham, Oct. 5th, 1847, in grateful testimony of the many ad- vantages conferred upon agriculture by his indefatigable zeal to promote and improve the art of ploughing." And on the reverse — " The Rutland Plough (of which the above is an exact model) was originally made by the Messrs. Ransome, of Ipswich, expressly for and accord- ing to the suggestions of R. W. Baker, Esq." The Chairman, in returning thanks, said he should simply thank them very sincerely for the very handsome testimonial which had just been set before him. The present would be equally valued by him, whether it had cost one pound or a thousand, and he received it, not only with sincere and kind wishes, but al- most, as it were, from the hearts of those who presented it. Mr. Baker, having expressed his delight at the de- sign chosen for the testimonial, as being a true and beau- tifully executed model of the original plough introduced many years back, referred to his observations upon that implement in 1832 and 1834. " My anxious wish for some years has been to advance by all means in my power- the proper application oi this valuable implement in agriculture in this immediate neighbourhood, which, generally speaking, was very much in the rear of good ploughing. Upon first turning my attention to the sub- ject, I thought it necessary to excite a spirit of emula- tion, both in master and men, and by degrees destroy the strong-rooted prejudice in favour of antiquated ploughs, slowness of movement, horse-power badly ap- plied, &c., kc. Under these impressions, an annual meeting was established under the patronage of a few persons of consequence, both in property and discern- ment, convinced of what it was possible to do. A pair of horses abreast, without a driver, was introduced, depth of ploughing, the time stated as necessary to per- form the work fixed, &c. This, to a certain extent, did much good ; but a difficulty occurred that puzzled m£ much how to find two ploughs that would do their work alike upon the same land, and it never was in my powei to discover a remedy with our country plough makers The plough made by Ransome, No. XVIII. in thi Magazine, called the Bedford wheel-plough, parti; served my purpose, and succeeded in ploughing land ii dry weather, when all other ploughs within our read refused their work. I became well convinced that 1 had found out the right sort of plough maker, thougl not the sort of plough that I thought would be of genC' ral and essential service in the neighbourhood. I wantei a simple implement, easy to regulate and understand yet strong, and, above all, light of draught. My atten tion has been from time to time, as a matter of necessar; consequence, much directed to the construction o l)loughs suited to our local purposes, and I think w have now arrived at the conclusion that in the ' Rutlani plough, made by Ransome,' we have an implement bes adapted for our use ; this plough has become a genera favourite. It is light in draught, simple in its construe tion, and consequently easy to keep in order, and i economical to the user." After thanking his friend about him, many of whom had contributed powerfu help in his undertakings, and by their approbation ha. led him on to carry out his designs which they had de clared serviceable to agriculture, regardless of th amount of subscriptions to cover those plans which h (Mr. B.) considered as necessary ; and of his friendsl the Ransomes, he must say that, with the utmost sin cerity, he ever found them ready to assist his designs even at a sacrifice, and, as a proof of it, they main! contributed to a show of implements at CottJsaaoie which was the first exhibition of the kind ever witnessei in Rutland ; and, in conclusion, must honestly declar that, without their aid, these meetings never could hav THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 445 feacbed their present pitch of excellence, and concluded by proposing " Tiie health of Mr. Ransome," a toast which was received with loud applause. Mr. Ransome said that, although he could not say he was unaccustomed to address large assemblies (having had on previous occasions to respond to similar tokens of regard in the county of Rutland;, he could not but feel, under present circumstances, a degree of difficulty in expressing the gratification with which he received that mark of their approval. It was a source of grati- fication which he did not wish to disguise, to believe and feel that his endeavours had been crowned with so large an amountof advantage. He was certain, however, that the Rutland plough would never have attained its present per- fection but for the exertions of Mr. Baker, and he (Mr. Ransome) could not do less on the present occasion than congratulate him on the elegant testimonial which had just been presented to him, and long might his valuable life be spared (applause). Mr. Larratt proposed the health of the Earl of Gainsborough, who was not only a great supporter of the ploughing meetings, but also of a grateful tenantry, whose children and children's children remained in oc- cupation (applause). Viscount Campden, in the absence of his noble father, returned thanks. He said it would have given the Earl of Gainsborough, whose heart and soul were bound up in these ploughing and agricultural meetings, the greatest satisfaction to have witnessed the proceed- ings of the day, and he would certainly have been pre- sent had the state of his health permitted (applause). John Eagleton, Esq., said, without introducing politics, he might be allowei to say that both the mem- bers for the county were as firm supporters of the agri- cultural interest as any county could desire, and there- fore he had great pleasure in proposing the healths of the members for the county (applause). The Hon. Gerard Noel, M. P., briefly returned thanks for himself and colleague. With respect to the matches, the hon. gentleman said he believed that 115 such ploughs had never before been seen in the county, and that no parallel triumph was recorded in the his- tory of any kindred society. He quite envied his friend Mr. B.'s position, who had travelled over a period of 20 years' successful enterprize, and at the end of that period was justly entitled to every compliment and thanks that could be offered as a promoter of improvement in agri- culture—he envied his position, and only hoped that he should be found year by year as their representative in Parliament, equally zealous in their cause. The good effects which might be expected to accrue from meetings like the one which had been held that day it was impos- sible to exaggerate, and he trusted they would always receive the support which they at present enjoyed. He hoped this was not their last anniversary, but that the matches might be kept up for many years with the same spirit which had hitherto been infused into them (ap- plause). The Chairman proposed the healths of the vice- Chairman and a committee of gentlemen who had ma- terially assisted in the duties of the day. The Vice-Chairman briefly responded, W. Sharrad, Esq., proposed the health of the Hon. Henry Noel, and that young nobleman returned thinks. Samuel Cheetham, Esq., in a comp imentary speech, proposed the health ot Viscount Campden (applause). Viscount Campden returned thanks. Ever since he had made the acquaintance of the farmers of Rutland- shire, fourteen years ago, their interest and welfare had always been nearest to his heart, and so long as Provi- dence should spare him, so long would his energies and efforts be devoted to the same course. He firmly be- lieved that the time would come when the coin-laws would be reinstated, and he had no doubt that the very parties who had given the stab to agriculture would be the very first to call out for protection (applause). If he was not mistaken, the time was not far distant when all classes would unite in the cry of " Protection to British Agriculture" (Cheers). Viscount Campden again rose, and said there was one toast which he had had on previous occasions the pleasure of proposing, and wliich, with the permission of the company, he would now give them, but before do- ing so, he must be allowed again to return to the subject which was strongly impressed upon his mind, and was strengthened by the proceedings of the day ; that he did not know a gentleman who had so undeviatiiigly conferred so much good in the cause of agriculture in a county, nor one who had served the county more use- fully, and his name would ever stand identified with the toast he would propose. Upon the well-being of the labourer, the prosperity of the landlord and the tenant- farmer greatly depended, and therefore he had much pleasure in proposing the health of the labouring classes (applause). Mr. Robert Smith said he did not rise on the pre- sent occasion with an allotted toast to propose to the notice of the company, but as the noble lord had ob- served they were about to close the evening, he was an- xious to ask before thej separated if any proposition had been made for the future. As an individual, he felt ex- tremely desious to can-y on the splendid undertaking which had not only been commenced by Mr. Baker, but so successfully continued by him for twenty years. It had been truly said that Mr^ Baker had done moie than any other man ; he re-echoed that sentiment. The plough- ing matches in other localities, had been under the protec- tion of agricultural societies, under the direction of three or more stewards ; and yet these, with all their skill, had not advanced as the Cottesmore meetings had. He should now be truly glad to hear any proposition for perpetuating what had been so ably commenced and so satisfactorily continued ; as an individual, he thought he had done something at least towards the advanci meat of one branch of agriculture, and he should be glad to assist any gentlemen in the future management of theie meetings (loud applause). Mr. Cheetham said, in reply to Mr. Smith's very proper enquiry, he might state, without being much out of place, that the committee, of which he was a member, appointed for promoting the presentation which had just 44(5 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. been made to Mr. Baker, had taken the matter under consideration, and it had been suggested by some that tlie ploughing should in future be connected with the agricultural society, and perhaps that might be the best mode of procedure ; but he was not quite sure that it would be fair to impose heavy additional duties on the officers of that society without their consent. They all knew the great difficulty which was experienced in get- ting officers to discharge those duties under present circumstances, and if the management of the ploughing meetings were attached, those difficulties, he thought, would be found to increase : and therefore the commit- tee to which he had just alluded had thoaght that a committee of practical farmers .should be formed to carry out the intentions which had been so well begun by Mr. Baker ; and if Mr. Baker would be good enough to accept the chair, the most sanguine expectations of its most ardent admirers would be realized. He had made these statements for the information of the com- pany generally. It had, however, occurred to him that the agricultural meeting was approaching, and perhaps the question would be better deferred until then, and if the majority of the members were in favour of con- necting the two institutions, why let it be so ; if not, the other suggestion which he had thrown out was worthy of attention. He only hoped that the matter would not be lost sight of, but that ]|the county of Rutland would maintain its pre-eminence not only for ploughing, but for general agriculture (Applause). The Chairman was of opinion that the additional business of the ploughing might easily be disposed of at the meetings of the agricultural society. The Chairman then proposed the last toast, the Countess of Gainsborough and the ladies of Rutland- shire, when he, along with the principal guests, retu-ed.. Thus terminated a meeting that will never be sur- passed in Rutland or any other county. All was har- mony, all was useful; and even the very building (" The' Agricultural Hall") in which the dinner took place, was originally designed by Mr. B., and lastly, as a chairman of commerce, by dint of exertion it was cleared of its debt, and quite recently beautified and furnished. It should also be noticed that many thousand persons attended the plough-fields, amongst whom were the persons before named : — The Lady Catherine Noel, and some members of the family ; the Honourable Henry Wilson; the Honourable Colonel Lowther; George Fludyer, Esq. ; the Honourable and Reverend Leland Noel, and S. Stewart; the Reverends N. Morgan, Ellicott, Green, Bickland, Fludyer, Wood, &c., &c. The tablet alluded to showed that — 1055 public trials of ploughs had taken place. 24 cups had been awarded to farmers' sons I ^t'^'"^J|ong°/ 18 cups to owners of ploughs J cup & medal 15 medals to owners of ploughs. Total value of cups, medals, and cash prizes in the 2( years, ^818 17s. PETERBOROUGH FARMERS' CLUB.— PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE. At a meeting of the Peterborough Farmer's Club, held Oct. 9, 1847, the subject for discussion being — Why has not Agriculture made the same progress as manu- factures and commerce have done ? and what are the great impediments which still remain to practical agri- culture ? — Mr. Robert Searson, of Deeping Fen, in the chair, and about 40 members present, Mr. James Webster, of Peakirk, introduced the subject, and said he was glad to see so good an attend- ance, but thought the members might be more punctual to the time of meeting, as in that point they would bear an unfavourable comparison to the manufacturers ; who, when they had any business to transact, met at the time appointed, no matter what distance they had to travel, nor flinching from any difficulties they might have to encounter. As regards commerce, it was conducted with fewer restrictions than agriculture, with greater security to capital, and consequently with more profit to those engaged in it ; and which contributed to the supe- riority of England in comparison to other nations ; whereas the restrictions upon the practice of agriculture left the tenant after he had expended his capital in im- proving his farm at the mercy of the landlord, who too frequently raised the rent, and caused him to pay an in- terest on his own investment, or capriciously allowed a succeeding tenant to take the benefit of his exertions and expenditure. The farmers themselves are in a great measure to blame ; to show the task of getting them tc make any combined effort for any useful purpose, w( could hardly muster a sufficient number at the agricul- tural meeting the other day, when a landlord proposed as a question. Whether he would be justified in charging 5 percent, upon his outlay for draining his tenant's land, he (Mr. Webster) replied that he thought it a very fail per centage, for there were some tenants in the neigh- bourhood he could mention who were forced to pay 5 per cent, for the improvements effected by the employ- ment of their own capital. As long as such a state ol the law existed, and such restrictions weighed upon the capital and skill of the farmer, agriculture would never flourish or improve in the same ratio as commerce and> manufactures. Mr. R. J. Head, of Peterboro, said he thought there were other impediments to the progress of agriculture : | admitting they might improve their produce 25 per cent., what comparison would that bear to the immense in- crease of manufactures ? He knew a manufacturer (Mr. Holdsworth) who a few years since returned onlyi £25,000 annually, now returns £"600,000 ; and thel immortal Cobden was said formerly to employ only 10 men, now is reputed to employ 600. Lord Stanley had lately become a convert to tenant-right, and endeavoured THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 447 to stimulate the farmers to an increased production, which he (Mr. Head) thought might be effected by the cultivation of waste land, and he would have it chiefly employed in the growth of wheat. As to barley, with the exception of that which is used in feeding cattle, he thought it little better than a poison. i Mr. W. E. Grifftn, of Werrington, said the impe- ' diments arising from absurd covenants confined the farmers in their operations, and acted as a straight waist- coat; particularly those which compel the tenant to sup- port overwhelming quantities of game for the amuse- ment and profit of the landlords, some of whom were mere poulterers for the London market. Look at the evil consequences of the game laws upon the labourer : if he should be induced unfortunately to take game, he is associated in prison with evil companions, is demo- ralized, and judged by the very class of men who had fostered the temptations that have ruined his character. It is also a great grievance that a man cannot transmit the capital invested in his farm undiminisheil to his family. How often do we see the tenant compelled to quit his farm, and another succeed at an increased rental, in consequence of the previous improvements, the interest on which the landlord quietly puts into his breeches pocket ! The law is unjust, and must be re- raodslled, inasmuch as it prevents the landlords doing good, however well they might be inclined. He hoped and expected the day was not far distant when an altera- tion would be effected. He rejoiced to see the manu- facturers do well, and no doubt their welfare was of consequence to the country ; but the prosperity of ag- riculture was of equal importance ; and if they started fair in the rivalry of freedom and intelligence, these great interests would only vie in which should do most good for the country. The landlord will eventually see that his interest is intimately conjoined with that of the tenant's, and the tenant will endeavour to raise the la. bourer into a higher sphere ; and henceforth let this be our motto, to take " A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether," if we mean to advance the prosperity ef agriculture. Mr. J. Whitwell, of Peterborough, thought the subject so extensive that it might have furnished two or more subjects for the consideration of the club. With reference to the first part of it, there seemed to be three great occupations for mankind, which, under present circumstances, could not be fairly compared with each other. They had different origins ; that of commerce might be said to spring from the possession by one people of commodities desired by others ; and commerce was generally found to flourish where the greatest freedom was permitted to such transactions, and the greatest security to the capitalist ; and appeared to be designed by the Creator as a means of diff"using know- ledge and civilization throughout the world. That great inland sea — the Mediterranean — was the scene of the first successes of commerce ; and although in many cities great riches were accumulated, iu proportion to the facilities and enterprise possessed, in turn cor- ruption ensued, and a love of luxury caused their down- fall. England, he hoped, aimed at better things, and a more solid endurance ; but even commerce in England was not entirely freed from the straight-waistcoats re- ferred to. For instance, the navigation laws ; there were also monopolies of various companies. The i-tates of Holland, under the greatest disadvantages, increased their commerce, in proportion as they abrogated all un- just impediments to enterprise. With reference to the observation of Mr. Head, whose head is filled with Holdsworth and cotton, it must be borne in mind that his unlimited production of cotton manufactures was really limited by the rival looms of Russia, Germany, and the United States. The consumption of manu- factures was also limited, and would not eventually ker-p pace with the supply ; on the other hand, with regard to agriculture, the great difficulty was for the supply to keep pace with the demand, caused by the increaspd population. The produce of the land may be increased ; and who can doubt that it will amply meet the demands of mankind, if not impeded by the effect of unjust and restrictive laws ? we may humbly trust that the arrange- ments of Providence will turn to a blessing what the doubting mind of man apprehended as a curse. As to the progress of manufactures, it is often promoted by apparently accidental circumstances ; the master mind of a Wedgewood brought to a pitch of perfection the manufacture of porcelain ; that of an Arkright, under extreme poverty and in obscurity, worked a revolution in the manufacture of cotton ; and we may expect, if we go on in the same ratio as we have done during the last twelve years — within which period immense improve- ments have been effected in the implements of husbandry by men of humble means — that there are still large un- developed resources not yet explored. He (Mr. W.) agreed with the remarks made by Mr. Webster and Mr. Griffin as to the importance of tenant-right ; the want of security to the capital employed by the tenant was the great impediment to agriculture. It could not be too often repeated in such assemblies as this, as the ap- probation of an expressed opinion operated with multi- plied force in proportion to the number of the auditors. Reference had been made to Lord Stanley as a convert to tenant-right ; his lordship was reputed to be more for- midable as a friend than as an enemy. He (Mr W.) thought that nothing but the pressure from without had extorted from Lord Stanley what he has done. The greatest exertions were undoubtedly required from far- mers, and it was too just a complaint that they were in- different to matters beneficial to their own interests ; they left the science, the skill, and the credit to men not bred as farmers— such as Mechi, Huxtable, and Davis. Mr. Larratt, of Thurlby, said (hat agriculturists did not assemble so often upon questions connected with agriculture as they ought ; the power was in their hands if they would but employ it. In his early days, after the American war, the farmers had very diffe-ent habits to those required by the present times ; there were very few attempts at improvement, and even now he was sorry to say that in many farmers' houses there were found only a bible and two or three books which were mouldy from want of use. He was a great advocate for book societies, for nothing, in his opinion, promised 448 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. more to the rising race of farmers than a taste for read- ing, which was always accompanied by an inchnatioQ for inquiry and improvement. He said that he should at all times be willing to aid in every respect the ad- vancement of such societies as the present. He was quite of opinion with the former speakers, that security of capital was essential to the promotion of agriculture, which he regarded as a thirty- horse power in the hands of the farmers. Mr. Hatfield, of Yarwell, said he thought there were many reasons why manufacturers succeeded better than agriculturists ; they had applied chemistry more successfully to their business, were more frequently asso- ciated together, had freer access to books, and a safer employment of capital. If he laboured under any diffi- culty he could at once apply the remedy. A farmer cannot apply chemical knowledge so readily as a manu- facturer; he must wait a year for the result of his ex- periments. He was happy to bear testimony to the efficacy of the schools rising up, which would materially benefit the condition of the farmers. Mr. CoMPTON, of Water Newton, said that one point of the subject had escaped their notice, namely, that the farmer could not realize a profit upon his capital more than once a year ; whereas the manufac- turer, owing to the facilities afforded by railroads, could now turn over his capital frequently during that space of time, by attending the various markets formerly only heard of through the columns of a newspaper. He was glad to witness the improvement that had been effected in agriculture during the last few years, and observed that the enterprizing members would be glad to witness the gradual increase of this society, as he found invaria- bly, in applying to persons to become members, that the farms of those who refused to join it were in a dilapi- dated and beggared condition. Mr. Edgsox, of Etton, said he had ever entertained the opinion that the want of security for capital employ- ed in agricultural improvements was the greatest impe- diment to the farmer, and restricted the full develop- ment of the resources of the soil. He was gratified from the remarks of the preceding speakers ia being able, in accordance with their sentiments, to frame and submit the following lesolution, which was unanimously adopted. "That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the nonadvancement of agriculture in proportion to that of commerce and manufactures is attributable, in a great measure, to the inefficient security given to capital employed in the improvement of land ; and that ere the acres of England can meet the demands of the population, in maintaining the whole and employ- ing the greater portion of it, the absurd restrictions as to cropping (imposed too frequently by unpractical land- agents), the unjustifiable prejudices to the ploughing up of inferior grass land must not only be relaxed but abolished, and an equitable and reasonable security given to the proper employment of capital in the im- provement of the soil." In conclusion, Mr. Webster rose to propose that the observations of the several members be reported to the Mark Lane Express. At the same time he fell gratified at the manner with which the subject had been discussed, and congratulated the members upon their spirited reception of it. He trusted that the farm would ere long be established as the tenant's bank, and return him good interest for the capital employed in it. The honorary secretaries, Messrs. Griffin and Edgson, assured the meeting that the wishes of the members should be complied with as far as their imperfect report of the proceedings would permit. THICK VERSUS THIN SOWING. BV HENRY WOODS. !0 ' •fO) This subject, which is but the system of Jethro Tull revived, is now going through a strict exami- nation by men of considerable talent and experi- ence, for although report has been rife in favour of thin sowing, in preference of thick, as the present system now is called, nevertheless we ought not to let this subject pass smoothly along, without bring- ing forward such well substantiated proofs as we have at command in favour of the system followed by many first-rate agriculturists with unvaried suc- cess. It may, however, appear strange that one who has previously endeavoured to prove the im- portance of keeping pace with the march of im- provement, should give any countenance to the system of our forefathers. But from the success that has hitherto crowned the system now followed, I feel compelled to confess myself an advocate of moderately thick sowing, in preference of goiogSJ the entire length of many of the advocates of immo«;< derately thin sowing, knowing full well that suol^ representations are generally carried to the full esn' treme, and are liable to lead many astray, for soiDffil men are prone to adopt any system of this kind■ !*»• wi -^ O w ^3 oi Mi- Kl- Bushels. 45 40 O) as 3 &. o ►« o O H-. O h- H- o ■M H- cc O '-' -^ O CT) O O Cv Ci T ons. Cwts. lbs. 1 1 56 1 0 0 1 0 0 The experiments of E. Barkley, Esq., M.P., re- nted to the Royal Agricultural Society, were of le same unequivocal character. He not only sub- litted the thick and thin sowing to the test '' the scale, but he tested the drilling and dib- ling process against the broadcast system of sow- ig, and it is astonishing that the broadcast lethod by far exceeded all the other modes of sow- \g. That it may not lose any of its value, I must eg to give the experiment entire : — "The following is the result of some experiments which I made last year, in order to ascertain the re- lative merits of thin and thick sowing wheat, dril- ling, dibbling, and by broadcast. They were con- ducted with great care upon five acres of level land of uniform quality, being a good deep loam on a chalk subsoil, following a clover lay folded by sheep. The land was ploughed about five inches deep, as it was not thought desirable to bury the sheep dressings below that depth. The seed was put into the ground about the 7th of December, 1843, and the wheat was hoed in the spring of 1844, except the acre sown broad-cast,* which was harrowed. The plants in Nos. 2 and 3 (thin sow- ing) were by much the strongest and looked the best throughout the season, until the approach of harvest, when it became evident that the quality of the grain and straw M'as inferior, more particularly on No. 2, which appeared to have suffered a little from mildew. Samples of the difierent lots were submitted to an eminent miller, and the value of each determined by him ; the straw was valued at the market price. The result of these experiments are very remarkably in favour of thick sowing, and particularly of the old broadcast system ; and, if not conclusive against the doctrine of thin sowing, so strongly, and, I may'add, so ably advocated in the present day, should at least induce caution on the part of farmers before they depart from the practice of their forefathers. Indeed, it is difl[icult to be- lieve that so great an advantage as the saving of a bushel or a bushel and a half of seed per acre can have been overlooked for so many generations. It seems more reasonable to suppose that long practi- cal experience has taught the farmer the more pru- dent course of a liberal supply of seed. It may, however, be contended that had the ploughing been deeper and the seed put earlier into the ground, the result would have been different ; this is not improbable, and it is probable the defi- ciencies in the quality and quantity of thin-sown wheat and straw might have been less observable, but the large differences which my experiments in- dicate could hardly, I think, have been made up. I have this year repeated the trial of thin sowing, having drilled one acre on the 26th October last (the land having been deeply ploughed) with one bushel of seed per acre, the rest of the field having two bushels per acre. The result I shall be happy to communicate if desired." * Let it be observed that the broadcast was not hoed, and mark the result, which is confirmatory of my views on the subject. 452 3 CD > o k oc o a, r3 O 02 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ^•oo O 00 ;0 O «o =+^0.:^ to s ^ in is CO o to t>. o c^ CTi o CI O 'O n e & OCK c o CO •* '15 c^;:; m <1 o o CO 00 ^ Zl - 3 '«^ X CO to "^ t^ 1 fn KS tS " •i'j a! ^ pasn paag JO X;i}uBn^ :ij03aftni sirf ishnij 'I gJi lo anof noiljBfJiia r ^^^ .iq K'j'fid ,'^ijefinwoi) ibIhot 3 00 CO I r-l Mh ffiH . ~ TO ■^ f^ ■3i rt O «j Xi ib d ^ 3 "73 to CL 3 o CO tZJ 3 ■i? •iio .lonbasniiAs After these substantial proofs, it would be use- less to fill these valuable pages by further quota- tions from the many proofs I could bring forward. I must, however, declare that I am no advocate for fIB 911 going the extreme length of the immoderately t| sowing so long followed, believing that there h, formerly been considerably too much seed u« but must say that, from careful observation, 1 1 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 453 ve we have now arrived at about the right quan- r in using eight and nine pecks per acre, and ly say we are now about midway between the 0 extremes of immoderately thick and thin sow- j, and feel confident, from the wonderful produce )ni eight pecks, that the four-peck system will ver become universal. For although it may in me instances have come nearer the mark than I ve hitherto seen it, yet from the many known it invisible enemies (insects) that our practical liners know it has contend with, they will need me more convincing proofs than written articles favour of it, before they will fling aside the trust- jrthy services of their old friend, who may at me times unavoidably shght their favours ; but iiich cause arises more from perverse weather than from constitutional decay of its merits. But, be this as it may, if the thin sowing system really possess the merits it is said to do, it will advance itself in spite of all the opposition that can be brought against it; and if it does not, it will assuredly die a natural lingering death, as mesmerism and all other marvellous things have done. But ere I conclude these remarks I must state that the advocates of the system are well deserving the thanks of the agricultural world for their attempts to benefit society, for doubtless they are sanguine of its merits or they would not do battle in its cause, and for the defenders of the old system I ought to say vice versa. Clipstone Park Farm, Sept., 1847. — Doncaster Gazette. STEWPONEY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The seventh annual meeting of this truly useful asso- ition was held on Tuesday, October 5, and the sitors to all but the show-yard were quite as numerous on former occasions, and a decided feeling was mani- sted of increasing interest in the objects which this ciety seeks to encourage. It was established in 1841, rough the zealous exertions of J. H. H. Foley, Esq., [.P., and under his influential protection speedily be- ime second to none of its provincial contemporaries in le kingdom. Its situation is peculiarly favourable for 16 promotion of its numerous objects. It is limited to circular boundary, having a radius of twelve miles Dund the Stewponey. This includes the important lanufacturing market-towns of Wolverhampton, Dud- 3y, Stourbridge, and Kidderminster, with their more gricultural neighbours, Bridgenorth, Bewdley, Stour- lort, and Bromsgrove. It is thus a sort of link, con- lecting the manufacturing districts of Staffordshire, V^arwickshire, and Worcestershire, with the agricultural )ortions of the latter, Shropshire and Herefordshire, ind brings the manufacturer and the farmer into irame- liate contact, whereby the latter is enabled to borrow or mitate the enterprize and ingenuity of the former, and oroduce that valuable result so prominently apparent in :he agriculture of this district now, as compared with its leglected state in years gone by. A map of the country included within the limits of the society is presented to every member, by the libe- raUty of Mr. Foley, who had one engraved at his own expense, for this express purpose, from the Ordnance survey. It includes an area of upwards of 450 square miles ; and to those wlio are acquainted with the neigh- bourhood it need not be said how invaluable and indis- pensable an association of this nature is to most of the land lying within the boundary referred to. Perhaps no cultivated district in the kingdom is less prolific naturally than a great portion of this is ; and therefore the greater need is there of the most approved modes of cultivation, and the greatest possible economy of labour in doing so. It is gratifying to be enabled to state that these results are being rapidly produced. The oldest farmers are compelled to acknowledge that the land is kept cleaner, the hedges neater, the turnip crops in- creased immensely, the grain crops in proportion, the stock great where little or none used to be — and all this attended by an increased employment of human labour, and increased profits to the farmer. It is now seen that upon the poor light soils of this neighbourhood nothing short of the best systems of cultivation can possibly answer the purpose of landlord or tenant ; and so much good has this feeling produced, that the very land upon which no one could formerly succeed, and which was in many cases abandoned to utter waste and unproductive- ness, now competes with the more fertile portions of the neighbouring lands, and carries off the prize. This very season, uncertain as it has been, one of the best crops of swedes within the limits of the society may be seen upon land (belonging to, and in the occupation of Mr. Foley), which a few years ago was lying idle, and had been abandoned by the then tenant for years, and only used as an apology for a sheep-walk. Upon the same estate is a field of swedes, the grower of which has had the first prize of tlie society awarded to him ; and yet this same field is niturally as poor as any common. Much of this is undoubtedly owing to the great liberahty and splendid examples of Mr. Foley, who has annually offered prizes for the competition of his tenantry, and thus succeeded, after considerable perseverance, in obtaining one of the best cultivated estates in this country. But, although his noble example has effected great good, yet all the improvement cannot be attributed to that alone : much of it is unquestionably owing to the Stewponey Agri- cultural Society. Of the extent of its usefulness some idea may be formed, from the fact that i'1,800 has been expended in promoting the advancement of agriculture, of which 454 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ig756 has been awarded in prizes, viz., £362 for agri- cultural operations and stock, i?160 for implements, and £"234 for labourers, &c. £203 10s. has been ex- pended in books, including the presentation of 1,400 almanacs to the members. Several lectures have been delivered, essays produced and circulated, and landlords, manufacturers, farmers, and labourers have been annually brought together at the same dinner table, and have thus produced that good understanding and sociality which are not only so beneficial to all classes, but so conducive to the stability of the community. One of the most grati- fying features of this meeting is the liberality and kindly feelings shown towards the labouring classes. The suc- cessful competitors for labourers' prizes are presented with a ticket to dine with the members ; and verily it is a most pleasing spectacle to witness the hearty enjoy- ment of these "Bold peasantry, their country's pride." If the editor of the Times or Picnch would but attend one of these meetings, we will venture to assert they would never again charge the members of such associa- tions with a niffgardly spirit of encouragement (degra- ding to the man in comparison with the beast) towards the working classes. The weather was extremely favourable, and the meet- ing was held, as it always has been, at the Stew- poney Ion, which is situated about three miles from Stourbridge, on the Bridgenorth road, at the point where it is crossed by that running from Kidder- minster to Wolverhampton. It consequently com- mands four roads running nearly at right angles to each other ; and as they are all kept in a good state, the facilities for obtaining a good mee'Jn.^ are very great. The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, one of the engineering triumphs of the celebrated Brindley, also passes close to the inn, and has a spacious wharf, with a powerful crane, for the accommodation of those who may prefer this as a means of transmission for implements, &c. The situation is altogether the most convenient that could be selected ; and the scenery is so delightful that, apart from the business of the day, it is a treat of no ordinary description to pay it a visit for the pleasure of the trip. Kinver Edge, with its singularly abrupt outline, and the remains of an ancient encampment, stands out in bold relief upon the horizon, and produces strong feel- ings of admiration mingled with curiosity. We have but little evidence as to the origin of the encampment, or its purpose ; but, as in every other case of uncertainty, the legend goes, it was done by Oliver Cromwell. Whether it be so, or whether that redoubtable individual really committed all the strange tricks for which man- kind give him credit, is not our purpose to determine : suffice it, that we are informed by the tradition of the neighbourhood, that he encamped himself there, for the purpose of destroying another feature in the scenery of this pretty little inn, to wit, Stourton Castle, said to have been the birthplace of Cardinal Pole, but now the magnificent residence of James Foster, Esq., the great ironmaster. Looking at this imposing edifice from the inn, the eye naturally falls upon the valley beneath which winds its circumambient way romantically towa the picturesque village of Kinver, as if to afford ■ most circuitous passage possible to the river Sto which flows down its centre. Upwards this val stretches through the beautiful grounds of Prestwood, which is seen the elegant mansion of J. H. H. Fol Esq., M.P. The show-ground was immediately bebii but elevated above the inn, backed up by luxuric plantations towering gracefully above the ordin; visual range ; whilst the field for the ploughing and ti of implements was on more elevated group.d towai Stourbridge, about a quarter of a mile from the form We had the opportunity of walking over the sho ground, &c., early in the morning, and can confiden assert we never saw better arrangements made, eitl for the accommodation of stock and implements, or the comfort of visitors. Adjoining the show-yard spacious marquee had been ei"ected by Mr. Smith, Oldswinford, for the dinner, calculated to accommodi upwards of three hundred persons. The stewards of the show-yard were Messrs. Corbe Thompson, Nock, and Beddard ; and of the dinner, ( Rev. G. Wharton, and Mr. E. Rogers. The judges were as follow : — Turnips. . Messrs. W. Griffiths, J. Craig, and, '' Spence, jun. -S^oc^.. Messrs. T. H. Windle, J. Farmer, and),^ Pratt. Implements and Plouff king. .Messrs. J. WiIsoni''^i Cook, and C. Grazebrook. In the show-yard, the Leicester sheep exhibited J Mr. Oatley were the objects of universal admirs^tli^ Lord Stamford's cows and pigs also elicited severalqdi served encomiums. The implements, although fo (owing to a canal stoppage having detained those Messrs. Proctor and Ryland, on their way from £| Lichfield Meeting) were much admired. We partnw larly noticed a drill (Garrett's) for general purposes, e: hibited by Mr. John Nock, of Kinver, and Howard Northampton prize plough, shown by Messrs. Procb and Ryland. Mr. Hill, of Brierly Hill, had a very e; tensive assortment of iron hurdles and fencing, whic was much admired. The great source of attraction wi the ploughing match, which commenced shortly afti twelve o'clock, and drew together an immense concour of spectators. Several implements were also tried i the same field, including Howard's Bedford plougl which appeared to execute its work in a superior man ner. Amongst the visitors, we observed the Lords Lyij telton and Henley ; the very Rev. the Dean of Worces ter ; Sir Offley Wakeman, Bart. ; the Hon. W. Coventry the Hon. and Rev. A. Talbot ; the Hon. and Rev. W. HI Lyttelton ; J. H. H. Foley, Esq., M.P. ; W. L. Childf W. A. Roberts, E. Marriott, W. W. Whitmore, E.,I Gatacre, J. Matthews, A. Gyde, and W. Grazebrook Esquires ; the Revs. G. Wharton, E. W. Ingram. At four o'clock about 200 sat down to an excellen dinner, provided in the worthy host's (Mr. Mantles usual excellent style. We never saw greater provisJQ! THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 455 • better quality : the wines were first-rate. In ad- j tion to the visitors above-stated, we observed — G. ] ate, E. Rogers, H. A. Bells, and C. Noel, Esquires ; [essrs. Brooks, Yardley, Griffith, Wilson, Windle, C. razebrook, Beddard, Cooke, Hackett, Beechard, hoinpson, Thompson, jun., t<.c., &c. Mr. Foley, the resident, in the chair. Grace having been said by the ev. G. Wharton, and the cloth removed, after the iual loyal toasts the president read the awards of pre- iums, accompanying the presentation to the labourers id servants with appropriate observations of encourage- cnt and praise. PREMIUMS. (jj(. (Limited to the Members of the Society. J FARMING OPERATIONS. Iflbu sovs. for the best crop of Swede turnips, not less than cres ; the expense of manure, quaUty of the land, and the Kittral appearance and cleanliness of the (whole of the candi- Ite's) turnip crop, to be taken into consideration. No per- Nitito be ehgible as a candidate who has not, in the opinion of pejudges, a proper quantity of turnips in proportion to tlie I tent and nature of his farm (ten candidates). — To Mr. John irdley, of Stapenhill. Three sovs. for the second best crop of Swede turnips, sub- ;t to the same conditions. — To Mr. Thos. Bache, of the reeuhouse. Three sovs. to the occupier of any farm imder one hundred ; id twenty acres, who shall produce the best crop of turnips, bject to the same conditions (two candidates). — Not suf- ieiit merit. N.B. — In all prizes given for turnips, or other roots, the Sole expense of manures and cultivation, the quality of the nd, and time of sowing, to be stated by the successful can- date, and his statement to be published with the other re- irts of the society. ROOTS. Two sovs. for the exhibition of the best carrots, potatoes, ibbage, and mangel-wurzel, not grown in a garden. The dges to have the power to divide this prize if they think coper. — No candidate. MEMBERS OF A CLUB. For persons residing within the limits of the Society, and rpcommended by a Member.) One sov. for the best fat pig. — To Thomas Smitli, of Staken- ridge, for the year 1846. Ten shillings for the second best pig. — To William Eades, of lent, for the year 1846. CATTLE. Two sovs. for the best pair of milch cows, of any breed ; the itne to be stated when they calved (one candidate). — To the Jar! of Stamford. Two sovs. for the best bull, of any age or breed, and bred ly the exhibitor ; given by Mr. John Yardley, Stapenhill (three andidates).— To Mr. H. Bate, of Castle Hill, Wolverley. Two sovs. for the best cow, of any breed, in nulk or in calf, «longing to a person dependent on farming. — No candidate. SHEEP. LEICESTER OR LONG-WOOLLED SHEEP. I -^hree sovs. for the best Leicester or long-woolled ram, bred i)y tile exhibitor; given by Mr. John Yardley, Stapenhill (two anilidates). — To Mr. J. Oatley, of Bisliton. Three sovs. for the pen of the best five yearling Leicester ■wes, bred by the exhibitor (one candidate). — To Mr. J. Oatley. SOUTHDOWN OR GREY-FACED SHEEP, 'Riree sovs. for the best Southdown yearling ram, bred by ;;he fexhibitor. — No candidate. Three sovs. for the best pea of five Southdown or grey- faced yearling ewes, bred by the exhibitor (two candidates). — To J. H. H. Foley, Esq., M.P. Two sovs. for the best pen of five ewe lambs, of any breed, the property of, and bred by, tiie exhibitor. The judges to have the power to withhold a prize where there is not suf- ficient merit in the animal exhibited to justify an award, espe- cially in case of no conqx-tition (two candidates). — To Mr. J. AVilson, of Aston. One sov. for the best long-woolled tup lamb (two candidates). —To Mr. J. Oatley. One sov. for the best short-wooUed tup lamb (one candi- date).— To Mr. John Yardley, of Stapenhill. PIGS. Two sovs. for the best in-pig or suckling sow (two candi- dates).— To the Earl of Stamford. Two sovs. for the best boar, bred by any person, but the property of the exhibitor (one candidate). — To the Earl of Stamford. Two sovs. for the best pen of not less than four store pigs, of the same litter and under sis months old (two candidates). — To Mr. J. Mantle, of Stewponey. IMPLEMENTS. PRIZES FOR PUBLIC COMPETITION. Five sovs. for the best exhibition of agricultural implements, for all purposes, whether worked by steam or otherwise ; given by J. II. H. Foley, Esq., M.P. (two candidates).— To Messrs. Proctor and Ryland, of Birmingham. Three sovs. for the most useful, new, or improved agricul- tural implement, given by W. Grazebrook, Esq. (three candi- dates.)— To Messrs. Proctor and Ryland, for a linseed crusher. Two sovs. to the owner of the best plough for general pur- poses, given by W. Grazebrook, Esq. (two candidates). — To Messrs. Proctor and Ryland, for Howard's Bedford plough. Mr. Wilson explained the cause of reducing the prize for implements, and only awarding five pounds, instead of ten, as offered. He considered the e.xhibition not sufficiently meritorious to receive the whole amount, and although accident had detained the greater portion entered for competition, he thought that was the concern of the exhibiter, not of the society. The Chairman having announced his intention to give the same premium (ten pounds) next year for the best exhibition of implements, Lord Lyttelton rose, and was received with loud cheers. It had been his fortune to propose Mr. Foley's health on previous occasions as the honorary secretary of the society, but he had now to propose it as president for the year. But it was not in either of these capacities that Mr. Foley's character was to be judged of, for whether he held any office in the society or not, he would still be entitled to their respect and esteem ; but they well knew he was the very life and soul of the so- ciety — in fact, he was the society itself, and its success must be attributed to him (cheers). He felt with regret his own ignorance of the practice of agriculture, and this prevented his appre- ciating so weil as many present could the worth of Mr. Foley in this respect ; but he was sure no one could do more than he had done on behalf of the society, and he hoped its state was promising. He could, however, bear testimony to the merits of the charitable institutions in connection with this society, the establishment of which was mainly owing to Mr. Foley, and to the zeal and perseverance with which he had promoted their prosperity. He felt it would be disagreeable to Mr. Foley if he were to dwell upon this part of the subject, 456 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. and he wished he could have addressed any profitable I I beg now to lay before you the following report of tl observations to them. His lordship went on to observe that he knew not whether these societies were destined to continue in a flourishing condition throughout the kingdom on the same scale as at present, but it was very evident that there was in many places a growing indif- ference respecting them, as had been the case a few months since in the Stewponey district ; still he hoped it had, through the exertion of Mr. Foley and others, been rescued from dissolution ; and he was the more disposed to think so from that which he had seen this day. It was impossible to say what the effects of political measures might be, but he thought the prospects of agriculture were improving, and would contiuued to do so (cheers). He would advert to the agricultural labourers. He felt convinced that the presentation of testimonials, such as those they had just witnessed, were calculated to be beneficial ; and he thought the misapprehension which existed upon this question was consequent upon the im- pression that these prizes were intended as an equivalent for good character. Now they were not intended for anything of the sort. Such prizes, he believed, were not so valuable on account of their intrinsic worth, as from the feelings of pleasure with which the possessors re- garded them ; and he thought they were calculated to bind the lower to the upper classes of society. It was not pretended that they bettered their condition perma- nently by these premiums ; but that their effect was to cheer up the labourer, and, by giving them good institu- tions and other collateral advantages, to do perhaps something more. The permanent improvement of the condition of the agricultural labourer could only be made by the improvement of agriculture ; and he believed that, wherever there was good land with good cultiva- tion, or bad land improved by the judicious outlay of capital, there would be found the condition of the la- bourer improved also, and his conviction was that in no other way could it be effected. Mr. Foley was an excel- lent landlord, and a great friend to the poor, and it must be remembered his position was now altered— he was become a representative in Parliament ; yet he felt con- vinced that, whatever political opinions might exist (to which he did not intend to allude ), all parties would ac- knowledge that he was possessed of the highest possible qualifications for his office. He proposed the health of Mr. Foley, the president. (Drank with three times three, and great applause.) J. H. H. Foley, Esq., M.P., rose amidst cheers, and said: My Lord and Gentlemen : In my present position, as president of this society, I must not forget my usual one as your secretary ; and the best way I can repay your kindness to me now, in drinking my health, and on so many other occasions, will be to detain you as short a time as possible from other more important business of the evening. In the first place, allow me to express my gratification at a kind present which I am informed you propose to make to my honest and excellent steward, Mr. Thompson, for his labours as assistant-secretary. I am sure that he will duly appreciate the flattering com- pliment intended him, and that no one can be more RnxJous for the success of the society than he is (cheers). state of this society and its branches, as far as the a^ counts will admit at this period of the year : — " The Agricultueal Society, since its commencemetit 1841, has given the following premiums, including tho offered for the present year. For turnips and stock, £36; implements, £160; labourers, £234: making a total of £75 It lias purchased about 140 volumes of the most approve works on agriculture, for the use of its members, and h engaged an eminent chemist for the analysis of soils ai manures. "The Friendly Becher Club, established March 24i 1842. — Five hundred and thirty-four members of this socie have insured for themselves a weekly payment after the ages GO, 65, or 70 ; and a sum payable to their families ou deal To these are to be added 1/5 honorary members: the wh( amounting to 709 members ; having, at the present time, clear balance in hand of £910 lis. l.Vil., of which £900 9s. i is invested in the Bank of England, and £10 Is. 5jd. in t Stourbridge savings bank. " The Endowment Society, being a sequel to the latt( in which the sum of £575 10s. 5d. is insured, payable 34 members, at stated periods of 14 or 21 years ; these sui are derived fromthepayment of 3^ per cent, compound in' on the original sura, or instalments deposited. " The Allotment Society, established Michaeliu, 1844. — One hundred and ninety acres of land are now in t' possession of the society, which is under-let by them to 7' labourers ; 10 or 12 acres more are now being let : making total of about 830 allotments. The amount of rent received £526 2s. — the arrears £24 lis. 6d.; which are now beiiig C( lected. "The Friendly Loan Society, Hraited to the Stoi; bridge district only. — The following loans, varying in atnom from £1 to £15, have been granted since its commencemci: Michaelmas, 1845: from ^Michaelmas to Christmas, ]"-'' 8 loans, amounting to £43; 1840, 254 do., amountiii £1,375 ; from January till Michaelmas, 1847, 350 do., amoix. ing to £2,213 : being a total, in two years, of 612 loan amounting to £3,631 ; of which sum it is beheved nothing w; be lost." The more 1 see of these societies, the more convince I am of the beneficial results of them. They impai information to the landlord and tenant, great benefit t the labourer, and a good feeling to all. We have thi year twelve candidates for the turnip prizes, being greater number than we ever bad before. You have however, often heard me express nearly the sam opinions. I will now read you one from a differen quarter. It is the opinion of the French on thes societies, which I saw in the Globe newspaper, about week since : — "French Agricultural Societies. — Societies for th encouragement of agriculture are as much in vogue in Franc as in England. The French papers are full of reports of thei | annual meetings. The following passages, which we translati from a discourse pronounced at the meeting of the agricultnra society of Cosne, in the department of the Nievre, by thi president, M. Grangier de la Mariniere, will show the spirit o these societies: — 'The wonders of English prosperity uiu from the national character, and from the laborious habits of £ people which has not, like us, a smiling climate to attract it tc pleasure. In England every one works.- Even tb« ri«b •0^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 457 vste their own estates, and, far from being; ashamed, jrlnry in ae occupation. From this cause the capital which is drawn om the soil returns to it, and the income of the land, wisely mployed, goes to increase its fertility, not to euconrage angerous speculation at the Bourse, or to promote extrava- auce. All the improvements demanded by the agricultural iterest have been conceded — as the removal of tlie duty on dt, the reduction of the rate of postages, the Scottish system I f banking, by which agriculture escapes from the exactions of 3ury, the amelioration of different races of animals, instruc- I on'of every kind — all have been the object of the intelligent ; berality of the ministers and of Parliament. At the present j me, England — thanks to the unexampled development of its ! ^sources — is the agricultural nation par excellence. Down ! 3 rivers descend entire fleets of boats, loaded with grain and rage; its panting locomotives draw along, iu their rapid I ains, cattle and manure, the refuse of cities, the bones of I enmark, and the guano of Peru ; everywhere we stumble I -er agricultural implements and machines — machines for I irashing and winnowing grain, for breaking and grinding I mes, for watering the soil. Industry gives its hand to agri- I dture ; and there is no operation, down to the steaming of i rtatoes, which does not give employment to the mechanical I inius of that inventive people. And what is the result of i js miraculous organization ? It is this : in France, the average •oduct of a hectare of laud is 102 f. ; in England, it is 215 f.' " am not answerable for these calculations ; and I expect lat whatever the profits may be that are there stated, le expenses of the English farmer must be much •eater than those of the French. However that may ;, I hope I shall never live to see the day that an nglishman, whenever it may be necessary, cannot beat Frenchman, in the same proportion, either with the ! vord or the ploughshare (cheers). But then, you inst remember that union is strength ; the landlord lUst assist the tenant, the tenant the labourer, and you mst have "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull Itogether." The advantage the foreigner has over us :, I think, in the better management of his green crops ; nd I beg now to call upon Mr. Gyde to address you on ais subject (loud cheers). Mr. Gyde accordingly rose and observed — " It is ath pleasure I again meet you in compliance with the Mshes of your president and committee, to state some f the advantages which accrue to the farmer who cul- ivates the light soils of this kingdom, by the frequent atroduction of green crops. I may preface my ob- ervations by calling your attention to the urgent ne- essity of the practical farmer keeping pace with the mward spirit of improvement which so eminently cha- acterises the present age. If we glance at our manu- actures as they existed at the commencement of the jresent century, as compared with their advanced tate at the present day, and compare them with the )rogress made in agriculture during the same period, ve are compelled, however reluctantly, to admit that he progress in our manufactures has been fur greater ban iu agriculture. The various causes giving rise to bis slow progress in our agriculture as compared with )ur manufactures, it is not my province to inquire nto; but one thing is certain— it will no longer be mfflcient for the farmer to follow in the beaten steps )f his forefathers ; or if he does, he will barely keep his )wn and never grow rich. He must drain the stiff fJlays and wet soils, and must deeply cultivate them lUl, introducing the best systems and implements, with a more cireful attention to the preparation and subse- quent preservation of bis fiirni-yard manure. lie must introduce such jilanfs and rotations as arc best adapted to the soil be cultivates ; and above all, ho must endea- vour to raise the fertility of tlic soil by every means within his reach. He would do well to follow tlie ex- ample of the manufacturer, who is ever on the alert, and eagerly adopts any suggestion which promises either improvement in the quality of his manufactures or diminished cost in its production ; recollecting that agriculture is essentially a manufacture, and that there is little difference iu the labours of the smelter of iron, the spinner of cotton, or the manufacturer of beef or corn — the soil, the atmosphere, and water, being the raw materials from which the farmer has to obtain bis crops; as the iron ore, the lime, and the coals, are the materials used by the iron founder; and on the skill with which the materials are managed depends the greater or less amount of profit obtained. Most of you are aware that the crops of corn, turnips, mangold wurzel, indeed that all vegetables consist of two sepa- rate constituents, one consisting of earthy and saline matter, which constitutes the inorganic part or ash of plants, and is supplied directly from the soil, being taken into the texture of plants through their roots; the other, the organic portion or the plant, or that por- tion which is capable of being dispersed by the action of fire, and which constitutes 900 parts in the 1000 of your green crops and roots, is obtained from the at- mosphere and rain water, part being taken into the structure of the plant by the leaves from the atmo- sphere, and part through the roots from the soil. Now all fertile soils contain those saline substances required by plants as well as a certain proportion of decaying vegetable matter, which consists of the roots of the previous crops, as well as such vegetable remains as may have been added as manure from the farm- yard, or dropped as excrement from the animals fed on the soil. This vegetable matter forms an important ele- ment in fertile soils, and is constantly undergoing diminution by combining with the oxegen of the at- mosphere present in the soil, by which it is converted into those gases which arc required as food by plants ; at the same time those saline ingredients which were present in the decaying vegetable matter are set at liberty and taken up by the roots of the growing crops. The process of decay in the organic matter is very ma- terially modified by the mechanical texture and the presence or absence of water in the soil. If the soil be a stiff clay, decay proceeds but slowly, from the coijiparatively small quantity of atmospheric air which gains admission into it ; and if the soil be wet and un- drained, decay is almost entirely arrested, rendering such soils nearly barren, or at best producing a poor and unhealthy herbage. If, on the contrary, the soil principally consists of sand or gravel, the converse takes place, and the decay of the organic matter pro- ceeds at too rapid a rate for plants to economically avail themselves of the products of decomposition. Such soils are generally capable, under good manage- ment, of producing heavy crops of roots and very fair returns of corn ; and some of the sandy soils of Nor- folk and Suffolk are at the present time producing crops, the value of which in one year is equal to what the fee simple of the soil was only a few years since. It is also necessary that soils possess the power of ab- sorbing moisture and ammonia from the atmosphere for the use of plants; or if they are incapable of absorbing it or retaining it after it has fallen in rain, they arc comparatively barren, except in wet seasons. On the stiff soils and loams this power of absorption of mois- ture is confined in an eminent degree by the alumina or earth of clav which they contain ; but in the sandy 2 H 458 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. bulls, which contain but a very small per conlat^e ul clay, this power depends on the amount of decaying organic matter in them, and hence it is absolutely ne- cessary that the light soil should be well supplied with orgajiic manure. It seldom happens that the farmer is at any time over stocked with tXis necessary article, or that sufficient attention has been bestowed on its preparation, to secure the maximum effect it ought to produce. Now, the most abundant source of manure, as well as the most economical mode of obtaining it, is by the frequent introduction of green crops ; ior without green crops, you can have no cattle or sheep ; without these, you have no manure ; and without ma- nure, you are fully aware you get little or no corn. On the other hand, the larger the quantity of green crops you can obtain, the more stock will your land be able to support, and, therefore, the larger your ma- nure heap and more prolific your corn crop ;'and as it is the duty of every farmer to obtain the largest amount of food from every acre of land under his cultivation, he will find the frequent introduction of green crops and roots a means of supporting a much greater amount of stock than under any other mode of farm manage- ment, at the same time that he steadily increases the fertility of his soil, and its capability of producing heavier crops of corn ; for when a farmer does not im- prove the land he cultivates, there is evidently some- thing wrong in the system he adopts. The cause may be from his ignorance of the best mode of cultivating the particular soil of which his farm consists; it may be from the wantof sufficient capital to advantageously work it, or from a determination not to expend that capital in the improvement of another man's land; but be assured that the man who brings the largest amount of intelligence and capital to bear successfully on the cultivation of the soil he occupies, will be the greatest benelactor to his country and friend to him- self. The plants usually cultivated as fallow crops, and used as food for cattle and sheep, are turnips, mangold wurzel, carrots, parsnips, and potatoes, with clover and vetches. These should alternate with corn crops, for which they prepare the land ; the founda- tion of all good arable husbandry being the production of the greatest amount of green food for sheep and cat- tle, alternating with crops of grain as food for man. The introduction of this alternate system of husbandry is of the greatest possible benefit to the light soils, and has been the means of bringing thousands of acres into profitable cultivation, which before were only capable of producing the most scanty herbage. The suils of Norfolk, which were little else than rabbit warrens, and of which, from their sandy character, one of our early kings is reported to have said of the county, that * it was only fit to cut up to repair the roads "of the rest of the kingdom,' is now, under the alternate sys- tem, producing splendid crops of turnips and other green food, as well as rich returns of grain ; and there is not the slightest reason why the same successful mode of culture may not be carried out on all our light soils, modifying the rotation of the crops according to the soil under cultivation. As a fallow crop, the tur- nip is deservedly considered one of the most valuable, and every care should be taken to obtain as heavy a crop as possible, since it is only through the agency of green crops that you are enabled to obtain a sufficiency of manure to keep up and increase the fertility of your soils or consume the straw as food. The turnip, in ad- dition to its great value, possesses the advantages of continuing sound for many months, provided it be kept ' from frost; and when given to sheep or cattle, if mixed with a little ground linseed or crushed corn, forms a highly nutritious food. If sheep are fed with turnips in the field, it is absolutely necessary that they should be supplied wilh some dry food to correct the krge quantity of water contained in the plant. This is best liFeeted by allowing half-a-pint of crushed linseed- cake, or barley, to each sheep per day ; and under sucb treatment they will thrive rapidly, and the soil b< pro])ortionably enriched. Tlie mode of box-feeding of cattle, as recommended by Mr. Warnes, combined with that of giving the cattle a compound of boilec linseed, cut straw, and corn with turnips, is found t< be a most advantageous mode of consuming the tur- nip crop when intended for feeding cattle. Mr. Mar^ shall, who is a most successful feeder of cattle, anc who obtained the prize of the Yorksliire Agricultura Society for an essay on feeding stock, recommends th( turnips to be given alternately with prepared food the compound consisting of boiled linseed, barley, ant chopped straw, and is prepared by boiling 2 lbs. o linseed in four gallons of water, for two or three hours adding 51bs. of ground corn. The mixture is pourec over lOlbs. of chop])cd straw, and this, with from 8( to 901bs. of yellow bullock turnips, and a little strav not cut, piven at night, constitutes the daily food o the fattening ox. On a diet of this kind the animal thrive remarkably fast ; and Mr. Marshall is enable( to feed and fatten double the number of stock witl his crop of turnips than if consumed in the usua way, the manure obtained being far more efficaciou than under the usual mode of feeding ; and he states that the increased quantity and superior quality o manure thus derived have doubled the produce of tli farm. In feeding cattle or sheep it is a mistaken ide to suppose that by the use of turnips or swedes, wit) cut straw, the animals are more economically fed tha; when oilcake or linseed constitutes part of thci daily food, as has been shown by the result of cxperi ments made by Mr. Bodie, of East Lothian, wh found that the weekly cost of each beast fed upo: turnips or swedes, with straw, was 6s. 3d., while thos receiving a portion of oilcake, in lieu of half th turnips, only cost 5s. 9d. per week ; and in this estiraat no account is taken of the increased value of tb manure of the cake-fed animals over that from th animals fed on turnii)s and straw alone. Next in im portance to the turnip as food for cattle stands th carrot, the nutritive matter contained in this roo being greater, weight by weight, than the turnip o swede, but the produce per acre is seldom so heavy It is a root admirably adapted for the feeding of fat tening cattle, and, from its capability of being culti vated on the stiffisr soil, forms an excellent substituti for the turnip, and may be used with linseed or oil cake with equal if not superior advantage. The usi of mangold wurzel and potatoes also have their ad vantage as food for cattle ; and by the occasiona introduction of these crops in rotation, fertility of tin sail will be assisted. A profitable mode of cultivating these roots consecutively is adopted by a friend o mine near Gloucester. He manures the soil heavil: and early in the season, plants ash-leaf potatoes, : yard between the rows. The foliage of this plant being scanty, does not cover the intervening spaces in which mangold wurzel is planted at the proper time, and makes rapid progress from the shelter i' receives from the potato plant. As soon as the petal toes are fit for the market they are dug ; and this sea- son, which has by no means been good, they have realized £14 per acre in prime potatoes, in additfor to seed, and the crop of mangold wurzel at the pre- sent time looking remarkably fine. The cultivaUoi of clover as an occasional green crop, either with oi without rye-grass, and folding sheep on it, greatly im-j proves the fertility of the soil by the regular mannftj in which it is manured by their excrements, as well as THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 459 ly tLe large quantity of roots the clover plant jjuslics iito tlie soil, by the decay of which the subsitiucnt orn crop is much improved ; the same result follows he feeding of vetches, rye grass, or rye on the ground, t has given me much pleasure to inspect, this morn- jitg, the httle farm of my friend, Mr. Foley, with |,'hich most of you are acquainted; this land, five cars since, v.'as a sandy waste ; it was trcnclicil, lanured, and a green crop grown and fed on the round. This supplied the soil with its first elements f fertility ; and by judicious management, and the •equcnt growth of clover, mangold, and tuinips ; it as continued to improve, and last year produced (venty bushels of prime wheat per acre, without the se of manure, as well as having supported 150 sheep nd Iambs on tbe green crops, and four cart-horses, ith a number of pigs in the yards; and -nder the ime management I feel no hesitation in !»/ing that le fertility of this land will steadily and yearly in- rease. A similar result, but with larger returns, has een obtained by the introduction of green crops and )0ts by Mr. Norton, on a farm at Whitfield, late the ismple farm of Lord Ducie. This farm consists at le present time of 260 acres, the produce of which, 1 1838, and under the old management, realized an- ually about £500 in cheese, butter, young stock, a ttle wheat, barley, and potatoes : it has 'ince that me been drained, subsoiled, hedgerows removed, Bcient buildings erected, and placed under a rotation ;' green crops, c therefore suffers until poverty and distress se s the holder of the land, and he has to give way • another tenant, after toiling, perhaps years, to > earthly purpose. We suppose the greatest part of the manure < be made in winter^ — the stock to consist of hort , cov.'s, and pigs. The former we suppose to h:B corn and straw ; the cows perhaps hay and turni; ; the pigs potatoes and barley. The value of the ■ crements of animals depends much on the modet feeding them. The more nourishing the diettl' receive, the better will be the manure. Feedif stock will also make better manure than work)' or holding stock. We suppose the farmstead be near the farm-buildings, somewhat hollowed u in the middle. Into this, as a foundation, sho'f be collected every refuse vegetable matter on 1 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 4G^> farm — weeds of all descriptions which do not contain ripe seeds, leaves of trees, refuse turf, in- deed everything likely to absorb the excess in moisture from the litter and dung. The young cattle are confined in the steading, and liberally supplied with straw and turnips — if tied up, so much the better — \vith an allowance of cake. The turnips cause an abundant secretion of mine, which falls upon the straw which they have sup- plied to them. The manure from the various houses is taken out every morning, and spread over the steading ; and that from the horses being hot, and exciting too much heat when alone ; that of the cows being cool and sluggish in fermenting; that from the pigs rich and moist. There are three conditions necessary to the fer- mentation of manure : — 1. Air; 2. Moisture; and 3. Heat. If the two first are present, and the latter above the freezing point, all necessary to fermentation is present. Now the straw in its natural state is not fit to afford nourishment to plants ; it consists principally of what is called " woody fibre," which keeps together, as it were, the different nourishing substances it contains, and requires to be broken down or decomposed, in arder to fit it for the use of plants. The litter in the stead is, however, only the straw wetted with the urine mixed with the dung of the animals; it cannot ferment because it is trampled so closely by the animals that the air is excluded. Hence during the winter months, when little else can be done, it should be carted to the field where it is intended to be used, and there laid light in squai e or oblong mixens. The lightness admits the air : the wetness is not dispersed by evaporation as in summer, and so soon as the state of the atmo- sphere admits of it fermentation commences. The cultivator may facilitate or retard — may excite or prevent this at pleasure. Turning over and water- ing, if drj^, excites ; compression prevents the fer- mentative process ; and it is desirable that it should proceed so far as to allow the straw to be tho- roughly broken down ; but not so far as to make the whole a cohesive mass to cut with the spade. Economy would indicate its being carried to the field, and, when spread, the bottom of the mixen also carted away, instead of wasting its powers by the dwelling or on the road-side. In the applica- tion of the manure, three things are necessary to be attended to : — 1 , Spread it equally : much fault arises from spreading it thickly near the mixen at the expense of the remainder of the field. 2ndly, Break it in small pieces, to admit of its covering the surface as completely as possible. And 3rdly, Plough it in as soon as practicable after being spread, to prevent evaporation. Many disputes have taken place as to the propriety of applying dung in a fermented or unfermented state. Expe- rience teaches us that when, as in nearly all cases it should be, it is applied for green crops, they require its immediate capabilities being called into exercise; it should be fermented so as to break down the woody fibres entirely. The next description of manures at the command of the farmer's own resources is the urine and surplus drainage from the farm buildings and yards. The urine is a jjowerful manure. It abounds in earthy salts which vegetables contain, and animal matter in a state of decomposition, both of which are eminently calculated to cause the plants to grovv^ rapidly and vigorously. The liquid residuum of the dunghill-yards consists too of the soluble parts of the manure — indeed, the richest matter of the mass; and if this is allowed to waste, it is sim- ply wasting so much of the future crops, preventing the keep of the stock they would feed, impoverish- ing the farm, and entailing, sooner or later, toil un- remunerated to the occupier. In order to save this, it is necessary to be at a very light expense ; the drains from the cowhouse, stable, pigcote, and yard, require to run to a common receptacle or tank, built of brick, or even of clay properly tem- pered and covered over. A couple of pounds ex- pense will, in most cases, serve to construct one suflficient for a farm of one hundred acres; but in most cases it could be done with little more than the trouble necessary to execute it. The liquid runs into this receptacle, and being composed of the most active jirin'-inles of the manure, a rapid fermentation goes on, the liquid assumes a creamy character, and should be carted to the land in the winter months, and spread upon the grass land and clover lea in summer : it will be best employed in watering the heaps of compost, to which we shall presently allude. A barrel of large dimensions fixed upon an axle-tree and a pair of wheels will conveniently distribute the liquid, and it may ad- vantageously be conveyed to any part of the farm where it is required. To grass it is a very valuable application, increasing its fertility and improving its qualit3% and will effect the greatest improvement upon poor worn-out land. These advantages are hke a complete gift to the farmer, who otherwise lets the hquor run waste down a sewer, and is a fertiUzer upon his own pre- mises, and entirely within his reach. We have stated that the cultivation of white crops exhausts the soil — hence any soil newly taken out of grass being unexhausted is always fertile. Now by the sides of hedges there is always more or less eartli which the plough does not stir, and which necessarily grows grass all but useless indeed, and often tending to increase the weeds on the farm by allowing the weeds growing upon it to 464 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. seed and spread by that peculiar motive power possessed by all seeds for their dissemination. Now this earth would be a very valuable addition to the soil of the field which it surrounds, if it were spread on the surface, provided that it could be deprived of its weeds. It would, in fact, be a natural manure, in the most complete sense of the word, and might be cut and carted in winter when there was little else to employ the men and horses. There are two ways of eifecting this desirable ob- ject : on strong soils it is readily effected by burn- ing. Laid alternately with layers of furze or any thorns, and constructed with flues, it will burn so as to destroy the seeds of weeds, and leave a valu- able dressing for the soil. If at first the earth ie not dry, the object Vvill Ije more or less defeated ; afterwards less caution is necessary, as additions may be made almost daily to the fire, when once established. On lighter soils a more economical practice is to cart the earth to a mixen, and layer it alternately with fresh horse-dung, and pouring liquid from the tank above described, or even water upon the whole. A rapid fermentation ensues; the dung and grass-roots, &c., are acted upon, heat is evolved, and with the moisture the seeds of weeds germinate : the frequent turning of the mixen which must take place will destroy them rapidly, and it wUl be fit to use, if necessary, the second year from its being carted. If in the last stage a little lime were added, it would materially improve the mass, and complete the destruction of the weeds. A substance in the possession of every farm, and much neglected, is the night-soil made on the premises. This is one of the most powerful and concentrated fertilizers the agriculturist is possessed of. Its power, as compared with its bulk, renders it pecuharly valuable as admitting of being acted upon by that most valuable implement in cultiva- tion, the drill. In the ordinaiy mode of manage- ment, the manure is spread upon the whole surface ; hence part of the manure is available for the crop and part for the weeds which may happen to be in the soil. By the drill, the cultivated crop only is manured ; the weeds between the drills are left to their own resources — generally amply sufficient it is true, but less exciting by far than when they are tempted by manure. If the ashes made in the house be carefully added periodically to the night- soil, they will absorb its moisture, and render it capable of being drilled with the crops. We men- tion ashes in this connexion because their principal value as a manure is their absorbing of the parts of other manvu-es which would be wasted; for of their apphcation alone we have but little opinion. The dung of pigeons and fowls, especially the former, is highly enriching in its character, and affords facilities of a similar character with night- soil. The difference, however, is, tlie former re- quires only to be dried and beat in pieces, so as to acquire the capability of passing through the drill. A vague notion of their value may be gathered from the fact that four hundred-weight of either of these manures will produce a crop of turnips equal to fourteen tons of ordinary farm-yard manure ; in other words, the fertilizing qualities are seventy- fold that of farm-yard manure. The refuse of the farm of all kinds should be carefully collected, mixed, and subjected to the change of fermentation, which makes it valuable manure. The scrapings of roads, the scourings of ponds and gutters, indeed, everything which exists either in the shape of vegetable m.atter ov unexhausted soil of any description, is all available for manure, and prevents the necessity for the purchase of so much extraneous manure as would be necessary for the ground which the substances so collected would cover. The second division of our subject alludes to the extraneous manures other than those which the farm produces, and which are necessary to be brought from a greater or less distance to supply the waste occasioned by carrying off part of the produce of tlie farm — corn, potatoes, &c. Lime stands the foremost, because it is the most formi- dable, and has been the longest in use, being usee by the Romans. All earth is formed of rocks broken down to powder by disintegration. The burning of lime is a process which excites this , tendency rapieUy, and creates a new unexhausted earth, and that of a peculiar character. Lime generally, as applied, consists of cai'bonate of lime, and carbonate of magnesia and sand. Carbonate of lime is useful to such soils as are destitute or deficient of it. Carbonate of magnesia is less valuable, and in large quantities is caustic and injurious ; and sand in very large quantities may be useful to cold tenacious clays. Hence lime is most serviceable to strong soils, which it opens in texture, and being of an absorbent quality, enables them to dry more rapidly. It has the character, too, when applied fresh, to assist the decomposition of insoluble manure in the soil. On sands, how- ever, this process goes on rapidly, and lime should j be applied to such soils with caution, and to all ' soils ; indeed, an over- frequent application of lime is injurious. Generally, the greatest part of the I lime is apphed to the soils in its immediate vici- nity, which being often formed of the same ma- terials as the limestone, may require it the least. The application of lime requires judgment, is very expensive as regards labour, and is less certain m its effects than most manures, without there are strong circumstances to indicate that the soil really THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 465 needs its application. The usual mode of appli- :ation is to empty the carts in small heaps, allow ihese to fall by the operation of the atmosphere, iiid then spread it on the land. The quantity is ibout ninety-six bushels per acre. When it is ap- plied to peat soils where there is an abundance or jxcess of inert vegetable matter, which acts rather 18 a poison than manure to plants, it ought to be ipplied quite fresh, i. e., as little fallen as possible, [t is an excellent mode to spread it out of the cart n clods, and harrow the surface repeatedly till the vhole is fallen. This converts the inert fibrous natter into manure for plants. On such soils it is hat hme is the most useful. Heavy manures of the above character can only 16 applied in some cases : places at a great distance Vom them, or in elevated or insulated position, vith probably indifferent roads, are placed almost jeyond the reach of such applications. To these he comparatively recent discovery of one of the nost concentrated and powerful of all manures, imall in bulk, easy of application, and powerful in ;fFects on soils calculated for them, are bones, rhese refuse pieces of bone were once considered I nuisance by the bone workers of Sheffield, who iesired their removal from the premises. Their ipplication to the soil soon exhibited their value, ind they were removed for nothing — as they be- :ame more used the farmers began to purchase ;hem readily. Some hundreds of ships are an- aually employed in bringing them from the con- tinent for the use of this country. The soil on which they are most valuable is precisely that which most needed something ex- traneous, viz., light loose sand. Black sand is most benefited by them. Sixteen bushels per acre of bones, alone weighing perhaps three and a half hundred-weight, are more productive of a crop of turnips than 200 cwt. of farm-yard ma- nure, on soils of the above description. Peat, yellow or white sand stands next, gravelly and loamy land last ; while on clay soils they seem to have but little effect. The turnip crop seems to be most benefited by the bones, and when they secure, as they generally will, a full crop of turnips, and these are consumed upon the ground by sheep, there is the greatest certainty of a full crop of bar- ley, of clover to succeed that, and of wheat to follow, when it will be necessary to introduce turnips again. I have known a field v/hich grew very indifferent turnips produce four crops of tur- nips and four of clover, and eight of corn, in sixteen years, by four applications of bones alone at the rate of sixteen bushels per acre. The bones applied would weigh fourteen hundred-weight, and the amount of produce realized would weigh at least owe hundred tons s while the land was left for any crop more productive than it was before. That but a small portion of the bones had been dissolved, was proved by the fact that after a thunder-shower the field looked, at the end of the sixteen years, almost white with bones. The bones are usually broken small, and called half-inch, the dust made by the breaking remaining in them. They are always drilled along with the turnip-seed, so that they manure only the turnips, and not the seeds of weeds, which they would do if spread equally over the land. Turnips of the most asto- nishing luxuriance are generally grown by them, especially on their first and second application. Their value seems to depend on the azote and phosphates they contain. They are composed of one thin gelatine, which contains a large quantity of ammonia, or its principle — azote, which is found in small quantities to be excitant to vigour in all kinds of vegetables ; and as every jjrocess is active which deprives the Soil of azote and the phosphates, and but little is returned co the soil, it is clear why bones are so valuable, especially to porous soils which so readily admit of the evaporation of so volatile a substance as ammonia, which contains the azote, and which are year by year robbed of their phosphates. A great improvement has been recently effected by the solution of bones in mu- riatic or sulphuric acid, or of rendering them more readily soluble. This so economises them, that two to four bushels per acre are an ample dressing on land which has also had a short dressing of farm- yard dung. Mr. Spooner, in his Treatise on Ma- nures, gives a very simple mode of effecting this solution. He says, p. 26 : — " A very convenient and cheap vessel for manu- facturing the mixture is a sugar-hogshead, having its holes stopped, and internal surface lined with the plaster of Paris. (It will be more convenient to saw off about ten inches of the upper part of the hogshead.) It is very desirable to avoid, if pos- sible, any measuring or weighing of the acid, as it is so very dangerous a substance to handle. Many serious accidents occurred, to my knowlege, during the last year ; and it is very difficult to impress farm-servants with a sufficient degree of caution, or even to convince them that a hquid which ap- pears so colourless will burn their skin and clothes. In emptying a carboy of acid even into a tub, it is difficult to prevent a little slopping about, and damaging the clothes of the attendants, as well as the basket, &c., which contains the carboy. To prevent these unpleasant consequences I have adopted the following plan : The carboy is placed on a stage or cask the same height as the sugar hogshead, into which is put the precise quantity of bone-dust we intend mixing with the carboy of acid. The water i8 now added with a watering-pot, 46G THIi FARMER'S MAGAZINE. having a rose at the end, so as_to disperse it tho- roughly, and the carboy of acid is then emptied by means of a syphon. This syphon is formed of a piece of block-tin, which can be bent into any form, about three-quarters of an inch in cahbre and four feet in length. A brass cock is soldered to the long end of the syphon, on which the rose of a watering-pot may be placed. The syphon is now filled with water, and its long end closed with a cock, and the small end with the hand or finger. The latter is then quickly inserted into the mouth of the carboy, the cock turned on, and the acid will continue to flow till the vessel is nearly empty, without any assistance, so that the attendant has no occasion to expose himself to the injurious and offensive fumes which almost immediately begin to escape. He may, however, approach the windward side of the tub, and give the mixture a little stir- ring, which should be continued for some httle time afterwards, so that the mixture may be com- plete. A convenient utensil for this purpose is a fork with two grains, long in the grain, bent at some distance from the grains nearly at right angles, and fixed in a wooden handle. On the same day a fresh lot of bones may be added, and the process repeated imtil the hogshead is nearly full. In two days afterwards the mixture may be shovelled into a heap, and either remain till wanted, or mixed at once with a certain portion of ashes. It should be shovelled over several, times and ashes added at each time of turning, which will thus render the mixture fine and dry enough to pass through an ordinary drill." It is, however, desirable to combine farm-yard manure and bones, as the latter assist the plants to grow in the later stages of their existence, llape- dust is to strong soils what bones are to light — easy of carriage, portable in apjilication, and powerful in its effects. It is usually, however, ap- phed to corn crops at the same rate per acre as bones, and at the same cost. Its effects, however, to subsequent crops are very inferior to those of bones ; it is usually carried off in the shape of corn, and sold in a market, never to return to the soil, which the consuming of turnips effects in the case of the bones. Its value is referable to the azote it contains — in the vegetable albumen it holds, though by no means so great in proportion as in bones ; still, being applied to less porous soils, it is held more firmly by them, and prevented from evapo- rating until the plants have made considerabk progress, and the mucilage and vegetable oil, &c., assist the crop in the way the phosphate of limt does the turnips in the bone manure. Rape-dust should be sown by the drill, by which its effect? are applied simply to the cultivated crops, and that alone. The drill system also assists the hoeing m of the weeds, which, inasmuch as they are gi consumers of manure, belong to our inquiiy otherwise they do not come within the scope o this essay. Soot is useful as a top dressing to th( wheat crop, especially when the soil has not in it f sufficient nourishment to enable it to attain fiil vigour. It should, if possible, be applied befon rain, and at the rate of from twenty to forty bushel.' per acre. Its value depends upon the salts anc carbon it contains, and it is not useful beyond the first crop. Peat, clay, marl, sand, chalk, &c., are apphed tc soils of opposite descriptions respectively ; but as they are alteratives rather than manures, they are only alluded to for the purpose of saying, that i, applied judiciously and sufficiently, they improve all soils so as to render them more fertile, and ad- mit of the manure having a better medium through which to act. Peat should be applied to limestone soil; sand to clay; clay and marl to sand ami chalk ; and clay to peat. Having now reviewed the manures of which practice has determined the value, and of whicli we were able to speak with confidence and correct- ness, we prefer giving the many newly-introduced manures which have of late caused so much specu- lation and theory, in a tubular view, rather for curiosity or to excite experiment than to define accurately their character or effects. We think it much better to bring in that form the examination of many of such substances which interest or novelty have so introduced. We know of no better plan of speaking of these substances than of giving experimental /«c^5 of the application of each, most of which are from various agriculturists in different parts of the United Kingdom, and furnished to the writer by the parties themselves. A few are from other sources, but all may be depended upon for accuracy : — THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, EXPERIMENT BY MR. LANE. Salts of Ammonia — £20 per ton. 407 Season. Same space of ground each year. Grain. Straw. 1844 1845 Super-phosphate of Inne 560 lbs. ; silicate of potass 220 lbs Sulphate and muriate of ammonia, each l4 cwt IG 0 0 31 3 1 27 1 2 1112 4266 •'*'>l846 Sulphate of ammonia, 2 cwt 2244 V Clarke' s Desiccated Compost — £3 l^s.per ton. Quantity of Manure. !;:8 cwt. of urate ;7l cwt. of nitrate of soda , ij21 gallons of Poittevin's 36 7 cwt. of bone dust 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia 1 2i cwt. guano Farm-yard dung "21 gallons of Poittevin's 170 '21 gallons of Clarke's desiccated compost , 3 cwt. of guano .1 1 cwt. of oxygen alkah \\ cwt. of guano 1 cwt. of ammonia alkali 6 cwt. guano » Cost per acre. £ s. d. 0 15 0 1 0 0 0 4 5 1 6 3 0 17 0 1 10 0 0 12 0 0 9 10 0 4 10 1 16 0 1 8 0 0 18 0 2 2 0 ! 3 12 0 Produce peracre, tons cwt. lbs. 3 32 12 82 18 62 4 62 12 82 1 11 17 11 11 12 11 11 14 8 0 12 18 102 13 13 52 13 10 10 61 14 22 6 103 12 13 15 11 14 10 103 Difference. tons cwt. lbs. -f-6 6 52 — 0 2 102 +0 2 102 + 1 8 102 + 1 9 10 + 1 9 10 + 1 9 10 -fl 14 102 + 2 0 61 + 3 4 0 + 3 9 92 + 4 16 3 + 5 4 82 + 5 7 73 f-. DanieVs Manure — Ss.per qr. of 16 bushels. Manure. Quantity. Cost. Total Value of produce. Profit or Loss on manure. Weight of corn per bushel. .- None 24 bushels 24 bushels 2 cwt. 50 bushels 1 cwt. £ s. d. 1 16 0 1 8 0 1 12 0 1 1 0 1 10 0 £ s. d. 9 7 5 10 8 Oi 11 0 9 11 13 10 12 8 5 14 2 0 Loss Profit Profit Profit Profit £ s. d. 0 15 5 0 5 3^ 0 14 4i 1 19 lU 3 5 24 lbs. 65^ Imperial compost Daniel's manure Guano 651 6. 5 J 66 Lime and salt 65i Nitrate of soda 66J Glauber Salt {Sulphate of Soda) — £6 per ton. Quan- tity of land. Acre. Description of manures tried, and quantity of each per imperial acre. Dung. yds. 28 28 23 28 28 28 28 Guano, 4 cwt Sulphate of soda, 1 cwt . . Burned bones, 6 cwt Bone-dust, 20 bushels . . . . Gypsum, 2| cwt Guano, 4 cwt Beech ashes, 48 bushels . . Gypsum, 6 cwt, (a failure) . Bone-dust, 25 bushels . . . , Ditto, 12 bush, and 133 lbs guano Guano, 356 lbs. Guano, 267 lbs.'. , Cost of Dung per acre. £ s. d. Cost of other r.i ^ i . Produce per nnp. lotalcost .. 1 , r}\ manures per acre, stored 15th ' per acre, ^t i ,0.0 acre. * .November, 1843. 5. d. £ s. d. 0 2 2 0 0 8 2 8 0 12 1 1 4 3 2 0 6 8 0 0 8 9 0 0 0 4 2 8 5 16 7 14 7 18 5 12 6 0 8 6 1 4 Oi 0: 9' 0 0 tons. cwt. 11 8 9 8 7 11 7 2 4 19 6 1 7 13 5 12 9 2 14 3 1 18 2 1 8 7 2 14 3 11 15 1 18 2 11 0 18 7 10 15 468 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Guano — (Peruvian, Ichaboe, ^-c.) — £10 to £11 per ton. Description of manure. Farm-yard. . . . African guano . Peruvian guano Potter's guano Quantity used per imp. acre. 12 tons 3 cwt. 3 cwt. 4 cwt. Humphi-ey's | 3 cwt. farmer's com- pound .... Cost of manure, carriage, and application. £ s. d. At 5s. per ton . . 3 0 0 Spreading 0 4 0 £4 8 0 At £6 10s. per ton 0 19 •Sowing 0 2 6 0 £1 1 6 At £10 10s. per ton 1 11 Sowing 0 2 6 0 £1 13 6 At £12 per ton . . 2 8 Sowing 0 2 0 0 £2 10 0 At £12 per ton . , 1 16 Sowing 0 2 0 0 £1 IS 0 Produce of trimmed swedes per acre. tons cwt. qr. lb. 9 7 3 20 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 17 2 5 17 3 0 Value of pro- duce at 15s. per ton. £ s. d. 7 1 0 6 1 6 6 0 0 6 13 2 4 8 3J Cost of ma- nure, and application per ton of swedes. s. d. 9 4 2 8i 4 2i 5 71 6 Q '^ Gypsum [Sulphate of Lime) — £1 Ss.jter ton. \ Manure to cost £3 per acre. Turnips. Produce, Tops, &c. Total. No manure tons cwt. qr. lbs. 4 18 0 24 5 3 0 14 8 6 3 24 12 0 2 14 13 5 0 2 20 12 2 2 tons cwt. qr. lbs. 1 19 1 14 2 4 0 22 3 18 2 8 3 18 2 8 4 13 1 6 6 7 2 20 tons cwt. 6 17 7 7 12 5 1 'i 1 Q qr. lbs. 2 0' Gypsum , 1 8 ' Bone-dust 2 4 0 22 Guano 17 18 27 0 1 20 Farm-yard dung (double expense) . . 0 22 Rape-dust — £6 per ton. Turnips, 6 cwt. guano per acre. 10 cwt. rape-dust 10 cwt. bone-dust 24 tons. 22 „ 22 „ Grass, Guano, at the cost of 13s, per rood 1 cwt. 1 qr, Bone-dust. Rape- dust. African nut cake. Saltpetre (Nitrate of Potash) — £l 5s, per cwt. Grass— Crop of 1843. Mr. John Furnie, of Swanston, tried various salts of ammonia as top-dressing to rye-grass, oni the 13th May. He gives the following report of the result : — Manure per acre. Produce. Stones. Sulphate of ammonia, 89 lbs 232 Muriate of ammonia, 24 lbs 185 Ammoniacal salts, 1 cwt. 22 lbs 235 Soot, 30 bolls 296 Nitrate of soda, 1 cwt. 1 1 lbs 300 Saltpetre, 47 lbs 167 Nitrate of Soda — £l8 per ton. Turnips. Nitrate of soda 18 bush. 1 peck, j Soot 1 7 bush. 1 peck. Nitrate of potash (saltpetre) . 17 bush. 2 pecks, | Lime only 16 bush. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sulphuric Acid and Bones— Acid £9 ^s. 6d. per ton. 469 Manured with 14 yards farm-yard manure and 8 bushels of bones . , 14 yards of farm-yard manure, and U cwt. of African guano 14 yards of farm-yard manure, and 2 bushels bones, dissolved amongst 50 lbs. sulphuric acid, mixed with 25 bushels coal ashes, and sown with hand , 4 bushels of bones dissolved amongst 100 lbs. sulphuric acid, mixed with 25 bushels coal ashes, sown with the hand 16 bushels bones 3 cwt. African guano 14 yards farm-yard manure, and 14 cwt. Cornwall patent manure. . 26 cwt. Cornwall patent manure £ s. d. 3 6 0 2 12 3 2 10 4 12 18^ 12 18* 12 10 8 10 6 2 I8i 11 13j 6 14 Urate — £9 4s. per ton. Manure. None Nitrate of soda Kiln-dust Lime and salt . "Urate" Guano Quantity. 1 cwt. 40 bushels 60 bushels 65 cwt. 2 cwt. Cost. £ s. d. 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 5 0 1 19 0 1 6 7 Total value of produce. £ s. d. 8 19 7i 10 16 8 9 3 6 9 12 101 8 7 5i 9 12 7f Profit or loss on Manure. Profit Loss Loss Loss Loss £ s. d. 0 19 0 14 0 10 0 12 0 10 5h 4i 6^ Weight of corn per bushel. Poittevin's Manure — 13s. ^er qr. of IQ bushels. 5 cart-loads of cow manure to a quarter of an acre, rows 27 inches, produces of turnips 5 ditto horse ditto ditto 27 ditto 5 ditto cow ditto ditto 18 ditto 5 ditto horse ditto ditto 18 ditto 5 bushels of half-inch bones 27 ditto 5 ditto ditto 18 ditto 65 ditto Poittevin's manure 27 ditto 6 1 ditto ditto 18 ditto 5 ditto ditto with soot and ashes 18 ditto Bone-refuse with soot and ashes, cost l6s. 18 ditto Grass and weeds, 5 cart-loads, put in green 18 ditto Potter's Guano. lbs. 6]i 6lJ 611 61| 61 61 cwt. lbs. 79 0 80 87 101 73 89 74 82 90 80 64 0 73 0 82 12 26 0 0 0 0 Manure applied. S 4 St. Potter's manure ( 2 bushels wood-ashes ) 4 St. guano i 2 bushels wood ashes No manure Cost of Manure. s. d, 7 6 6 0 Total weight of hay. cwt. 12^ 12 11 Increase, St. 10 Value of Increase. MR. Gardiner's experiment on wheat. Salt. qrs. Soil simple 6 Sulphate of ammonia, 2 cwt 7 Muriate of ammonia, 2 cwt 7 Sulphate of ammonia, 1 cwt. ZIommon salt Animal charcoal. Sulphate of magnesia 1 Sowerby, Thirsk, Sept. 21, 1847. iiimuiiia, z cwi. immonia, 1 cwt.'^ t, 2 cwt f coal, 1 cwt .... 1 magnesia, 56 lbs. ' bush. 3 4 2 cwt. Muriate of ammonia, 1 Common salt, 2 cwt. ...... Animal charcoal, 1 cwt Sulphate of magnesia, 56 lbs. Peruvian guano, 2 cwt. . . . African guano, 2 cwt I s. d. 5 0 4 0 qrs. bush, 7 7 470 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE "GOLD OF PLEASURE." By William Taylor, F.L.S., M.S.A,, M.B.S. " Camelina saliva," or " gold of pleasure" in agriculture, an annual plant of quick growth, belonging to the cruciferce order, rising three and four feet higli, has been lately introduced into field culture with utility and advantage in several different ways. The " Camdina saliva," according to botanical writers, is a native of Siberia, though it would seem to be in- digenous to many parts of the world. It is said to be found wild, though of small growth, in the northern districts of Africa. The plant, which is of a hardy nature, thrives well in any soil, provided it is "light:" in preparing the ground for this sort of crop, it would be rendered light by frequent ploughing and harrowing. Where " manure'' can be spared, it may be ploughed in with great advantage. The time of sowing the seed must be regulated according to circumstances ; but the more early in general it can be got into the ground the better, as the crops will be i"eady to harvest so much the sooner ; and being an intermediate crop, it is ready to cut before the corn harvest commences. Thei'e are different methods of sowing : it is probable, in many cases it might be conveniently drilled or broadcast ; either mode is capable of affording the means of placing the seed at an equal, regular depth, and distance. The best time for sowing the seed is as early as possible in the spring — the beginning of March, pro- vided tlie season be favourable : the quantity of seed requisite for an English aci-e is lOlbs., an Irish acre 121bs. : it may be sown in rows nine inches apart. As soon as Ihe plants have risen sufficiently above ground, a horse or hand-hoe is used to cut up the weeds, and no further culture will be required. The grower of this invaluable plant is always sure of a crop, inasmuch as it is not subject to the ravages of insects, particularly the cabbage-plant louse {" aphis brassica"), which so frequently destroys rape, turnip, and others belonging to the cruciferce order of plants, when coming into blossom. The expense of cultivating the ground, management, and harvesting the crops, are exceedingly moderate ; and when grown with care, and a good season, the produce will be very abundant— from 32 to 40 bushels. If the seed is sown in March, it wiU be ready to harvest the beginning of July, then giving the farmer the advantage of a crop of turnips afterwards. It is well known to agriculturists that wherever this plant has been grown, the soil is brought into a good state of cultivation for wheat, barley, and turnips, being found a "non-exhauster" of the soil. It is supposed by " chemical analysis" to receive a great portion of nitrogen from the "atmosphere:" as that is the case, the grower may depend on having his ground in a good state of culture for the succeeding crops. It is a plant well adapted to ttie climate of Great Britain and In land : the farmer will find it much to his interest cultivate some every year as a rotation crop, the lar being occupied only three months, and allowing tl farmer a crop of turnips afterwards. The seed is ripe as soon as the pods change fro green to a golden colour : cai'e must then be taken cut it before it gets too ripe, or much seed may 1 lost : as soon as it begins to ripen, it should be pri tected from small birds, where they are numerous. T) best mode of harvesting crops of this kind is by mov ing or reaping it : when cut with the sickle, it is boui in sheaves, and stocked, in the same manner "wheat:" when mown, it requires only to be turm every other day, till the process of ripening is con pleted : it is packed up in small stacks, or housed barns : the seed is thrashed out with a flail, and pass through a coarse sieve — when it is ready for sale. The straw and chaff may be turned to a very b neficial account ; when cut up, and boiled with the see it produces an abundance of nutritious food for : kinds of cattle, as it abounds in a gelatinous mattf the stalks being small and durable ; also make a gO' thatch for cart-lodges, ricks, and temporary erectioi A manufactory for the oil and cake has been eitablish in this country, and the plant cultivated for the abo purpose, on a very extensive scale : the seed, wh pressed, ^'roduces an oil, used in the manufacture woollen goods, in the manufacture of soap, for 1 bricating machinery, and burning in lamps : the oil equal to the finest sperm, and half the price : it gives greater body of light, and perfectly free from smoke ■ smell : it is considered by consumers the cheapest oil the market, being only 3s. 6d. per gallon. The oilcake is of the most nutritious character, ai would afford the small farmer an opportunity of fattei ing his cattle in a very short space of time, at a litt expense, as the " linseed-cake" is now wholly confiui to the more opulent " grazier." The "gold of pie sure" cake, when masticated, will be found to posse an " aroma," combined with a " bitter," which allcal should possess : it is well known that during the pr cess of fattening " animals," they ai'e liable to be sic on account of the quantity of " inorganic matter, which predominates in linseed oil-cake. The foUowiij "analysis" of the "gold of pleasure" will show tli per centage of " nitrogen" over linseed-cake, combim with mucilage, gluten, anrl gum ; all these inferior pn perties of the cake must be the means of developing f and lean in the cattle, the "gold of pleasure" cal, being only £9 per ton, and the linseed cake £'11 lO**! It has been reported by some persons of little sk or knowledge that the "gold of pleasure" is nothii but a " bastard flax." This is evidently an erroneo THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. 471 assertion, because tLe flax belongs to the " linum orckr of plants," with oval seed-pods ; the " Camelina saiiiui" to the crucifercE order, with oblong seed pods. It ap- pears, by comparing equal parts of flax and wheat, that the flax abstracts from the soil a portion of " phosphoric; acid," the most rare and valuable ingredient the land contains, equivalent to 880, while wheat abstracts only 570, 65 per cent, less than flax. Pliny, in his Natural History, says that there is no plant "exhausts" the soil of its phosphates so much as the flax, this being the general opinion of all landed proprietors. Analysis of "Linseed," and oi' the Seed of" Gold OF Pleasure." — By Dr. John Ryan, Royal Poly- technic Institution. Linseed. The mucilage obtained by digesting in water, consists of — A peculiar gum 8.2'59 Water lOSO Inorganic matter 7'1 1 10000 The elementary analysis gives — Carbon 36-30 Niti-ogen 5-27 Hydrogen 565 Oxygen 5278 10000 Gold of Pleasure. 100 parts of seed gave — Mucilage 8375 Water 1025 Ashes 600 100-00 The mucilage consists of — Soluble gum 61.75 Insoluble gum 2200 83-75 The elementary analysis of the mucilage gave — Carbon 36-30 Nitrogen 12-27 Hydrogen 4 65 Oxygen 4678 100-00 The seed is extremely rich in nutriment. I know of no seed superior to it for feeding cattle. The oil ob- tained by expression is sweet, and excellent, especially for purposes of illumination. From the very small quantity of inorganic matter in the seed, it will be evi- dent that the seed-cake must be of a very nutritious character, being merely the seed deprived of a portion of its water and oily matter. BOILED FLAXSEED r. LINSEED MEAL. The following paper, on " Linseed, Linseed Cake, and Linseed Meal, for Fattening Cattle and Rearing Calves," is by Messrs. M'Adam and Co., general millers, Donegal-street, Belfast, who have for some years seen it practised with the best results : — " Almost every person in the habit of feeding cattle for the butcher is acquainted with the fattening qualities of linseed cake, but rearing calves with linseed meal has only been introduced in this neighbourhood within the last three or four years ; it is now quite established, and a great saving is the result. " Half a pound of this meal is sufficient for a calf daily, and this costs from one halfpenny to three far- things ; while a quantity of milk, containing the same proportion of nutriment, would cost eight-pence to ten- pence per day ; a saving would thus be effected of at least six pence a day on each calf, which is 3s. 6d. per week for one calf, and £'3 10s. per week for 20 calves ; and this for three or four months, amounts to a sum worth saving. " The linseed meal is the cake ground ; the best way of using it is to steep at the rate of quarter of a pound for each feed, in cold water, for 20 to 24 hours ; then to dilute with warm water to the temperature of new milk, making a gruel about equal in bulk to the milk usually given— if any milk be added, a pint each feed is quite enough. " The general report of our farmers and dairymen, who have continued the use of this meal for rearing calves during the last three or four years, is, that the calves are more healthy when fed on it, than formerly when fed on milk, and that there are fewer deaths ; it is very nutri- tive, and at the same time keeps the stomach and in- testines in a cool and wholesome condition." DISEASE IN SHEEP. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK-LANE EXPRESS. Sir, — -I observe with regret, in your Journal of the 27th ult., a statement of the distressing fact that the sheep-pox has been brought by some recent importaUoii from Hamburgh to London ; and as I believe this alarming disease to be hitherto unknown in the British Islands, I hasten to avail myself of your valuable and widely-circulating paper to give my friends, the farmers of England, a short description of the disease and its prevention ; and shall also submit to the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society all possible further informa- tion by the next mail. The sheep-pox appears occasionally in difl'erent and widfily- separated localities on the continent. It is highly infectious, although not thought to be epidemic. There are four stages of this disease, which commences with loss of appetite, swelled eyelids, dulness, and a staggering gait, with slight fever. In three or four days small purple spots appear (easily discoverable where there is least wool, as under the thighs and shoulders, and on the head), about one-eighth of an inch in dia- meter, surrounded by a red ring, and the centre flat- tened. The animal appears to be relieved when the pustule becomes developed, and, if the attack be of a mild character, it soon recovers. But more frequently the pulse becomes quickened, the breath foetid, mouth dry and hot, eyelids and head swelled, so tbat the animal cannot be recognized, and soon falls a sacrifice to diarrhoea. The treatment, under such extreme circumstances, I 472 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. recommend to be intrusted to an intelligent veterinary surgeon ; but I advise all those who know of this fright- ful scourge being in their vicinity to have their sheep and lambs inoculated with virus taken from animals who have the disease in a mild form. About seven years ago I heard of its appearance in my neighbourhood, and had my own sheep and lambs immediately inoculated in the ear, in conformity with the suggestions of the Austrian Government m Bo- hemia, where this malady is longer known. I did not lose more than six per cent, of lambs and one per cent, of sheep, and the plan was equally successful with many of my tenants, who followed the advice ; but in another village on this estate, where the contagion was allowed to take its course, there was, if I remember right, not a single she^ left ! The subject is too important to be so condensed as to occupy a reasonable space in a news- paper. I propose, therefore, to publish a small pam- phlet, containing all necessary information respecting it (with as little delay as possible), through Messrs. Par- tridge and Oakey, Paternoster-row, under the title of *• The Sheep-pox ; its Prevention and Cure." I remain, Sir, your obedient, humble servant, J. Stanley Carr. Duchy of Lauenburg , Oct. 12. THE HOP TRADE. We observe with regret the low prices at which the present excellent growth of hops is selling, and which we attribute to the monetary embarrassments, more serious even than those of the panic of 1825. But when we remember all extremes produce extremes, we console ourselves with the hope that ere long the value of hops will be double what it is now. The con- sumption may be considered very nearly the amoimt in duty which is likely to be grown this year, especially when we con- sider that when hops are at Is. per lb., the brewer will use them in preference to any other bitter ; and another fact is, they cannot be grown for the money they are now fetclmig. Mr. PUmpton, jun., of this town, has furnished us witli a va- riety of calculations that will prove this, and to show the in- consistency of the planter taking the prices at present offered. Indeed it seems reckless in the extreme to do so, unless a sale is indispensably necessary. Seven cwt. per acre, it is assimied, is far above the average of the last twenty or forty years. On this Mr. Plimpton founds the following calculations of the ex- pense of cultivation : — No. 1. Per acre. Rent and cultivation . . . . . . £40 Picking, drying, and duty, 40s. per cwt., 7 cwt. per acre . . . . . . . . 14 Cost the grower £7 14s. per cwt, . . £54 No. 2. Kent and cultivation . . . . . . £30 Picking, drying, and duty, at 40s, per^cwt., 7 cwt. per acre. . . . . . . . 14 Cost the grower £6 3s.* per cwt. . . £44 No. 3. Rent and cultivation . . . . . . £20 Picking, drying, and duty, at 403. per cwt., 7 cwt. per acre .. .. ..14 Cost the grower £4 17s. per cwt. . . £34 * This is the nearest average of Mid-Kent. Tlie three following are taken at 1 cwt. per acre, whic is considered about the average growth of this favoured di: trict : — ROCHESTER COLLECTION TUIS YEAR. No. 4. Per acr Rent and cultivation . . . . . . £40 Picking', drying, and duty, at 40s. per cwt., 10 cwt. per acre 20 £60 £30 20 £50 £20 20 Cost the grower £4 per cwt. . . . . £40 The following three cases are taken at a ton per acre, very rare instance : — No. 7. Per ac Rent and cidtivation . . . . . . £40 Picking, drying, and duty, at 40s, per cwt., with 20 cwt. per acre Cost the grower £6 per cwt. . . No. 5. Rent and cultivation Picking, drying, and duty, at 40s. per cwt., 10 cwt. per acre Cost the grower £5 per cwt. . . No. 6. Rent and cultivation Picking, drying, and duty, at 40s. per cwt., 10 cwt. per acre Cost the grower £4 per cwt. No. 8. Rent and cultivation Picking, drying, and duty, at 40s. per cwt., with 20 cwt. per acre Cost the grower £3 IDs. per cwt. No. 9. Rent and cultivation Picking, drying, and duty, at 40s. per cwt., with 20 cwt. per acre 40 £80 £30 40 £70 £20 40 £60 Cost the grower £3 per cwt. . . The followuig are taken at 5 cwt. per acre, which is mii above the average of Worcester, Famham, North Clays, Essi and Kingdom. No. 10. Per ac Rent and cultivation . . . . . . £40 Picking, drying, and duty, at 403. per cwt., 5 cwt. per acre Cost the grower £10 per cwt. No. 11. Rent and cultivation Picking, drying, and duty, at 40s. per cwt., 5 cwt. per acre Cost the grower £8 per cwt. . . No. 12. Rent and cultivation Pickuig, drying, and duty, at 40s. per cwt,, 5 cwt. per acre 10 £50 £30 10 £40 £20 10 £30 Cost the grower £6 per cwt. . . We need scarcely add that this year is a loss in Worce ter district of nearly the whole of the expense of rent and ci tivation, it not being expected to produce 1 cwt. per acre, whj« will very httle more than pay for stripping and stacking t. poles. — Maidstone Journal. CATTLE INSURANCE.— The Bucks Gaxm states that the Aylesbury Cattle Association has pal- for losses during the past year ^'400. The Farmer and Graziers' Cattle Insurance Association has pa during the same period £20,000. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 478 AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR NOVEMBER. The accounts which have reached us during learly, or quite, the whole of the past month, especting agricuUural affairs in general, are, we onceive, of a character calculated to dispel the louhts and inicertainties which existed in the minds )f many persons some time since on the subject of he future, not only as regards the available sup- )Ues of food for the consumption of the commu- lity at large, but likewise, demand and value. In rder to make these highly important matters lear, it is necessary that we shoidd enter into a few xplanatory details — the result of practical investi- ation — and from which conclusions of no mean nportance may be drawn. Although the absence f accurate statistics renders it impossible for us to ffer any positive statement of the actual quantity f grain produced in this country in any given ear — the want of which has not unfrequently een productive of the most serious disadvantages, 1 a pecuniary point of view, to the home growers i well as the importers of grain — it is a well-as- jitained fact that wheat, this season, has proved a lir average one ; that of barley large ; that of oats loderate; that of beans and peas small. Without uly considering the trade in all its bearings, many ontemporary prints have jumped to the conclusion lat, as the new crop of wheat is admitted to be a ood one, and as large arrivals of foreign corn and our have taken place this year, a very considerable eduction in present prices will be the result. We urselves are not, however, prepared to subscribe 3 this doctrine, for one or two most cogent reasons. t is quite true that unusually large supplies of rain have been drawn from America and else- here ; but ^\'e must bear in mind that at least even-eighths have already gone into consumption, nd further, that the actual stock of wheat now eld by our farmers — owing to the old supphes aving been nearly worked off — is by no means irge, the time of year considered ; and certainly it /ill not prove in excess of the demand during the ext nine months. Again, it is quite evident that, rem the late dechne in the quotations here, and he embarrassed position in which most of the sually large importing houses have been placed, ^e arrivals of grain in the United Kingdom 3r some time hence will, comparatively peaking, be on a very limited scale. On the con- ment, where the potato disease is represented as aaking considerable ravages, the prices of wheat nd other articles are still assuming a much higher ange than here, with very limited stocks on hand ; and in Ireland the actual quantity of potatoes grown this season is far beneath an average one. That a steady and increasing demand for " bread- stuffs" for shipment to that country will continue, we entertain no doubt whatever ; and from infor- mation which has reached us from well-informed persons, it is not improbable that some transac- tions in wheat, flour, and meal will be shortly en- tered into for shipment to Holland and Belgium. What, then, we ask, even though we have a some- what large stock of foreign grain in warehouse at the present moment, is to produce a further serious dechne in the quotations of wheat here during the next two months ? The mildness of the temperature, aided by the fine rains, has produced a most beneficial influence upon the turnip crop, which, by the way, is scarcely second to any in importance to the country gene- rally, the graziers in particular. In the whole of our large districts it has progressed very rapidly, and the actual supply of turnips, available for both beasts and sheep, is represented as exceedingly large, and, with some few exceptions, of excellent quality. This is a most fortunate circumstance ; for up to the present time immense numbers of stock have been disposed of in our various markets in a half-fat state, arising from the shortness of keep during the last four months, at, as a matter of course, correspondingly low prices. What, then, shall we say of the future as regards the saleable value of live stock? Had the turnip crop proved a failure, from want of moisture or other circum- stances, then, indeed, the stock must have been withdrawn from the land, and a great sacrifice of capital the result. Now, however, matters have assumed a more favourable aspect. In- stead of extensive supplies of beasts and sheep being offered for sale and actually disposed of in low condition, a large portion of them will be kept back until they are fit for the generality of butchers — consequently, it is quite clear to us, especially as the foreign importations, generally speaking, con- tinue much out of condition and light weighers, and, further, that not a few of the shippers have suffered severe losses from the great difficulties they have experienced in finding purchasers for the stock brought from Holland, as well as the de- creased arrivals of pigs from Ireland, that the prices of each kind of stock during the winter months will rule relatively high, particularly those of the best quahties. Notwithstanding the violence of the long-complained-of epidemic has somewhat sub- 2 I 474 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. sided, serious losses have been again experienced by our graziers, and not a few of the Enghsh sheep have suffered severely from the disease which reached our shores about six weeks since, and which was brought hither by the Spanish Merinos imported from Holland. On the whole, the reports respecting the potato crop are satisfactory, but we entertain very great doubts whether its produce is of that extent as to warrant us in anticipating low prices for any por- tion of it, as it is very evident the breadth of land under potato culture this year has been smaller than in the ordinary run of seasons. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. The general features of the cattle trade in the metropolis, as well as in the provinces, since the date of our last review, have been important in more than one particular. In the first place, we have to observe that the fine rains which have fallen in all parts of the country have had a very fa^^ourable in- fluence upon the turnip crop ; hence our graziers have now a much better supply of food for their stock than has been the case for a very consider- able period. This circumstance has — as might be expected, considering the comparatively inferior quality in which most of the beasts and sheej) have been on offer in our various markets for some months past — enabled the flock-masters and others to withold a portion of their supplies from sale until they are in a better condition for the butcher. The actual supplies, therefore, brought forward in the month just concluded have been on a very mode- rate scale, with very little, if any, improvement in their quality or condition, arising from too short a time having yet elapsed for either the beasts or sheep to have derived the full benefit of the in- creased supply of food just alluded to. In the second place, we have to glance at the numerical strength of the stock in England at the present moment, and from which, as also other circum- stances to which we shall presently allude, con- clusive inferences may be drawn as respects the future. That the actual number of beasts at this time grazing in our various districts is somewhat above an average is pretty generally admitted; though, on the other hand, the quantity of beef is smaller than at many corresponding seasons. How- ever, we entertain very little doubt that, as feeding progresses, this falling off willbe speedily made good. As respects sheep, it is, we conceive, almost placed beyond a question that the total supply — though it exhibits a slight excess over 1846 — is small, compared with the consumption. And here another fact, deserving of very particular attention, presents itself, viz., the continued small arrivals of pigs and bacon from Ireland. It is true, owing to the mo general introduction of the green crop system in that country, and which will, undoubtedly, pro highly advantageous to the Irish farmers in t long run, that an increase has taken place in the of beasts and sheep from the sister island ; but the weight of those animals has proved very Ijgl such imports are not calculated to have any n terial influence upon the value of our own stock, a can scarcely compensate for the loss of the prin jjal meat-food of a large portion of the lower a middle classes of society. Again, the importatic from abroad, though they have been what may justly termed extensive, have exhibited a falling in number, on a comparison with the month September, current year, of about 5000 head. T is principally owing to the high prices obtained beef and mutton in various parts of Holland a Germany, the very unremunerative figures wli have been realized in Smithfield and elsewhere, the imports which have taken place during the 1 two months, and the great difficulty which has b frequently experienced in obtaining purchaser any price. These latter observations may be y cipaUy applied to the sheep, which, contrary > the anticipations indulged in for some time p , still continue to reach us in wretchedly bad c • dition. Why the foreign graziers do not pay rr ; attention to their stock, is a problem not easy f solution. It cannot be doubted for a moment t ; they have peculiar advantages in the rearing I breeding of both beasts and sheep — such as low re , cheap labour, &c. — and yet at least two kinds of 3 imports of beasts, since the passing of the act - mitting them for consumption here, have beei i the shape of old cows, while scarcely an ur t sheep has come to hand ! As an instance of e difficulty which has been experienced in efFec ; sales, we may state that some hundreds of fori i sheep have been offered in Smithfield on eight i • cessive market days, without being disposed , though offered at lower rates, viz., from 6s. to '• per head than coidd have been obtained for tl i in Holland. Ere, therefore, our markets can pi e profitable to the foreigners, a very decided - provement must take place in the general condi n of their stock. From the foregoing observations, it vnil be - parent that there is very little prospect of unusu y large supphes of English stock being forvvardei o our markets for some time, and, further, that e arrivals from abroad will not be of that chara r likely to have any material influence upon vai. Our impression is, therefore, that the future pr|8 of each kind of stock, at least those ruling uitO ,, the close of the present year, will be well suppor^- ^ Yet we are not prepared to say, as they are p i, THE l?AtlMER*S MAGAZINE. 475 high on a comparison of years, that any inateri;il mprovernent \\ill take place in then-", and which l.vould have the effect of checking consumptit)n. The large sheep fairs held in the early part of the nonth were somewhat heavily supplied. Only a uoderate amount of business was transacted in hem, arising chiefly from the then inability of the lock-masters to subsist a large additional number )f sheep, unless at a considerable outlay for food, ind the quotations receded quite 2s. per head, ''hose, however, which took place towards its close vere steady, and prices had an upward tendency, iwing, doubtless, to the rapid growth of the turnip nd other green crops. Since we last wrote, some efforts have been made y the Government to protect the introduction into ids country of diseased beasts and sheep from broad. Those efforts have been partially success- il; but we entertain very great doubts whether the resent system of examination of the stock, on its eing landed, is sufficiently minute to ensure the ifety of those animals which may come in contact ith the importations. Fewer diseased sheep have, e are aware, been shipped from Holland of late ; et several cases have come under our observation 1 which the stock has not been fit for food. Foreign Importations. The following imports of live stock have taken lace into London and the outports : — Beasts. Sheep. Lambs, Calves. Pigs ondon . . 3,233 14,135 259 775 135 lutports . 2,200 3,500 119 450 298 Total 5,433 17,635 378 1225 Monthly Comparison, October, 1845. Beasts. Sheep, ■London 629 1621 IfijS-^Dutports 514 — 433 Calves. 27 Total. tliOndon , , [Outports Total ,. 1143 1621 October, 1846, Beasts. Sheep. . 2485 6768 , 2000 2000 27 Calves, 218 107 325 4485 8768 above represent the following totals: — Head, October, 1845 2,791 October, 1846 13,578 October, 1847 25,104 'ran increase of 22,313 head in the month just racluded, compared with October, 1845; and one ■ 11,526 compared with that month last year. Supplies, Demand, and Value in Smithfield. From our own grazing districts the arrivals of 2asts up to Smithfield during the past month have sen seasonably good as to numbers, but very de- ficient in quality; indeed, on some market days, scarcely a good bullock has been on offer. On the whole, a full average amount of business has been transacted at an advance in the quotations of beef offrom2d. to quite 4d. per 8lbs., and at v/hich good clearances have been effected. The value of all other kinds of home-fed stock has been well supported. The numbers have been as under : — Head. Beasts. . 19,509 Cows .. 572 Sheep . . 126,480 Calves. . 2,000 Pigs 2,713 comparison of supplies. Oct. 1844. Oct. 1845. Oct. 1846. Beasts.. 14,000 17,781 19,254 Cows ., 500 473 456 Sheep .. 162,000 120,370 118,210 Calves. , 1,260 1,385 1,504 Pigs 1,429 2,601 3,740 The bullock droves since our last have been principally drawn from the following quarters : — Head. Northern counties 7,500 Eastern do 800 Western and midland do ... . 3,000 Other parts of England 2,850 Scotland 830 Ireland 620 comparison of the arrivals of beasts. Oct. 1845. Oct.1846. Northern counties 9,600 9,030 Eastern do 1,500 800 Western do 2,100 3,800 Other parts of England 1,450 2,000 Scotland 530 200 Ireland 300 200 COMPARISON OF PRICES. Per 8lbs. to sink the offals. Oct. 1844. Oct. 1845. s. d. 8. d. s. d. s. d. Beef 2 6to4 0 2 4to4 2 Mutton ..2840 3450 Veal ....3444 4 2 54 Pork.... 2 6 4 0 3 10 5 4 Oct. 1846. Oct. 1847. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef 2 8to4 2 4 4to4 10 Mutton.. 4254 3852 Veal 3848 3848 Pork.... 3 10 50 4052 Newgate and Leaden hall. These markets have been fairly supphed with each kind of slaughtered meat ; but the quality has proved very inferior. Prime beef, mutton, veal, and pork have commanded a very steady sale at somewhat improved currencies, otherwise the de- mand has been in a sluggish state. Beef, from 2s. 6d. to 3s. lOd. ; mutton, 3s. 6d. to 48, Sd, ; veal, 3s, 6d. to 4s, 6d. ; and pork, 4s. to 5s. 4d. per 3lbs. by the carcass. 2 I 2 476 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CALENDAR OF HORTICULTURE.— NOVEMBER. Prospective. — As the direct operations of vegeta- ble cultvire are not numerous at this incipient sea- son of the horticultural winter, I defer the retro- spective view of the garden and its product to the latest paragraph, and now commence with some operations of manual labour which ought not to be overlooked. So fine has been the season that the rather copious rains of October did little more than soften and meliorate the temperament of the ground. The spade, therefore, will be the instrument to be chiefly called into action so long as the land shall be fairly in a condition to be deeply moved. I must premise, however, that if a heavy " dung " soil be very wet, it will be worse than labour lost to dis- turb it. Trenching is one of the most essential operations of horticulture ; it aerates the entire volume of earth to which it extends ; it raises soil that contains potash combinations and decomposed vegetable solutions that have been carried down by rain- water, and exposes both to the energy of atmos- pheric gases and to the chemical agency of solar light, and thvxs during winter prepares the land for the crops of early spring. Every vacant plot, not in the immediate proximity of the fruit-tree roots, ought to be trenched by the removal of two entire spits, if the lower soil be good enough to be brought to the top ; thus, for instance, mark out what is called a lift, six yards long and eighteen inches wide by the line. Chop along these limits, and fairly dig out and carry to the opposite side of the piece or plot all the earth that the spade can raise by two deep and straight spits of a 12 or 13 inch spade. If a garden can admit of this thorough work, and show an unctu- ous free loam at the bottom without trace of " springiness," it is first-rate in its staple, therefore claims the further appliance of a four-inch stratum of sound dung, to be forked in with the bottom soil of the trench ; upon which the upmost spit of the earth adjoining (marked out into a similar space) is to be deposited, as is also that of the second spit, but which is to be set up ridge\vise, and this particularly if the land is strong and binding. In which case, as the best of all meliorators, I would recommend finely screened coal-ashes ', because they never bind as sand does, but blend vAih. and open the land, rendering it friable, while they add a portion of gypsum and a little alkaline carbonate to its constituents. Free sands, and very hght black earth which requires little more than the strength of the arms to work it, are in proportion benefited by a simi trenching and deep manuring, but ridges are not much required; yet a generous loam spread over new surface will improve the soil both as to text and chemical quality. Tlie analysis of earths date potash in the true natural loams, but the proces are too refined and expensive for the domei chemist ; hence he must confide in the reports the experimental laboratories ; and there we le that the alkalies lie masked and hidden in loams silicates — that is, combined with silex or pure fl The deep tillage of ground exposes its partii to the action of air, water, and light ; or at leas the chemical element of light. And thus in natu laboratory those operations are silently effect which we rudely imitate^ by agents artificially ( ployed. Operations in the Orchard and Gardi Planting is first to be attended to. We pr October because all trees are then so far silen not to be injured by removal ; but so dry is ground from the paucity of rain for eleven mor past, that now (Oct. ISth) a "nurseryman has sured me that it is 'scarcely possible to remoi fruit tree of moderate size without the pick; Hence as rain must come, and the ground is wa trees and shrubs can move, and will develope a rootlets if very carefuUyplanted in November ; no time should be lost, and the first week ough be considered as a limit. Persons are apt to d the work till December and January ; but as t no root-growth can in general take place while frosts and the swamping 'of melted snows are concomitants, it is surely unwse to expose the ( turbed and injured roots of a plant in a bed so genial. Ajjples ought to hang on the trees till they be detached with ease ; their juices are then si ciently mature for being placed in a dark f room, where also frost can be excluded. It stated, some years since, that in America their 1 apples are eflfectually protected by a simple li covering thrown over the store and in front shelves, as curtains. Whatever the mode of ^ tection, certain it is that not a worm-eaten bruised fruit should be placed among apples pears intended to be kept ; because chemical act will inevitably be established and communicatee the pulp. In the Kitchen Garden. Sow for trial early peas pretty thickly in ro' which ought to be made in a warm situation. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 477 eds 3 inches deep. "Early Mazagan and other oad beans may succeed ; both these plants are nsidered lime plants : the beans affect a firm, •ongloam, abounding with carbonate of lime and \aline silicates. In such we believe the black Iphiii seldom becomes so destructive as in poor lit soils — in a word, the plant itself is stronger. Asparagus beds. — Dress the beds early as possi- ■, cutting back the haulm with a very sharp knife it the shoots may not be torn up. I am a great i-ocate for seZ/"-manuring, upon the principle that lire can best supply its own reqviirings. There- e, when the haulm is off and the surface soil ■ ared of weeds, dig a moderately deep trench . oot wide from the alley left and right of every ■ 1 or row, cover the bed with three inches of the til thus raised, and scatter a handful or two of : over that ; then lay the haulm along the 1 ys, treading or beating it level, give it a I )d dressing of salt — for asparagus affects that i ne compound of muriatic acid with soda — and ) r it lay a stratum of sandy horse-droppings ( iped from the roads. Decay will go on through 1 winter and spring, producing a body of manure ( genial to the organic constitution of this prime 1 etable. Excite asparagus in frames or pits over i eep bed of tree leaves. Veat seakale much in the same manner, and ( iraence forcing a portion by covering a suffi- ( it number of the stools with pots or boxes, and I ng warm stable manure and leaves around and £ive the vessels. .^he earliest rhubard may thus be hastened, or by I :ing pots of the roots in a warm or dark cellar, «in a mushroom-house. Artkhohe plants must be protected. There is dom any need to " mould up" in the manner de- fibed by Abercrombie, for during a course of )rs wherein the most intense and durable frosts (urred (witness those of 1838 and 1846 and ]17) I never incurred the loss of a plant. It 8 [iced to remove decayed leaves, but no others j al then to interpose between the plants a quantity c;ree leaves, 6 or 8 inches deep : and these were lf)t from being disturbed, by a scattering of litter dsven of coal- ashes. jstiuces. — Plant out in frames, but give air to tjm, and to all other vegetables, and a glass when- er the weather is severe. Fruit Department. ^ines. — Prune back as early as possible, retain- 1' two or three eyes only to the one year or bear- ^. wood. Early pruning prevents bleeding, and p haps induces earlier growth. Secure the wall tj!S ; and bear in mind that we should, as speedily a nay be, quit the evil practices of rigid mnter 1 nings and the cuttings out of branches ; substi- tuting spring " disbudding," It is wonderfid how young peach and nectarine trees suffer from prun- ings of the wood. Mr, Knight, of Downton, wrote long since that the operation was " death to the trees ;" at all events it induces great debility. Spur-prune the espalier and low dwarf apples ; and pears, also, if the latter have fruit-buds ; also cherries, plums and apricots on walls. Strawberries. — Scatter rich, free loam among the plants, after having cut away the useless runners. Ornamental Grounds. No other directions are required than such as imply neatness and order in every department. Glass Erections. Keep a free circulation in the greenhouses and cold-pits ; and a moderate preservative heat in all the forcing houses. Give no water wherever a plant evinces signs of going to rest ; but do not, upon general principles, force a season of repose. Experience will instruct and exhibit the require- ments of the various tribes. Recapitulation. — Rain came in good earnest about the middle of October in copious showers, with alternate fine days, the mildest temperature, and glorious warm sun. The root crops and bras- sicas have done more in advance than in the sum- mer; it is a most happy circumstance, and an autumn of plenty is secured. Of winter jjotatoes we cannot report altogether favourably: a few are blotched and tainted, I find one or two in a plot, here and there, ]3lanted by me in May. Some few I found at a large dealer's store in Croydon ; but still, so meliorated is the condition of the crop, that its paucity is matter of regret — for prices must rule high. I have attended the digging of " Jersey blues," and all were pronounced sound. Yesterday I inspected the raising of a large store of " Regents" under Beulah, from the rich Norwood loam. The master said the crop was perfect. The potato is a lime plant, it also (the haulm particularly) abounds in potash salts ; here then we find a guide. True it is that analyses dif- fer; but of one thing we are sui'e— namely, that nature will furnish the organic constituents, those which are convertible into gases. It is therefore well to attend to the inorganic salts ; and these are lime and potash. Hence wood-ashes, burnt or charred turf, and lime rubbish must be favourable. If we select perfectly sound tubers of " ash leaved," early Lancashire kidneys, and the middle " Shaw's," &c., and plant early in the year, applying the saline manures named, and not highly azotized compounds, we may hope to renew this our best of vegetables — for such, in truth, is the sound and mealy potato. J. Towers. Oct. 21. 478 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. METEOROLOGICAL DIARY. Barometer. Day. j8 a. m.ilOp.m, Sept 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Oct. 1 2 3 4| 5 6' 7i 10 11 121 13! 14| 15 IG 17 18 19 20 21 in. cts. 30.18 30.12 30.10 30.23 30.20 30.20 30.30 30.33 30.38 30.33 30.13 30.12 30.22 30.12 29.90 29.77 29.65 29.82 29.9S 29.90 29.94 29.94 29.96 29.99 29.80 30.0 30.04 29.80 29.65 29.74 29.94 ill. cts. 30.11 30.14 30.10 30.26 30.05 30.30 30.3?, 30.37 30.38 30.23 30.12 30.20 30.22 29.99 29.75 29.68 29.70 29.98 30.0 29.94 29.95 29.94 29.99 29.80 29.93 30.0 29.99 29.75 I 29.51 29.94 30.10 Thermometer. Min. Max. lOp.m 4G 55 55 50 46 52 39 38 41 50 50 53 47 50 48 41 51 45 52 53 53 53 54 50 49 48 50 50 53 48 46 57 66 64 63 62 64 61 55 62 63 63 61 64 63 64 61 66 64 58 60 64 69 66 56 56 62 67 63 64 65 60 57 58 54 53 58 52 46 49 55 54 55 52 55 54 52 54 47 54 54 55 58 59 55 51 52 55 56 55 55 47 46 Wind and State. Direction. Force. S. West S. AVest S. West N. West S.W., West North E.N.E. E.N.E. East E., E. by S N. East N. East N. East N. East N. East East S.E., S. S. West S. by West S. West E. by South Easterly E. by North E. by North E. by South East S.byW.,S.byE S. West S. West S. West W. N. W. gentle gentle Atmosphere. a. m. 1 2 p. ra. 10 p.r gentle brisk gentle gentle S lively \ lively j lively I variable gentle gentle ; airy, gn.l gentle var., calm variable gentle gentle var., calm gentle calm lively keen variable lively calm lively lively gentle gentle cloudy fine cloudy cloudy fine fine fine cloudy fine fine haze cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy haze cloudy fine cloudy cloudy fine fine fog cloudy cloudy cloudy fog fine fine fine cloudy cloudy sun cloudy sun sun sun sun cloudy sun sun cloudy cloudy cloudy cloudy sun sun sun sun cloudy cloudy cloudy sun sun cloudy cloudy sun sun cloudy sun sun I sun cloud; cloud fine fine fine fine'^ fine cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud fine cloud fine cloud cloufi fine fine fine fine clout fine fog fog" c\om finei fine, N estimated averages of OCTOBER. Barometer. Thermometer. High. 30.61 Low. 28.74 High. 68 Lov/. 27 Mean. 48. 9 REAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF THE PERIOD. Lowest. } Highest. I Mean. 49. I 62.355 55.68 Weather and Phenomena. Sept. 21, small rain morning and afternoon. 22, beautiful day. 23, changeable. 24, equinox, soft zephyral weather. 25, clear and cloudy at intervals. 26, fine. 27, keen air, fine. 28, east wind and cold cloudy day. 29, 30, warmer and fine. Lunation. — Full moon, 24th, 2h. 25m. after- noon. Oct. 1, haze, misty rain, changeable. 2, sober, quiet day. 3, 4, same, clouds more broken. 4, rich coloured sunset. 5, warm and sunny. 6, clear forenoon, close rain at night. 7, fine fore- noon, then clouds and showers. 8, fine day. T threatening clouds in the afternoon. 9, eclipsed, obscured by clouds ; some rain. 10, r in the night, fine day. 11, close and warm, gr: i sunset. 12, very fine, close heat. 13, haze, cli - ing off. 14, slight drizzle, overcast. 15, hint f small rain, clearing. 16, fine lively day, 17, 1< ^ air, warm evening, with dense haze. IS, freqi it showers. 19, beautiful day, brisk wind at nijs, lunar halo, double. 20, early shower, fine sui ^ day. 21, heavy shower early, fine day. Lunations. — Last quarter, 1st, 7h. 36m. mc New moon, 9th, 9h. 7m. morning. First qi ter, l7th, 7h. 41m. morning. Rem.\rks referring to Agriculturej- Till the rain fell the root crops, especially turn \, stood still : subsequently they have much impro\ . The land has ploughed admirably, and seed gp into a fine bed. Rye and tares grow well : so jr every thing is promising. Another season wilJ trust, see an end of the potato disease. J. ToWER!- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 479 THE WOOL TRADE. (FRO^r c. s. g'jnsburg's circular.) Breslau, Oct. 8.— The circle of the spring Prussian svool fairs, wliich has begun tliis year in Breslau with an Hinexpected considerable rise in prices, concluded in Berlin with a great decline, which, as might have been mticipated, made a very lasting bad impression, because :liOSe who had bought here, and on the next succeeding Tiarlcets, were naturally obliged to submit to a loss. The universal unfavourable impression continuing, jusiness remained dull and heavy. There came, in addi- ion, the enormous English bankruptcies, and the want )f credit created in consequence of them , as well as re- •ently the fluctuations on the Vienna exchange, which lepressed every kind of business, and particularly the rood trade. Under these circumstances, the result of the present utunin wool fair would certainly have been a very bad me if the last Leipsic cloth market had not proved fa- ourable, and if the home manufacturers had not made irge purchases here. However, the present prices were ;ir lower than those of the spring, and 3 to G dollars per wt. were paid less than in June. Besides, there has •een a considerable want of wholesale buyers from heme nd abroad, so that on the whole only about 8,000 cwt. .-ere sold. cwt. There have been brought to market in all about. . 28,000 In the October market, 1846, we had about 24,000 I Therefore in this year a surplus of about 4,000 There were in the market about 600 cwt. of Silesian uramer wool, and 400 cwt. of Polish and Hungarian, leing about 200 cwt. less than in the preceding year. The heavy rains were the cause of so little Silesian sum- ner wool being clipped : but there was in general no ery great demand for it. The following prices were obtained : — Dollars per cwt. For Silesian high-bred fleece wool 95 to 102 „ Fine 80 — 85 .jj<- „ IMiddle line 70 — 78 „ Low 62 — 68 „ Fine summer wool 64 — 70 :fcr „ Middle fine 58 — 62 „ Low summer wool 50 — 55 Polish 50 — 52 Hungarian 44 — 48 I'olish line fleece wool 62 — 68 „ Middle fine 55 — 60 „ Low 48 — 50 Russian fine 55 — 60 „ Middle fine 50 — 52 ., Low 42 — 46 Silesian lambs' wool, according to quality 75 — 100 Polish 60 — 70 Silesian skin wool 58 — 60 Polish 50 — 55 Silesian Locks 50 — GO Polish 40 — 48 Slipes 48 — 58 "^Yhite Zi^;■arawool (ordinary washed) 19 — 23 (well washed) 24 — 25 The principal business was in Polish and Russian iwools, and also of Silesian lambs' wool some large lots have been taken, but Sile.sian fleece wools were not much in demand. There was not one English buyer in the market, only some Netherland manufacturers and dealers, as well as two Berlin purchasers, but who bought very little. The quantity of wools left in first and second hands amounts to about 20,000 cwt. ; but the market cannot be considered quite ended, as many buyers are still pre- sent, and many lots might yet be bought, if, as is ex- pected, prices will recede still more. AGRICULTURAL QUERIES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir, — If any practical faroier in these days of improvement can shut his eyes to the value of " liquid manure," that ought always to be collect- ing itself in a tank, let him, amongst other places in your valuable Magazine, look at page 255 in the No. of March last ; but one great point, and upon which I have not any where met with any informa- tion, is, by what means, or with what ingredient, can one most quickly induce the fermentation of the liquor in the tank, if, as I myself believe, the ammoniacal value of it is increased by fermentation ? which is a process easy enough in the summer time, when the Uquor is less abundant, more live stock being kept up in the winter. The winter half year is now commencing, in which there is a greater proportion of rain-water to filter through or saturate manure. And as even "proper" spout- ing of buildings will not entirely prevent it, the hquor, besides its cool temperature, becomes much diluted. I fear the fermentation will not be easy of accompHshment, for in brewing, or the like, the temperature of 60 to 75 degrees is needful. But to get tank-hquor into its most profitable am- moniacal state for regular leading during winter months, appears to me to be of consequence. If sulphuric acid well stirred up therein will answer, can any of your readers say in lohat proportion, or by what other means is the end to be gained ? Another question I would ask in addition, to the above, is this— As I have an offer, at £3 per ton, of oil that was spoilt on ship-board, by getting mixed with sea-water, and now about the consistence of treacle, will it or will it not be worth that money (besides the expense of leading) as manure ? 2nd. For what crops, and in what manner and proportion to be apphed ? 3rd. Will it be good for drilling with turnip seed next May, if now taken and intimately mixed with dry sandy soil, or the earth of an old hedge bank or the like, and in what proportion ? If oily manures are valuable (as I suppose), we shall here have oil itself combined with saline pro- perties. The proportion of each cannot be ascer- tained \vithout analysis. 480 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Aa early rejjly from some competent judge will oblige myself and others. Yours truly, Husthwaite, Oct. 23rd. F. W. A correspondent states: "We have a few carrots sown in the field this year for the first time, and I see about a fifth part are running up for seeding ; can you tell me the cause, or where to look for directions for raising a crop of carrots ? and I shall feel much obliged for the information." A correspondent asks — What is the best mode of de- tecting the rot in sheep in its earliest stage, and is there any remedy besides the knife ? What number of cattle (say milking cows) will an acre of lucerne carry through- out the summer — the lucerne being cut and given to them in the house ? ANSWERS TO AGRICULTURAL QUERIES la answer to the inquiry from your correspondent re spectlag the effect of salt on " strong clay," recent ex periments in France seem to point out some benefits o grass land of that description, though I have never Sdm it of any use on tillage land ; 1 should therefore recoiri mend its trial on a small scale, as it is barely possibl your correspondent's land may require soda, which ( course the salt would supply. C. Sir, — Your subscriber's calves will be made right he will give them half a gill of spirits of turpentine thrt mornings in succession, with twice the quantity of col water. If the calves be large give a little more. I am, yours, &c., John Alderson. Upleathain, Glsbro', Yorkshire, Oct. Gt/i. ,-.3Q. . AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c. qo' ALCESTER FAIR was well attended, a great quan tity of fine cattle was exhibited, and the number of sheep penned was immense ; business, on the whole, was pretty brisk. ALRESFORD FAIR.— The number of sheep penned exceeded by ten thousand the usual quantity brought to this fair, and consisted of Hampshire and Sussex downs, with a few half-breds. If anything, prices were lower than at Weyhill-fair, and at the close of the fair more than one-third were driven away, almost without a bid- ding. There were but few down ewes that fetched more than from 30s. to 34s. each ; middling quality, 26s. to 28s. ; while some went at from 22s. to 24s. The finest lambs made scarcely higher than 28s. to 30s. each ; very fair, 23s. to 25s. ; while some were offered at 18s. to 20s. Fine stock wethers, of the best breed, reached 40s. ; some very good, .3Gs. to 38s. ; moderate, 30s. to 32s. ; poor, 26s. to 28s. There were some fine fat down wethers which sold at good prices, making from 44s. to 46s. each, or at the rate of 6 Jd. to 7d. per lb. ; other fat wethers, large half-bieds, from 6d. to 6kl. Some coarse and common fat sheep from 36s. to 46s. each, or Gd. per lb. APPLESHAW FAIR.— The greatest number of sheep seen here for years. There were many large sales effected for the counties of Essex, Sussex, Kent, and the Isle of Wight, at prices lower by from 10s. to 15s. per head than last year. Some horned ewes were very for- ward in lamb, and a few have already lambed. The larg- est Somerset ewes fetched from 42s. to 45s. each ; a few very superior making 48s. ; moderate, 40s. Best Dorset horns from 42s. to 44s. ; good, 36s. to 38s. ; mo- derate, 30s. to 34s. ; half-bred, best, 34s. to 38s. each ; others, from 30s. to 33s. Fine wethers, of the Dorset and Somerset, were sold at from 40s. to 45s. each ; others at 36s. to 40.^. Some very prime horned lambs were up to from 36s. to 38s. each ; good, 32s. to 34s. ; moderate, 28s. to 30s. ; inferior, down to from 25s. to 28s. There were but few South Downs. ASH BOURN FAIR.— There was an average supply of stock of all descriptions. Fat cattle were in brisk demand at former prices, but for other horned stock the sale was less active, at somewhat lower ratis. A fair supply of sheep ; buyers not very numerous. Mr. Smith, of Clifton, and other eminent breeders, showed some remarkably fine rams. Heavy colts were inrt quest, and realized high prices ; strong yearlings brougl as much as £"28 and ^'30 each. ASHOVER FAIR.— The show of horses, cattle, ar sheep, was but indifferent ; and there was but little h\ siness done. AYR FAIR. — In point of numbers there was but middling show of horses, many of which, however, we: very superior. Prices were considerably under those i last Dumfries fair, and the run was principally for tv, and three-year-olds. The average rates for these ag( were from £-23 to £35, and from i,'35 to ,£45. Thei were a number of smart saddle-horses and poni.s, fe of which changed owners. Altogether, prices assume a downward tendency. BALLINASLOEFAIR,Oct.4.— Thenumlierofshee exhibited exceeded last year's fair by at least 20,000, whi the condition of the fiocks very generally shewed marked improvement over that of many preceding fair; The fall in rates may be fairly averaged at, for prim lots, from 4s. 6d, to 5s. 6d. a head, while second an inferior sorts fell from 7s. to 10s. a head. The depres sion is stated to be owing to the want of winter feeding especially the shortness of grass. Turnips too, thoug largely sown, are not an abundant crop. But the prim operating cause was the unprecedented money pressure combined with the shock to public credit, whi(^h made total change in the mode of dealing at this fair. Here tofore, the purchases were made chiefly for bills ; bul on this occasion, extreme caution was exercised in tak ing the bills of houses hitherto considered as safe as th bank ; and the bulk of transactions consequently wer made in cash or for bills of the most unexceptionabl security, which, in the opinion of the sellers, were ver scarce indeed. At an early hour in the afternoon severaj flocks were driven out of the town unsold, a circum j stance very seldom, if ever, witnessed before by the per sons in charge of the customs cap. The following is i list of the prices obtained this day : — Mr. Rober D'Arcy's top lot of 200 Wethers, sold at £2 10s. ; ditt(| 2nd lot 200 Ewes, £2 9s. ; Mr. Burton Persse, 20(1 Wethers, £2 2s.; Captain Burke, M.P., a lot 0 Wethers, £2 2s. ; Charles Blake, of Tuam, a top lot 1 £2 2s. ; last year Mr. Blake sold his 2nd lot at £2 3s j 6d. ; Mr. E. H. Blake, Marble Hill, a lot of Ewes ai THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 481 £l 128.; Mr. Bernard Balfe, Lesdurne, 130 Wethers at £2 Us. ; and 100 at £2 8s. ; Pierce Blake, Corofin, top lot Wethers, £2 Is. ; Major Mahon, Strokstown, 200 ditto, £2 2s. ; Nicholas Balfe, South Park, 100 ditto, £2 7s. ; 2iid lot £2 5s. ; Burton Persse, top lot Wethers, 100, £2 2s. ; Mr. Richard Irwin, 200 Wethers, £2 5s. Oct, 5th. On this day there was a farther decline in prices, and business was, if possible, still more dull. Nothing could exceed the flatness that prevailed. In short, no sale of any lot could be effected without most serious sacrifice on the part of the owner. The reduc- tion upon that of the day before, was, on an average, at least from 3s. 6d. to 4s. a head ; in many instances, especially in inferior lots, still lower ; and in one instance a lot was sold at a decline of 7s. 6d. from the price re fused the previous day. There were scarcely any buyers, and the depression was altogether greater than we have ever seen. The consequences will be ruinous to a vast number of persons, not only in this part of Ireland, but every other, as the markets eveiywhere will be effected by the results of this fair. The following were the only lots worth noticing sold this day : Mr. Patrick Taaffe's 140 wedders, fetched each 21. 14s. ; Mr. Burton Persse's 131 wedders, at 21. 3s. a head ; Mr. Smith's 700 two- year wedders and ewes, at 36s. each ; Mr. N. Balfe's top lot, at 21. 13s. a head. In ordinaiy store stock, as far as sales were effected, the average might be estimated at, for strong, well-grown, and fairly bred two-year old wedders, 28s. to 30s. each. For ewes of the same class, 22s. to 2Gs., being about a reduction of 14s. a bead in both classes from what they would have brought in pre- ceding years. There was a very excellent show of Tups from the most eminent of our home-breeders in this de- partment, and, at least as far as prices went, they did not seem to participate to any extent in the general de- preciation suffered by the other stocks. The prices ranged at from 12/. to 15/. and 20/. for two-year-old Rams. In one instance, Mr. P. Taaffe obtained as high as 25/. for a very su))erior animal ; and, in another, Mr. Barton, of Straffan, bought a Iloggett from Mr. Holmes for 20 guineas. The following is a return of the num- bers of stock exhibited during the last seven years : 1841. Shoepsold.. .. 70,1281Total I Cattle sold 11,954 ) Total Unsold 7,0GI ) 77,189 I Unsold 2,210)14,101 1842. Total I Cattle sold .... 8,0.17 ) Total 70,815 I Unsold 6,290 ) 14,847 1843. Total I Cattle sold ... . 8,767) Total 05,063 I Unsold 1,041 J 9,808 1844. Total I Cattle sold 8,311) Total 73,738 I Unsold .^,950 j 12,261 1845. Total I Call le sold 9,345] Total 71,554 I Unsold 2,207 ) 1 1,61/ 1846. Sheep sold .... 66,424 1 Total I Cattle sold 9,014 Unsold 10,586 j 75,010 I Unsold 3,216 1847. Sheep sold 53,095 ) Total I Cattle sold 7,698 Unsold 27,424 j 80,519 I Unsold 2,756 Oct. 6th.— This being the day for the horse fair, the num- ber shown was very great, but first class hunters were scarce, and higher prices demanded than in former years. Some very splendid horses were on the green. The fol- lowing were amongst the sales effected : — Mr. Smith, of LiflFeybank, bought a horse at 150 guineas ; Mr. Mangan one, at £'200. Mr. Monahan, the Solicitor-General, a pair of carriage horses for £115; Lord Caledon purchased a hor.se for 100 guineas from Mr. Monsell, of Borisokane. The stud of the late W. Clibborn, Esq., of Westmeath, was sold by public auction ; the following were some of the prices obtained : — Columbine, 170 guineas; Brother to Ace of Diamonds, 85 guineas; Sheep sold 03,845 Unsold 12,9.30 Sheep sold Unsold ... 63,865 ■ 1,198; Sheep sold 63,691 Unsold 9,047 Sheep .sold .... 67,346 Unsold 4,208 Total 12,220 Total 10,454 and his dam, in foal, to Verulam, 55 guineas. Oct. 7th. — The supply of beasts was the finest that has been for several years past, and the stock, generally speaking, in excellent condition, the depression was even greater than the sheep fair on Monday and Tues- day. The decline from last year's prices may be said to be from £1 10s. to £2 on prime cattle, and from £2 to £Z 10s. on inferior quality ; while the fall on stores, except lots of a very good description, was quite des- tructive. The average for stores, three and four years old, was from £6 to £8. The following are a few of the sales made by the most extensive feeders in the county: — Mr. Irwin, top heifers, £16; Mr. Long- worth, top bullocks, £15 ; ditto, second lot, £13 15s. ; Major Mahon, top lot, £14 10s. ; Mr. Robert D'Arcy, top lot, heifers, £14 7s. 6d. ; Sir Thomas Burke, top lot, store heifers, £11; ditto, second lot, £9 2s. 6d. Some of theprimest lots of fat cattle in the fair remained unsold, the demand of the Leinster graziers principally running on those a shade lower in condition. There was no demand at all for inferior stock, and any lots sold were disposed of at an alarming loss. WEYHILL FAIR, October 11. — In the com- mencement of the morning the business in sheep was very heavy, in consequence of the high prices demanded. Sellers finding they could not realize those prices, gave way, and in a short time many flocks (amounting to several thousands) were sold ; the num- bers shewn were 40,000 more than last year ; but there has been to the extent of the same number exhibited hitherto. Speaking generally, the business transacted may be considered as not satisfactory to the sellers, the supply much exceeding the demand. We may quote prices as compared with last year's fair at a reduction of from lis. to 14s. per head, and from 2s. to 5s. under Butford Wilton and the recent fairs. Best Southdowns fetched: ewes, 31s. to 34s.; middling, 25s. to 30s. ; aged, 24s. to 25s. Best Sussex Downs and Hainpshire Down lambs brought 28s. to 34s. ; second quality, 24s. to 26s. ; inferior, 14s. to 20s. ; ram lambs, 40s. to 50s. ; two-year-old rams, 5/. to 71. ; three-year-old, 10/. to 12/. Some German and Dutch sheep, poor in condition, brought from 5d. to Cd. per lb. The want of winter feeding is much complained of, turnips being in all quarters very deficient. In the horse fair some fine carriage horses, to match, I'eached 120/. the pair ; good hunters from 50/. to 60/. each ; gig horses, 30/. to 40/. ; roadsters, 20/. to 35/. ; cobs, 20/. to 25/. ; ponies, 10/. to 15/ ; large cart colts, 30/. to 40/. ; inferior, 15/. to 18/. The beasts were chiefly lean Devons, Herefords, and short-horns, a few Scotch and foreign. All good animals fovmd purchasers, though at a considerable sacrifice. The finest beasts reached 13/. to 14/. each ; moderate, 8/. to 10/. ; smaller, 6/. to 8/., including Scotch; while the small German, and other foreign animals, were too poor to tempt buyers at any price. Good Alderney and Guernsey cows made from 13/. to 14/. each, being a serious decline. Heifers in calf, 10/. to 12/. Cow and calf up to 15^. Large weaned calves, 3/. to 4/. each; bull ditto, 4/. to 5/. ; small calves, 1/. to 21. A very small proportion of those oftered were positively sold. There was scarcely 100 tons of Cheese pitched, and but few purchasers ; the prices down. Finest Chedder, per cwt., 70s. ; good red Somerset, 58s. to 60s. ; North Wilts, of fine quality, 56s. to 58s. ; common, 50s. to 54s. ; best half-cowards, 40s. to 42s. ; skims, 26s. to 28s. Oct. 12.— -About 50 tons more were brought in, making the quantity as large as usual. Trade was still dull, though the sellers were ofTeiing at lower prices. The primest new Chedders made but 68s. to 70s. per cwt. ; red Somersets, 58s. to 60s. ; yellow, 60s. to 62s. ; best North Wilts, 56s. to 588. 482 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Some double Glounesters fetched 5Gs. Thin cheese, of either Somerset, Dorset, Wilts, or Gloucester, 54s. best half-cowards, 48-. to 50s. ; common, 44s. to 46s. ; best skims, 28s. to 30s. ; poor, 25s. to 27s. About half the quantity in the fair was sold at those reduced prices. Tlie best store bullocks, steers, and heifers sold at very low prices, dealers losing from 21. to 3/. each. Tv/o-thirds are yet for sale, so little doing in all inferior kinds. lo-calvedbeiferssold at goodprices, calves from 1 Gs. to 3/. Foreign beasts still remain on the hands of the speculators who have them for sale. There was a good many pigs, yet they are much lower, with a dull sale. Horses, a large number ; trade very depressed ; the best selling slowly at fair prices. Oct. 14. — The sale of bops this day was exceedingly flat, though the number of pockets upon the ground, in the Farnham row, was less than usual. Tast year there were 4,467 ; this day but 1,106 were ctered. Prices asked for the best new hops from 8/. to 9/. per cwt. ; for those of last year's growth 6/. to 6/. 10s. The quality of this year's produce is very good, the hop being well covered with the vegetable encrustations, which make it particularly valuable to the brewer on acroinit of its bitter and as- tringent properties. The yield is below that of last year. In some instances the falling-off has been considerable : 60 acres, in 1S4G yielding 40 tons, this year produced but 4 tons. Mr. Smith, from 26 acres, last year 20 tons, this year but 3 tons. Mr. John Stevens, from 32 acres, has but one ton and a half. Mr. Peacock, from 61 acres, but 4 bushels to an acre. Mr. Pain, the largest grower in Farnham, from 140 acres, but 40 tons this year ; last year, from the same land, 180 tons. Mr. John An- drews, from GO acres, has this year but 33 pockets, or about 1 cwt. per acre. In Farnham about 1,200 acres are planted with Hops ; and this year but 1 ,300 pockets were stamped by the excise. In the country rows there were brought 3,960 pockets for sale, being within 500 in number of last year's. The quantity of country hops vary very much this year; for some of the best from 5/. to 6/. per cwt. is asked ; moderate, Al. to 5^; while some inferior and yearlings can be purchased at from 21. to 3/. per cwt. In the London-row, we found several offices of the London factors open. The prices asked by them ran from 21. 10s. up to 6/. per cwt. for all but Farn- hanis ; for those from 6/. 10s. up to 8/. 8s. The trade generally very dull, not one-fourth finding purchasers. The general impression is, that a great reduction must be submitted to by the growers before they will be able to sell. The Farnham growers reduced the prices asked yesterday £2 per cwt., a considerable quantity selling at from 7/. to 11. 7s. per cwt., a few small lots making a little more. Out of the 1,106 pockets in the Farnham stores more than 300 pockets were of the growth of 1846, for which G/. to G/. Gs. per cwt. was asked and given. In the country rows much more business was done. The hops grown about Alton, in Hants, made 5/. ; some superior Bentleys and Binsteads, 4/. 15s. to 5/. ; Froyle and Crondall, 5/. to 5/. 5s. ; OJiham, \l. 10s. to Al. ISs. ; Sussex, best, Al. 10s. ; second quality, Al. to 4/. 5s. ; poor, 3/. ; yearlings, 21. 10s. to 2/. 15s. ; old, 1/. 10s. to 21. ; bestKents, by sample, from around Canterbury, 5/. 10s. to 6/. ; Mid-Kents, best, 5/. to 5/. 5s. ; common Kents, Al. to Al. 15s. ; inferior, 3^ to 3/. 15s. Buyers are yet holding back, and to-morrow it is expected prices must again go down. Not half the hops in the fair are yet disposed of. A considerable qy.antity of cheese is left unsold, although the dealers gave way yesterday from Is. to 2s. per cwt. The prices to-day are : — Best Chedder, 66s. to 68s. per cwt. ; best red Somersets, 60s. ; half-cowards, 40s, to 42s.; skims, 26s. WEYHILL FAIR, Oct. 16th.— On yesterday and this day the price of hops fell from 40s. to 50s. per cwt., notwithstanding which nearly 1,500 pockets remained unsold. Farnham hops varied in price from £b 10s. to £Z ] Os. per cwt. This arose from the great varia- tion in their quality this year. Best country hops sold at from £A 4s. to ^'4 13s. ; prime lots fetching ^gS, [ with good demand. Poor hops, £?> to ^^4. There was a better demand for the best Weald of Kents and East Sussex, at from £2, 10s. to £A 4s. per cwt. ; Mid and East Kents, from £A to £A 15s. ; yearlings, from £2 to £'i 3s. ; old hops, from 25s. to 35s. There remained more than 1,000 pockets not purchased; some taken back by the growers, others sent to London, and 500 pockets left for sale at Andover fair. YARNBOROUGH (WILTS) FAIR. -The num- ber of sheep for sale, 80,000. The scarcity of sheep feed generally caused the trade to be exceedingly in- active, and sellers had again to reduce their demand per head from 3s. to 5s. The best down ewes sold tolerably at from 3Gs. to 40s. each ; good ewes at 30s. to 33s. ; inferior, 26s. to 28s. Lambs varied equally as much ; some good ones making 80s. each, while thousands sold at less than 20s. Some larger Dorset might make from 2s. to 5s. more than the middle-sized. Wilts Downs — the wethers — of best quality, sold at between 42s, and 45s. each ; moderate and indifferent, from 34s. to 3Gs. There were some fine Dorset and Somerset horn sheep, which, running large, fetched more money by from 4s. to 5s. each. There were some pens of Devon knots, which sold at from 40s. to 45s. each, being very large. Some very superior Somerset ewes were much admired; yet, from the shortness of food, they were mostly un- sold. A very short number of fat sheep ; yet trade was dull for those offered, best barely fetching 7d. to 7id. per lb. ; moderate quality, Gd. to Gfd. SITTYTON SALE.— Eleven pure-bred bull calves, from the stock of Mr. Cruickshank, Sittyton, in tins country, were exposed to public sale on Thui'sdny, Mr. Elrick, Blackburn, officiating as auctioneer. After Baptain Barclay (whose sale is above reported), Mr. Cruickshank was one of the earliest patrons of the short-horns in this quarter, and his success in their rearing and management was soon conspicuous. His herd is now one of the finest in Scotland, selected and maintained at great expense. On this occasion his cha- racter for enterprise and skill as a breeder was well sup- ported by the superior quality of the animals brought formard ; the prices they realized were high, and we hope in some degree remunerative of tae great pains iiui! outlay incurred in brining them to such perfection. , About 100 gentlemen were present at the sale, including j many breeders and first-rate judges, to whom the iu- specdon of Mr. Cruickshank's extensive stock affonl the greatest pleasure. After partaking of asnbstani: and comfortable luncheon, the sale was proceeded wii:: and the following is a list and descriptions of the It' the prices obtained, and the purchasers' names : — Lord Lothian, white, calved January, 1847, by Fairf;r< Royal (6987), dam Fhantassie — Purchased for Sir John Sinclair, Bart., of Dimheath — 29 guineas. C,ES.\R Augustus, white, calved March last, by Fairfax Royal (6937), dam Peeress— Mr. Baxter, of Craigfort'ii: Keith-hall — 23 guineas. LociiXAGAR, red, calved j\Iarch last, by Fairfax Royal (6Pf , dam Moss Rose — His Grace the Dtike of Richmond— 4U I guineas. [This was thought a very splendid calf, and much i admired.] Helvellyn, red, calved INIarch last, by Fairfax Royal (6987), dam Matilda — jMr. Petrie, bariker, Uufftowu — 34 guineas. Count Faiki'Ax, red, with a little white, calved April last, by Fairfax Royal (6987), dam Alicia— Messrs. Turnb)ill, TiOchend, and Alexander, Barra — 40 guineas. Waverley, red, with a little white, calved April last, by Fairfax Royal (6987), dam Kilraeny 2ud — Mr. Anaring compound. There are doubtless many other ways of preparation with which we are unacquainted, and some which have not been mentioned. Among other substances which may be made into com- pound, is the Gold of Pleasure seed, which we have used instead of, and with linseed ; but we give the preference to the latter. Though recipes are here given for the prejmra- tion of compound, which have been proved to answer well, yet wc would not recommend the quantities to be implicitly followed, but would have these vary with the kind of cattle to which the com- pound is given, taking into consideration the nature of the other food given to the cattle, subjects upon which the grazier can always exercise his judg- ment to considerable purpose. As a general maxim, the constituent which forms the Ifirr/est pro- portion in the linseed compound should be that which bears the campnratwely lowest price in the market. Thus, when the barley is low in value, as in 1S45, it will be to the farmer's advantage to make it into compound. The same may be said of beans and peas, and perhaps of wheat — for when very low priced it has been boiled for cattle and pigs. ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF BRAN AS FOOD FOR CATTLE. BY ALFRED GYDE, M.R.C.S. It has become an established principle in agri- culture that the saline and earthy matter which has l)een removed from the soil in the crops should be again returned to it in the shape of manure, or fer- tility caimot be maintained for any considerable period. On a well-appointed farm, where green crops as food for cattle alternate with corn crops as food for man, a considerable portion of these saline and earthy matters is again returned in the manure, provided sufficient care has been bestowed on the collection of the liquid as well as the solid excrements, either by separately preserving these, or by causing the straw and other dry vegetaljle matter to absorb the liquid portions — by the subsequent preservation of these from the influence of drying winds and sun, and from the still more injurious action of the winter rains, by which much manure which has otherwise been well prepared is not unfrequently reduced to a state little better than rotten straw. But let us "suppose that every precaution has been taken to render the manure as efficient as pos- sible, and that all the sahne and earthy matters contained in the excrements, together with that contained in the straw, have been scrupulously pre- served and returned to the soil; nevertheless a large and valuable portion of earthy matter (consisting of phosphate of lime and magnesia) is constantly being removed in the crops of corn, as well as cheese and cattle, which are annually sold off the farm. If we take as an illustration a farm of 100 acres — fifty being under roots and seeds, and tlie other fifty under corn — the fifty acres of corn will pro- duce not less than 200 qrs. of wheat, of about 504 pounds per qr. ; and as every lOOibs. of wheat contain lib. of phosphoric acid, it follows that every quarter of wheat sold would remove olbs. of phos- phoric acid, or lOlbs. of phosphate of lime and magnesia, from the soil— equal to 20lbs. of bone- dust ; and if we multiply this by 200, we find that the quantity of phosphates carried off the 50 acres of land in every crop of corn sold is equal to 2,000 lbs. of these ; or, if estimated as bone-dust, is represented by 4,000lbs. of it, or rather more than 35i cwt. Now, without taking into the account the quantity of phosphates sold off in the bones of the fat cattle and sheep — which is no inconsiderable quantity, vi'hen we are assured by M. D'Arcet tliat, on an average, the carcasses of animals are composed of Dry meat Water . . Phosphates - -as bone 24 61 15 100 we may at once state that the greater part of the phosphates may be restored by the judicious use of bran as food for cattle. It has been ascertained, that by far the largest amount of phosphates contained in the grain resides in the outer covering, or bran, and that a very small per centage is to be found in the interior of the grain. Thus, if we take the ground corn as it comes from the mill, separate the bran from the flour, and burn them separately, we find the ash left after the combustion of the bran to be about seven times as much as that left by the flour— the 496 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. mean of six analyses giving the following results — Ash left per cent. Fine flour , . . . I'l Bran 7-1 The ash left after the combustion of the bran, when submitted to chemical analysis, was found to be com])osed in 100 parts of — Phosphate of hme and phos- phate of magnesia . , 46 Alkaline phosphates . . 30 Carbonate of potash . .14 Silica, hme, &c. . . .10 100 From the above results, we may infer that for every l,000lbs. of bran purchased, and either used as food for cattle or ])loughed into the soil as ma- nure, we should restore to it 7llbs. of mineral and saline matter, containing 53lbs. of phosphates — equivalent to double the weight of bone-dust. If consumed by cattle, we supply the animals with a highly nutritious food, which contains, on an ave- rage, ten per cent, of muscle forming principle (protein compounds), with from five to eight per cent, of fat, besides starch, gum, woody fibre, and saline matter. Hence, by the purchase of bran — equal in quantity to that which would be yielded by the corn sold oft', and consuming it as food for cattle on the farm— we restore to the soil seven- eighths of the saline matter and phosphates, which would otherwise require to be replaced at a higher expense by the purchase of guano, bones, or super- phosphate of lime. But it is possible to carry this practice to an ex- tent which is detrimental to the health of the animals so fed ; and I may here give, as an illus- tration, a case which has just fallen under my notice, A gentleman — who, from his occupation of a flour-mill connected with his farm, had an abund- ance of bran at command — had observed the marked effects on the cropsVhere manure had been applied which had been produced by cattle fed on bran as part of their daily food, when compared with the crops grown with manure from cattle similarly fed with the exception of the bran, deteriuined on the more liberal use of it, as a means of improving the condition of the animals, as well as the value of the manure. This he continued for some time with evident advantage ; but it was occasionally ob- served that small irregular stones passed from the animals with their solid excrements. At this time a quarter of a hundred weight of bran was the daily consumption of each animal. This mode of feed- ing continued some time ; but subsequently a fine animal was taken ill with acute inflammation of the bowels, and died ; and, on examination of the bowels, a stone was found empacted in the intestines. which had been the cause of death. On the exami- nation of the stomach, sevei-al other stones were found, amounting collectively to the enormous weight of nearly a qr. of a hundred-weight.* One of the stones was given me for examination ; it was of an irregular three-sided figure, with the angles much rounded by friction. On cutting it in two, the interior presented a series of rings of a similar shape with the outer surface of the stone, diminish- ing to a centre nucleus, and evidently formed by alternate deposits on its outer surface ; the colour was of a light brown, and it was shghtly crystalline in its structure. On heating a fragment before the blowpipe, fumes of ammonia were freely given oft) and a white opaque mass left. On submitting a portion of the stone to chemical analysis, the fol- lowing was found to be its composition in 100 parts, viz. — Moisture . . , .10 Phosphate of magnesia . .45 Phosphate of ammonia . . 42 Phosphate of lime . traces. Organic matter ... 1 Saline matter ... 2 100 From the composition, we should infer that the large amount of phosphate of magnesia had been derived from the bran used as food, the ammonia generated by a change in the nitrogenous consti- tuents of the bran having taken the place of the lime and potash which had formerly been in com- bination with the phosphoric acid. That the bran was the cause of the formation of these calculi appears the more probable from the fact, that in the human subject, when long fed on oatmeal, it is no uncommon circumstance for con- cretions to form in the intestines, composed of the earthy matter of the oats combined with the husk. And concretions not unfrequently form in the in- testines of individuals who habituate themselves to taking magnesia as an aperient, or where chalk has been frequently had recourse to as a medicine, these concretions consisting of either the magnesia or chalk with organic matter. M. Gerardine (in the "Journal de Pharmacie," xxvi., p. 420) has recorded the analysis of a con- cretion, of similar composition to the above, taken from the intestines of a miller's horse. The miller had lost five horses in a short time, in all of which many intestinal concretions Avere found. The horses were fed Avith bran ; and M. Lassargne had observed that several asses which had been fed with bran had died from intestinal concretions composed of ammonia and phosiAate of magnesia. Painswick, Nov., 1847. * The largest stone weighed upwards of 8lbs. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 497 THE TURNIP AND ITS VARIETIES. IJY J. TOWEHS, MEMB. K.A.S., H.S. OF LONDON, &C. The yellows follow, and last for about two months ; that is, to the end of February. Tben the swedes finish the course, and should last until the grass is able to support the cattle— tliat is, to the end of May or beginning of June, to which time they will con- tinue fresh, if stored in proper time." The fore- going is literally the substance of Mr. Stephens's remarks on the merits and uses of the turnip. Of the 18 varieties of the white, he gives preference to the white globe {Br. rapa, depressa alba, of De Candolle ;) it is the best for early maturity, sweet- ness, juiciness, size of root, weight of crop, and elegance of form; the juice easily exudes, and the rind is thin. Specific gravity of the former, accord- ing to Dr. S. Keith, 0.840— therefore far less than that of water. Its nutritive properties, according to Davy, are 42 parts in 1000. Mr. Sinclair mentions the remarkable fact, in re- gard to the white turnip, that the quantity of nutri- tive matter contained in different roots of the same variety varies according to the size and texture of their substances. Thus a root of the white-leaf turnip measuring 7 inches in diameter aiForded only 72h grains ; while the same quantity of a root which measured only 4 inches afforded 80 grains. The truth is that middle-sized bulbs are ever likely to be preferred, as they are proved to be the best; but as to chemical analysis of the constituents of eithei", from 8 or 10 tabulated registers which I possess, so extreme are the discrepancies that I he- sitate to select any one of them. I therefore shall at once proceed to present a table of what the yield of turnips ought to be, and are, in cool, moist countries congenial to the plant, in order to in- duce ou)' farmers to think seriously on their own crops produced in a warmer, more unfavourable climate, and by processes of tillage entirely at vari- ance mth those adopted in the north. OF Spaces, Weights, and Products. I shall not pretend to enter upon the culture of he turnip: Mr. Hannam and other able vriters have treated it, and the operation of the Mrious manures which are pecuharly applicable, n a manner equally scientific and instructive. I3ut there are other points connected with it as a odder plant of the farm, which are ^^'orthy of very ■erious attention ; and in the first place I shall offer I few remarks extracted from that leading authority 'The Book of the Farm," by my respected friend flenry Stephens, Esq., which I introduce by ob- ierving that the late Professor De Candolle, of jieneva,had about 20 years since arranged the whole amily of brassica (the cabbage tribe), which irrangement is now generally adopted. Mr. Law- son enumerates 46 varieties cultivated in fields — hat is, 11 of swedes, 17 of yellow, and 18 of white. )ne kind of each of these classes seems at least 0 be requisite on every farm. Mr. Stephens las given figures (vol. ii., p. 15) of the white globe urnip, the purple top, Swedish, and the large Aberdeenshire yellow or bullock turnip — one of the landsomest bulbs of the family. All the 46 va- ieties belong to the genus Brassica rapa of Lin- icTas,but the swede is the variety /3(Greekie/ffi) of De Jandolle. Besides these turnips of ordinary cul- ivation, I shall, for reasons to be hereafter given, efer to the Brassica caula rapa of DeCandoUe — low known as kohl rabi, or the turnip-rooted ?abbage, introduced about the year 1812. "Where swedes are omitted," says Mr. Stephens, ' they have never been cultivated ; and where the yellow is the favourite the swedes are unknown, for ivhere they are known their culture is never relin- quished, and their extention is treading hard upon the yellow, and even curtailing the boundary of the white. The white varieties come earliest into use : they are tender, but support both cattle and sheep, being ready for use as soon as the pasture fails. Calculation Distances Distances be- between the tween the Drills. Plants. Inches. 27 27 27 9 inches be- "i tween sound > whites. J lO inches be-"^ tween yellow ^ turnips. .) between > swedes. J Space occu- pied by each. Number per imperial acre. Weight of each Turnip. Total weight of the Crop per acre. square inches. 243 number there should be 24.813 i at 3 lbs. each I at 5 lbs. each Tons. ...34 ...57 Cvvt. 11 12 270 23.232 ^ at 4 lbs. each I at 5 lbs. each ...41 ... 51 8 15 324 19.3GO / at 3 lbs. each ^ at 4 lbs. each C at 5 lbs. each ...25 ... 34 43 19 12 5 498 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. It \vill be perceived that I liave selected specimens of medium size, from a very numerous list. With such weights and sizes, it will he self-evident that enormous crops can be, and are added to the stores. Again, it must he remarked that one poundor even half a pound, added to or subtracted from each bulb, will make an enormous difference; and in order to verify this, we need only refer to the " Book of the Farm" p. 25, wliich tells us that it " is easy for careless people to thin out plants to 1 1 instead of 9 inches, and yet, by so doing, a difference of no less than 10 tons, or 18 per cent, on a crop, is sa- crificed ; and again, a difference of only lib. in each turnip, from 4 to 5 lbs., at 9 inches asunder, makes a difference of 11 tons, or 25 per cent, per acre on the crop. So that a difference of only lib. in each turnip, and two inches between the bulbs, makes the enormous difference of 2 1 tons on the whole crop." Well may Mr. Stephens ask, " Who \v\]\ say after this, that the treatment of the turnip crop does not demand the most serious consideration ?" And most appositely may I put it to the English farmer of the southern, midland, and Avestern counties, whether, with their random, broadcast sowings, on land and in a climate not the most propitious, they ever can expect, on the average of years, to produce a crop amounting to more than the one lowest estimated in the table — namely, that of lib. turnips 9 inches asunder, growing on ridges 27 inches apart, the sum total of which is rendered at 11 tons 10 cwts? Finally: let our agriculturists look to the notorious facts that in England, where the beetle {halfica) so abounds that two or three sowings are in peril at all times, and but too fre- quently are wholly obliterated ; and that, at the best, blanks on the one hand, and patches crammed with plants on the other, tend to disfigure all the broadcast plantations. Still, if the farmer remain satisfied with these contingencies, and resolve to persist in his methods of cultivation, he must be allowed so to do, till reason, observation, and ex- perience instruct him to adopt a better practice ; and to this point my subject has now con- ducted me. Since I resided at Croydon, I have observed a very different course of agriculture from any that constituted the ordinary routine of Berkshire. True it is that there are lamentable instances of old customs which tend only to degrade husbandry ; but on the other hand, we perceive noble examples of enquiring zeal and energy. On farms conducted by such persons, I have invariably found a large extent of the cabbage turnip (the local name for kohlrabi), the caula rapa or "reps" of DeCandoUe. The weather of the late summer I have before had occasion to notice : from November 1846 to Sep- tember last, showers fell sufficient to penetrate the surface ; turnips and swedes scarcely raised theii heads, injured to an inconceivable extent by flj and insects ; blanks to the extent of yards occurred and where the plants lived, they did not grow ' hence I discern no crop. But through all this drought kohl advanced — filled its spaces, bulbed and set at defiance all that heat or insect coul( threaten. I saw the early transplantings of th seedlings in May and June; and now sheep ar | feeding luxin-iantly on the leaves and bulbs I witnessed the second transplanting after whea stubble, &c. ; and although the intervals of rail : were so prolonged as to render the final completioi a work of much time, still not one plant appearei to fail : they were struck in by the dibble alom the ridges, and it should appear that not a failur can be discerned. Hence, as the hardihood of th vegetable is proof against weather, there is ai assured promise of bulbs for s])ring food growin all winter, without fear of decay. As we have proved, by daily ocular demonstrn tion, that the turnip-rooted cabbage yields abun(] ance of food, which sheep greedily devour, an that a great paucity of turnips exists in place where the drought has had little or no effect upo that hardy plant, sui'ely we are warranted to n commend the kohl as a substitute for the turnip at all events in the drier parts of England, whei also, red and yellov/ mangold flourish in propor tion. In a previous article, I entered somewhat ; large upon the culture of this plant, founded upo my own experience in Berkshire. Now, howeve) having seen so many large plots at different sea sons, and under a variety of circumstances, I ca venture to offer a few additional remarks. Kohl succeeds to wheat or oats where no "seeds havebeen sown, orafter early rye. Suppose, for exam pie, an 8 or 10 acre piece is intended to follow afte wheat; four, five, or more rows of the white andpurpi variety are sown in alternate order at one end of tli field, each drill about 8 inches apart from its neigh hour. These sowings form the later or spring crop, am follow two months in arrear of the early Apri sowings. By the time the wheat is reaped, th stubble ploughed in, the ground manured anc finely comminuted, plants are set by dibble as be fore described. The previous seedlings, set out upon rnanurec ridges, take the place of the autumnal turnij crop. Nothing more therefore need be urged upoi the value of a plant which appears to offer ever} advantage to the farmer, with, in addition, thai great requisite, comparative security. I trust these few observations founded upoCj evidence, and looking every circumstance full in thf face, will induce the farmer to reflect — to considei i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. im how his turnip crop should be sown, and tvhat it j practice, which will obviate disapjiointment, keep r^nrrlit to yield ; then to examine and compare con- his land in heart, and prepare for the full devolop- -nces; and finallx' to adopt some resolute lineof ! ment of highly remunerative rrojis of corn. WHEAT SOWING. BY CUTHBERT W, JOHNSON, ESQ., F.R.S. This is the season when the more recent investi- itions of the chemical philosopher and the en- lightened experimental farmer on the wheat plant aie so peculiarly valuable. It is at this time of the ^ar that the farmers of my country can repeat, and can vary their elaborate researches — trials, let me .dd, which they can hardly ever attempt too often. But in making these quiet, these practical efforts, sources of information which are certain sooner or later so amply to repay them, let me not omit to remind them that they must endeavour, in iU such difficult experiments, to carry into the the mean crop per acre of the specimens we hav examined, and 1.67 per cent, the amount of th ash. If we collect on the one hand all those spe cimens which exceed, and on the other those whici fall short of this per centage, taking the mean'jf their quantities and of the per centage of ash, ,V obtain the following resiilt : — The mean of .f|i specimens affording less than 1 .67 per cent, of is 30 bushels of grain to the acre, and 1.56 pe cent, of ash. Of those affording more than 1.6! per cent, of ash the mean is 27 bushels to the acre and 1.76 per cent, of ash. The quantity of asb then, would appear to be inversely as the croj) ; tha is, the quantity of mineral matter does not increas with the amount of croj), but is less in proportioi THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 501 Ito the vegetable matter in the huge than in the smaller produce." This would seem to lead to the linference that the quantity of mineral matter present |.n plants is to a certain extent regulated by the ibundance of the supply. Our readers will, how- ever, find in the Farmers' Almanac for 1848, p. i:?, a digest of the i-esiilts of the ex])eriments by l^ofessor "Way on this head. From this we learn hat the proportion of ash which the grain of wheat onfains does not appear to be much influenced by he nature of the soil on which it is produced, as nay be seen from the following table, which gives he results of the analysis of three varieties of wheat, uul of several of their specimens grown on different m'lU. In this table the first column gives the name )f the wheat and the soils on which it was jiown, the next the weight per bushel, and the ast the weight of mineral substances or ash which hey afforded : — Soil and Variety. HOPETON. •^tonebrash and clay . . . ■itonebrash Three-inch loam *"lint and chalk iritty sand itift'clay , . vindy % vaud ]Ied-straw White. ■Sandy loam [Jalcareous, brashy Jlay loam I^al. and sil. sand Calcareous clay \dhesive loam Spring Wheat. Calcareous clay Sand, clay, and grit . . , Calcvilating then from the data given in the same page of the Almanac, the next table gives die amount of mineral matters per ton of wheat straw and chaff, and the proportions removed from an acre in 28 bushels (61 lbs.), and in 18 cwt. 91 lbs. of straw and chaff — Removed per acre in grain. st.chff Ibs.oz. Ibs.oz. Weight Ash per per bush. cent. 60 lbs. 1.76 59 1.81 60 1.56 56 1.63 63 1.61 6U 1.63 62 1.71 60 1.69 62 1.76 62 1.72 61 1.61 63 1.69 63 1.90 62 i 1.73 61 1.71 58 1.74 62 1.59 In a ton of | straw. chaflf. lbs. oz. lbs. oz. 60 0 172 3 2 8 9 2 2 14 — 7 0 4 0 1 13 2 11 0 6 0 14 17 0 19 6 2 5 3 12 1 Jilica Phosph. acid Sulph. acid . Lime ....<., Magnesia . . Perox. of iron Potash .... Soda The following is the analysis of 100 parts of the ash of the grain and straw and chaff of the Hope- ton wheat, grown on a sihcious sandy loam, by Mr. J. C. Morton. 06-lOths 12 13 0 15-10" 1 0 3-10" 3 83-10" 0 3 6-10" 8 15 0 12 3-10", 83 8 7 3 3 12 7 1 2 13 0 10 13 15 0 13 Grain. Straw, &c. Silica 3.29 67.1 Phosphoric acid 44.44 7.05 Sulphuric acid — 5.59 Lime 8.21 4.44 Magnesia 9.67 3.27 Peroxide of iron 0.08 1.54 Potash 32.14 10.03 Soda 2.14 0.85 The average mineral matter, in lbs., of a crop, of wheat 30 bushels, oats 45 bushels, and barley 40 bushels, Mr. Way thinks is — Wheat. Barley. Oats. Phosphoric acid 13.5 13.4 10.6 Magnesia 3.6 3.0 4.3 Potash and soda 10.2 10.5 7.5 Silica 1.5 12.5 25.0 I can urge little, in commending, in conclusion, these valuable labours, to the farmer's attention, which the reader's own good sense will not have already suggested. They all tend, and materially too, to one great and invaluable result — the better understanding of the .habits and the composition of the wheat plant. This again leads, as a natural result, to aid its cultivator in the economical ap- plication of the manures the best adapted to pro- mote its success, to the choice of seed, and in its more generally profitable cultivation. Such careful examinations help to banish from his great and difficult avocation the errors and mistakes of in- complete knowledge. They aid him to understand her silent language, when Nature's own finger so often points to the blessings which God bestows on the skill of the cautious and patient hus- bandman. PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO RD. CAR- LINE, ESQ.. — The members of the late Lincolnshire Agricultural Society dined together on Friday, Oct. 5, in Lincoln, for the purpose of presenting Rd. Carline, their late secretary, with a piece of plate, as a testimony of their esteem. The piece of plate presented was a magnificent silver plateau, representing the halt in the Desert. Beneath the shade of three palm-trees is an Arab on the back of a camel ; an attendant is handing water to the rider, in a cup ; and the thirsty camel, snuffing the water, is looking upon tlie cup with most expressive eagerness ; by the side of the palm trees is a weU, into which a rich stream of crystal water is pouring, and the attendant Arab holds in one hand a bottle, which is so highly polished as to be as like glass as anything in silver can be made. The piece is altogether chaste and elegant in design, and life-hke in execution. The fol- lowing is the inscription : — ' ' Presented by the Lincoln- shire Agricultural Society to their esteemed friend Rd. Carline, Esq., mayor of the City of Lincoln, in estima- tion of their high sense of his long, gratuitous, and valuable services as Honorary Secretary— Oct. 5, 1847." 502 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON FEEDING HORSES WITH BRUISED CORN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. t»^] Sir, — On reading your number for the present month, I have been much gratified with the various discussions it contains; and, as an observer of what is passing, permit me to make a few remarks, which I would propose for the consideration of practical gentlemen, such as were convened at the meeting of the " London Farmers' Club." The lecture on the " Diseases of Cattle," by Mr. Cherry, I consider highly important to all con- nected with the keeping or breeding of cattle. Yet, as Mr. Cherry (in his observations on the impro- priety of feeding horses with chaff or " hulls") did not refer the meeting to the immense saving of corn which would be effected if a different course were pursued, I beg to draw the attention of every indi- vidual interested in the health and feeding of horses and cattle to the propriety of their allowing bruised corn only to be given with the chaff, bran, &c. If the quantity of corn given the animals in a whole state were previously passed between the rollers of a " bruis- ing machine," one-third, at the least, of that quan- tity would be saved to the proprietor, I am aware many are incredulous as to this fact ; but I ask such individuals first to make the experi- ment, and then give their results ; and if fairly tried, I am convinced a unanimous decision will be given in favour of bruised corn (I include beans, peas, or any kind of grain given to animals). But ere individuals, generally, will make such experiment, they must have some facts or data; I therefore give the result of my own experience on this subject. It is now about twenty-five years since I first determined to try the effect of crushing my oats, beans, &c. ; I am therefore, I presume, prepared to speak on the subject, having continued the practice to this day ; and I must say that my largest expectations with reference to benefit and saving have been more than reahzed. Let me state my meaning. When first I directed my attention to the subject, I had an aged animal that did not look well, with an abundant supply of the best corn, &c, ; and I had a young animal that did not look much better. They were both hearty feeders, yet did not please me as to condition. I observed them carefully in the stable, and found much of their corn was " bolted." It is true, the fowls afterwards partook of a portion, softened down in its passage through the stomach and intestines ; but a certain ivaste was the result, and the animals who had " bolted" the same had not derived the smallest benefit there- i from. They had swallowed the corn, but, not h«r ing masticated it, the gastric juice could not a& upon it, other than to swell and soften it. Somi persons have thought the animals that swdUm^ their corn as above do derive some benefit thete from; but I submit, for the consideration of thosi individuals, the fact that such corn, after having passed through the intestinal canal, if sown or^\\ plot of ground, will grow and produce a crop clearly demonstrating the germinating principle, i not destroyed, and that the animals could not pos sibly have derived the smallest benefit therefrom On the contrary, I believe in all such cases they ar subjected to direct injury to a greater or less de gree. Do any ask. How is this to be corrected ? reply. Purchase forthwith a bruising machine, sue) as "Weir's" or "Wedlake's," and let all the corwb well bruised before given to the animals. Let then have the same quantity in measure as they had be fore of the unbruised ; and in a short time, if th practice is continued, the anim.als will present indis putable evidence as to the propriety of the practic of bruising their corn, and their owner will find h is saving at least one-third of his corn, and his ani mals in much better condition. I am aware it takes long time to rid many pre judices ; but if " facts are stubborn things," and i " one fact is worth a thousand arguments," tb facts I have stated will be borne out by all wh( will give the practice a fair trial. As to the ex- pense of the machine, it is not a consideration ; foi it will " save itself" in a few months where but one horse is kept. Where several are kept, let a mk- chine for one or two horses to work be put tif (where there is convenience), which would at tht same time cut the chaff, and thereby effect anotHei great saving of provender. Who has not hearf that " horses feed in the night" ? I have yet to learn why they should be allowed a large quantity of hay, clover, &c., at night. I suppose horses JW quire time for sleep as weU as ourselves, and, con- sequently, ought not to be induced to cram their stomachs as their keepers cram their racks; byi which practice they are unfitted for early work in the morning. Frequently, when suggesting the propriety of bruising corn, &c., for horses, I have been met with, " I like to give my horses hard meat," &C.'J and, "When a horse cannot grind his own corn, he is not fit for work— he will not do for me:" or, " I THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 503 ke my horses to cut their own victuals." Now, Sir, these replies are too bad for such a steam-going ge as the present. Let us picture an aged indi- idual, even toothless, with a dish of Brazil-nuts, r a prime sample of hard beans. Let it be said, Crack those nuts, crush these beans for him." j.^o,"must be the reply: "when a man cannot !rack those nuts and crush those beans, he will not 0 for me. I like my servants to have solid, hard lod !" Whatever the qualifications of the aged in- ividual, he is doomed if he cannot do an impossi- ility ! On the contrary, give that person food (lapted to his condition, and he might serve his ai])loyer with advantage for years, and himself njoy the comforts of home. So, many useful ani- lals are sent to the dogs, not having lived or orked half their days, by reason of their owners referring to give them " hard meat!" I protest against the })ractice on behalf of many well-bred, good-couraged, but " aged horses ;" for they can- not thoroughly grind their corn. I raise my voice in behalf of many young animals. They, having keen appetites, are very hable to " bolt" much of their corn, not duly considering the injury they inflict on their chylopoictic viscera, and the damage their owners sufter in consequence. The remedy is easy, simple, and inexpensive — namely. Bruise their corn for them. They will last for years longer, and at a much less cost. I beg to apologize for the length of this, yet de- sire to draw attention to a subject of such great im- portance in the present day, when it is said " corn is not over-abvmdant." I am. Sir, yours very respectfully, John Radford, Winchmore Hill, Nov. IG. MANAGEMENT OF COPPICE WOOD. BY JOHN MEARNS, F.H.S. The management, value, and kinds of wood em- loyed for coppice vary in different districts, ac- 3rding to the uses for which it is required ; but 1 many parts of England, oak coppice pi'oduced aturally from the acorn predominates, although lolmbly not the best for all purposes, as oak is ot fit to be cut down under 15 or 20 years, even jr hop-poles. In hop districts, therefore, ash, 'panish chestnut, the white or silver-leaved willow, :c., are by far the best. Ash, if the soil is tolerably ood, becomes fit for hop- poles in the seventh ear, chestnut in seven, and the white-silvery or ioary-lea\-ed willow in the fifth year ; and each of liese will last out two, and often three, of oak, of 0 years' growth. A great proportion of the oak oppices, both in Herefordshire and Shropshire, s in open forest land, chiefly high hilly ground, .nd is usually divided into allotments of about 25 .ores each, one-twentieth part of which is felled very year, being on an average about 20 years' ;rowth. Sometimes it is sold growing, by auction, .t an average price of from £25 to £28 per acre, ncluding all expenses except the fencing. It is IJso often felled and retailed by the proprietors ; imt, upon the whole, I consider that selhng it j landing, at about £28 per acre, including all ex- )enses, is the most profitable management. In ;ommon woods the first part of the business com- nences about Christmas, and is that of fencing out hat portion of coppice intended for felling : a good [strong fence, made from the underwood, is set to a i;ompetent man for about 6d. a perch of 8 yards. From this time, the underlashing, as it is called here, commences ; that is, all the weaker shoots and small under-branches of the oak, &c., are cut oiF, together with all the birch, hazel, or ash ; and all kinds of poles not intended for peeling are now cut down ; the brush or smaller branches are cut off and faggoted, and the poles cut in lengths for pit wood at coal-works. The faggots are sold off at once, in order to make as much room as possible for the oak fall and peeUng. The poles should also be cut and ranked, as they are sold at the same time and at the same price as the oak. About the first week in May is the usual time to begin to fell oak, as that is the season in which the sap begins to circulate freely. The best mode of procedure is to let the 25 acres to four men accustomed to work of that description, who employ others to do the work of felling the poles, peeUng, and ranking the bark ; the average price is 30s. per ton, which is estimated and deducted from the gross amount of weight of bark when delivered to the buyer. In fine weather it will be sufficiently dry for delivery in from 9 to 12 days. Two fellers will employ from 20 to 30 persons — men, women, and children — some cutting the small branches oflT the poles, others peehng ; some carrying, and others ranking the bark ; all being paid by the person who takes the work. It should be so arranged that the felling and peeling be finished in something less than a month. This part of the contract being completed, a num- ber of the same men should be employed to cut up the poleSj &c. The small branches are cut off and 504 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. made into faggots, at the rate of 3s. per 100 of 6 score, and are afterwards sold in the wood for 10s. per 6 score. The strongest portion of the poles of all kinds is cut into pit wood, 5 feet long, and ranged in heaps called cords, 4 feet high and S feet long, at -2s. fid. per foot, each of which is worth, in the wood, £1. The smaller ends are cut into yard lengths called yard wood, ranked in heaps 5 feet high and S feet long, at is. per cord ; this kind of wood is made into coke in the wood, and is sold to iron-masters or for kitchen stoves, &c. The faggots should all be cleared off before spring, or before the young shoots from the old stools have made much growth, otherwise considerable mis- chief is often done in carrying or in carting them away. About 20 of the straightest and best poles are usuallv left growing on an acre tiU next fall (40 years}, being valuable at that age for a variety of purposes : again, some may be chosen out of that number for permanent timber trees. It is nst de- ; sirable to leave many more than 20 at the first fall, as they do harm to the underwood by overhanging and spoiling its straight and rapid growth ; but it is ' very injurious to coppice-woods to leave any . standards at all, and many condemn the practice. As regards the extraordinary longevity of the oak, I may mention that many woods have been cultivated as coppice for upwards of 200 years, and probably much longer ; but whether originally planted for that purpose, or the spontaneous growth of acorns from more ancient forests, is a matter involved in uncertainty. Much of the land on which oak coppice is grown is very poor. Over Herefordshire and Shropshire not more than six inches of soil exists on the top of a loose, rotten, stony rock ; still it becomes valuable under this description of produce. The stools should be about 12 feet apart, and cut close too, or not more than from 4 to 6 inches above the ground, as the following shoots do not grow entirely from the margin of the cut ones, but come irregularly from the sides of the old wood, and from the upper part of the roots. Each stool will \ support from 5 to 12 poles. I Sheep are not allowed to graze in the coppice after falling, for a period of four years, as they bite off the ends of the yotmg shoots ; and of course cows and horses are at all times inadmissible. Many farmers, and even cottagers and tradesmen, buy portions of coppice, and fell it themselves. In general the price given by the tanners for the bark pay; for the wood and the cost of felling and peel- ing. The best poles are sold and used for hop- poles and fencing ; but at a distance from the coal- works they cut them up for fire-wood as faggots are. Some of the stronger are split up and made into sheep-flakes or hurdles; and the hazel and other underlashings are frequently worked up in very useful wattles for temporarj- sheep -shelter, ani for fences to be used in feeding off turnips, &c. In Oxfordshire, where the beech grows spon taneously upon that kind of soil which suits it, Ilk the oak in other parts of the kingdom, it is the much cultivated, and is cut down ever)- nine years the best poles are selected, and all the small an< underwood are faggoted for fire-wood ; still retain ing a portion of the best young and healthy under wood, of foiu" or five or more years' growth, for th next cutting. The best of this wood meets with ready market for bedsteads, planking for bam floors, carpenters' tools, &c., and for fire-wooc The hard woods there are also cut over everj- eigh or nine years, according to their growth ; leaving portion of the oak and ash-poles for a futur stronger growth, and such as are fit are convertei into hoops, hop-poles, flakes, wattles, and for fire wood. In many parts of England the farmers plar. willow truncheons, of from 10 to 12 feet long, a: of from 4 to 6 inches in diameter, in watery placr or on the banks of ditches or rivers ; and by kec ing those as poUards, by heading them down evc five or six years, in the hop districts, they beco. important for poles : the silver-leaved variety, . accoimt of its growing up clean and straight, preferred j but the more common, or what is caUe the black sallow, is the most lasting. The late M- Knight, when "5 years of age, informed me that Wormsley Grange, where he was bom, there wc sound gates of split black sallow, which he reme:. bered his father having made, when he was abo 10 years of age ; consequently those willow gat must, at Mr. Knight's 75th year, be 65 years o", and without paint ; for he said if they had bee painted they could not have lasted one-quarter tbt time ; he as weU as the late Mr. Arkwright, had great objection to painting out-door wood-wo: where appearance was not an object, they being hot. convinced that it lasted longer without paint o coating of any kind, left free to the action of al weather. — Shobdon Court, Sept. 20. — Gardeners Chronicle. Plenty of bread and meat, pure air, and j/ure water — these are the blessings which maintain individna] health, aaieUorate the general condition of our race, and, at the same time, ensure that equilibrium between phj- sical and moral force which is so universally desired. Physical degradation is always accompanied by corres- ponding moral degradation ; and we know of nothing which will more effectually secure both, than a life spent in Ul-ventilated, ill-lighted, and filthy dwellings.— C. E. D.—{From the French.) THE FARJiER S >L\GAZINE. 505 ON HOVE IN CATTLE. BY THOMAS SCLLIVAN. Tlie complaint among cattle whict is known by ' it has been wetted by rain or heavy dew. Tlie name of hove n>cing a distention of the pamich hove may easily be distinguished by the laborioos rumen, arising either from an excess of food in stomach, or from gas generated by the fennen- - on of vegetable substances within it) is too fa- iar to agriculturists and feeders of stock- to lire any lengthened description of its symptoms or appearance. Cattle are subject to it on both winter and summer keep ; and if not observed in breathing, swelled flanks, and evident di5tTess of the aflTected animal. It ceases to ruminate, scarcely moves, and often moans piteoasly. The whole belly is hoven, particularly at the left flank, be- neath which the posterior division of the rmnen lies. A correct knowledge of the compoation of the time so that the proper remedial measures may | gas which occupies the stomach of cattle hoven by resorted to with effect, it not unfreqoently i eating too freely or greedily of turnips, potato^, or happens that the stomach or some portion of the I wet clover, can alone lead to the adoption of the intestines becomes ruptured, or that the animal sj>eediest and most effective means of accomplish- expires from suffocation, in consequence of the ' ing its removal or liberatioa, and ihexebj allaying compression or obstruction of the gullet by the ' the distention : on this point, however, some diver- extreme distention of the paunch. More frequently, ! sity of opinion appears to exist. In a French work however, the puncturing of the rumen is had recourse to at this crisis, by which means the life of the animal is generally preserved ; but although this operation is by no means difficult to perform, and is not frequently followed by very dangerous consequences when carefully executed, yet it is often resorted to and considered as the dernier res- sort when simple medical treatment would produce the desired effect by speedily allaying the disten- tion. As in some cases the death of the affected animal may ensue before a veterinary surgeon could be procured or consulted, every farmer and stock owner should make himself immediately acquainted with the nature and causes of this complaint, as well as wjih the safest and most speedily effective remedies to employ. Cattle are sometimes affected with the Aorewhen fed plentifully upon turnips or potatoes during the winter and spring months, and upon moist green clover or succulent grass in summer. It com- monly proceeds from a voracious disposition, or from natural debilit}-, or a diseased state of the Btomach. When aiiirr.al-; are removed from a the BttUeim de Pkarmacie) it is stated thpt the gas when analyzed yielded : — Sulphuretted hydrogen SO Carburetted hydrogen 15 Carbonic acid 5 100 The most accurate analyses, however, indicate that the gas is differently combined at different stages of the complaint, and hence probably the reason of the diversity of opinion regarding its composi- tion. Another authority informs as that the disen- gaged gas in the stomach is principally composed of hydrogen. In the very early stage, the gas is chiefly carbonic add; but it is speedily converted into carburetted hydrogen (formed by the xmion of carbon with hydrogen}, and finally into sulpha- retted hydrogen. In Youatt's valuable treatise on cattle it is stated that the gas in recait hove consists chiefly of carburetted hydrogen ; in more chronic cases there is a mixture of sulphuretted hydrogen; and in proportion to the continaance of the hove, the sulphuretted hydrogen increases. scanty pasturage to a field of luxuriant grass or i and at length prevails. Hydrogen therefore ap- •«lover, they frequently are dispwsed to enjoy the pears to be the principal constituent of the gas in re so greedilv, that the stomach becomes , the distended rumen of cattle, len to such a degree as to prevent the free ' The object sought to be accomplished is the ition of the food through its cavities ; and liberation[of the gas which has been already formed ig acted upon by the joint influence cf heat and in the stomach, and the prevention of any frssh 5ture, its contents readily begin to undergo the quantity of it being generated by the fermenting : ess of fermentation, whereby a large quantity food. Different classes of substances are employed ^s is generated. In summer this complaint . for this purpose, and almost every veterinary prac- -t fre<]uentlv occurs when cattle are fed un- ' titionerhas his favourite recipe; but I shall here rictedly on aftermath clover, especially after . advert only to the three most commonly lised, 2 L 506 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, namely, stimulants, alkalies, and chlorides. The effect sought to be produced by the use of stimu- lants is to cause the rumen to contract upon, and thereby, if possible, to expel its contents. Spirit of turpentine is the most commonly used, and pro- bably the most efficacious of this class of medicines. A wine-glass full, or from two to three ounces, may be given in a bottle of water, and it will in most instances operate speedily in allaying the disten- tion. Whiskey is sometimes administered in cases of hove, and in general with beneficial effects when it can be introduced into the stomach. Alkalies were at one period much employed for the purpose of neutrahzing the acid which was supposed to jjrevail in the stomach of hoven cattle ; but, as has been already observed, it is only at the in- cipient stage of the complaint that carbonic acid gas exists in the rumen. Potash (the sub-car- bonate) and soda have been resorted to in such cases with success. It is clear, however, from the analyses and con- current testimony already quoted, that hydrogen very soon becomes the predominant constituent of the gas in the distended stomach, and hence the propriety of emplojmig the chlorides in preference to all other substances; indeed these have now generally superseded most of the recipes which were previously resorted to for curing hove. Chlo- rine possesses a very strong chemical affinity for hydrogen; the product of their combination is muriatic acid gas, which again readily unites with water, and becomes muriatic acid. Chlorine itself is inimical to animal life, and muriatic acid would also operate injuriously in the stomach; but the use of the chlorides obviates this danger. Amono- this class of substances, the chloride of sodium (common salt) and the chloride of lime are to be preferred, as being not only effective remedies, but are also easily obtained. Several other substances, besides those now enumerated, are sometimes re- sorted to in cases of hove. Train oil is occasionally used ; but to be successful it must be applied at an early stage, otherwise it might be impracticable to introduce it into the rumen. Soot and tar have also been employed when nothing better could be obtained. Although some of the medicinal remedies ad- verted to will generally be found effectual in allay- ing hove or distention of the rumen, if resorted to in proper time, yet cases do sometimes occur in which it may be impossible to introduce medicine into the stomach of the affected anirr.al, owing to the obstruction of the gullet, or in whicli the gas is generated so rapidly that the largest doses fail to remove or liljerate it with sufficient rapidity, and therefore prove unavailing. When cattle fed on turnips become hoven, it in most instances arises from oljstruction of the gullet ; but even when known to proceed from the too eager consumption of potatoes or wet clover, this passage is sometimes shut by the distention and compression of the paunch. After the usual medicines, which should be employed as early as the symptoms of the com- plaint have manifested themselves, have failed to afford relief, the probanr/ is to be introduced into the stomach, which, by freeing or opening the gul- let, may produce the desired effect. But sometimes it happens that the paunch is so dangerously swollen before the animal is ob- served, or that the gas is generated so rapidly^ that neither the probang nor medicines produce the desired effect ; and in either of these cases the operation oi punctnrinff, however hazardous it may be deemed, must at once be resorted to in order to save the life of the animal. Some caution is neces- sary on the part of the uninitiated operator in re- sorting to this expedient ; but it affords instanta- neous relief, often preventing immediate rupture and death, and, when at all skilfully accomplished, is seldom attended with injurious consequences. The mode of puncturing commonly adopted is to plunge a sharpe-pointed knife into a certain part of the left flank, underneath and in contact with which the rumen lies. Immediate relief is thus afforded, by the rapid escape of the confined gas through the aperture. The use of the ordinary knife is, however, in some degree objectionable. At the time of performing the operation the distended paunch is in close contact with the interior of the flank, and the matter is then safely ejected from the former through the apertures in both ; but as the stomach becomes emptied of its contents it gra- dually subsides, and ceases to be in contact with the parities of the abdomen. The gas and a quantity of solid and liquid matters continue, how- ever, to be discharged for a considerable period after the subsidence of the stomach ; and although the greater portion of it may be ejected with suffi- cient energy to be driven through the wound in the flank, yet some will necessarily fall into the abdominal cavity, where it soon operates injuiiously by causing dangerous irritation, which occasionally terminates jn fatal inflammatory disease. I would therefore urge upon every farmer and cattle feeder to procure and keep in readiness a small trocar, by means of which the operation of puncturing may be performed effectually and ^rithout the slightest risk. This very useful instrument consists of two parts, called the stillet and the canula. The stillet 'S formed of a round rod of iron about five inches in length, terminating at one extremity in a triangular shaped point, and furnished with a wooden handle at the other. Tlie canula is the name apphed to The FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 507 the tube in which the rod is sheathed. In using the trocar, it is forced with a thrust into the paunch ; and on Avithdrawing the stillet, the canula is left in the wound as long as may be found ne- cessary in order to permit the gas &c. in the sto- mach to escape through the tube. The possibility of any danger from matter falling into the al)domen is thus guarded against, and when the gas ceases to escape, which it will do in the course of a day to two after the paunch has been punctured, the canula is to be removed, after which the wound readily heals. Cases of hove do, however, occur when the use of even the trocar proves completely ineffectual, as when the stomach is distended from food instead of from an undue accumulation of gas. In this case, which occasionally hapjjens when cattle are unsjiaringly supplied with clover in the house or yard, or when removed from the house or a bare pasturage to luxuriant grass, the aperture made in the flank must be enlarged, so as to allow the con- tents of the paunch to be abstracted by the hand. If no gas is found to escape immediately after punc- turing with the trocar, this apparently desperate expedient must at once be resorted to. As the rumen is but scantily provided with nerves and blood vessels, there is however little danger to be apprehended from the enlargement of the opening for the purpose of allowing the abstraction of the contents ; but care must be taken in cleaning out the stomach to prevent any particles of the food falling into the abdomen. After the removal of the contents, and the proper cleansing of the parts, the wound in the divided paunch should be closed up by two or three stitches with fine catcut, and after- wards the external opening. With regard to the proper place for puncturing the paunch, it is right to observe that some caution must be observed by the farmer, as this point is not a matter of indifierence. When the rumen is much distended, there is some risk of wounding the kidneys or the spleen. According to Professor Dick of Edinburgh, the most proper place is on the left side, in the central point between the lateral processes of the lumbar vertebrae of the spine, the ileum, and the la§t rib : but a safe and simple rule for the farmer is to measure from eight to ten inches, according to the shape of the animal, from the spine downwards, and nearly the same distance from the haunch bone forwards. At the point of intersection the trocar may be introduced with safety into the stomach ; and when a further en- largement of the aperture is considered necessary, let the canula be withdrawn, and the wound en- larged with the knife, care being taken not to injure the spleen or kidneys. It is to be observed that the over-distended stomach of hoven cattle does not in many cases ever regain its former energy, but usually becomes more or less deranged, and susceptible of a recurrence of the same complaint. Hence if the animal is in good condition, it might be advisable to slaughter it soon after recovering from the attack ; at all events when a beast is much subject to hove, it will be the interest of the owner to fatten it off for the butcher with all practicable expedition. It is necessarj' to discriminate between hove and another accident to which cattle feeding on turnips or potatoes are more or less liable, namely, choking. This latter complaint is caused by at- tempting to swallow a large piece without mastica- tion that can easily enter the gullet, and which is therefore obstructed in its passage. It occurs principally to young cattle receiving only a limited supply of turnips in court yards ; and when beasts are first put up to feed, small unsliced turnips or uncut potatoes, more frequently cause this com- plaint than such as are of a large or medium size. Choking is often succeeded by hove, when not speedily observed and remedied. The seat of the obstruction, its effects, and the proper remedial measures, are thus described by Professor Dick in his " Manual of Veterinary Science. " The ob- struction usually occurs at the bottom of the pharynx and commencement of the gullet, not far from the lower part of the larynx, which we have seen mistaken for the foreign body. The accident is much more serious in ruminating animals than in others, as it immediately induces a suspension of that necessary process, and of digestion, followed by a fermentation of the food, the evolution of gases, and all the sj#ptoms of hove. No time must be lost in endeavouring to afford relief, and the first thing to be tried is by gentle presure and friction of the hand upwards and downwards, to see and rid the animal of the morsel. Failing in this, we men- tion first the great virtue we have frequently found in the use of mild lubricating fluids, such as warm water and oil, v/ell boiled gruel, &c. The gruel is grateful to the animal, which frequently tries to gulp it, and often succeeds. If this remedy shoidd be ineffectual, the foreign body may perhaps be within the reach of the small hand which a kind dairy maid may skilfully lend for the purpose. If this good service cannot be procured, the common probang must be used, the cup end being em- ployed. Disappointed in all, v/e must finally have recourse to the knife. T. S* 2 L 2 508 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON TENANT-RIGHT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FAKMEK's MAGAZINE. SiRj — The agricultural community owe to you a debt of gratitude for the able manner in which you have advocated their cause in the question of tenant-right ; and I sincerely hope your columns and pen will be emi)loyed in the good cause till that right be fully established. It is a claim of such vital importance to the occupier, and at the same time inflicting no veal injury to the owner, that I am fully con\anced it is one of those questions which must and will work its way to a satisfactory issue, provided those most interested in it will steadily and resolutely put their shoulders to the wheel. It might be supposed that a full recognition by the state, of the right of a tenant to property in- vested by him in the soil, from which he had not j-eceived a return, would not be difficult to obtain ; but whoever has observed the objection taken to it by a noble duke, ostensibly on account of the NAME, and the opposition in the last Parliament on account of the nature, must feel satisfied that there must be something more involved than meets the eye — some peculiarity which exists nowhere else ; and it may be worth while to endeavour to investigate some of the hidden causes which may operate in obstructing its progress. V\''hen we look back a century, and consider the state of agriculture at that period, we shall find that the principal operations of the cultivator con- sisted of the working of the land and securing the crop according to immemorial custom, and apply- ing to the fallows the manure made by the last year's crop of straw on the farm. The capital of the tenant was wholly invested in his live stock, agri- cultural implements, and moveable fixtures ; and as he could take all these away in case of removal, no question of tenant-right could arise— he had all he was entitled to. The duties of the steward mainly consisted in the receiving of the rents, the letting of farms and cottages, and the erection of new buildings as the necessities of the estate re- quired ; these, however, were not often requisite, as winter-feeding stock was comparatively un- known. The land produced according to its natural ability ; the tenant was generally poor, and satisfied if he could just live and pay his way, and farm as his forefathers had done before him. The agreements of that jieriod were, of course, of a piece with the above, but were in their various clauses entirely in the landlord's favour. This, how- ever, interfered but little with the tenant : he did nothing, risked nothing, and rendered himself liable to nothing. The first departure from this course was occasioned by the effects of the French Revolution. The high prices of that period stimu- lated the cultivator to exertion ; new methods, arti- ficial stimulants, expensive improvements were re- sorted to, in order to increase the produce ; and then the ancient precepts of the agreements and modern practice first began to come into collision. In some places they were tacitly permitted to be violated by the stewards, though still really in force, and capa- ble of being acted on at any time ; in othei's the farmers could only realize a moiety of the advan- tages which they otherwise might have obtained had they been unfettered. But, upon the whole, the prices of produce well remunerated the culti- vators ; and so long as that was the case, the ques- tion of what was justly due to the tenant remained in abeyance. After the genei"al peace the enactment of the corn law, with a view to keep up the price of corn to a remunerating standard, seemed practically to be looked on as an equivalent for the disadvantages un- der which the farmers laboured ; and the eflforts to maintain those laws, whilst successful, engrossed their energies, although the caj)ital of the tenant applied to the improvement of the soil had greatly increased in the meantime ; but the events of the last year have placed the cultivator in such a situ- ation that he can no longer remain a passive instru- ment in the hands of his landlord. He is told both by friend and foe that every energy must be put forth ; that new and more expensive methods of increasing his produce must be resorted to, no matter how low the price of that produce may be when raised. The protectionist tells him that the future is sure to ruin him, and the free-trader assures him that he must double his produce in order to be able to maintain his ground. His comforters appear much hke those who surrounded Job, and might well paralyze all exertion on his part ; but, fortu- nately for the country, he is no craven, and, pre- n^J paring to meet the storm, is not luUed into supine- ness because there is a gleam of sunshine at the present moment. Fie sees in the distance the rising of the dark cloud which shall soon envelope the sky, and calls on the landlord to assist hira. By what ? a reduction of rent ? No. An advance of capital, declared to be so indispensable to be put THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 509 into the land by some one ? No : simply a guarantee that that portion of his oion capital which he shall expend on the farm in improving its condition shall be refunded to him, should he, by remo\'al or death, not be able to reap the benefit of it— a claim which is sanctioned both by justice and equity, and which would not be disputed were it betwixt any other two parties in the nation. But the rela- tion of landlord and tenant, as it has existed, is so peculiar in its nature, and practically acknowledges no. responsibility on the part of the former, that any interference from any 'quarter whatever with the landowners is looked on as an attempt to injure them, and they are up in arms to oppose it. They are actuated by feeling, and not by reason ; and those arguments and demonstrations which would be triumphant with the latter make no impression on the former, save only to stimulate and excite it. I would not have it to be understood that the landowners, as a class, are morally or mentally lower in the scale than any other, or that they have not as clear perceptions of right and wrong, of honour and honesty, of truth and justice, as any other class whatever ; in anything outside of their own estates I could place the utmost reliance on their decisions, after laying a proper amount of evidence before them, but within that circle there is an impression on their part that none of the ordi- nary motives and rules which are held to be binding on man in his intercourse with his fellows have a right to intrude, I do not say that any one of them, if the question were asked, would acknow- ledge it, or lay any claim to it ; but it is only necessary to look at the working out of their views on their estates, tc be convinced that it is so in fact. View one of them at an agricultural meeting ; his rank and station insure him a welcome reception. He rises, and amidst the cheers and plaudits which greet him on all sides, delivers an able speech, em- bracing the principal topics connected with the object of the occasion. He feels, in reality, at the moment, what he utters ; and a stranger would be apt to think, Happy are the tenantry of such a landlord ! But compare his actions at home with his present words. He professes an anxious wish for the prosperity of agriculture, and has an agent who has no practical acquaintance with it — a lawyer, perchance, who looks back for precedents instead of forward for improvements, and who cannot ap- preciate the efforts of an enterprising tenant. He desires to uphold the farmer, but restricts him in his management to such an extent that he cannot make the best of his farm. He speaks feelingly of the labourer, and designedly places him in such a low, close, diminutive dwelling that real comfort is banished, especially in those hours of rest which ought to nerve him for the toils of the next day, or refuses to provide him a tenement at all in the place where his daily employment lies ; thus com- pelling him to walk miles each day, which might be avoided. He urges the necessity of an ample provision of home-grown corn, yet keejjs up such a stock of game as destroys a serious amount of il. He advocates the application of more capital and skill to the land, yet refuses to insure to the tenant, provided he invested that caj)ital and died, his family shall be repaid a just portion of it, and throws great obstacles in the way of that skill having a field to develope itself upon. He speaks of equity, and yet fines a tenant ten pounds for cut- ting a bough from a single tree. These things are done by his sanction and authority, and yet in his private life, as a man, his character may stand high, his morality may be irreproachable, his religion un- doubted ; he may be feeling to the poor around him, and his private charity a continual stream. This, I affirm, is no overciiarged portrait ; and the common occurrence of it can only be accounted for by the active operation of the principle spoken of above, " But the object sought is an unwarrantable in- terference with the rights of property, and ought to be left to private arrangement ; besides, the oc- cupier who is dissatisfied can always leave his farm, and make his own terms in a fresh occupation." Unfortunately, the tenant has an amount of pro- perty in the farm at the present moment which he cannot remove under any circumstances, and in- vested too under the impression that the corn laws would be maintained ; besides, in the majority of cases there is an attachment to the present holdings, from local or family causes, which acts poM^erfully as an anti-locomotive. These laws have been abolished by the landowners in their legislative capacity, against the wish of the tenantry ; and it is but just that a pubhc act which exposes them to foreign competition should be ac- companied by another giving them confidence to enter manfully on it. Again, the laws of primo- geniture and entail, with the expenses of transfer on sale, have made the possession of land a virtual monopoly — applying a principle to property in rural acres which is applied to nothing else, and which has a continual tendency to absorb land into fewer and fewer hands. The ample means of those by whom the greatest part of the land is owned makes it a matter of indifference to them, comparatively, whether their agreements work well or ill for the tenant ; they are sure of aj)plicants for a farm when vacant, and that is enough for them. The conse- quence is that the cultivator \\'ho leaves his farm in order to avoid these evils, can only hope for the chance of finding another where the hindrances to his welfare are as great as his late ones ; to tell 510 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. him, therefore, to act on the principle which regu- lates an occupancy in a lar^e town is an insult and a mockery to him. " But a legislative enactment would infallibly lead to gross impositions on the owner, on the part of the tenant. He would have to pay for what he had no share in incurring, and which v/ould often be of no value in reality." In the fust jilace the landlord would not have anything to pay, but the incoming tenant; secondly, ninety-nine parts in one himdred of the land is farmed by men who, if fairly treated, have no desire to leave their farms at all, and in a change would wish to be succeed by a relation or friend, and a legal guarantee would be the most effectual, and of the greatest benefit as a security rather than as a means of i)rofit. The generality of farmers, even under such a state of things, would not be possessed with a mania for spending money on their farms without caring whether it were judicious or not ; and means would be jn-ovided to guard against an unjust or unfair claim. What is needed is an act of the Legislature defining the allowance to an ofF-going tenant for the principal items of his outlay as a basis, and placing the carrying out in detail of them, and all other matters not named, in the hands of properly authorized valuers of undoubted experience, know- ledge, and probity ; one on each side, and a third if necessary, who should }nake a declaration in each case to adjudge according to the best of their abiUty, and with regard to the merits of each item of claim, whose decision should be final ; at the same time assessing the tenant for dilapidations, if any. Such a measure would avoid litigation, would encourage a good tenant, and leave no excuse for a bad one. " But the interests of the landlord and tenant are substantially the same ; and such a measure would destroy that mutual confidence which now so happily exists between them, and replace it by a feeling of distrust and hostility." The first, when properly imderstood, is undoubted ; and the mea- sure would only strengthen and consohdate them, both separately and unitedly : the second is one of those pretty ephemeral plants which sj^ring up in public assemblies, but wither if exposed to anv other atmosphere. There cannot be real confidence where all the advantage is on one side and all the risk on the other, with a proof occurring around them, now and then, that neither are imaginary ; and that individual who brings it up either in pub- lic or private in order to swamp or evade a just demand will find it difficult to avoid the imputa- tion of selfishness. Capital is invested in the land to a certain extent at present, more or less, accord- ing to the desire of improvement on the part of each tenant, in spite of the uncertainty, but not to that extent which will be necessary in coming years. And I am ready fully to admit that in the great majority of cases there is no reasonable ground of fear that any advantage will be taken of it, so long as the tenant is in occupation ; but there is that whisper in the ear (like Csesar to Brutus) that upon removal or death all not got back again will be lost. And where the tenant's available capital is small, it hangs like a millstone around his neck, and pre- vents him investing it at present, when by so doing, under other circumstances, it would repay him over and over. The events of coming years will subject our cul- tivators to such an ordeal as they have never yet passed through, and carry desolation into the home of many an humble though honest farmer, or I much mistake if the present system of managing, or JHZsmanaging, landed property be persisted in. The spirit of democracy is quite rife enough in the towns, and there is no occasion for placing an ad- ditional weapon against the aristocracy in its hands as the break down of the humbler farmers would present to them, when it was known that they might have been saved by a considerate regard to their welfare on the part of their superiors. We have heard lately much about Conservatives and Destructives, of Protectionists and Freetraders : the cultivators will learn to look below the surface, to estimate profession of zeal for their welfare at its real worth, but not beyond it. With them the true Conservative landowner will be he who will step out of his hitherto isolated position in society, and, making common cause with his tenantry, will anxiously inquire v/hat hindrances can be removed out of their way, what encouragements given. He will make a just distinction between what is really his and what is theirs, and will endeavour to place them in a position to make the most of the land consistently with the maintenance of its intrinsic value; and by so doing will render the compact between them and himself so firm that nothing shall sever it, whether social or political. It v/ill be highly necessary, in the agitation of the question, to avoid engendering a spirit of asperity and bitterness towards those landowners who oppose the concession of justice to the tenant; their feelings are the sure result of centuries of ai- solufe authority, and great allowance is to be made on this account. Let the tenants feel certain that the loss of Mr. Pusey's Bill is no Canna?, but one of those defeats which lead to victory ; that, thougli Hannibal be in Italy at present, a Scipio will as- suredly rise, and turn the scale in their favour. Only continue the effort on all proper occasions ; discuss it in public and private, at home and abroad, and seize every opportunity of giving it promi- nence, and it is sure to progress. When sufficient hght can be brought to bear on the landowner as THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 511 to cause him to really believe that the property of his tenant is a distinct thine/ from the occitpancy of his oion land, the summit of the hill will be reached, and nothing will remain but for both to descend in company into the valley of mutual satisfaction and advantage on the other side. October, 1S47. A Looker-on. LIEBIG ON MANURES, v. BOUSSINGAULT AND KUHLMANN. [The following is part of a letter from Liebig to the Editor of the Revue Scientifique et IndustrielleJ] In a short time I intend publishing a work which, I trust, will be interesting in the present state of agriculture. You are aware of the great importance which theoretical persons attach to the presence of ammonia in manures ; so much so, that in France their value is estimated by the quantity of azote or ammonia they contain. For myself, for the last three years, I have partaken of the com- mon opinion, and regard the azote as not only useful but also necessary ; hut mij last experime^its, us ivell as careful observation, have lately compelled me to alter my opinion. It has been demonstrated that ammonia is a con- stituent part of the atmosphere, and that as such it is directly accessible and absorbable by all plants. If, then, the other conditions necessary to the growth of the plants be satisfied— if the soil be suit- able, if it contains a sufficient quantity of alkalies, phosphates, and sul[)hates, nothing will be wanting ; the plants will derive their ammonia from the atmosphere as they do carbonic acid. We know well that they are endowed with the faculty of assi- milating these two aliments ; and I really cannot see why we should search for their presence in the manures we use.* If the above be not a fact, how are we to explain the presence of more azote in the produce of a meadow field (which has only been manured with ashes and gypsum) than in a crop of wheat which has been manured with farm-yard dung ? The law of nutrition of grasses and lagumens will surely be the same, whether grown in a meadow or in a ploughed field. The question of the necessity for anunonia in our manures resolves itself into the question of the necessity for animal manures, and upon the solution depends the entire future pros- pects of agriculture ; for as soon as we can dis- pense with bulky farm-yard manure, by the use of artificial prepai'ations, the productive power of our * This argument is anything but convincing and satisfactory. — Trans. fields are placed in our own hands.* To hasten the solution of this important question, I have ascertained that in an average clay soil there will be found in one acre, nine inches deep, about 8,000 pounds of ammonia, and that the poorest sandy soil contains, in the same extent and dej^th, about 4,000 pounds ; and it is asserted by Boussingault, that with the best ordinary manure we only add 200 pounds of ammonia.t The small proportion which the 200 pounds bears to that which the soil naturally contains renders it ira])ossible to admit that the produce of the soil depends upon it. Am- monia added ivith the manure may be useful, but it certainly is not necessary. [The views of the illustrious professor of Giessen are always worthy of attention; but until very strong corroborative evidence be produced, we are sorry to be of a diametrically opposite opinion ; and in answer to the above assertions, we would recom- mend a perusal of Kuhlmann's report of experiments. Translator.] ALSTON CATTLE SHOW.— The number of short- horns and Leicester sheep was small, but they were of good quality ; some of thena had taken prizns at Hex- ham, and others at Whitehaven and Penrith, which made the competition very interesting. The Galloway cattle and black-faced sheep, wliich are better adapted for the district, were more numerous, and some very superior animals of that description appeared upon clie ground. The dinner was held at the Anchor Inn, Lowbyer, where about eighty gentlemen and farmers assembled. Joseph Dickinson, jun., Esq., of Raise, presided, and Mr. Wm. Walton, Leases House, officiated as vice-president. After the usual national toasts had been gone through, Jacob Wilson, Esq., of Alston House, who had been de- puted to present Mr. John White, the Secretary, with an elegant tea service, addressed that gentleman in an appropriate and feeling address, complimenting him on having discharged his duties faithfully, not only as sec- retary to the society, but in all other matters in which he has been publicly engaged for the last fifteen years. The teapot bears the following inscription : — " Presented, with a basin and ewer, to Mr. John White, by several friends and members of the Alston District Agricultural Society, as a token of esteem for the efficient and gra- tuitous services he has rendered as secretary to the above society since its establishment. — IGth Oct., 1847." Mr. White replied in an appropriate speech, expressive of his deep sense of the kindness manifested by his friends. Several toasts were afterwards given, and the company separated highly gratified with the proceedings of the day. * This seems ])lausible enough; but if ever ammoiiia should be found requisite, it can be added to pi'epared manures. — Trans. t And yet Kuhlmann has found that the addition of SOOlbs. of ammonia doubled the produce. How is this to be explained ? — Trans. 513 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TENANT-RIGHT. On Thursday, Oct-28, several agricultuiists of this county met at the Clarence Hotel, Bridgewater, Somerset, for the purpose of discussing the subject of tenant-right, and making arrangements for petitioning Parliament thereon. A dinner was provided, and covers laid for about 150. Not more than one-third of that number, however, was present — a circumstance to be wondered at, we think, considering the importance of the object for which the meeting had been convened. Probably this paucity of numbers is attributable in some measure to the adver- tisement by which the meeting was called having been headed " Bridgewater Agricultural Pvo^eci tow Society," and to the suspicion excited thereby that it was for po- litical purposes. But to whatever cause it is to be ascribed, the smallness of the meeting is much to be regretted. Tenant-right is the protection which tenant farmers require, and the name " Protection," which has been given to this movement, albeit il has a sound which cannot, we think, be over pleasant to agricultural ears, is a very applicable and projier one. H. B. Strangways, Esq., ably presided ; and among those present we observed — Mr. Kidner, as vice- chairman, Mr. C. Poole, Mr. John Trevor, Mr. Merry- man, Mr. Bishop John Morle, Mr. Veysey, Mr. Ilearn, Mr. Silke, Mr. Tilley, Mr. Allen, Mr. King. Mr. Brice, Mr. Biffen, Mr. Bryant, Mr. Evered, Dr. Sewell, Mr. Paramore, Mr. T. Danger, Mr. Wm. Gooding, Mr. F. Richardson, Mr. J. Francis, Mr. J. Darby, Mr. Mogg, Mr. Body, &c., &c., &c. A letter was read from Mr. Shaw, a gentleman, as observed by the Chairman, well known among the agri- culturists in liOndon, and who had taken great interest in the question of tenant-right : up to that morning his attendance at the meeting was fully expected, but cir- cumstances had occurred which prevented him from being present. This was to be regretted, as Mr. Shaw, it appeared, was the first to bring this question before the public, some few years ago, his statements and re- ports at that time being recorded in the ' Farmer's Ma- gazine.' Mr. Strangways said, he would now proceed to the business for which this meeting had been specially called (cheers). He regretted the absence of Mr. Shaw and other gentlemen who were expected, and he also re- gretted to see that the meeting was so small in number — it was, however, a meeting of considerable influence, and it being the first meeting that had taken place in this county on the subject they were about to discuss, perhaps a very numerous attendance could hardly have been expected, particularly after the events and changes that had occurred afiecting the agricultural interest (Hear). He was satisfied that this was a question which had not been well considered by the landlords generally, for, as had been observed by Mr. Shaw, there ap- peared to be a feeling in the minds of the land- lords that the name of tenant-right meant landlord's wrong. Such, however, was not the case (Hear), nothing could be further from the fact, as every one must easily discover if the subject were examined in all its bearings. He had studied it ; and he looked upon it as afiecting not merely the interests of the tenant farmers and of the landowners, but those of the public also, and chiefly those (Hear, hear). Had his impression been that the gentlemen whom he had the honour to address were met to advance merely a selfish object, he would not have been there ; but he knew that their conviction was the same as his own — that tenant-right was as necessary and desirable for the landlord as for the tenant, and more so for the public generally than for either one (cheers). To the public it was of deep, sei'ious, important, and vital interest. Who would tell him that the question of hrcreasing the produce of the soil was not one which most deeply concerned the com- munity at large? (cheers). He believed that country was in a most wretched state which was dependent for food upon foreign nations. The public had a right to demand that the land should be properly cultivated, and that all obstructions to the full development of its resources should be removed (cheers). Now, were there any obstructions at present in existence, and what were they .' Who cultivated the land ? Not the landlords, but the tenants ; and they were expected to cultivate it in the best manner. But what did they meet at the very outset ? They found the land in a bad state, but capa- ble of very great improvement by the outlay of money — they found that it might be doubled in value to them- selves, and ultimately to their landlords. Now, how was this outlay to be made ? The tenant took a form , whether from year to year or by lease was of no conse- quence as respected the question of tenant-right, tliough he who held under a twenty-one years' lease was in a better position than he who only held from year to year. But this lease was not sufiicient either for his protection or for the interests of the public, inasmuch as a farm, even if held under a lease for twenty-one years, was, for a considerable portion of that term at all events, in any- thing but a high state of cultivation. It was ten to one that a farmer found an estate in good order on entering, and therefore the first foiu' years must be years of im- provement. Now, when his term was drawing to a close, he would take care that the land should be left in very much the same condition as he found it. In com- mon justice to himself and his family he would not spend so much money upon it within the last four years as in the fourteen years preceding, and therefore the land might be said to be, and was, in a half- cultivated state during seven or eight years out of a twenty-one years' lease -(Hear, hear). What, then, was it that the tenant required .' Tenant-right meant the adoption by the le- gislature of such a law as should secure to the tenants, who expended their cajjitals on the farms they took, a full and adequate remuneration for such expenditure— THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 613 that, in fact they should not be at the will of landlords nor subjected to the hardships which sometimes arose out of the law of entail (cheers). lie did not believe that many landlords would take advantage of the power they had, to inflict injustice upon those who occupied their estates ; but that was not the thing. The power should not be in their hands, nor should the tenant be subjected to hardships which the misfortunes of a landlord might involve him in, though the latter were ever so inclined to deal kindly by him (cheers). Sometimes estates were mortgaged, and creditors got hold of them. The highest bidder for the property then became its owner, and the occupier was almost sure to be a sufferer in consequence. There was another point of view in which this subject was of serious importance to tenant farmers. They must remember that a great change had taken place in agri- cultural matters in consequence of the repeal of the corn- laws. It could not be denied or doubted that corn, though at present selling at a good price, would fall in value; and the average price would, he thought, be a very low one. Well, then, a tenant must either give up his business, or by a judicious outlay and the application of skill raise two bushels of grain now where he formerly raised only one (Hear, hear). He could not make this outlay unless its return was secured to him, and this could only be effected by legislative enactment (cheers). Mr. Charles Addams then proposed the following resolution : — " That it is expedient for the better secu- rity of farmers in the improvement of land, and for the consequent increase of produce therefrom, to obtain by Act of Parliament powers for securing an equitable system of tenant-right in accordance with the modern system of husbandry." He said he had frequently been asked by farmers what he would advise them to do with respect to certain pieces of land ; and his answer had been, " Drain it." " Yes, but when shall I see my money again ?" they would ask ; " I have no security" (Hear, hear). He had always been of opinion that the tenantry should have long leases, if they were to eff'ect any great improvement of the soil (cheers). The move- ment in favour of tenant-right had his hearty support. Mr. KiDNEU seconded the resolution. It was quite necessai'y, he said, that something should be done to secure the now-improving farmer in his rights. He spoke feelingly on the matter ; for he had laid out a consider- able sum of money on the land which he occupied, and should feel it a great hardship to be turned out of it without compensation. A man might have great confi- dence in his landlord, but the duration of a landlord's life was as uncertain as that of any other individual ; and no one could say what the character of the next owner might be (Hear, hear). A man might enter on a farm, and calculate upon occupying it many years. He might lay out every shilling upon it, but at the end of a year or two he might die. Perhaps the owner of his farm would be willing that a son of his should carry on the business, and so far the bereaved family might do pretty well ; but if there was no son, what was to be- come of the widow and orphans ? They were entitled to remuneration, but they could make no legal claim to it. Tbey therefore must come to ruin. He had heard tenant- right objected to because it gave a tenant power to lay out as much money as he cliose, and call upon the land- lord to reimburse him ; but that was an incorrect view of the matter. Before any claim to compensation could be enforced, competent judges were to decide whether an improvement had really been made ; and it was upon their decision that the amount of compensatiou depended (cheers). Mr. Francis said the question was one of deep in- terest both to landlords and tenants, and (as had been observed by Mr. Strangways) especially to the general public. He hoped the public would soon view it in that light. It vfas a fact, of which this meeting might justly be proud, that it was the first formal movement that had been made in the matter. He trusted that this small nucleus would spread through all parts of the kingdom. When once the public saw that it was for their interest the question was discussed — that the object in view was a greater supply of food for them — they would energetically second the eff"orts which were making to obtain tenant-right (cheers). This was not a political question, but it was a question of polity, and which in- terested all classes alike. Of course it was of great in- terest to owners and occupiers of the soil, but it was of greater importance to the entire community than to either of those classes. The tenant had a right to com- pensation for the employment of his capital and skill where time was not allowed for his obtaining remunera- tion from the land itself. If a man spent two or three thousand pounds on an estate belonging to an- other person, and which might be worth eight or ten thousand pounds, he added two thousand pounds to its value, and therefore to the landlord's capital (Hear, hear). It was no longer bis own floating capital, but it was buried in the soil ; it was no longer his, but his landlord's. According to Mr. Porter, the capital in- vested in agriculture in this country was three hundred millions sterling ; for this there was no security— (hear, hear)-— and the consequence was, that the improvements which were necessary to produce the greatest quantity that the land would yield were not adopted (applause). The tenant farmer contented himself with producing just enough to pay the rent and other charges. Nor could they be expected to do more. Another consequence of this insecurity was, that a certain class of persons was kept out of the field altogether— men of scientific know- ledge and of great capital would not enter upon agricul- tural pursuits, but the cultivation of the soil was left to those who had little of either. Then, from the want of capital, only a few labourers were employed (cheers). The observations made by the vice-chairman had re- minded him of a friend of his, who some years ago took an estate for twenty-one years, and laid out three or four thousand pounds upon it ; but he died before he had been four years in occupation, and his family were obliged to give it up. And another case was also brought to his mind. Some two years ago, a farmer residing in this neighbourhood, and who rented from year to year, made considerable outlay, on the faith of his landlord being an honourable man. That person had never advo- cated leases nor tenant right, but said that if a farmer 5U THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. had a good landlord that was all he could want. He (Mr. Francis) cautioned him against proceeding too far with his improvements without security that he would be repaid the capital expended ; but he still went on, and it was only a week ago that he had informed him (Mr. Francis) that a surveyor had been over his land, and his rent had been increased ten shillings an acre, the only alternative given him being to quit the estate if he re- fused to pay the advance— (hear, hear, and cries of "Shame.") Mr. G. Poole said he was sorry to see so small a party present, because the question under discussion was one of very great importance both to tenants and landlords, and still more so to the public. It was essential that all re- straints to the improvement of agriculture should be re- moved, in order that the advantages which the English farmer had in respect to capital and skill should be fairly applied to it (applause). It was not his intention to make any remark upon the general question, whether tenants ought to have compensation for unexhausted improvements or permanent improvements made upon a farm ; because of their right to that no one could doubt. The only question was, as to how that compensation should be made. For his own part, he thought the best way was for the landowners to make the whole of the improvements, and charge an additional rent (much ap- plause). That was the plan which he had adopted with respect to estates for which he was an agent. But it was not always that this could be done, because landowners were not always wealthy men, and could not therefore advance the money required. The Chairman had said he did not think this question had been sufficiently looked into by the landlords. He (Mr. P.) was of the same opinion ; he believed they had taken alarm at the tertn " tenant right," because they had been accustomed to hear of the sort of " right " which existed iu Ireland, where the tenant had power to transfer the land to any one who would give him the most money for it. But no one expected such a system in England (applause). The object in view was, not to obtain means by which one party should be benefited at the cost of the other, but by which both — owners and occupiers — should be benefited. He very cordially supported the resolution which had been proposed, because as a landlord (though to a small extent) and an occupier, and moreover as an agent, he had had opportunities of becoming fully ac- quainted with the wants of agriculturists (cheers). The I'esolution was carried unanimously. The Chairman said they came now to consider the details by which this resolution was to be carried out. He would, before they proceeded further, call attention to some observations which had been made on the pre- sent relations of landlords and tenants by Lord Stanley. That noble lord had said : " We have, as iu every other situation of life, our respective obligations and our rela- tive duties. The landlord has a right to expect the application of industry, of capital, and of skill ; the tenant has a right to expect a due consideration for the improvements which he effects, a due security for the continuation of his interest in the land, and a due amount of encouragement and of assistance in pro- moting those improvements which may be beyond the means, the pecuniary means, of the tenant." Mr. Colville, M.P., who was averse to any legislative enact- ment of tenant-right, had proposed as a substitute an agreement, for a certain number of years in the first in- stance, and then occupation from year to year, determi- nable by twelve months' notice, Mr. Colville's plan was thus described in the Economist : — " The landlord is, on receiving notice in writing from the tenant, ' to do and make all necessary permanent improvements, such as building, draining, road-making, or new fencing,' provided the cost in one year do not exceed 10 per cent, on the gross rental, the tenant paying £(j lOs- per cent, for twenty years on that outlay, if in draining, and £b per cent, on other outlays. Tlie question of what is a ' necessary improvement ?' to be determined by arbi- tration. There are the common stipulations not to break up pasture — to consume all the straw, fodder, turnips, and so forth, on the farm — and an agreement that they shall, every year, on the 2.5th of March, de- liver to the landlord or his agent." But the misfortune was that this plan was not practicable in all cases, be- cause all landlords could not aflbrd to make such outlay. They could not compel a landlord to lay out 10 percent, in improvements on his property, which money he might require for otiier purposes. Take the case of a gentle- man whose property was entailed on his eldest son. He must do something for his younger children, and perhaps he could not do that if compelled to expend so large an amount iipon the land, and therefore they would be turned out upon the world mere beggars. Mr. Strang- waysthen called upon Mr. Poole to read the statement of details which had been drawn up as calculated to form the basis of a measure beneficial to landlords, tenants, and the general public. Mr. Poole read the document, of which the follow- ing is a copy, commenting upon each point as he pro- ceeds : — [I* " Heads of a Plan for seciirinrj to Tenants Coiiipensotion for Im- provement." " Improvements to be compensated for are of two kind*, namely — permanent, as erecting buildings, nnder-draiuing, making fences, making roads, &c. ; temporary, as imrchasing artificial or otlier manures, purchasing food for consumption of cattle so as to increase the manure on the farm, subsoiling, feeding turnips or other green crops without having the op- portunity of taking a succeeding corn or gram crop, &c. " For these two kinds of improvement diiferent modes of compensation should ba provided. First, as to permanent ini- proveraents, it should be enacted that any tenant wishing to make permanent improvement on his estate should give notice thereof to his landlord, accompanying the same with a descrip- tion, plan, and estimate of the intended improvement, and naming a person as arbitrator on his behalf for the purposes after described. " The landlord should have power to dissent from such work, either altogether or iu part; but in case he does not, he should be required to name an arbitrator on his own behalf urdess lie is satisfied with the arbitrator named by the tenant in which case such arbitrator would act for both parties. If an umpire should be required, the Inclosure Commissioners to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 515 name him if the two arbitrators cannot agree, who shouhl be such umpire. " It shoulil then be required that the arbitrators be fur- iiishcil with tlie description, \)h\n, and estimate of the work, nul if they think it a permanent improvement, they shoidd be [iiired to certify the same in writing to the huullord and lant, which prehminary certificate should be an authority to till! latter to do the work. After it is completed the :nl)itrators should be req\ured to inspect it, and to be fur- nished with vouchers of the actual cost ; and if they are satisfied that the work is efliciently done, and that the cost is reasonable, they should be required to give a certificate to (hat effect ; and they should further consider, decide, and ceitify in how many equal amuial payments the amount of such cost and the interest thereon ought to be reimbursed to tlie tenant, and copies of sucli last-mentioned certificates should be required to be served both on landlord and tenant. " The ai-bitrators' certificates should entitle the tenant to obtain from the Inclosure Commissioners (or any other au- thority to whom such power might be delegated) an order charging the land improved ^\itli the annual payments to the amount and for the term named in such certificates, whicli order should be a charge on the laud, taldng precedence of all other charges except ordinary rates, taxes, tithe rent- charge, and laud-tax. This charge should be transferrable by deed, so as to enable the tenant either to advance the money himself, or to borrow it ou security of this charge at his option. The annual payments should be made by the tenant during tlie rest of bis term, and he or his assignee would after- wards be entitled to receive the remaming annual sums as an annuity payable out of the estate during the rest of the term, and should have a power of distress to recover tlie same ; but w liere there is no stipulation to the contrary, the incoming tenant should be entitled to deduct the same from his rent. " As to temporary improvement, it slioidd be enacted that the tenant, three months before the expiration of his tenancy, or as soon as practicable, should give his landlord a claim for any compensation he should think himself entitled to under this head, stating particidars, and naming an arbitrator. The land- Ljid or incoming tenant should name another, and the umpire should be chosen as in the former provision. " The arbitrators should be required to sun'ey the land, and satisfy themselves by production of vouchers or other satisfac- Imiv evidence that the temporary unprovements mentioned in claim have been made ; that the outgoing tenant has not ! fived sufficient compensation for them, and what amount of remuneration he ought to have, mid over how many years it should be spread. " 'When the arbiti'ators are satisfied on these points, they should make an order ou the incoming tenant or landlord, if in possession of his estate, for payment of the remuneration to the outgoing tenant, in one or more annual or other payments as tliey may award, and the outgoing tenant should have a power of distress for the several sums awarded to him, and at the times mentioned in the order. " The compensation for temporary improvements should, in the absence of a stipulation to the contrary, be considered a charge on the incoming tenant, mid not on the landlords. " The powers of the 9th and 10th Victoria, c. 101, should be extended to enable the Government to lend money for the pur- poses of this Act." Mr. Poole said the agriculturists must not expect a renev/al of protection by a corn-law, but must endea- vour to produce food at a lower rate, so as to compete with the foreigner. This they could do only by increas- ing the quantity. Mr. Addams proposed, as a toast, " Prosperity to the cause of Tenant Kiglit" (cheers). Mr. Francis said he approved of the plan which had been laid before the meeting by Mr. Poole ; but he thought the landlords sliould not have power to put a veto upon proposed improvements, because, if such power was given, the measure would really be of no service. He supported this position in a speech of con- siderable length. The Chaiuman agreed with Mr. Francis, that the object would be defeated if the landlords had power to prevent improvements being made. It was a question not confined merely to landlords or to tenants, but which concerned the whole community. It was for the interest of all that the land should be made to yield the greatest possible amount of food. By this plan two disinterested persons were to be called to say whether the proposed improvements were necessary or not. Now, if they came to a conclusion that such improvements were essen- tial, and that they would be beneficial to landlord, tenant, and the public (as they most probably would), he did not see why the owner of the estate should have power to say that they should not be carried into effect. He thought the meeting could not do better than adopt the plan which had been produced (cheers). Mr. Trevor proposed the health of Mr. Strangways, to whom, he said, the meeting was deeply indebted, not only for the able manner in which he had presided, but for the great attention he had given to the subject, and the active part he had taken in reference to it (loud cheers). The Chairman, in returning thanks, said, although he was a landlord, he attended that meeting as one of the public ; and he endeavoured at all times to consider public questions without reference to private interests. Mr. Poole said he was glad that there was only one objection to it ; and with respect to that objection, he hoped it would not be insisted on, because he felt certain that no measure which proposed to take out of the land- owner's hands the control over his own property would pass the Legislature. They must remember that the House of Commons was composed of landlords in a great measure, and it was not likely they would pass a bill which they disappi-oved of. Mr. Francis said he did not hope to get much sup- port from county members for a tenant-right bill. It was to the borough members, upon whom tlie public would exercise its influence, that they must chiefly look. Mr. Richardson said he should disapprove of a tenant-right bill if (as Mr. Francis had said) it would have the effect of ousting the small farmer and bringing the great capitalist into the field. Mr. Body expressed approval of the proposed plan. It would benefit not only the landlord and tenant, but the labouring poor also, who wanted to be benefited (cheers). Mr. Danger said he should be sorry for it to go forth to the public that that meeting denied to the landowners control over their own property (cheers). He then pro- 616 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. posed that a petition founded upon the propositions read by Mr. Poole shouhl be drawn up and presented to Par- liament. Mr, Paramore seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Poole's health was drunk amid much cheering, and the compliment acknowledged by that gentleman. The Chairman proposed " The Martock Farmers' Club, and the Health of Mr. Francis" (cheers). ; Mr. Francis returned thanks. The health of Mr. T. D. Ackland, who is in favour of tenant-right, was also drunk. Mr. MoGG proposed a committee to draw up a peti- tion, and the motion was adopted. The health of Mr. Trevor was then drunk, and the comphment acknowledged by him. The Chairman proposed "The North Petherton Agricultural Association," coupling with it " The Land- lords and Yeomanry" (cheers). The meeting then separated. — Somerset County Gazette. TRIAL OF THE IMPLEMENTS OF THE YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, AT SCARBOROUGH. According to usage, the trial of ground implements took place at Scarborough, Tuesday, the 19th, 20th, and 21st October, on two fields adjoining the Railway, and close to the Seamer Station. The trial commenced with ploughs on Thursday, in a light gravelly field, oc- cupied by Mr. Pennock, and was very suitable for light ploughing. About twenty-five ploughs, five subsoils, five scarifiers, two Norwegian harrows, and a variety of miscellaneous implements, were produced, from the firms of Crosskill, Kirkwood, Busby, Barker, Hunter, Saunders, Stead, and Summers, and the whole of the day was occupied in the light ploughs and scarifiers. The judges were Mr. John Alraack, of Leconfield Park, Beverley ; Mr. Mansfield Harrison, of Keyingham, near Hedon ; and Mr. Peter Stevenson, of Rainton, near Thirsk. On Wednesday the best of each firm were selected, and submitted to the test of Clyburn's dynamometer, by Mr. Milburn, the secretary of the society, the results of which will begiveninthe°society's Annual Transactions. On Thursday the trial of subsoils was taken, and was one of the most interesting and stirring trials ever before noticed, as the soil was somewhat difficult, and the kinds brought forward were representatives of all the classes of subsoil which have been introduced. The Norwegian harrow was also exhibited both on the round and square axle, and underwent a very severe ordeal : the judges finally decided in favour of the square. The interest excited was very great, and on the first day, especially, the crowd which thronged the imple- jnents was very numerous, and particularly around the turf-parer of Mr. Glover's, which is a new invention for paring grass-land, and which executed its work in a very masterly manner. On the ground were Sii* T. Legard, Bart., George Lane Fox, Esq., W. R. C. Stansfield, Esq., M.P., T. 11. Fuwkes, Esq., H. R. Thompson, Esq., &c., &c. Very great curiosity was excited by many implements, of which hardly the name was ever known in this district. Great admiration was expressed as to the greatly improved character of the work. On Thursday evening the judges, implement-makers, &c., dined at the Bull Hotel, George Legard, Esq , in the chair. The following was the award of tlie judges : — DEEP PLOUGHS.— To Mr. Rd. Saunders, of Noitli Cave, £5; Mr. Barker, Duimington, York, £3. LIGHT PLOUGHS.— To Mr. Busby, of Newton Bcdule, £7 ; Mr. Richard Saunders, North Cave, £3. STRONG LAND PLOUGH.— To Mr. James Kirkwoo.l, Tranent, East Lothian, £3. PARING PLOUGH.— To Mr. Glover, Thrushigtoii, Li- cester, the Society's Medal and £2. SUBSOILS.— To Mr. Kirkwood, Tranent, £5. GRUBBER.— To Mr. Kirkwood, Tranent, £3. SCARIFIER.— To Hr. Busby, Newton Bedale, the So- ciety's Silver Medal. STUBBLE-PARER.— To Mr. Barker, Dimningtoii, £2. NORWEGIAN HARROW.— To Mr. Hunter, Ulceby, Barrow, square axle, £3. STRONG HARROW.— To Mr. Crosskill, Beverley, llic Society's Silver Medal. OX HARROWS.— To Mr. Barker, Dunuiugton, £2. SEED HARROWS.— To Mr. B. Stead, Gateford, F.l by, £2. SCUFFLER (suited to tlie district).— To Mr. Summei?, Wold, Newton, Hunmanby, £1, DRAINING ON SIR ROBERT PEEL'S ES- TATES.— It is to be regretted that the proceedings of Sir Robert Peel in StafTordshire should not be more ge- nerally known; how large the sums expended by hiui for the benefit of the land, how moderate the charge made to his tenantry (four per cent.) for the money sunlc upon their farms. We believe we are not wrong in stat- ing that Mr. Parkes alone has already drained for him 500 or GOO acres from 4 to 6 feet deep, with 1|- in. pipes, and that 1,000 acres more near Blackburn, in Lancashire, are about to be drained by him in the same manner. By this means, by throwing down useless fences, filling up useless ditches, felling useless trees, and pulling up or undercutting the old useless tile and sole drains, the productiveness of the soil cannot but be enormously increased. It appears, indeed, from the statements at the Drayton dinner that in some cases tlie produce of wheat land has been nearly quintupled by , similar operations. With respect to the draining we cannot do better than recommend all, who have the op- portunity, to inspect it ; for they will find the details of Mr. Parkes's arrangements such as cannot be too gene- rally imitated. All the pipes are collared so that neither soil nor roots can fiod their way into them, nor the joints i be dislocated ; and the expedition with which the appai I rently tedious operation of collaring is performed by THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 517 joys is not the least interesting part of the operation. kVhere the pipes meet from opposite directions, they de- ,iver their water into open cesspools or wells, so con- irived that the action of the draining can at all times be eadily examined, while at the same time the water from he pipes is thus conducted to a common outfall. One >{ the most remarkable features in these operations is he drainage of about 100 acres of the Drayton meadows, n the banks of tlie river Thames, on a dead level, and ubjcct to annual flooding to the depth of about two feet, "he whole of this has been drained four feet deep, and Uhou!jh the flooding is not thus prevented, the conse- iKiioes of the floods are converted from an injury into a Lnufit; for the moment the waters fall, the superfluous loisture passes ofl' with great rapidity, all the matters Impended in the overflow being left in the ground, which ■ts as a filter. It is like the inundation of a little Nile, •lie of the results of this action is that the drainage atcr becomes so pure and transparent that it is perfectly t for drinking. Nor are these draining operations con- ned to the farm. The garden of Drayton Manor has ''1 treated in a similar manner. The whole of it is ed 5 feet deep, with collared pipes, and the conse- i nee is abundantly conspicuous in the altered character the produce. — Gardeners' Chronicle. THE SLIDE RULE AND CATTLE GAUGE.— novel and extremely ingenious adaptation of that •>-t important aid to ready calculation, the slide rule, - ijeen published by Mr. John Ewart, cattle salesman, this town, to whom the merit of the discovery of this itiiely new arrangement is most justly due. The slide .le is adapted to every kind of arithmetical calculation, lowing, at a glance, the answer to any question sought be solved, and with the slightest degree of mental or eelumical effort. Indeed, the simplicity of the rule is i great beauty ; for it is thereby accommodated to the iinblest capacity, and may be used by any individual, )\\ever imperfectly acquainted with the ordinary routine ' arithmetical calculations. The cattle gauge is an in- lument already well known to the farmers and cattle lesmcn of this district, by whom it is most highly ap- eciated. Some valuable improvements have been in- oduced by the author, the whole of which are combined the instrument now under notice. The rule is ac- impanied by a book of instructions, which is itself a implete vade mecum for the practical agriculturist, as sets forth the mode of applying the slide rule to arith- etical calculations, mensuration of superficies and ilids, land surveying, draining, ploughing, manuring, 'wing, weight of crops, and of mineral and earthy sub- mces, size and cubical contents of stacks, troughs, uterus, and wells, the measurement of timber, and the eight and measurement of cattle. In short its applica- 3n to every species of calculation which is required of e farmer, the breeder, the cattle salesman, or any one igagcd in husbandry, is explained with extraordinary earness and simplicity, and the whole rendered per- 'ctly easy of acquirement. A more excellent treatise 1 the slide rule is not in existence, and we recommend all whose professional duties require a quick and familiar mode of resolving somewhat abstruse problems to pur- chase the instrument, with Mr. Ewart's instruction book, and make themselves masters of its valuable contents. — Newcastle Journal. TENANT RIGHT. This subject was discussed at the meeting of the East Kent Farmers' Club, on Saturday, Oct. 21. It was in- troduced by Mr. C. E. Hughes, as the most important social question of the day, embracing its probable effect on the landlord, the tenant farmer, and the labourer. That of the first -named body being — 1 . The encouraging instead of i-etarding the high cultivation of the soil, and consequently increasing the produce of English corn, at a moderate price to the consumer, as the produce of English labour, and thereby in a great measure pre- venting our consumption of foreign corn, emanating from foreign labour, the purchase of English gold. 2. The satisfaction of feeling that his tenant will receive the value of his improvements, or pay for any injury done to his holding ; as well as the assurance that the public could no longer reflect on the landowner as injurious to the interest of the populous by curtailing science, the enterprise, and the expenditure of the British cultivator, and consequently, the otherwise moi'e extensive develop- ment of the powers of the English soil. 3. The cer- tainty that the value of his estate must increase in pro- portion to its augmented productiveness. The advan- tage to the cultivator being — 1. The improved security of tenure, and the extraordinaiy increase of production consequent on the large outlay the proposed law must necessarily induce, to the manifest advantage of himself. 2. The incalculable advantage of security for the im- provement of his holding, to the benefit of himself and the public, with that ordinary hazard only which must attend the expenditure of capital, apart from the present awful dread that should the landlord, his agent, or exe- cutor prove to be an austere man, he may, at any mo- ment, " reap where he has not sown, and gather that which he has not strawed," to the injury or ruin of his tenant. 3. The certainty that should he unfortunately feel himself called upon conscientiously to exercise his electoral privileges, or otherwise express opinions on pubhc matters contrary to those of his landlord, the laws of England would not permit that landlord to seize on his invested improvements as the penalty of his patriotic independence. The advantage to the labourer being — 1. That of arise in wages, consequent on im- proved cultivation, producing its inevitable result — a competition in the labour market. 2. The advantage of consuming a cheaper loaf chiefly the produce of his own labour. 3. A participation in the general diff"usion of increased intelligence and skill amongst the agricultural population. The Speaker then proposed the following resolution, which was carried unanimously : " Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, an equitable adjusted mea- sure is indispensably necessary to promote an improved cultivation of the soil, whereby the property of the landowner would be improved, the prosperity of the tenantry promoted, and the condition of the labourer as well as the interest of the community permanently enhanced." Mr. Lattimore then addressed the meeting in a most eff"ective speech, for which we regret we cannot find room. >18 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. PRESENTATION OF TESTIMONIALS TO MR, HARKNESS, MR. DAVIES, AND MR. HYDE. It is always gratifying to receive the acknow- ledgment of services rendered in a good cause. We have the pleasure of announcing in this journal the presentation of testimonials to three several individuals, all of whom have rendered suit and service in the advancement of practical agri- culture. With Mr. Harkness, the secretary of the Rhins of Galloway Farmers' Club, we have for many years had communication by correspondence, and latterly have enjoyed the advantage of personal acquaintance. Having watched his course of pro- ceeding during the many years he was connected with the Dumfries Times, now the Wiytoivnshire Free Press, we add our testimony to that of the members of the Rhins Farmers' Club, in acknow- ledgment of his zeal and successful exertions in promoting improvements in the district in which that club is situated. With Mr. Davies, of Leominster, whose services have been so gratefully acknowledged by the mem- bers of the Leominster Agricultural Society, we have for many years been in correspondence, although as yet personally unknown, but have the pleasing anticipation of making his acquaintance when opportunity offers. The reports of the pro- ceedings of the Leominster Agricultural Society coming periodically under our notice, it was im- possible not to have seen how much he has contributed, by the zealous and active per- formance of the duties of honorary secretary, to the prosperity of that society; we therefore cordially congratulate him on the compliment so deservedly paid him. Of Mr. Hyde, the agent of Joseph Weld, Esq., of Lulworth, Dorset, we have no personal know- ledge ; but we are in possession of two facts which suffice to command our I'espect, as well as that of all those who know how to appreciate the benefits which the landlord, the tenant, and the public must derive from the well-regulated conduct of an intelligent and right-minded agent. Some time since, if we recollect rightly, the tenantry of Mr. Weld presented him with a piece of plate as a testimonial of their esteem for him as a good land- lord, and more especially for keeping his stock of game within such limits as to prevent any damage to their crops. They now come forward and mark their sense of the conduct of his agent, by pre- senting him with a handsome silver tea-service " as a token of sincere respect for his impartial conduct as steward of Joseph Weld, Esq." These simple facts speak more effectively in commendation of tli landlord and his steward than the most eloquei writing could express. It is often remarked th; good tenants make good landlords ; we think may be said, with more truth, that good agen make both good landlords and good tenants. AA should be proud of having frequently to record t milar instances. RHINS OF GALLOWAY FARMERS' CLUJ TESTIMONIAL TO THE SECRETARY, THOM./> HARKNESS, ESQ. On the 15th of October last, in consequence of i arrangement resolved on at a previous meeting, tlie cli met for the purpose of presenting their testimonial Mr. Harkness, consisting of an elegant silver ju value £25, with a purse of 50 sovereigns. Present : George Guthrie, Esq., factor on the St; estates; David M'Culloch, Esq., factor on Loga John Murdoch, Esq., factor on Dunskey ; Lieut. Slac R.N. ; Messrs. J. M'Meckan, Mark ; Jolm M'Bry^ Balkerr ; J. Cochrane, Craigcaffie ; Wm. Gibsi Beoch ; Wm. F. Ingram, writer; James M'Brj'i Balkerr ; James Bowie, Balyett ; Andrew Murray, ro; surveyor; David M'Clean, writer; Nathan Taylor, Belmont ; and Wm. Ralston, jun., Culmore. On the motion of Mr. M'Bryde, Balkerr, seconf by Mr. M'Meckan, Mark, Mr. Guthrie was unanimou called to the chair. Mr. M'CuLLOcH, who had been previously fixed uj by tlie club to present the testimonial, addressed i meeting as follows : Mr. Chairman, as requested by t club at its last meeting, I have much pleasure in pi senting to Mr. Harkness, in its name, tlie handso testimonial now on your table, the inscription up which expresses appropriately the object of the preseni tion, and the sense which this society entertains of tl gentleman's useful exertions, not only in advancing interests, but the benefit which has resulted to the ag culturists of the district, from his writings and adv given on agricultural subjects since he came among i The questions discussed, and the resolutions come to the club, since its institution four years ago, embraci range of most interesting points of practical agricultui tlie publication of which has proved of much utility, i the preparation and reporting of tlaese proceedings, 1\ Harkness's aid has in no small degree contributed producing the stim.ulus given of late to the spirited ai improving system of husbandry, which now so pi eminently characterizes the Rhins of Galloway. Wi these sentiments I am assured the subscribers to t testimonial cordially concur; and I beg, therefore, their name, to present this silver jug (with purse e THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 519 closed), which I have no doubt will be the more highly prized, because it is the spontaneous acknowledgment of a numerous and highly respectable body of agriculturists, bearing testimony to the valuable services rendered by Mr. Harkness, in promoting the interests of the most noble and useful of occupations, the science and practice of husbandry. Mr. Harkness, with the best wishes of the Rhins Farmers' Club, and of the other subscribers to this testimonial, for your welfare, and an extended sphere of usefulness, I beg to read the inscription on this jug, which I now present to you, in the earnest hope that you may long live to enjoy it. " Presented, with a purse of 50 sovereigns, by the Rhins of Galloway Farmers' Club, to their Secretary, Thomas Harkness, Esq., one of the Magistrates of Stranraer, on account of his services to the Club, and his zealous advocacy and promotion of scientific and practical agriculture. — 15th October, 1S47." Mr. M'Culloch having handed the jug and enclosure to Mr. Harkness, the latter thus replied : — Mr. Chairman, Mr. M'Culloch, and Gentlemen — Accept of my warmest acknowledgments for this valua- ble testimonial, and for the kind and gratifying senti- ments with which it has been presented, in your name, by our eminent agricultural friend, Mr. M'Culloch, factor on Logan. Though I have for many years la- boured, through the public press, to diffuse sound agri- cultural information, and to promote scientific and prac- tical farming, still I cannot disguise from myself that, in the sentiments expressed by Mr. M'Culloch, no small merit is awarded to me in reference to the club discus- sions, which is more justly attributable to the intelli- gence and zeal of the members themselves, whose countenance and sound practical knowledge and resolu- tions, as seen in their reported proceedings, reflect the highest credit, not only upon your association, but on the husbandry of Wigtownshire. The club and library ■which you have established, gentlemen, have already done much good ; and conducted and supported as I trust they will continue to be, they cannot fail still more to do honour to the members of this society, and ma- terially to advance the agriculture of the district. That the club may do so is my earnest hope ; and with grate- ful thanks to its members for their many acts of kind- ness, and to all the subscribers to this handsome testi- monial, for the good opinion entertained by them, and the good wishes expressed for my welfare and usefulness, .1 wish you all, gentlemen, every success and comfort in 'iyour respective spheres. '■' A vote of thanks being tendered to Mr. Guthrie for 'his conduct in the chair, that gentleman responded, and • expressed his cordial concurrence in the sentiments so 'Veil expressed by Mr. M'Culloch. He was satis- fied that the Rhins' Club had done much good in the district, and that to secure the success of such an asso- ciation required the zealous and persevering eff'orts of such a person as ]Mr. Harkness, to whom they had that day awarded so handsome and so well earned a testi- monial. The club then adjourned. PRESENTATION OF A SILVER TEA AND COFFEE SERVICE TO THE HONORARY SEC- RETARY, THOMAS WILLIAM DAVIES, ESQ., AT THE LATE MEETING OF THE LEOMIN- STER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— When this beautiful and chaste testimonial was brought into the room, the company rose and greeted Mr. Davics with a liearty round of applause. It consisted of a cofl'ee pot and tea pot, of most exquisite workmanship, and sur- mounted with doves (worked in frosted silver), in the act of taking wing ; a sugar basin, a cream ewer, and upon the salver, carved within a wreath of very tasteful execution, was the following inscription : — Presented by Members and Friends of the LEOMINSTER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, to MR. THOMAS WILLIAM DAVIES, As an acknowledgment of the courtesy. Integrity, and zeal. With which he has discharged the duties of their Honorary Secretary, From the date of its institution A.d. 1836. October 16tli, a.d. 1847. JAMES BEDFORD, President. JOHN NELSON CARPENTER, A'ice-President. The scene was a most interesting one, and most ex- citing. The warmest feeling of good will was expressed in the numerous congratulations Mr. Davies received after the presentation of this "cup of kindness" "for auld lang syne." TESTIMONIAL TO MR. JOHN HYDE, OF EAST LULWORTH.— On the 14th ult. the tenantry of the Lulworlh estate (the property of Joseph Weld, Esq.), presented Mr. Weld's steward with a handsome silver tea service, consisting of a tea pot, sugar basin, and cream ewer, as a testimonial of their respect towards him. On one of the articles was inscribed — "presented to mr. john hyde, of east lulworth, dorset, BY THE TENANTRY ON THE LULWORTH ESTATE, AS A TOKEN OF SINCERE RESPECT FOR HIS IMPARTIAL CONDUCT AS STEWARD OF JOSEPH WELD, ESQ., FOR UPWARDS OF TWENTY YEARS." PLINY ON DRAINING.— This old writer thus directs the Roman agriculturists of his day, as to the draining of low, wet lands :— " If the place lie low, and be over moist, the only means to make it sound and dry is to drain away the water by trenching. * * * * Some should be closed up above, and made very straight and narrow, for to run directly into others that are more wide and large ; also, if occasion do require, the bottom of the channel should be paved with pebble, or laid with good gravel. As for the mouth and end thereof (to wit, for entrance and issue), they ought both of them to be fortified and underset with two stones on either side, and a third laid cross over them." 520 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. HEDGE ROWS; OR, BEAUTY AND UTILITY IN UNISON. BY MR. DAVID GORRIE, ANNAT COTTAGE, ERKOL. Do hedge-rows really add to the beauty of a country? Before adverting to the views of such as entertain the affirmative, it may be well to state briefly the main objections to the hedge-row system which have been advanced by practical writers on agriculture. The first and most momentous of these relates to the quantity of good soil, fit for bearing corn, which they cover; not to speak of those ridges alongside of them, which are rendered unfruitful by the proximity of spreading-rooted and broad- headed trees. Mr. J, Grant, in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, gives some valuable statistical information on this point. He states as the result of an examination of ten parishes in Devonshire, that these parishes contain 36,976 acres of soil, and 1651 miles of hedge- rows ; " about half as long again as the great wall of China, and sufficient to extent round the whole of England." In these ten parishes we are in- formed that the fields are of a small size, vai'ying from one to ten acres, and that, by the kind of hedge-rows generally used, the loss of land is enor- mous : on those fields averaging three quarters of an acre, the loss is 1/ per cent, of the whole estate; on those averaging between one and two acres, it is 1 2 per cent, ; on those between two and three acres, it is ten per cent. ; and even on fields of ten acres, it is four per cent. This no doubt refers to a part of England where the fields are unusually small, and the hedge-row system universally j^revalent ; but, allowng this to be the case, it is easy to con- ceive that the loss of food which the country an- nually sustains by means of the old and manorial custom of planting rows of trees along the divisions of arable fields must be considerable. Mr. Grigor states that 43,000 acres are occupied by hedge-rows in Norfolk alone. Recent events prove that the nation cannot afford to allow so much rich soil to remain unproductive.? It is not many years, indeed, since one political economist said that he did not care although there was not a bushel of corn grown in Britain ; and since another, whom we must re- gard as a visionary projector of the kind typified by Alnaschar in the Oriental story, expressed a hope that the day might arri\'e when agriculture would be banished from our land, when grassy glades and green meadows would take tlie place of corn fields, when the whole soil in the country would he devoted to pleasure-grounds and gardens, to forests and parks for the rearing of sheep, deer, and cattle ; when, as a backgroimd to the picture, so enchant- ing to think of, factory chimneys would rise in every direction ; and when, by the powerful aid of steam, Britain would become the workshop of the world. This day-vision has been like the fleeting fabric of a dream, and has not left a wreck behind, save the wreck of unwarrantable hopes. Never was there a time when the prosperity of the British empiii more depended on agriculture than at present ; and never was there a time when the admonition of the poet was more attentively listened to — " Ye generous Britons, venerate the plough." Hedge-row trees are hurtful to any fence wherc- unto they may form an accompaniment ; lessening its durabihty and efficiency, whatever be the kind of materials whereof it is formed. If composed of certain kinds of trees, such as the ash, hedge-rows deprive the soil on either side of them of part of that nutriment which belongs of right to plant.-- under the more immediate care of the farmer They pi-event the free access of the sun's rays to ? portion of the soil near them, more especially when they run in a line parallel, or nearly so, to tin. equator— a circumstance of no little moment under our cloudy sky, though of less consequence in some sunny parts of the Continent, nearly in the same latitude with Britain, where corn will thrive close up to the very stems of trees. They are un- favourable to a free and wholesome circulation of air, and harbour destructive vermin of different kinds. They form one of the greatest obstacles in the way of the thorough-drainer, and retard tlie operations of the plough. Roads, highways, and lanes, suffer greatly from their shade, and are under its influence rendered more difficult to keej) in repair. It must be stated that, in certain situations, hedge-rows are not liable to all these objections- Where the diagonal line of a field runs north and south, the sun may shine at some time of the day on either side of the various enclosing rows of| trees. In some cases, moreover, beneficial shelter may be afforded by such trees, and the masses of underwood which may accompany them. Many persons, who condemn the system when practised in corn-growing districts, have no objection to see it sparingly introduced in a grazing country ; though it is far better to scatter trees, in irregular i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 521 groups and masses, on p;rass lands unsiibjectcd at any time to the plough, or very seldom brought under tillage, so as to combine shelter and utility with scenic beauty. The defenders of hedge-rows do not lack argu- ments in sii])port of their own views, though they be chiefly of a sentimental cast. They say, indeed, ■ that the evil which the system entails on the soil, and consequently on the nation, has been much exaggerated by writers on the other side, "espe- cially if a proper selection of trees be made." They even throw the shield of protection over the .baneful ash, on the ground that ash trees grown in hedge-rows form the best timber for the construc- tion of agricultural ini])lements, and for various other objects. This is no doubt true to a certain extent ; but if it were asked why ash timber grown in woodlands is so unsuitable for such purposes, the careless and unscientific forester who allows his trees to be drawn up closely, instead of allow- ing the air and light to surround them freely on all sides by means of a regular and eftective system of thinning and pruning, should be left to answer the question. The same may be said with regard to oak timber intended for naval purposes; and may also serve to confute an argument founded on the "narrow basis of individual utihty," to the effect that "it is not useless to consider how many families and estates have been preserved, when pressed with temporal difficulties from which none are cxemjited, by a fall of hedge-row timber." But " the enjoyment arising from the rich and beautiful effect produced by such decoration and ornament" as hedge-rows are said to confer on rural scenery, seems to be the main object of those who defend the system. They speak in glowing terms respecting the beauty of their varied out- lines, and the attractiveness of those sweet shrubs and flowers which they cherish — the richness of the hawthorn's blossom, the elegance of the virgin's- bower, and the loveliness of the bank of ^'iolets. Similar language might be used regarding the beauty of our muirland wastes and purple heaths, but would be impatiently listened to, if national necessity called for the subjection of the improve- able parts of such grounds to the plough. It is not meant here to speak of the beauties of nature as objects unworthy of a nation's regard, or as if it were of little moment that those mental faculties which are fitted to imbibe delight and jileasure in the contemplation of beautiful forms and colovu's in the material world, should be gratified. Whoever looks upon man as a being whose existence ends not with his life, and who possesses certain facul- ties, suscepti1)le even now of culture, which may yet expatiate amidst the beauty and loveliness of a better land, will unite in admitting that the culture of these faculties is a matter both commendable and in)j)ortant. And no one will deny that in countries where the love of flowers and other ol)- jects of natural beauty is prevalent, the general tone of feehng amongst the inlia])itants is relatively of a refined and exalted cast, and opposed to delja- sing influences. It were indeed desirable that the various districts of our land did ])rominently exhi()it gems of scenic beauty and attractiveness fitted to excite to the cultivation of those immortal faculties to which allusion has been made. But wtre such beauty to depend on the existence of hedge-rows, it were to be lamented that the physical necessities of a populous nation demand that it should be held in abeyance, and that beauty should be discarded Ijecause found lo be inconsistent with utility — that first object of man, considered as a being dependent on the soil which he treads, for that food and clothing without which he cannot subsist. But we are desirous of showing that it is possible, in this instance, to harmonise utility and beauty, and thus to produce a unity of feeling and object be- tween the farmer and rural economist on the one hand, and the poet and landscape-gardener on the other. The question may here be disposed of in a few sentences, though it involves principles that might elsewhere be enlarged to the extent of a volume. With all deference to the opinions and feelings of many writers on rural scenery, it is submitted that the beauty of a district intersected by innume- rable rows of trees and shi'ubs, separating it into small and nearly equal-sized portions, is of a false and unsatisfactory character. A level country thus divided, and looked down upon from a neighbour- ing hill, or a distant brae-side intersected by such lines, and observed from the level ground or the opposite side of a valley, would not be chosen by a real landscape-painter as a field whereon to exercise his pencil or brush. Such a scene is frittered away into an assemblage of minute parts past enumera- ting, and there is no leading object, no extensive piece of ground clear of trees, or on which trees predominate, to serve as an ajiex to the pyramid, a centre of attraction concentrating all the other parts of the picture around it. At first sight all appears to be variet)'', forming a perfect maze of beauty j but very soon it is discovered that there is an in- sufferable sameness amongst the difierent jmrts. The eye can rest on no particular spot, and wanders huri-iedly over the landscape, which thus appears less extensive than it really is. One half of the scene just reflects the other. Field after field and row after row succeed each other, fill in the dis- tance all are blended in a confused mass of mixed colours, in the contemplation of which the mind is exhausted or becomes a void, because, from the 2 M 522 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. absence of a leading object in the landscape, it has failed in realizing one grand leading idea. How tame and formal would the starry heavens appear, were the heavenly l)odies of equal glory, and placed to our view at equal distances over the wide expanse of the firmament, instead of being scattered in wild profusion, with the glorious milky-way for the apex, the keystone, the concentrating object ! A starry sky of the supposed kind might delight a little child whose first ideas of beauty are largely realized by the regular array of spots on its new fi-ock, or on a carpeted floor, but would cease to please the same person when grown up and become possessed of a mind capable of appreciating natural beauty and grandem'. Looking at the subject in this light, it is eyident that the arable plains and brae-sides that are at the foundation of our national wealth and prosperity, might be rendered more beautiful than many of them are at present, were hedge-rows to give i^lace to wide and uninterrupted expanses of corn lands, alternating with picturesque masses of trees occu- pying the higher and poorer parts of the soil, and united or mingled with the arable grounds by means of lesser groups, and even single trees, scattered along their borders in order to prevent the transition from field to woodland, from light to shade, from being too abrupt. By such means the waste of ground and all the other evils caused by hedge-rows might be avoided; trees might be raised in abundance on such soils as are not fit to be brought under the plough ; and instead of look- ing on a scene broken down into innumerable and inharmonious portions, the landscape artist might be gratified in beholding much real beauty even in agricultural scenery. The traveller by the level road or railway, moreover, would no longer com- plain of having his view confined to a single field at a time, set in a border of trees and shrubs hke a picture in a frame, and each such picture framed and mounted in the same manner as its neigh- bours. It might be stated among other things, that the fence of a geometrical corn field should be straight and architectural, whether it be a wall or a hedge ; and that the wavy sky-line of a hedge-row, when viewed from the level ground in its vicinity, is out of harmony with this principle. But enough has been said, without trespassing further on the province of the landscape-gardener, to show that in the adornment of rural scenery, hedge-rows are not essential, and that beauty and utility may exist in unison. — Journal of Agriculture. TENANT-RIGHT, IRELAND. An important meeting has just taken place in the city of Londonderry, on the great and vital question of giving to the cultivator of the soil in Ireland some certainty of tenure such as that which custom has hitherto sanctioned in the province of Ulster. Though assembled to honour Mr. Sharman Crawford (a very honest man and an ex- cellent landlord), this meeting is the most remarkable that has taken place in Ireland for many years. The company consisted of persons of every shade of religious and political opinion, including a large number of that most estimable body of men, the Presbyterian clergy, who are not brought into political demonstrations with- out some very important and adequate cause. Indeed, no cause could well be more important than that for which the people of Ulster met at Londonderry— the security that the labourer shall obtain his hire — that a population of prudent, persevering, industrious people shall not be reduced to the condition of desperate pau- pers, and their province stained, as the remainder of Ire- land is stained, with bloodshed, the more frequent because the perseverance and determination of Ulster, if misdirected by oppression, could make its little finger weightier than the whole body of Tipperary. The speakers at the Londonderry dinner to Mr. Crawford, all of them men well knowing the social causes at work in the country, were agreed that the advantages which Ulster has up to this time possessed over the remainder of Ireland are attributable solely to that tenure which gives men the heart and spirit to labour, by assuring them that they shall receive the fruit of their labour— the Tenant-right. Now, if this is true — and none who have the requisite information doubt its truth — is it not the duty of the Legislature to perpetuate this tenure by law, either as Mr. Crawford proposes, or by any other adequate means ? It is surely a matter of imperial interest and importance that the province of Ulster, which has been proverbial for its industry and prosperity, shall not be cast back into the condition of the remaining portion of Ireland ; and this process will go on if the Legislature do not in- terfere at once and with a high hand. The tendency of the press, which so injudiciously backs up the injustice frequently committed upon the tenantry of Ireland, is td represent the tenant-right of Ulster as a certain boon granted by the landlords, and to which the people have no inherent claim of right or justice. Even that ponder- ous failure, the Devon Commission, utters through mere ignorance a slander upon a population as peaceable as any in the world, by describing the tenant-right as a boon to purchase immunity from outrage. We have stated frequently, and we repeat, that the tenant-right of Ulster is an inadequate compensation for the tenures which the original granters of property in that province undertook to give, and violated their undertaking. We have been amused by some attacks with which we have been hon- oured by certain Irish journals, that show their affection THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 523 ifor Ibe landlords much as the donkey in the fable fondled |lis master by jumping into his lap. These journals say that vie are wrong in saying that, by the conditions of the plantation, the landlords were to allow a tenant-right, adding that they were only bound to make leases. This IS something like the instance adduced by Blackstone, of the cool gentleman, who, being indicted for attempting to maim, pleaded that he did not intend to maim, but to itourder. We are well aware that they should have made leases, and well aware that they did nothing of the kind, and that now they represent the inadequate substitute, tenant-right, as a boon which they have given to the people to be peaceable. Surely if they were bound to " make estates," a fortiori they are bound to admit the lesser advantage to the labouring people, and they must be made to admit it ; for the empire, to put it on no higher grounds, is pretty well convinced by this time that the pauper manufacturer in Ireland has gone quite far enough. The condition of Ulster is at present very cri- tical. Its domestic manufactures have come to nothing, and the population are thrown much more to depend upon the land. If, therefore, something be not done to secure their ancient right to the tillers of the soil in Ulster, we shall have the "extermination" and blood- shed extended northwards, and the descendants of the Borderers and the Covenanters will be found a much more " dangerous class," when driven to desperate ex- tremities, than any with whom we have yet had to deal in Ireland. But it is objected that the principle of tenant-right is not known to the law, and that what Mr. Crawford claims overthrows the rights of property. If the ob- jectors had looked a little further they might have found that the principle of the tenant-right is clearly discerni- ble in many statutes. In the Irish Act, for instance, 10th Will. III., c. 6, and in the Irish Act, 11th and 12th Geo. III., c. 17, it is enacted that for improvements made by the incumbent upon glebe-houses or glebe- lands he shall be compensated by his successor, and if payment of compensation is refused, he has, by the statute, the right to levy a distress for the amount. This is precisely the principle of tenant-right, and not a whit too strict in the practice. We grant, indeed, that you may search the Irish statutes in vain for any recogni- tion of the right of the labourer to tenure of the soil or compensation for improvements. The " landlords' club" of College Green, happily extinguished in 1800, bad other objects than relieving the tenantry. Tliey passed some forty acts against the tenant, and not one in his favour, pointing too sadly the joke of a late Chief Justice, that a treatise on ejectment was " The short and simple annals of the poor." Such must not, however, be the annals of Ulster while Parliament has the power to interfere. We warn the friends of the tenant-right, however, to be watchful. We have heard that it is the intention of Government to bring in a measure upon the subject— nay, that the So- licitor-General for Ireland is at present preparing it, and that it is to omit " the objectionable parts" of Mr. Crawford's bill. Could it be possible that the objection- able parts are the parts that give any right to the tenant ? We do trust that the class of landlords in Ireland to whom we refer will see the necessity of acting with a good grace in this matter. What gives prosperity to a country gives peace and comfort to all classes in it. We do not believe that hi the eloquent peroration of the speech of Mr. M'Knight, at Londonderry, the advan- tages of tenant-right are at all exaggerated : — " That man must he jvidicially blinded who docs not sec that a new order of society would imu^eiliately arise out of oiur existing calamities — the poor would be fed, because tUcy would be employed ; and Ireland would soon become really opulent, instead of standing, as at present, a despised beggar at the doors of England, a disgrace to England's legislative economy, and a source of perennial weakness to England's already over- burdened empire (hear, hear). In no other comitry of Europe are the tillers of the soU treated m the same barbarous manner as they are in Ireland, and the result is tliat in no other country of Europe are the same agrarian outrages found to exist. In these circumstances the policy which government ought to pursue, and which its members actually will pursue if they be men of intelligence, is abundaniiy obvious. By legalising tenant-right in Ulster, and by concurrently extending its lirinciple to the other provinces, an enormous — in fact, an al- most incalculable amount of tenant capital will he forthwith invested in the reclamation and enrichment of the soil (hear, hear). Productive employment will be permanently created, and this, too, ^^^thout the necessity of calhng in the aid of any artificial stimulus, which might produce for a while an artificial, and therefore an unnatural excitement, but which excitement must eventually die of itself (cheers). The workhouses would, in consequence of the measure suggested, be speedily emptied of their able-bodied inhabitants — destitution and famine in the midst of natural plenty would cease to exist — the landlords' rents would be paid, because their tenants would have a fixed security for the employment of the fruits of their own indus- trious toil — agrarian violence would soon be unknown, while social insubordination, together •ndth popidar discontent, woidd immediately disappear from the land." The realisation of this picture is worth a trial, at least ; and it is in the power of Ministers to have it tried if they will judge honestly for themselves, putting aside counsel from certain advisers who are oracular about Ireland till practical measures require to be proposed, and who advise more with a view to secure a vote than to benefit the country. — Morning Herald. AGRICULTURAL ORDER OF MERIT.— The King of Prussia is about to create an agricultural order of merit. The decoration of the new order will bear on one side of it the effigy of the royal founder, and on the other the name of the party receiving it, with the le- gend " Poicr le merite agricole." The order is to be divided into three classes, and will be granted to culti- vators who distinguish themselves in the exercise of their profession, as well as to all such as, by their inventions or writings on subjects applicable to it, serve the cause of agriculture. This institution seems to be regarded with much favour on the Continent, since it cannot well fail to contribute much to the development of the agri- cultural capabilities of a country in which it is adopted. —Post. 2 M 2 524 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE SMALL-rOX IN SHEEP. Sir, — On the IGtli of August, 1847, being in Smith- field, I purchased 118 Spanish sheep. For nearly a month no sheep eould go on better, with the exception of one, which never appeared healthy, but no cause for its illness shov.ed itself (I did not examine it at the time to see if any marks of the small-pox were on it, never at that time having heard of such a disease in sheep). At about the end of three weeks, or nearly a month, it died ; and about that time I found some more of the Spanish sheep falter, and half a dozen of the Southdown lambs which were with them , the Spanish sheep having been put into a flock of 300 lambs of that description. They continued to get worse, and several of them died daily. The disease showed itself by a breaking out round the nostrils and the face, and the eyes of many were much affected, some completely blmd ; large scales and pus- tules by the sides of tlie face, and all over their bodies. It showed itself particularly between the shoulder and the brisket, when the sheep was turned up. It resem- bled the small-pox, and I have no doubt but that is the disease, it leaving in those that recovered pits in the face and on the skin wherever a pustule had been. Many of them had it so severely tliat in two or three days they could not eat, and were starved. Observing what I did, I gave to those which were very bad oatmeal-gruel several times a day, and saved many which must other- wise have died. To show how very infectious it is, I had 350 Southdown lambs in another flock, that never had been mixed with the Spaniards, or with any of the diseased lambs, and they broke out with it from having been penned by the side of the others in the same field while feeding oft' rape ; clearly showing the infection was carried in the air from one flock to the other. I am pleased to say, by taking a great deal of trouble, and by perseverance, I have every reason to suppose I have efifectually stopped this fatal disease from infecting the whole of my flock, being upwards of 700. I will merely state the course I took to arrest its progress after losing nearly half of those taken, losing between 50 and 60 in about three weeks out of about 130 which broke out with it. I employed two men to turn every sheep I had on my farm, and minutely inspect every one of them ; and if they saw the slightest appearance of any rash or a single pustule showed itself between the inside of the shoulder and the breast, where the skin of the sheep generally looks white and clean, and where it was sui-e to show itself first, I had it immediately taken away, putting the whole of the diseased ones together in one large field in the middle of my farm, a distance from anyroad, as a protection to my neighbours. I followed the same course every morning, by having all my sheep turned and closely inspected, not looking at the trouble and expense, as I felt in my own mind it was the only remedy I had to stop the infection ; as I calculated, if I could only find out those sheep which had taken the disease and were breeding it, before it became infectious to others, I should be able to arrest its progress. For- tunately I was right in my calculations ; for they daily decreased in numbers, although they still kept faltering for a fortnight or three weeks from the time I begati turning them (particularly in one flock, where the Spanish sheep had been) before it has, I hcpe, ceased altogether, as I have not found a diseased one for some time past. I had three Southdown w-ether sheep (two- toothed), whicii were the only sheep I had on my farm j the other part of ray flock being lambs. I had the three sheep put in with the Spaniards when the Spaniards ap- peared healthy. All three were taken within a week, and in about four days two of them died, the other re- maining very ill for some time ; I therefore consider the older the sheep the more fatal will be the disease. I intended selling 300 of my lambs at Weyhill or at Win- Chester fair in October, leaving me my winter stock ; but fortunately for me, and for the public, the disease showed itself before I sold one of them. I shall now keep the whole during the winter, having put them on cut swedes, giving them peas, maize, and hay ; so that, through me, the disease shall not be carried into any other man's flock. And I do hope every individual who may have been so unfortunate as I have been as to have pui-chased any (and I hear several have) will use his utmost endeavours to put a stop to this most fatal disease in its infancy ; for I feel, if this once extends itself to the flocks of this country, no man can tell the serious injury which the country may sustain, or where it will end. 20, 50, or 100,000 has nothing to do, in my opinion, with the loss that might be sustained in the flocks of this country, if due precaution is not taken in putting a stop to it in its now first appearance. I see they talk of having a person to examine the foreign sheep in Smithfield : that may be very well to prevent immediate infection ; but I could have sold 500 there wnthin the last month, that had the disease amongst them, and 100 of them breeding it, having caught the disease, when no man living could detect it in a single sheep. I would suggest that some person should be ap- pointed by Government to inspect every cargo when first landed ; and if any remains of the disease should appear in a single sheep (I mean if there was any appearance of a sheep having had it, those actually affected at the time of their landing would be naturally throwm overboard) the whole ought to be obliged to perform quarantine for a certain number of days previous to being offered for sale in any sort of way, under a severe penalty. A per- son once having seen the disease, such as I have had in my flock, would never be mistaken in the complaint after- wards ; as many of my sheep will carry the marks and pits left by the disease on their bodies to tlie shamble*, if that should be two or even three years hence. Charles Fielper, Land Surveyor and Former. Sparsholt, near Winchester, Hants, Nov. 4. — Mark Lane Express. J THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. A Monthly Council was held at the Society's house in Hanover Square, on Wednesday, the 3rd of November. Present: the Eurl of Yarborough, pre- sident, in the chair ; Sir jNIatthew White Ridley, Bart. ; 'Sir. Raymond Barker; Mr. S. Bennett; Mr. Blan- shard; Mr. Burke; Col. Challoner ; Mr. Cherry; Mr. Garrett ; Mr. Brandreth Gibbs ; Mr. Harvey ; Mr. Ilayter, M.P.; Mr. Fisher Hobbs ; Mr. Wren Hoskyns ; :\Ir. Hyett; Mr. Kinder; Mr. Miles, MP.; Mr. Fusey, M.P. ; Prof. Sewell; Mr. Shaw; Mr. Shaw, jun. ; and Prof. Way. Chandos Wren Hoskyns, Esq., of Wroxall Abbey, Warwick, and Lucas Shadwell, Esq., of Fairlight, Hastings, were elected Governors of the Society. The following new ^lembers were elected : — Blencowe, John George, The Hooke, Chailey, Lewes, Susses Bliss, "U'illiam, Upper Dean, Higham Ferrers Fowler, George, Prince Hall, Dartmoor, Devon Gascoyen, George, Stauwick, Higham Ferrers, Xorthaiiipton. Grieme, Geo. Drummond, Inchbrakie, Crieff, Perthshire Richardson, Sir John Stewart, Bai-t., Pitfour Castle, Perthshire Smith, His Excellency Sir Harry, Bart., Cape of Good Hope Taylor, Henry, Dilham Hall, Norfolk Tull, Henry, Crookham, Nevrbury, Berks Maddison, Geo. Wilson, Partuey, Spilsby, liucohishire Normau, Gesrge, Bromley, Kent Oliphant, James Blair, Gask, Dinning, Perthshire Waller, James, Digswell Hill, 'Welwyn, Herts. The names of 30 candidates for election at the next meeting were then read. Finances. — Mr. Raymond Barker presented the Finance Committee's Report, which was received and adopted. It appeared from this report that on the last day of the previous month of October, just ended, the in- vested capital of the Society stood at .£8,999 stock, with a current cash-balance of £'1,911 in the hands of the bankers. Mr. Barker explained to the Council the proportions in which this balance was made up of arrears of subscription and compositions for life to be invested, and stated the available balance at the disposal of the Council for current purposes to be .£1,061. The quar- terly statements of the difterent branches of the Society's accounts were laid upon the table, for the information of the Members. I Chemical Manure Prizes.— Mv. Pusey, M.P., Chair- man of the Journal Committee, informed the Council |that the statements sent in for the prizes offered by the Society for the best chemical manures for wheat and tur- jaips were not quahiied for the competition proposed, in .consequence of substances not strictly " chemical" being introduced into their respective compositions. Stcain-enyine Prize, — The Council unanimously con- firmed the decision of the Judges at Northampton, awarding the Society's prize of £'50 " for the best steam-engine applicable to thrashing and other agricul- tural purposes" to Mr. William Cambridge, of Market Lavington, Wiltshire, and specially ordered a cheque for that amount to be transmitted to Mr. Cambridge accordingly. The possessor of the actual engine which gained the prize, and other ?>Iembers of the Council present, bore ample testimony from their own experience to the high practical value of Mr. Cambridge's engines, in reference to their safety and eflScient working, to their economy of fuel, and their constant freedom from de- rangement or undue wear and tear of their material. Implemeiit and Conveyance Regulations. — Colonel Challoner, Chairman of the Implement and Conveyance Committee, presented the report of that Committee as required by the Council at their previous meetmg. This report embraced three general topics of recommendation: 1. That while the certificates of entry for implements intended to be shown at any of the country meetings of the Society should be sent in as usual by the 1st of May, and state the amount of space required in the Show-yard, the complete specification of details for in- sertion in the Catalogue should not be required until one month later — namely, not until the 1st of June. 2. That all hand-crank implements, machinery driven by horse-power, or steam machinery, should only be worked during trial at given rates, or under stated conditions of power and pressure, according to the mechanical con- struction of any particular implement in these classes. 3. That in again applying to the Railway Companies for advantages in favour of the Society's exhibiters, a free transit should be solicited for implements conveyed to the place of exhibition, without asking, in their case, for a free back-carriage ; but that a free transit in both di- rections should be apphed for in favour of live stock. On the motion of I\Ir. Shaw, of Northampton, this report was adopted, with the exception of the second recommendation, the consideration of which was de- ferred until the next meeting of the CouucU, in order that the Consulting Engineer's report on the probable working of the mechanical conditions proposed might be obtained for the guidance of the Council. Vice-President.— On. the motion of Mr. Raymond Barker, seconded by ^Mr. Miles, Viscount Hill, of Hawkstone, Salop, was elected a Vice-President of the Society, in the place of the Duke of Buckmgham and Chandos, resigned. Notices of Motion. — Lord Portman gave notice that, at the next Monthly Council, in December, he should move two resolutions : one on the mode of nominating and appointing Judges ; the other, on the mode of the election of Members of Council. J.Ir. llayter, M.P., also gave notice that he should move, at the same time, that all vacancies occurring in the lists of Trustees, Vice- Presidents, and general Members of the Council, by death, resignation, or otherwise, at dates intermediate between those of the General Meetings, at which the an- nual elections take place, should only be filled up after a month's notice to each Member of the Council. 520 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The Council decided that the Rooms of the Societ)'- should be thrown open, as usual, on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings of the Smithfield Club week ; and that the hour of General Meeting, on Satur- day, the 11th of December, should be eleven in the fore- noon. They decided, also, that Mr. Pusey should be requested to report, on the part of the Journal Com- mittee, on the question of Lectures to be delivered be- fore the Members on the occasion of such General Meet- ing. Mr. Brandreth Gibbs called the attention of the Members to the circumstance, that all Certificates for exhibition at the ensuing Smithfield Club Show must be sent in to hira by the 13th of the present month. Sir Matthew Ridley, iSIr. Raymond Barker, Mr. Miles, and Mr. Fisher Ilobbs, made interesting state- ments on their respective trials of the prize-wheat sent to the Society from Australia ; and Mr. Hyett called the attention of the Council to a singular anomaly in tljp growth of barley. The Council then ordered thanks for numerous inter- esting presents made to the Society during the autumn, and adjourned to the 1st of December. THE LONDON FARMERS' CLUB. SUBJECT:— ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FARM-YARD MANURE. The monthly meeting of the Club took place at the Club-house, Bridge-street, on Monday, Nov. 8 ; W. F. Hobbs, Esq., ia; the chair. The question set down for discussion had been proposed by Mr. Taunton, and was as follows : — " What evidence is there that dung is de- teriorated by being dried ; and if it is deteriorated, or if that state is proved to be injurious, in what way is the injury effected ?" Owing, however, to the unavoidable absence of the proposer, Mr. Nesbit had been requested, and had undertaken, to introduce the subject. The Chairman said : I am happy to meet so many gentlemen, on the present occasion, to discuss a subject which must always be interesting to practical farmers — viz. the management of farm-yard manure. Although science has much assisted us of late, with i-egard to artificial manures, yet, as practical men, we know that farm-yard manure is as valuable now as it ever was to the farmers of this country (Hear, hear). It must always be interesting to us, therefore, to meet with scientific men who will assist us by giving us advice with respect to the management of that which, I am sorry to say, most of us neglect more than any other branch of farm- ing operations. Mr. Taunton kindly offered to bring forward the subject which we are about to discuss ; and the question is worded in the manner which he desired. I regret exceedingly that he is not present to introduce it on this occasion ; since, from his known talent on various matters relating to agricultui-e, I feel persuaded that he would have given us an interesting lecture. The only excuse which I can offer for that gentleman's absence is that he is attending, as I have reason to believe, a meet- ing of a society for the encouragement and advancement of the industry of labourers in his own neighbourhood. I am happy to say that, under these circumstances, another member of the society has come to our aid, and is now about to introduce the subject. That gentleman will, I have no doubt, lay down certain important principles connected with the management of farm-yard dung ; and while, as a chemist, he will tell us that which he believes to be right in theory, T hope that, where he is wrong, the practical men whom I see around me from different counties will correct him by their experience. I must say that I, for one, feel greatly obliged to him for tak- ing charge, as it were, of this subject, on so short a no- tice (Hear, hear). Mr. J. C. Nesbit, after a few words of apology for the slight attention which he had been able to give to the subject — having only received notice of it on the pre- vious Friday — proceeded to say : The question before us is. What evidence is there that dung is dete- riorated by being dried up ; and, if such drying be in- jurious, in what way is the injury effected ? Now, if we take this question in its most limited sense, and enquire only whether dung, in its ordinary state, suffers from drying, there can, in that case, be very little dispute. But that cannot, I think, be what the proposer intended. The enquiry which he contemplated must have been this : Whether dung, exposed to the action of the air in a field, lose anything ; and, if so, to what extent .' Ho\v- ever, I beg to take the two questions ; first — Does dung lose anything, and, if so, to what extent by the act of drying? and, secondly, Is it detrimental to expose dung, during the winter months, on the surface of the land, to the action of the air ? Now, you all know very well that farm-yard dung is composed of vegetable and animal matters which have been mixed together ; that there has been a commingling with them of the urine and the solid excrements of animals, and that the whole have been allowed to act on each other. Heat is produced by the action of the air ; a number of volatile substances are set free ; the nitrogen of the urine and the excre- ments is liberated in the form of ammonia, and different organic acids are formed from the vegetable matter, which unite with part of the ammonia ; and carbonic acid is likewise liberated, part of which, uniting with the ammonia, forms carbonate of ammonia — a salt which, as you all know, is very volatile. Now, it is quite certain that, if dung contain cai-bonate of ammonia, in the pro- cess of drying that carbonate will be volatilized. The amount of loss will depend altogether on the quantity of carbonate of ammonia which the manure may contain, as the other ammoniacal salts will not be volatilized by drying. In order to set at rest the question, whether dung will lose ammonia in drying, and to what extent, I have had some experiments carefully made in our la- boratory, at Kennington, by Mr. Bailey, one of our THE FARMER'S MAGAZINR. 527 chenaical students. His apparatus, in the form of tlie ordinary still, was constructed and attached to a con- denser. A certain quantit}^ of dung was acted upon in the vessel, at a temperature a little lower than 212'^, and all the volatile matters were carefully condensed and collected. Two samples of dung were dried in this man- ner, one from Hampshire and the other — stable manure — from a London horse-dealer. The following table shows the loss of aqueous vapour and of ammonia per pound, and also the loss of each per ton : — Table of experiments, on the loss of water and ammonia, in drying farm-yard duns. Performed in Messrs. Nesbit's la- boratory, Kennington, by Mr. James Bailey. Quan- tity. Dry Water Ammo- Ammonia Water matter driven niadriv. lost per lostpr. lefr. oflf. off. ton. ton. Oz. Oz. Oz. Grains- Grns. lb. lbs. Manure from Hani))sliire .. 16 7 9 1-57 3316 i 1260 Manure from London 10 H llj 3-09 6720 1 1614 It will be seen that the loss of ammonia was respectively, half a pound and a pound per ton ; and, no doubt, in richer manures the loss would be still greater. The value of ammonia as a manure has, by thousands of experi- ments, been proved beyond a doubt. The market va- lue, from the cheapest source, may be estimated at Is. per pound avoirdupois. The loss, therefore, of money by the drying of these manures, would be respectively Gd. and Is. per ton. This amount of pecuniary loss in a ton of dung is one which is far from despicable, on the large scale, when the great amount of manure made on well-regulated farms is taken into consideration. Now, the next question is. What kinds of manures lose most in drying ? There is one species of manure which is, I am persuaded, exempt from any great liability to loss in the drying process ; I refer to that dung, or manure, which is prepared in the ordinary way by ex- posure to all the waters of the heavens, and to all those which come from the out-houses (laughter). Such manure will be so thoroughly washed, so effectually cleansed, that the loss by evaporation will amount to an infinitesimal quantity (renewed laughter). You may depend upon it, my friends, that a large amount of the ordinary farm-yard dung is so very clean that it would be impossible for us, by experiments upon a pound or two of such dung, to detect any ammonia given off. It is not, however, in reference to such kinds of manure that this question must be tried, since they have nothing to lose by drying. There is another kind of manure which, likewise, is not at all deteriorated by drying ; I speak now of manure which has been too much fer- mented, which has been heated to such an extent as not only to volatilize the volatile carbonate of ammonia, but even to decompose and dissipate the other more stable salts of ammonia. The excessive heat, sometimes most improperly allowed to take place in dung-heaps, will be sufficient to volatilize oil the ammonia; and therefore such manure can lose nothing by drying. In the case of recently-made dung, dung which is not allowed to form a great amount of carbonate of ammonia by length- ened decomposition, one may suppose that the loss from drying will be smaller ; because a smaller amount of carbonate of ammonia has lesn generated by fermenta- tion. Therefore I consider that in the lon^ dung there probably will be a less loss by drying than in dung fer- mented for a more lengthened period. If you prepare short dung in a i)roper and judicious manner, so as to prevent the ammonia from being evaporated by too great heat or washed away by the waters, you then have the manure containing the largest quantity of carbonate of ammonia and salts of ammonia, and consequently it will lose most by drying. This must be the case, simply because there has been the largest amount of ammonia retained. Again, other things being the same, in the case of manures made from oil-cake, and other so-called artificial food of that kind, there will be a greater liability of loss of carbonate of ammonia from the drying process than if such rich ingredients were not used in making the manure. Now, there are methods of preventing the escape of these volatile particles. We have seen that in the ordinary state of things ammonia will escape. I think that the science of the chemist will come in here, and tell us how to prevent the escape of these volatile particles ; so that if it be desirable to dry the manure, we shall be enabled to do so without any loss. Ammonia may be fixed by means of two or three substances; by sulphate of lime (or gypsum), sul- phate of iron, and sulphuric acid. Each of these sub- stances may be applied under particular circumstances. If you leave dung in such a state as that in which it is found beneath the feet of the animals, under the box- feeding system adopted at Mr. Warnes' and at Mr. Mechi's, you will then have dung which will not be too dry for the purpose to which I refer. Being at Mr. Mechi's farm the other day, I took special care to have the manure turned , in order to see whether or not it was moist ; for that is a matter of very great importance in connexion with the use of gypsum to arrest ammonia. If it be wet— not merely damp, but in a positively wet state— under those circumstances gypsum will act in arresting the escape of ammonia ; and I believe that in all cases where the box-feeding system is pursued, you will find the dung sufficiently wet to allow gypsum to act. It was asserted by a gentleman here, during the last discussion, that you could arrest the escape of ammonia by using a proper quantity of straw, and keep- ing the dung well pressed down, without resorting to gypsum or any other chemical substance. Now, this I altogether deny. I am quite sure that there is an escape of ammonia from all such mixtures, however managed ; the volatile substances will escape, even though you may not smell them. On examining some of the dung at Mr. Mechi's, we found that at the depth of two or three inches it smelt very strong ; and though you cannot smell the ammonia a few yards off, because the escape is not sufficiently great at any one moment to affect the olfactory nerves, it does not follow that there is no escape. In fact, I am convinced that those gentlemen who do not adopt means of preventing the escape of ammonia will suffer loss ; and let them remember, that for every pound of ammonia which escapes a shilling goes out of their pockets. Now gypsum will act wherever there is sufficient moisture, but it will not act where the ma- 528 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. nui'e is too dry. If the manure be not of a certain de- gree of moisture, gypsum will be of no use, and you must have recourse to other substances. You may then, for example, use sulphate of iron to arrest ammonia — a substance which is very extensively used in commerce, and which is very cheap, the price of it not being more than from ^4 to ^5 per ton. It is used very largely in Switzerland and in Belgium, even in liquid manure tanks, those who use it throw it into the liquid, and sulphate of ammonia, as in the case of gypsum, is produced. But you will find the sulphate of iron will act on manure in a drier state than gypsum. If you strew sulphat? of iron on any dry manure smelling of am- monia, you will find it immediately acted upon ; its co- lour will change, and the escaping ammonia will be ab- sorbed, and oxide of iron thrown down. Sulphate of iron, or green vitriol, may therefore be used with advantage where gypsum would be inoperative. There is another substance — dilute sulphuric acid — which may be used to arrest the escape of ranmonia. It should, for this purpose, be employed with sawdust or other porous matter, and one gallon of the strong oil of vitriol may be diluted with twenty or thirty gallons of water. This is to be used to sprinkle on the sawdust, or any other similar matter. This acid has a very powerful attraction for the ammonia ; it will take it even from the air if left exposed in a stable or in any similar situation ; it will easily seize and absorb the ammonia which is floating in the atmosphere. The application of sulphuric acid would be beneficial in cases where gypsum would be of no use, and where sulphate of iron would be of compa- ratively little use. It might be resorted to, for example, in cases in which sheep are fed under cover upon wooden floors. In such cases the urine falls through the floors, and what is needed is some means of saving the am- monia. Now if the space underneath the floors can be filled up with sawdust, sprinkled plentifully with dilute sulphuric acid, the whole mass would be acted upon by tlie acid, and the ammonia would be effectually retained. If the sawdust were turned up once or twice a week, so as always to keep up a fresh sui face, the loss of am- monia would be exceedingly trifling. There is now the more extended question yet to be considered— Does dung, on exposure to the air (for example, if put on a winter fallow intended say for turnips, and left exposed to the air) lose in consequence of its position, or is it more beneficial to the farmer to plough-in his dung on a winter fallow as soon as he possibly can ? Now we must not here confound two or three distinct practical operations of farming. The spreading of dung on grass lands or young clover, at this or an earlier season of the year, may be very beneficial, because the soluble matters washed down into the soil from the manure act imme- diately on the plants, and set them growing. There is no doubt at all of the great benefit of this proceeding, as the plants are all the while availing themselves of the assistance of the manure. But that is not the question before us. The question is. What is the eff"ect of putting a dressing of manure upon land which is in- tended to lie fallow, say for turnips .' Would it be better to leave that dung on the surface, or to plough it in .' Now, gentlemen, you will be able to give your opinions upon this question as practical men ; and it is your experience which I am anxious to obtain ; but I shall endeavour, as far as I can, to show what is likely to be the eff"ect of leaving manure on the surface, and what, on the other hand, is likely to be the effect of ploughing it in (Hear, hear). Now, if manure be left exposed to the action of the air, supposing you put it on at this season of the year, if the sun and the wind be strong enough to dry it, we should have a certain loss of am- monia, as indicated by the experiments which I have mentioned ; but supposing rain were to fall in consi- derable quantities, not only the volatile but even the soluble substances would be washed into the soil, and we should see no loss by drying. The result depends en- tirely upon whether the rain comes sufficiently fast upon the dung which is thus exposed to the action of the air. If the rain fall very fast, the volatile and soluble sub- stances will, as I have before stated, be sent into the soil, so that you will have only well washed dung spread upon the surface, similar to that which many farmers do spread upon it (Hear, hear). Now, if these sub- stances be thus washed into the soil, the question arises. What will be the eft'ect when the soil is drained, and what the effect when it is not drained ? Two very different results will follow. If the soil be not drained, the probability is that we shall have the bottom water rising to within a few inches of the surface, so that a small quantity of rain would speedily fill the interstices of the soil to the surface, and then the rain, with all the soluble matter therein dissolved, would flow over the surface and be lost. I have taken the average of the rains in three successive years — 1842, 1843, and 1844 — during the four months of November, December, January, and February, 1842-1843, 1843-1844, and 1844- 1845. The calculations have been made from observations at Chiswick, in this neighbourhood. The average quan- tity of rain which fell during those four months was about 8 inches. Now, you will observe that if land be not drained, continuous rains will carry away over the surface all the soluble substances. I consider that in the case of un- drained land there must be a far greater loss of volatile and soluble substances than in that of drained land. If the soil be drained — say to the extent of four feet— the quantity of rain which will fall at one time will very seldom fill up the whole of the interstices of the soil, and evaporation will also come in to prevent the accu- mulation of water to any considerable extent. In drained lands rain will carry the soluble matters into the soil— not over the soil. Every one knows that soil which has been drained has a singular aptitude for ab- sorbing soluble substances, from the v/ater which percolate through it. Some very valuable ex- periments have been made on this subject by Mr. Warrington, of Apothecaries' Hall. He found a quan- | tity of water containing Epsom salts or other soluble I substances, when filtered through charcoal and other porous substances, lost a considerable portion Of the soluble matter, from the charcoal and porous sub- stances absorbing it. If the rains do not come in large quantities, it is probable that the evaporation from the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 529 surface will be sufficient to take off all the redundant water ; but if they come to the depth of an inch and a half in one shower, there must be a slight loss of soluble matter, even on drained lands, by the escape of water through the drains ; but the loss in the case of the un- drained land will be the greatest. The organic parts of the dung, such as the straw, &c., left on the surface, will undergo a very slow decomposition, liberating ammonia { and carbonic acid. The ammonia and carbonic acid : being liberated not in the soil, but merely on its surface, these bodies will escape into the air. There will, there- fore, be a loss, I apprehend, from the dung being left on the soil, even supposing the first soluble and volatile matters to be washed into the soil by a shower of rain. Now what is the action of the manure if ploughed into the land ? You will put into the land all the volatile, the soluble, and even the insoluble substances, and cover them over with earth. We may then apprehend that the volatile and soluble substances will not pass out of the soil ; that all which is liberated by the further decomposition of the manure will be retained, and not lost. Through the carbonic acid which is given out, you will have a constant action upon the inorganic matters of the soil, a decomposition of the silicates, and a liberation of the lime, magnesia, of potash and soda connected with them ; and the ammonia given out by the manure will likewise be absorbed by the porous soil around it. You will have, in fact, a sort of natural saltpetre bed. I do not know whether you, gentlemen, are aware of tlie method of making saltpetre artificially, such as was employed by the French during the late war, when eur cruisers pre- vented the French nation from obtaining it from the East Indies. The whole of the saltpetre consumed during the first French Revolution was manufactured in France. The mortar of old walls, the ground under- neath cow-houses and stables, or where Vs-r there had been animal excrements of any kind, was taken up and placed in layers with earthy matter. When they could not get old mortar they used chalk and similar sub- stances ; these were kept at all times under cover, and were watered from time to time with urine, or, in lack of that, with water. These heaps or beds were turned over occasionally, and were kept rather light, as the quantity of earthy matter employed was sufficient to prevent the production of any great degree of heat in the fermenting mass. At the end of twelve or eighteen months the whole of this matter was put into large tanks, and washed with water ; and the water was always found to contain a considerable quantity of nitrate of lime. This water, containing the nitrate of lime and other soluble substances, was boiled with wood-ashes, which you all know contains carbonate of potash. A double decomposition took place — carbonate of lime and nitrate of potash were produced : the carbonate of lime was precipitated, and the liquid containing the nitrate of potash or saltpetre was pumped off, and then evapo- rated ; the nitre separated by repeated crystallizations from the common salt also contained in the solution. Now the same thing will take place in land, if you have the presence of calcareous matter. In this case you see the nitrogen of the decomposing vegetable matter converted into nitric acid by this slow process of nitrification, and the acid formed in the ground will unite with either lime or potash, or any other base that may be present in the soil. But none of this will take place without the presence in the land of calcareous matter, or of alkaline salts. This is one reason why the presence of lime in land is of such very great importance. It ought never to be absent. If the soil does not contain at least three per cent, of carbonate of lime, that propor- tion ought by all means to be furnished, because for a thousand other reasons the presence of lime is extremely beneficial. Now the nature of the soil as to its te.xture will greatly influence the action of the manure. '1 here is also a great difference between manure being put on long and its being put on short. If you plough very long dung into light land, the effect will not be good. Ac- cording to practical men, dung which has been decom- posed to some extent is best for light land ; while longer dungs are preferable for soils of a stiffer and more im- pervious texture. Now, there is one point of view in which the subject still remains to be considered : — Will manure, when the volatile and soluble particles are washed out, and when it is m a state of decomposition on the surface of the soil, absorb anything from the air ? will it, in fact, absorb any ammonia .•' This is a point to which attention ought to be paid ; because if this were so, it might be a compensating means of paying back what might be lost by previous evaporation. We know very well that charcoal, and many porous bodies, will absorb a large quantity of ammonia and of other gases. A cubic inch of charcoal will, I think, after being heated to a red heat and cooled, absorb ninety cubic inches of ammoniacal gas. Burnt clay, too, will absorb a very large quantity. If you take a piece of common pipe- clay, heat it red hot, and then expose it to the air for the space of a week, you will find it will have absorbed a large quantity of ammonia ; which will again be given off by a red heat. Wood, which has been decomposed in the hollows of old trees, has, for some reason or other, absorbed ammonia from the air ; and there can be no doubt that the vegetable matter of straw, and other sub- stances, will absorb a certain amount of ammonia. But the question is, whether it will absorb more in that posi- tion than it would if entered in the ground ; or whether it will produce greater benefit. In the case of drained land, where the air is certain to permeate the soil, I be- lieve that the action of manure will be better in the land than it would be on the surface of the land. In the case of soil which is undrained, however, a different effect may be produced ; for as no air can possibly enter there to produce decomposition, and as decomposition cannot go on without the air, the probability is that manure would, in this point of view, act better on the surface than if it were entombed in a mixture of water and earth. But I reiterate that the maximum amount of effect is never obtained from dung on undrained lands. Now the question is, whether it be preferable to plough-in the dung which is taken to drained land in the winter, or to leave it exposed to the action of the air on the surface ? We have seen that if it be exposed on the surface, the soluble matters will be washed in, though the volatile 630 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. may escape ; and the results of any decomposition which may take place after will probably be lost. We may also conclude tliat, even if this manure absorb ammonia from the air, the sun will come upon it and dry it ; and it will consequently be lost. I am now speaking of drained, and not of undrained, land; because if the land be drained, and you plough in manure, you will have both the volatile and soluble matters arrested. I think, therefore, on the whole, that in the case of drained land a greater benefit will arise from ploughing- in dung than from leaving it on the surface. Of course a great deal of difference will exist on different kinds of land. I speak now of good dung and good drained land ; and I think the balance of advantages is, under such circumstances, in favour of entombing manure in the land ; at the same time I must psk the practical gentlemen now present to favour us ,vith their opinions on this subject. I have been searching for the opinions of those who have written upon the subject, and they seem rather to imagine that there is no great difference in point of advantage ; some advocating one view, and some another. T will read to you the opinion of M. Boussingault, the great French chemist, as expressed in his " Rural Economy." His remarks are very judi- cious. He says : — " The method which I have recom- mended of leaving manure spread over the surface of the fields, exposed to the weather for several weeks or months, has been severely criticised. By such expo- sure, it has been said, the dung must lose its volatile elements, and the rain must wash out and carry off its more soluble parts." With respect to that point, I must observe, that I do not think the rain will at all carry off the soluble parts except in the case of un- drained land, when it undoubtedly will do so if it be hea\7'. " Influenced by such fears, some farmers do not .spread their dung until the moment of ploughing it in. Such diversity of opinion among practical men, all personally interested in deriving the greatest possible amount of advantage from the manure they employ, must not be thought of lightly ; when different modes of procedure in agriculture are the subjects of debate, we must not be in too great a hurry to come to general conclusions. Climate is not without its influence in the question which now engages us. In Alsace experi- ence has pronounced in favour of the practice followed ; but in other countries there may be very good reasons for not proceeding in the same way. In Alsace, where the annual depth of rain amounts to 26.7 inches, no more than 4.3 inches fall during the three months of December, January, and February." Rain falls to nearly double that extent in this neighbourhood. " In a district where a larger quantity of rain falls during the winter, the manure would probably suffer from the pro- cedure followed in Alsace. The quality of the manure must also be taken into consideration. A dunghill which contained a large proportion of carbonate of am- monia, which exhaled a strong smell of volatile alkali, would infallibly lose in value by any unnecessary or pro- longed exposure to the air." Now, carbonate of ammo- nia will invariably be found in large quantities in good dung, unless prepared by means of gypsum, sulphate of iron, &c. ; so that, you see, although in the case of or^ dinary dung there might not be any great difference, yet in the very best dung, in which no means had been taken to render the ammonia non-volatile, a great loss would be incurred. " But," he continues, *' the loss becomes insignificant when the manure, by good manage- ment, is brought to contain but a small proportion of volatile ammoniacal salts, as happens with manures which have received additions of gypsum." M, Albert D. Thaer, in the excellent translation by Messrs. Shaw and Johnson, page 436, says : " There are visible advantages attending the spreading upon the land fresh strawy manure, and to leave it till the plough- ings of spring commence ; taking care, however, that the water does not wash away the juices and carry them beyond the field, but that it merely allows them to pene- trate the earth. This method of covering the soil during winter renders it much more friable, and remarkably fertile. I have often seen the washed, but not rotten, straw thus left on the ground, removed to form fresh lit- ter : and, nevertheless, the soil from which this straw has been collected appeared as perfectly manured as if all the straw had been decomposed." This, you know, was evidently caused by nothing else than the washing of the soluble matters into the soil. " Meadows," he says, " are often manured in this manner." That I have, of course, nothing to do with ; I am speaking of fallows. Again he says : " From many experiments tried by my- self, as well as other agriculturists, it appears nearly be- yond doubt that dung, which has passed the highest state of fermentation, loses nothing of its quality, but improves, even during hot, dry weather." Now, you are aware that, if this manure has been fermented to so great an extent as to drive off the volatile matters, it can lose nothing at all by any heat to which it may after- wards be subjected; because it can never, by any heat of the sun, get heated so much as by its own fermentation. He says, further : " It appears, therefore, that there is no solid ground for objection to leaving the manure un- covered on the land for some time ; but, if the field lies on a declivity, there will be the risk of the juices being washed off the land by heavy rains." You know, gentle- men, that, as regards the spreading of manure, it is a matter of considerable importance that you should have your own opportunities for doing it. Sometimes your horses are so employed that you cannot use them, and you are obliged to leave the work till another time. It is impossible always to get men to plough-in manure as soon as it is spread ; and I do not think the exposure of it to the air for a little while can be any material detri- ment to it ; while the extra labour and expense of ploughing-in at an inconvenient time may overbalance what would be saved by doing so. On the whole, how- ever, I am of opinion that the sooner dung is ploughed into the land the better. Another point for considera- tion is this : Dung put on the land ought on no account to be allowed to I'emain in small heaps. The rain, in falling on these heaps, will wash out the soluble mat- ters, which will be absorbed by the soil in the immediatis neighbourhood of the heaps. When the manure comes to be spread, the rest of the land will get only the well- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 631 washed straw, aud the ensuing crop will infallibly show the inequality of the manuring received by the land. I thank you for the attention whicii you have paid to my remarks ; and I hope that, on account of the shortness of the notice, you will excuse the very imperfect man- ner in whicli I have introduced to you this important subject (cheers), Mr. CnEETHAM said this was one of the most im- portant branches of rural economy that could be brought under the notice of the Club ; and he, for one, felt grateful to Mr. Nesbit for introducing it in the manner he had done. He was able to bear testimony to the truth of some of that gentleman's observations. He might declare without boasting, that few persons had been more successful in the growing of turnips than himself. For more than twenty-two years he had been a Swedish turniji grower, during the whole of which period he had never sown twice, or missed a crop (Hear, hear). His practice was pi-ecisely that which Mr. Nesbit re- commended—putting manure on the land in autum.n, spreading it as it was carted from the dung-heap, and ploughing it in as soon afterwards as might be conve- nient. He thought that the fact of his having adopted this practice for so many years with the best results tended to confirm Mr. Nesbit's views. He was not able to enter into the various chemical questions connected with agriculture, or to discuss scientiticaUy the benefits to be derived from ammonia ; but the meeting would bear with him while he mentioned a fact which seemed rather opposed to the notion of ammonia being of such very great importance as a manure ; the period being immediately subsequent to the dry summer of 1818. The spring crops of that year were exceedingly short, and, in consequence, dung-heaps generally were short also. His (Mr. Cheetham's) father, who was then a farmer, bought some very old manure, which had been lying scattered over a large surface at Stamford. This was turned over when intended for use, and there was sufficient moisture to cause it to ferment ; yet at the time when it was applied to the land it was in appearance little better than barley-chaft'. Notwithstanding its appearance, however, the crop of turnips was the most splendid that he had ever seen. He began farming in the year 1822, and, having this example before his eyes, he determined upon using year-old manure. He could not make the same statement with respect to other turnips as he had done with respect to swedes, because he had sown the former after clover and other crops ; but the fact whicli he had mentioned appeared to him an important one. Mr. Gepney said that what had fallen from the gen- tleman who had just sat down with respect to year -old manure appeared to him to have opened a new door, as it were, for modern agriculture (Hear, hear). With regard to the first question introduced that evening — namely, What evidence was there that dung was deteriorated by being dried up ?— he begged to state that he lived in a part of the county of Norfolk where manure vt^as never dried up ; but there was a locality not far off, where it was ever ready to be dried up. He took the neigh- bourhood of Bury. There the practice was to let the manure lie for two or three months exposed to the ac- tion of the atmosphere. The Chairman ; At what period ? Mr. Gedney : After the wheat crop — say about the latter part of July or August. Mr. Nesbit said his remarks had applied only to fallow. Mr. Gedney said he was speaking of all lands for wheat. He would be glad to know what was the real question before the meeting ? Mr. Nesbit said the question which he had been re- quired to open was this : " What evidence is there that dung is deteriorated by being dried up ; and if it is deteriorated, or if that state is proved to be injurious, in what way is the injury effected ?" Mr. Gedney : In what season ? Mr. Nesbit said the proposer had not referred to the question of season, Mr. Gedney called upon the Chairman to state the question. The Chairman said he must exonerate the com- mittee from all blame on account of the form in which the subject had been introduced. The express words used were those of Mr. Taunton, the proposer. (Hear, hear.) If tiie committee had dictated the terms, they would have directed attention to the subject more es- pecially in its application to grass-lands, and to the ge- neral mode of top-dressing. (Hear, hear.) That he considered to be the most important point. Experience told them that when manure had to be applied to arable lands, fallows, and so on, it was decidedly best to plough in ; but there were periods of the year when, if no positive injury could be shown to arise from the practice, it appeared to him to be advantageous to expose dung to the atmosphere upon grass-lands ; and he thought that the subject before them had peculiar reference to the exposure of dung upon leys and grass lands gene- rally. Mr. Nesbit said he had already stated that the ques- tion was not entrusted to him eax'lier than the previous Friday, and he had found some difficulty in extending the question even so far as he had done. It was merely asked whether dung was deteriorated by being dried up ; nothing at all was said about fallow-lands, grass-lands, or any other kind of lands. The question might, how- ever, perhaps be advantageously enlarged ; and they might inquire, whether it was prudent and beneficial to place dung on the surface of fallow land, and leave it thus exposed to the air for two or three months. If grass-lands were introduced, an entirely new question was then raised. If dung were spread on grass-lands, of course the very first shower would wash the soluble parts of the dung into the ground, and set the grass growing. The question of dunging grass-lands or clovers was really not at all comprehended in the present ques- tion, but belonged to the general one of the utility of top dressings. It could not, therefore, in his opinion, be advantageously discussed on that occasion ; for if too many elements were introduced into the discussion, it would be impossible for the meeting to adopt any satis- factory resolution. (Hear, hear,) 532 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Gedney said — It never could have been in- tended to inquire whether it would be beneficial to leave dung to be washed during the whole summer. The question must apply to seeds as a preparation for wheat. The Chairman intimated his assent to this interpre- tation. Mr. Gedney said— he would take his stand upon that ground. They all knew that it was a very great advan- tage to apply manure to the maiden layers ; that was generally admitted to be the best mode of securing good crops of wheat. With regard to top-dressing, he (Mr. Gedney) strongly objected to the practice of exposing long manure to the atmosphere, at any season. The sooner it was enveloped by the crust of the earth, the more certain was it to secure a good crop. This was more particularly the case where land was drained and subsoiled. Being in the habit of taking his dung at once from where the cattle were fed under cover, he had always found that the sooner the manure was deposited in the land, the greater certainty was there of his ob- taining a good crop. If their object were to waste capi- tal in manuring, the most effectual way of doing so would be to keep manure in heaps, as suggested by the gentleman who recommended year-old manure; in no other way could they make manure more inefficient, as regarded the raising of crops. Having travelled a good deal about England, he must say that, notwithstanding all that had been stated about oil-cake and so on, if there were a sufficient depth of soil and a good subsoil — for example, a very nice clay, with a sufficiency of chalk — an early application of manure would secure as good a crop as could be obtained by any other means. Re- verting to year-old manure, he would remark that, if they wanted it, they could, in eff'ect, obtain it within two months. If they fed cattle under cover, they could have places beneath the animals, with 12 or 11 inches of dirt or soil, lime, or anything of that kind ; they could then take some manure in its early stage, and lay down two or three feet of it upon a bottom of soil ; then put some more clay or chalk, and keep knocking down the whole, so as to prevent any evaporation. They should proceed in this manner until they had got a very large heap ; and immediately they had obtained that, instead of disturbing it, they might turn it down, with a large portion of heavy earth. After a lapse of a few days they might repeat the turning ; and, by proceeding in this way, they would secure, not in twelve months, but in three, a complete cucumber bed, nothing being lost, and everything being kept as intended by nature. With such manure they might top-dress their lands, and have all their clays impregnated with the gases proceeding from it ; and, wherever it was placed, they would have, in- stead of a light green, a very dark one, whether it were applied to clover, grasses, or any other crop. Consider- ing the expense of oilcake, he thought the point which he had just introduced extremely important. Much was said about having clean manures. He (Mr. Gedney) would rather see a few dirty ones, persuaded that we should then have much larger crops. But, wliatever might be said as to obtaining good crops as the result of applying lime, chalk, or oilcake, they must ask the landlords, first of all, for tenant-right ; for without that they could, as farmers, make no progress at all. Mr. Shaw said that, like his friend Mr. Cheetham, he was no chemist, and but for old recollections he could not pretend to be a practical farmer. In early life, how- ever, he had had some little opportunity of judging, from practice, on matters like that under discussion, and he might add that he had paid for his experience. lie had some remembrance of events that occurred when he professed to be a farmer twenty-five years ago, and upon this particular subject some reminiscences rushed upon his mind. He must, before he proceeded, avow, with respect to the question on the card, that without assum- ing to himself any greater perspicacity than other mem* hers of the club, he did not feel so surprised as some gentlemen appeared to do, at the manner in which that question had been framed. It was a simple abstract question whether or not manure was injured by being dried up .' (Hear, hear). He did not see what they had to do with its being dried up more especially on fallow or on grass land. From all the information which he had been able to collect that night, it appeared to him that it was a question of degree how far drying up was pre- judicial. It was generally admitted that if manure were exposed to the sun until it became perfectly dry, it must be injured by that circumstance (Hear, hear). But then Mr. Nesbit told them, and he was confirmed in his assertion by Mr. Gedney, that if it were applied under certain circumstances, to young clovers and to grass lands for example, the result might be very differ- ent. If rain came down soon after, it might enter into the soil and do good. Now he apprehended that the main distinction between putting such manure upon clo- ver and grass lands and putting it upon a bare naked fallow consisted in this : that in the former case, unlike the latter, the vegetation going on around absorbed the moisture, and produced to a certain extent the same effect as rain, the parts containing soluble matter being carried down to the plants and assisting their growth; That seemed to him to constitute the real difference be- tween the two modes of application ; and he thought that Mr. Taunton, by presenting the question as he had done in the most abstract point of view, had placed it in the strongest and most prominent way in order to lead to a full and i>roper discussion. Now, looking back to his own little experience in farming, he remembered per- fectly well that on all occasions when manure intended for turnips or potatoes was carted on the land, and laid down in heaps on the surface, and left there exposed to wind or sun before it was spread and covered with the earth, the prejudicial eff'ects of pursuing such a course was seen in the crops that followed. He thought every practical man would admit the certainty of such a result under such circumstances. Now, in corroboration of that view, they were told that rough manure did some good even when the straw was raked up and carried away, after it had lain some time upon grass land. But why ? He considered straw as simply a substance which held the manure like a sponge, which was cither washed out by the rains or arrested by the moisture, so that the useful parts went into the soil. Mr, Cheetham had spoken of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 533 some ilry niamirc of this kind, purchased at Stamford, as having produced the best crop of turnips he had ever seen. He (Mr. Shaw) had no doubt that it was within the experi. ence of many geutlenum present that the best pos sible manure for turnips was the dry sweepings col- lected in the summer from the streets of a town. At the time when he farmed, he lived near a large town ; and they always found that the dry manure of that description which they carted from the streets was the most certain and efi'ectual in producing turnips. Mr. Nesbit would agree with him that if they were searching for ammonia they could scarcely find any material better, from whence to obtain it, than the sweepings of the streets. If his memory served him, there was in London, about twenty-five years ago, a gentleman who was on the point of taking out a pa- tent, if he did not do so, for manufacturing volatile salts from the street-sweepings. He did not know whether or not that gentleman succeeded in his object ; but he believed that it was generally admitted by chemists that those sweepings contained a large amount of ammoniacal salts. He had already stated that he was no chemist, and he would therefore put one or two questions to Mr. Nesbit in order to obtain information. That gentleman had told them that gypsum and sulphate of iron wei-e both valuable in fixing ammonia. Now, he should like to learn from him whether the ammonia, heing so fixed, was in anywise prejudiced in its subse- quent effects as a manure ? whether, by the application of those substances, any gases might be created which would be in any way injurious ? He would further be glad to know whether or not Mr. Nesbit considered that in its application to the soil afterwards the ammonia so fixed would be set free, and be again let loose (if he might use the expression), so as to become the food of plants as readily and as usefully as if it were put in quite fresh ; or whether, in fact, what was done would be prejudicial to the manure as regarded its efficiency ? There was one very matei-ial point, w-hich appeared to him to arise out of this discussion ; and with that point he would close his remarks. Mr. Nesbit had told them, as a chemist, that it was of the greatest importance that all soils should possess a certain amount of lime ; and the effect of the manure applied would not only depend upon the intrinsic character and value of the manure itself, but also on there being or not being sufficient lime in the soil. Now, this certainly appeared to him (Mr. Shaw) a most important question for practical farmers to consider. It must be admitted by every one that soils in general vai'ied very much in the quantity of lime which they possessed ; and it was possible that there were a great many soils, which if they had an appli- cation of lime would be much increased in value as regards the effect of the manure appHed. This point was, he conceived, almost the cream of the discussion that evening. It had been stated as a fact, that a certain portion of lime was necessary in every soil, in order that the manure applied to it might produce its best effect. How important, therefore, must it be that they should be enabled, by some means or other, to ascertain whether or not (before the application of manures ob- tained at a vast expense) the soil was in tliat state which was most favourable for its reception ; and wlielhcr or not, in many cases, an economical application of a small amount of lime would not produce a ten-fold effect on the application of manure to the soil afterwards ? Mr. NicsniT. — Before I reply to the questions put to me by Mr. Shaw, I have a few observations to make on the remarks of previous speakers. Let mc first say, in respect to the observations of Mr. Cheetham, that annnonia has been proved by a thousand experiments to have a powerful influence upon vegetation. On grass- lands its inrtuence is great ; and on some other crops the increase of weight has been observed to be in almost direct proportion to the amount of ammonia supplied, provided always that the supply of the mineral ingre- dients of the crops was contained abundantly in the soil. Other plants, on the contrary, have different habits ; and many broad-leaved plants, like the turnip, will flourish luxuriantly when supplied with little else than their mineral ingredients, as in the case mentioned by Mr. Cheetham. The successful use of bones and of superphosphate of lime for the growth of turnips is another fact of the same kind ; but these do not detract at all from the value of ammonia in its proper place in the agricultural rotation. Many of our most powerful manures, as guano, rape-cake, rags, fish, &c., owe the chief of their active properties to the ammonia they con- tain, or to that which they produce in the soil by fer- mentation or decay. Their use in a manner supplies to the land the ammonia which, by the ignorance or negli- gence alike of landlord and tenant, is, by the general ill- construction of farm-buildings, permanently lost both to the farm and to the country. With respect to Mr. Gedney's point, as to putting dung on grass-lands, and so on, he will excuse me for still considering that that is not strictly contained in the question before us. The first question which we had to consider was, Whether dung lost by drying ? That question has been, I think, effec- tually settled. It has been ascertained, from two dif- ferent samples of dung, that one lost at the rate of Jib. and the other at the rate of lib. per ton. The loss will, no doubt, vary from about jlb. to Hlb., according to the quantity of carbonate of ammonia containedin the manure. Tjpon the more extended question of leaving the dung ex- posed upon fallows, or ploughing it in, I think the evidence, chemical and practical, is in favour of ploughing in as soon after spreading as circumstances will permit. If we still wish to extend the subject, and take into con- sideration the spreading of dung upon grass-lands or clovers in July or August, I think there can be no doubt whatever that the advantage to be derived from such a plan would far outweigh any loss which might arise by drying. The top-dressing with farm-yard dung, or with guano or rape, k.c., come under the same category ; and all experience, I believe, has proved that this mode of manuring is very advantageous, being, in fact, the only available means of proceeding with pastures, clovers, or grasses. Mr. Shaw's queries involve points of con- siderable importance, viz. : Do the use of gypsum , or sulphate of iron, or dilute sulphuric acid, deteriorate the ammonia? The ammonia would not be deteriorated, 534 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. but would merely pass from a volatile combination with carbonic acid to a non-volatile one vnth sulphuric acid. Another very important question was asked by Mr. Shaw, viz. : Will these and other salts of ammonia serve the purposes of the plant as well as the carbonate ? that is, will the sulphate of ammonia itself do so ? No doubt it will do so, under general circumstances, when properly made ; but at the same time cases might arise, and doubtless do arise, in which it would not serve the purposes of the plant as well as the carbonate does. But you must recollect that in converting the volatile carbonate into the sulphate you save that which would otherwise be lost. Now we have reason to sup- pose that plants do take their ammonia, upon the whole, in the form of carbonate ; and therefore, unless this sul- phate of ammonia be re-converted into carbonate, it pro- bably will not serve the purposes of the plant. But how is it to be re-converted into carbonate .•" This is one of themany difficult questions which are sometimes presented for our consideration, and it will biing us at once to the importance of lime. When lime is put on land, it speedily absorbs carbonic acid, and becomes carbonate of lime, or chalk. Marls, limestones, and many other substances contain carbonate of lime. If sulphate of ammonia and carbonate of lime be mixed together with excess of water no change will take place. If, however, they be mixed together dry, and as much wet sand be added as to make them moist merely, not wet, a decomposition will imme- diately take place : the sulphuric acid will leave the am- monia and take the lime, forming gypsum ; while the car- bonic acid separated from the lime will unite with the ammonia, forming the volatile carbonate of ammonia, which is immediately detected by the smell. If a quan- tity of water be now added, the decomposition im- mediately ceases ; but it will be renewed whenever the water has evaporated sufficiently to reduce the mixture again to a merely moist state. This same action takes place in our soils containing carbonate of lime and gyp- sum. Carbonate of ammonia falling with the rain water, is, by contact with the gypsum in the wet state, immedi- ately changed into sulphate of ammonia. When fine weather comes, and the redundant water evaporates, no ammonia is lost with the evaporation of the water, as would inevitably be the case if the volatile carbonate had not been changed into the sulphate. When the w^ater has left the land to such an extent that it is no longer wet, but moist and warm, the reverse change takes place — carbonate of ammonia is re-produced, and is im- mediately taken up by the roots of the plants and by the ever anxious leaves. If the water again makes the soil wet, this action ceases until the redundant water has eva- porated. These dissimilar actions of the same salts un- der two different circumstances are wonderful instances of the minute care displayed by the Almighty in preventing the escape from the land of any sub- stance which is beneficial to vegetation. If sul- phate of ammonia be put on land containing calca- reous matter, the action will be precisely similar, and will cause the ammonia to be presented to the plant in the form of carbonate. We have had no experiments proving (but experiments have rather tended to dis- prove) the notion that sulphate of ammonia, without this change, is useful to plants. There can be no doubt that it is a malter of very great importance to practical farmers, for many other reasons, that they should have a proper amount of lime in their soils. I have men- tioned once or twice before, that I have known experi- ments with respect to artificial manures to be completely unsuccessful in soils from which lime was absent. I have afterwards known the very same manures used in the same neighbourhood on soils containing carbonate of lime, with the very best results. We are now en- gaged in our laboratories in investigations on a great variety of soils, in order to ascertain the amount of carbonate of lime contained in both soils and subsoils. I assure you that the proportion in many is exceedingly small. In 250 grains of a soil quite dry, an experiment only gave jg grain of carbonic acid. There was, in fact, in many not -^^ per cent, of carbonate of lime — a proportion, I need not add, much too small. Now, I think the amount either of lime, marl, or chalk ought to be at least 2 or 3 per cent. There cannot be the least doubt that manures will act to a much greater extent, and much more beneficially, where lime is present in the soil than where it is wanting. The results of the expe- riments now making I shall at some future period feel great pleasure in laying before the club ; and I trust that day by day the union already existing between "prac- tice and science" will be more closely cemented, and that the British farmers may derive such benefit from their united operation as ever to keep them in their proud position of the first agriculturists of the world (cheers). Mr. Shaw said, it had been the general practice to arrive at something like a conclusion on the subjects of discussion ; he begged, therefore, to propose the fol- f lowing resolution : — " That, as manure contains carbonate of ammonia to a greater or less amount according to the quality, and carbonate of ammonia being peculiarly volatile, the ex- posure of manure to heat or drought promotes the escape of ammonia and necessarily deteriorates." Mr. Cheetham seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Nes- bit, to whom, he said, they were all much indebted for bringing forward the subject so ably at the eleventh hour (cheers). He (the Chairman) had no doubt that the resolution just adopted was consistent with the prac- tice of nearly all present previously to that time, viz., l that of not allowing manure to be exposed to the air ^ longer than they could possibly help. As regarded . root crops, the course recommended by Mr. Gedney was generally carried out in the Eastern Counties ; and where it had not been evils had resulted from such neglect. He quite agreed with Mr. Nesbit that exposure to wet in farm yards was a source of very great injury ; and he felt persuaded that if they all adojited the practice of feeding under cover, or the box-feeding system of Mr. Warnes, their manures would be much more powerful, and produce far better crops. Mr. Gedney, in seconding the motion, said that he THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 535 was quite sure that the farmers of his own couuty felt greatly iadebted to INIr. Nesbit and to other geutlemen who came forward to assist them in agriculture. Agri- culture now stood especially in need of the aid of good scientific men like Mr. Nesbit (Hear, hear). The motion was unanimously adopted. Mr. Nesbit, in returning thanks, said he should al- ways be happy to assist the practical agriculturist as far as it lay in his power to do so. He should continue his experiments with respect to manure, and perhaps at the next meeting he might ask permission to state very briefly some additional results. Mr. Shaw said, as Mr. Nesbit had shown that ma- nure was deteriorated by being dried, it would be well if he would take the converse of the proposition and show how much it was deteriorated by being wetted (Hear, hear). The Chairman then announced that the next discus- sion would take place at six o'clock on the evening of Wednesday, the 8th of December, that being the Smith- field Club week. Mr. Knight proposed a vote of thanks to the Chair- man, and eulogized his conduct during his tenure of office. The motion having been seconded and agreed to. The Chairman briefly acknowledged it. He said he feared that he had been throughout the year a very inef- ficient chairman (Cries of " No, no"), but he hoped that, either as a member of the committee or as a mem- ber of the club, his future labours would be more bene- ficial. CARROTS IN RECLAIMED BOG. BY MR. P. MACKENZIE, WEST PLEAN, STIRLING. There are numerous deposits on the surface of the earth which will yet be improved, and, when properly done, will yield nutriti^^e food for men and cattle. There is the matter carried do\\'n by rivers, and deposited beside the banks, or in islands at their mouth — this is called allu\aum ; there is the accumulation of decayed vegetable matter, mixed with water, named peat ; and there is what is called vegetable soU, composed of the inferior substances in a pulverized state, or of detritus carried from a distance, mingled with decayed vegetable and ani- mal matter. Tliese deposits will vary in value according to circumstances, such as the geological formation in which they are placed in their local situation ; but much may be done profitably to reclaim them, so that instead of generating pestilential vapours, and lowering the temperature of the country, by re- moving the superfluous moisture, the spot would smile with plenty, and the sun would shine more kindly upon it. For instance, it is more than five hundred years since the battle of Bannockburn, and, as far as we know, Milton bog, which was used for a certain purpose that day, has remained till within a short period marshy ground. We confess we have often botanised about it with feel- ings we cannot describe ; and when gazing upon the white water lily floating on its surface, we have thought upon the horse and its rider that perished in the snare set for their destruction. Perhaps the archceologist would have ^\ished it to remain, al- though it might be a fountain of carburetted hydro- gen gas evolved by the mud at the bottom of its stagnant waters, where it arises from the decay of vegetable matter, and thought himself well rewarded by fishing up, in dry seasons, the head of an old spear, or the musty remains of a horse's shoe ; or the curlers may lament that the waters are gone, on whose glassy surface they have often joined in the animathig play ; but patriotism, if it borders on selfishness, and the objects of the antiquary if they stand in the way of improvement, must give place to that which must ever be counted a blessing to every land, namely — peace and plenty. A deep level has been made, and the bog is drained ; and it was pleasant to witness luxuriant crops of gi-ain grooving where once the Glyceria fluitans grew in abundance, and where there were only bog-hay, and plenty of menyanthes trifoliata, and juncus, and carex, and iris, and nympliea, and equisefum, and aJisma, and arundo, and callitriche, and caltha, and potamageton, and many other ])lants not reck- oned of great value as food for the human race ; and where such plants lately grew, there is now an excellent soil for various sorts of grain and roots. Last season, a white carrot grew in it weighing 5 lbs., and an Altringham weighing 3 11)8., and an early horn carrot weighing 2 lbs., which might have been seen at Drummonds' Agricultural Museum in Stirling. There are many such bogs in Britain and Ireland as good as the Milton, and as capable of improve- ment ; and what a treasure it must be to have a good carrot soil, and a chmate to grow them ! It is said of the carrot, that the importance of it as a general field green crop, is not sufficiently recog- nised ; and although its cultivation is attended with a considerable amount of expense and labour, yet, parsnips excepted, there is no other field vege- table that yields so great a quantity per acre of nutritive matter, or is as much relished by all kinds of stock; and one reas'on why the carrot some- times faUs, may be owing to the nature of the soil in which the seed is sown, for they will not thrive 5:J6 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. in all sorts of soil, any more than cattle will fatten on all sorts of food. The " Vegetable Cultivator " says, respecting the carrot — " In the culture of this nutritious and useful ve- getable, a deep, light, rich, sandy soil should, if possible, be employed. The soil should be well manured the i)recedirig year; for if the manvu'e is applied at the time the seed is sown, the roots are apt to be affected with the canker. If the ground is not of the quality above mentioned, it should be trenched to the depth of 18 inches at least, and at the same time well broken ; for if this is not done, the roots are apt to spread in a lateral direction, and become bi'anched." It is Vv'ell known that all ]:)og land has not the above properties, but there is what may be called alluvial bog — that is, where a considerable quantity of water enters the boggy ground, conveying with it heterogeneous particles of matter and in times of floods no small quantity of fine sand and clay ; the waters mo\'ing slowly through such places, much of the matter brought in by it is left behind among the accumulating vegetable substances that are yearly increasing. Such soil, preparing for ages, is well fitted for the growth of carrots, when properly prepared. It is different from the peat moss or bog described by Morton in his work on soils : — " It is composed of an accumulation of vegetable matter in a half-decayed state, which has under- gone, and is undergoing, changes different from the ordinary decay of vegetable substances. It consists of a light, soft, spongy substance, holding water in excess by capillary attraction ; but when dry, it is inflammable, burns with little or no flame, and changes its colour, on being exposed to the atmosphere, from a brown or yellow to a blackish colour. It is formed by the growth and partial decay of aquatic plants in a cold wet soil, or in stagnant water, in hollows, or hollow basins, eithor on low or on high lands ; in many instances it is semi-fluid, and so soft that neither man nor beast can pass over it. The water is antiseptic, from the tannin principle of the plants of which it is com- posed; and as the tannin principle of moss has the power of preserving animal and other substances for a great length of time, their decay is gradual, and very slow." Judging from the experience we have had in the cultivation of carrots in such soil as now described, it should not be so much rehed on as that which may be called alluvial bog ; for, after it had been broken up, trenched, and dunged in the autumn, it did not yield the return that was expected from it. But as the quality of peat differs in different localities, some parts may be better prepared for certain cro])s than others. But the followino- ex- tract on the subject, from an agricultural work, may be none the worse for being better known ; — " It is but recently that the farmer's attention has been directed to the extended cultivation, as field crops, of the parsnip and the carrot, and that in soils where it was deemed useless to make the at- tempt. Thus, the white or Belgian carrot was sown by Mr. Morton, at Whitfield, in the second week of April, ] 840, by the Suffolk drill, on a deep sandy soil belonging to the new sandstone forma- tion ; and the ])roduce was a crop not only more valuable per ton than any other green crop we have, but raised at an expense less by at least one- half than that attending the cultivation of the tur- nip. It weighed 26 tons 3 cwt. per acre. It seems, according to Mr. W. B. Harris, that the white carrots generally exceed the red ones in weight from 8 to 9 tons per acre, and that the soil intended for them should be subsoiled. The Yox- ford Farmers' Clidj recommends strongly the cul- tivation of the long white carrot, which is exceUent food for cart horses, from its producing a heavy crop adapted to strong as well as mixed soils. There are, says Mr. Pusey, two varieties ; the best is that which makes a large portion of its root above ground. It has been grown very success- fully by Sir C. Burrel in Sussex, and in Jersey. According to Colonel le Couteur, the prize crop of parsnips afforded, in 1841, 23 tons per acre, while the white carrot prize crop rose nearly 38 tons per acre. And it is by no means necessary to have so deep a soil for them as the farmer commonly be- lieves. Thus, in an experiment by Lord Ducie, in 1840, at Hill farm, wth the early-horn carrot, on a wheat stubble, the soil is only 5 inches deep, and the seed was drilled without any manure, six inches apart, on the 22nd of March, yet the produce of these was 18 tons 15 cwt. per acre. They are de- scribed as excellent food for fattening sheep, parti- cularly when used with bean meal. They will, on many soils, be found a valuable assistance in the support of the farmer's stock." Before concluding, we may state what has been ascertained to be the proportion of gluten in an acre of carrots, compared with that of turnips. Boussingault informs us that the flesh of domestic animals contains 1/ per cent, of fibrine and albu- men, and that these are analogous to the gluten of vegetables; and an acre yielding 25 tons of carrotg gives 1120 lbs. of dry gluten, and, when consumed by cattle or horses, produces 6527 lbs. of musculaif flesh, whereas 25 tons of turnips give only 3941 lbs* Such statements by chemists should not be forgot* ten by the growers of field crops and the feeders of cattle ; and it may be to the advantage of both to give more attention to the nature of the soil and food of carrots, as well as to the quality of the seed, its proportion for sowing, its distance in the drills— in short, the best mode of cultivation that has yet been given. — Journal of Agriculture. THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. 537 NOTES OF AN AGRICULTURAL TOUR THROUGH NOmNGHAMSHIRE. BY M. M. M. There is a tendency in agriculture, more than any other occupation, to adhere pertinaciously to wont practice. The isolated position of the farming class renders them peculiarly liable to be actuated by antiquated prejudices, rather than to adopt en- lightened improvements. A farmer is, to a certain extent, a fixture upon his farm ; and as each month of the revolving year passes before him in rapid succession, it brings with it a series of engagements of thrilling interest and all-absorbing anxiety ; and if the careful eye of the master be for a moment withdrawn, there is a constant liability for some screw to get loose, and to baffle, perhaps, the plans and proceedings of many an anxious moment. There is some excuse, therefore, for the agricultural class being slow in adopting improvements. They have not the op- portunities of investigating, to a very extended de- gree, the operations of their brother farmers at a distance. Anxious to see what others were doing, and to witness what we could, of what was most estimable in good farming, our turnips fairly in the ground, c^nd our grass safely secured, we determined — budget on back — to leave our cares and our farms behind, and to make an inspection of some agricul- tural lions. Our selection fell upon the county of Notting- ham, and right well did it repay the cost and trouble of our ramble. We made inquiries at every step ; we sifted every practice different from our own, to the very bottom ; we took careful notes of all that we saw or heard worth knowing, and the following pages are the result of our investigation. If any thing is mistated or overstated or under- Btated, it must be referred rather to our misinforma- tion than to a wish to deceive. We found all parties most willing to give information — all civil, hospitable, and kind — and we doubt if any manufacturer or tradesmen, making a similiar investigation amongst his own class, and for purposes of his own business, wouldhave met with so candid and warm a reception. The plenteous boards of every farmer we met with were placed at our command ; and the fact that we had travelled upwards of a hundred miles purposely to see their farming, gave us a welcome reception, and a home on every hearth. We met with many instances illustrative of cha- rcater — these we shall not stop to detail. One, however, at Gamston, we cannot withhold. An aged patriarch, some three-score-and-ten, was seated on a bridge across the river, in that village. " What is the name of the river," we inquired ?' ' I've nea saying t'it. It's a water, and has been a water, and runs plenty sometimes, fra' yan pleas to anither." We now begin with our notes, arranged in the best order we can, on the agriculture of NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. So now, Nottinghamshire farmers, "A chiel's amangye, taking notes; An faith ! he'll prent it." There are few districts where the excellent and the extraordinary in farming are to be foimd in greater perfection than in the county of Nottingham. Although in some there may be a greater extent of first-rate cultivation, and greater surfaces of im- proved soil, still, in the excellence of its irriga- tion, its drainage, its impro\'eraent of waste, and in the superiority of its general farming in the im- proved districts, and the spirited, judicious, and skilful management of them, it would be difficult to find its superior. The soil in the county may be divided into four descriptions ; but, by overcoming certain natural difficulties, it may now be described as being occu- pied chiefly by two systems of farming. The natural soils are — 1st, sand and gravel, occupying about one- half of the county, and embracing the celebrated Sherwood forest, and extending to the northern ex- tremity of the county. 2nd. The limestone and coal district,adjoining Derbyshire. 3rd. The clay dis- trict, stretchingup to Lincolnshire, and again joining Leicestershire in the south. The clay is not very tenacious, but red in colour, and friable in charac- ter; and, when drained, capable of growing almost any cultivated crop. On both sides of the Trent the soil is of a rich alluvial character ; and, indeed, is a natural warp, formed by the action of the river for centuries, when its dimensions were doubt- less very much greater than they are at present. This, when in grass, is excellent pasturage ; and even when exhausted partly by tillage, is a rich and manageable soil. Perhaps the centre of the county is the place where red clay is the least fertile. The skill of the agriculturists has overcome many real and mechanical difficulties of soil; and the whole county may be said to be occupied by two modes of management, which we shall attempt to 2 N THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. detail, and, before concluding each, remark upon any exceptions made to the general mode by persons who may be in advance of the general state of cultivation around them. For the purposes of classification, the districts may be termed the light soil and \hQ strong soil dis- tricts. On the former, much has been reclaimed from growing furze, heath, and, in some cases, miserably stunted grasses of the very coarsest kinds, and is now growing crops of corn and turnips of the most luxuriant character. Difficul- ties of elevation, of looseness, of want of vegetable matter, have been overcome ; and the finest artificial grasses have sustained heavy stocks of sheep, and fattened them for the market, to the consolidation and enriching of the soil, and the profit of the enter- prise and energy of the cultivator. The most casual observer cannot but be struck, while viewing a patch of unimproved, unenclosed forest-land, occupied by the vilest weeds, evidencing only its neglect and its poverty, when over a beautifully cropped thorn fence, a majestic field of wheat or barley is waving in its richness, or a luxuriant field of turnips is feeding for the market a flock of well-fed and beauti- ful sheep. It may here be remarked, that although some parts of the forest, still uninclosed, are incapa- ble of growing these crops without a good deal of capital being first expended, still, with that capital, there is no doubt whatever that the whole might be made productive, and crops of the first rate order ^rown upon it. The elevated situation of the forest- lands, and their being porous soil and subsoil, ren- der draining absolutely imnecessary in the improve- ments. Bone manure is a portable and ready auxiliaiy ; end after breaking up and sowing with turnipSj c oa insumed upon the land with sheep, consuming also a portion of linseed-cake, there is, with little more Dutlay than a farmer has to make in going upon an exhausted farzn, a system com- menced for growing immediately most abundant crops. The rotation purgued on the light soil district is generally the five- course system. 1st, turnips, manured and boned ; 2nd, barley ; 3rd, seeds, eaten with sheep; 4th, same seeds, consumed also with sheep ; 5th, wheat. A portion of almost every farm is, however, from necessity, owing to the want of permraient grass, cropped in this way: — 1st, turnips ; 2nd, barley ; 3rd, red clover, mown ; 4th, wheat. The difference made between red clover mown, and seeds depastured, is very striking. There is invariably a better prospect of a crop after the former than after the latter; and instead of allowing the red clover stubble to be eaten with sheep, not a few persons mow it again, and aj)ply rape dust to the wheat following. This, however, is a highly o1>jectionable course, and justified only, perhaps, by the known difficulty there is of se- curing a full crop of red clover ; and therefore the desirableness of obtaining as much of it as possible^ when it is under that crop, in order to allow the soil to rest as long as practicable between succeed- ing crops of that valuable fodder, The greatest care is bestowed upon the turnip cultivation, as being well known to be the founda- tion of a successfid rotation. The soil is ploughed, or scarified, so soon as the corn crops are removed, and clearing operations commenced in good earnest. On some of the lighter soils the couch-grass is very troublesome; but it is found, that to com- mence cleaning soon after harvest is to prevent its making head at a time when the new access of air stimulates the weeds to action; and in almost every case they are collected together by women, and burnt upon the land. In some cases the ashes are collected for the purpose of drilling with the turnips ; but in many they are allowed to be spread and worked in with the soil. When the land has been scarified so soon as it was cleared, the plough is set to work, and the whole is deep ploughed; the object being to get, at this period, when the soil is about to be fully manured, as deep a soil per- meable to the air as possible, and as much mixture of the mineral subsoil to mix with the surface soil, abundant it may be of vegetable matter, but ex- hausted of mineral matter by cropping. After the soil is cleared, there is no anxiety for much ploughing. Occasionally, where this operation of' clearing is completed before winter, the ridges are set ; but more generally the land is ploughed up in ridges. The drill system is universal. Generally the turnips are sown in ridges of 22 inches apart, set by one action of the common plough. The ma- nure carted out during the winter is carefully de- posited in the ridges, and the ridges closed as soon as possible; and bones, at the rate of 12 to 16 bushels per acre, are drilled upon the ridges with the Worksop drill. A plan, not very uncommon, is to spread the manure upon the surface some months before the turnips are sown, and plough it into the soil ; still, however, the turnips are sown in ridges. Much of the manure is thus exposed to the evaporating effects of the sun. But it is con- tended, that the soil having absorbed the whole of its most valuable constituents, its exposure is no loss. They likewise assert, that it is more beneficial to the subsequent crops to be dissipated throughout the soil than accumulated in the ridge. Much difference of opinion prevails, but the latter course appears to be gaining ground. Possibly one re- commendation may be, its economization oflal)our. The sjtreading from the cart requires only one ope- ration of ridging, and less general care. The turnips are horse-hoed, and thinned by the broad- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. S39 hoe, twice, at the cost of from 6s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per acre. Swedes are grown to a considerable ex- tent, but are used exclusively for the sheep they are preparing for market ; while a few turnips are grown late for the ewes and lambs. A general opinion prevails, that the Swede is not calculated to afford milk for the kmbs. As they very generally object to puU off any turnips, they necessarily consume the Swedes upon the soil. The best farmers are much in advance of the farmers in the north of England in the management of their sheep. In- stead of keeping their sheep until nearly two years old, they feed them by the first year, and sell them off to the butcher. This is accomplished by the care they take in consuming the turnips, and the extra food they give to the sheep. The advantage is, that in the place of keeping these sheep through another summer and winter, they keep a larger number of ewes. The turnips are all carefully pulled, cut in thin slices, and given in troughs to the sheep. This, while it prevents waste, and keeps the whole food clean and sweet for the sheep, prevents their roaming about for their food, and all uneasiness, and thereby incites them to lay on fat at a much earUer period than could othei-wise be the case. The consequence of this mode of feeding would, perhaps, be injurious, were it not that linseed-cake, in the proportion of about one pound to one-and-a-half pounds, is given per sheep per diem, which counteracts the purging quality of the turnips, as well as being a change of food. Sheep thus fattened, and so highly kept, of course enrich the soil very much, and render it in a state for growing a most splendid succession of crops. In some districts a seed ley is taken out for turnips, either from a want of turnips, or from being itself unpromising. The process is thus managed ; and it is generally sown with late turnips for the ewes and lambs in spring. Mr. Fletcher's (of Radmon- thwaite) mode, one of the most spirited farmers on the limestone district, may be selected as the best practice. A plough skims the lea, by taking one fur- row very thin ; this is followed by a second plough, which ploughs a deep furrow over the skimmed furrow, which is thus completely buried ; and while it removes the clover, the roots, by their decomposi- tion in the soil, afford a degree of sustenance to the plants. After remaining a week, it is ploughed again thinner, and the ridges set. The almost cer- tainty of a crop of turnips follows. Upon the high and lightest portions of the forest his Grace the Duke of Portland adopts a still fur- ther extension of the principle by ploughing in the manner above described, provincially called " scari- trenching" a ley, pay during the month of July. This remains over winter, and in the following Bpring is ploughed up and sown with turnips in 24 inch ridges. The crop is sometimes, we are told, sown without any manure, and is invariably good. It stands somewhat in the position of a fal- low made out of ley ; the ley having been, perhaps, two years depastured with sheep. Cabbages are sometimes planted for the ewes and lambs ; and are perhaps preferable to Swedes or turnips of any kind. The great object is to get the ewes abundance of milk, and the lambs as fat as possible, in order to their early maturity. The cabbages are sown in beds, and planted out at from 2 to 2^ feet apart, and in drills about 24 inches. TTiis admits of frequent hoeings. They are, how- ever, less beneficial to the soil than turnips ; and a question of their being equally profitable, generally, may be raised. Their value, however, it is difficult to appreciate, especially in an unfavourable season; taking into account the desire for early maturity in the lambs. They are chopped, and served in troughs in a similar manner. The barley is generally sown with the drill, at the rate of 2i bushels upon the lightest soils to 4 bushels, the quantity sown by some of the farmers on the richest soils ; and is sown from the latter end of March to the end of April, The seeds are sown with, or soon after, the barley ; and consist of white clover, trefoil, and Italian or common rye- grass, with occasionally a little rib-grass, and some sow parsley. It is lightly harrowed, or rolled in. The barley is generally mown. These leys are depastured with sheep ; principally the ewes and lambs. In the second year the sheep are supplied With cake. The amount of stock car- ried by the seeds the second year is by no means heavy : but it has been fully decided by experience that by far the most certain mode of keeping the soil in good order is to allow it to remain two years in seeds. On the looser sands this is quite indispensable, in order to their consolidation. There are exceptions even to this. Mr. Peck (of Tiln), who farms about 800 acres, finds that the second year's ley is over- grown with coarse grasses, and which the stock will not eat ; but which, of course, deteriorate the soil. When red clover alone is sown for mowing, it is generally mixed with r}'e-grass. The mode of get- ting the clover is the most objectionable way con- ceivable. "When mown it is left in the swathe luitil the clover is withered on the surface ; the swathe is then turned, and again left to dry. If necessary, it is turned again ; if not, it is collected into heaps with rakes of small dimensions. In a wet season it is certain of being spoiled; and in any season, it is much injured by the falling off of the leaves, caused by this frequent turning and moving witli the rake. Were it rolled up, and tied at the head, and then set up, it would not only be protected 2 N 2 540 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. from the wet and remain almost entire, but would be ready to cart much sooner, and with much less labour. The second croi^ of clover is sometimes cut for hay J generally soiled for the horses after the tares have been finished, and the remainder eaten by the sheep. The complaints of " clover- sickness" prevail everywhere. The clovers are evi- dently either becoming constitutionally deteriorated, or the soil is less adapted to their culture. Many I)lans have been adopted to remedy this evil ; gene- rally the most successful has been to remove the clover, and its congeners as much as possible from each other in the rotation. Every farmer alter- nates his red clover and his ley. Several farmers sow in the alternate rotation, especially on the limestone district, a crop of peas ; which, if they are good ones, leave the land clean and in good order. Should this rotation follow the ley, it will bring the clover ] 2 years from crop to crop ; thus : — 1, wheat; 2, turnips; 3, barley; 4, 5, seeds; G, wheat ; 7, turnips ; 8, barley ; 9, peas ; ] 0, wheat ; 11, turnips; 12, barley; 13, clover. The wheat is a very important crop ; and in many cases the crop is sown with rape-dust. It is in all cases drilled or pressed in the plough-seam. The quantity varies from 2| to 3 bushels per acre. The rape-dust is either drilled with the seed, or sown by the hand u})on the pressed surface. In many cases the wheat is hoed. The wheat crop is that which, perhaps more than any other, requires the forcing process, especially upon thehghter character of soils; and here Nottinghamshire farming finds resources eminently calculated to effect the purpose. Con- sohdation effected by pressure-rollers, sheep-tread- ing, and azotized manure in every valuable shape is used ; well knowing that the difference between a good and a bad crop of wheat will more than repay the outlay. Rape-dust is the most general application. Some farmers manure the seed-land before ploughing ; but this is a loss which scarcely anything can compensate for to the subsequent root crop. Magnificent crops of wheat are there- fore grown : the soil is, in fact, in a state for grow- ing it capable of defying almost the extremes of the season. The wheat is principally mown. When shorn, however, the stubble is afterwards mown and carted home, and then converted into every description of useful purpose. Lambing-sheds, cow-houses, fold-yards, cart-sheds, and even wag- gons are covered with it to preserve them ; and when none of those useful purposes are served by it, you will find it stacked in the fields. Most persons are wiser than to burn it ; though many of them burn the couch. Being carted off in the autumn, its de- composition has not commenced ; and, where got dry, it ajipears to be very durable; and, being a bad conductor of heat, it is at once a cool and re- freshing shade in summer, and a waim and com- fortable shelter in winter. On some of the recently-improved forests, and on the very highest localities, a sprinkling of rye is sown with the wheat. This is only necessary where the soil has not fully undergone the necessary en- riching process. Between the wheat crop and the turnips a piece of ground is selected, free from couch and near as possible the homestead, which is ploughed, ma- nured, and sown with the most valuable of all green fodder — the winter tares. Being an exhauster of the soil, it is necessary to place it before a green crop ; and common consent seems to place it before the late-sown turnips. It generally receives a good dressing of manure ; and, the soil being clear, the sowing proceeds very rapidly after the scythe. A considerably larger number of sheep may be kept, owing to the saving effected by soiling the draught-horses ; not to mention the manure thus produced, and made at a time of year when it re- quires little trouble in attending to it. The manure is made in the yards by the cattle having straw in open folds, with a supply of cake, and the refuse from the turnips which have been given to the sheep. Grass land, when it can be available, is saved until winter ; when it is not, they are turned upon the leys and second crops of clover. The Duke of Portland soils several scores of cattle with the grass of his incomparable water-meadows. Straw enough to litter them seems to be a consi- deration of more importance than the food they eat. There are, undoubtedly, cases when nearly the whole of these observations are exceptions. There are some excellent farmers who are beforehand with their neighbourhood : their plans are not yet re- ceived ; or, if received, only locally so. There are, however, many very spirited men who dash away from the trammels of wont practice, and dare to think and act for themselves ; and when their plans are tested by experience and found to be useful, there is every disposition to follow them out. Mr. Lister, of OUerton (part of whose farm is very light land, and who is a clever and successful farmer), never carts out his manure from the fold until about three weeks before wanted. Being made during the summer by soiling, and also during the winter, it is incipiently fermented ; and he never has any difficulty in getting it to work well by the spreaders. The whole of his wheat is manured with rape-dust, and he never has any mildew. He gives his tares seven loads of manure per acre : they were the finest crop we ever saw in June, in the very dry and trying season of 1844. Mr. L. never makes turnij)s out of the leys ; he prefers manuring the land with rape-dust for wheat, and then making the turnips. If necessary, they can THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 541 be given an extra dressing of manure. lS\r. L. considers that the manure ought to he covered as much as possible, to prevent evaporation. Mr. Hodgkinson, of Morton Grange, near Ret- ford, farms 900 acres; and, along with extensive agricultural knowledge, embodies great chemical attainments. He manures the whole of his wheat- land with shoddy, at the rate of half a ton ]jer acre. At first he used a ton ; but finds half a ton has an equal effect. Mr. H.'s mode of ploughing lea is very scientific and interesting. The plough has rather an appearance of clumsiness, but still is perhaps not heavier than is necessary for the work. The first peculiarity is a wheel near the end of the beam, to regulate the depth of the plough. Half way along the beam, and before the real coulter, is a skim-coulter ; which cuts off", and allows to drop into the plough-seam, the grass edge of the furrow : thus, not one particle of grass makes its appearance to spread on the surface and impede the process of hoeing, which is done in the most careful manner. Mr. H. uses no rape-dust whatever. He occa- sionally gives the barley a dressing of salt be- fore sowing. His turnip-land is not ploughed imtil the spring. The root weeds are extirpated by scarifying in the autumn ; and the land-leys exposed, but unploughed, during the winter. In the spring it is ploughed very deep, and is ready for sowing at any hime he may wish it to be done. Mr. H. ploughs deep for any crop but barley, when he considers it unadvisable to cover the sheep soil too deep. Mr. Short, of Martin, near Bawtry (than whom there is not a more intelligent farmer), differs in many particulars from several of the hght-soil far- mers ; and perhaps in nothing mox'e than econo- mising the resources of his own farm. The leading principle on his farm is the conservation of all vegetable or hquid matter for the jjurposes of manure. The whole of the couch is carefully col- lected and deposited in the corner of a field vmtil a time convenient for its removal. The fold-yards are made in a sloping direction, and in front are two large reservoirs or manure-pits ; into these the refuse is put. The liquid which percolates from the fold-yards finds its way into these, and when sufficiently saturated and decomposed it is carted out, and is perhaps one of the most valuable manures conceivable. This abundance of manure on Mr. Short's farm makes it appear more like a farm independent of all manure than one where so much is a])plied, and would remind us, rather than anything else, of the settlers on the virgin soils of central America, who will remove their dwellings rather than the accumulations of manure. Mr. Short has also applied his chemical knowledge to his resources on his farm, and by careful and ju- dicious admixtures concocts a compost which "^ drills for his turnips. The manure is turned in the farm-yard as much as possible, that the dung-pits may have the benefit of the drainings which ooze from it. This abundance of manure renders Mr. Short almost, if not entirely, independent of extra- neous manures ; for though he may purchase some of this material for the compost from abroad, still he grows beautiful crops, independent of bones, or cake, or rape-dust — a proof of what intelligence and science can do. Mr. Short is a great admirer of Timothy grass, and sows it and rib- grass along with his seeds : his practice is somewhat bringing it into notice. Sowerby, Thirsic, Nov. 5, 134/. (To be continued.) An Italian chemist has recently succeeded in grafting diflferent species of corn and grasses upon each other. He commenced his experiments in 1843, by adopting methods similar to those em- ployed in grafting herbaceous plants, but did not succeed. To use his own words — " Having ob- served that the grasses have, at each knot or joint on their stem, a tube arising from the knot, and closed around by a leaf. This tube can be easily detached from the joint, especially when the plant is young. I therefore removed a number of these tubes with great care, and applied them to the lowest knots of plants of the same species (from which the stems had been previously taken away), and I had the extreme satisfaction to find that in more than one-half of the cases an adherence im- mediately took place, and the plant developed itself fully. Encouraged by this, I repeated the experi- ment with i:)lants of different genera. I tried millet upon a root of panicle grass, also panick grass upon a root of millet, and in nearly every case I succeeded. The only difference observable in the plants thus treated was, that the seeds were a little later in ripening. Having thus discovered the method of grafting the grasses, my next wish was to render the discoveiy useful. I hoped that we might find, by grafting a delicate plant upon a robust and thoroughly acclimated one, it might be rendered more available for general culture. My first attempt was to cause the rice plant to vegetate upon the panick grass {Panicum cms Galli). I had previously observed that this grass would vegetate vigorously in the rice fields where the rice would not grow. The result of this trial has quite answered my expectations. The straw and grain of the grafted plants far exceeded those of the 542 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. others, both in height and quality ; and having in 1845 sown the seed produced by the former along- side of some common rice, I again had the satis- faction to see similar results, the rice plant, even in the second generation, showing the vigorous growth of the panick grass ; and whilst the common plants suffered from disease, the grafted ones con- tinued healthy. The seed was sown in 1846, with similar gratifying results, the straw being one- third longer, and the yield 25 per cent, more than in common rice." We are not aware that any such attempts as the above have been made in this country. Should the grafted plants continue to show the increased vigour of vegetation, the im- portance of the discovery is apparent to every one. C. LECTURE ON MANURES. BY ALFRED GYDE, ESa., M. R. O. S., CONSULTING AND ANALYTICAL CHEMIST TO THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The relation of British agriculture to the present condition of the country involves two great points — the first being the production of a larger amount of corn, so as to enable us to meet the wants of our large and increasing population ; and in the second it demands the production of this increase at a cheaper rate, so as to enable us better to contend with foreign competition. The first of these con- ditions— the production of a greater amount of corn — may be obtained, either by bringing more land under cultivation, or by causing the land now under cultivation to yield a larger amount of pro- duce. With respect to the second proposition, the production of corn at a cheaper rate, so as to ena- ble us to meet foreign competition, must be accom- plished either by the reduction of the cost of culti- A'ation, or by obtaining an increase of crop without increasing the cost of production ; and it is to this latter point I shall more especially call your atten- tion. But is this increase of produce capable of being eifected ; and if so, to what extent ? From personal knowledge of the greatly increased amount of corn which has been raised within the last few years on land which for years before was supposed to be yielding a maximum produce, and from the fact that some lands are returning sixty bushels of corn per acre, when soils situated on the same geological formation, and of nearly similar chemical composition, are not yielding more than a third of that amount, and of which by a judicious applica- tion of skill and capital the produce may at leas', be doubled, I feel justified in stating that the whole produce of this kingdom may be at least raised one-third, or from 26 bushels per acre — which is the average of the kingdom, if Mr. M'Culloch be correct — to from 34 to 36 bushels. The next question which suggests itself for our consideration is — How is this to be effected, and at what cost? If we carefully examine into the physical condition and chemical composition of those soils which are producing their 60 bushels of corn per acre, and compare them with those which only yield their 16 or 18, we find that the improductive soil differs from the productive, in its physical condition, in frequently containing more moisture than is compatible with the performance of the healthy functions of the roots of plants; in its chemical composition, in being deficient in those constituents required by plants as food. The for- mer, or physical condition, may be greatly improved by draining ; the latter by the skilful application of manures. [ The lecturer next described the constituents of both the organic and inorganic portions of plants — the organic flying off in gases during the process of combustion, while the other, being indestructi- ble by heat, remains behind, and constitutes the ash.] The organic portion is composed of four dis- tinct elements, or simple substances, viz. oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon. The inorganic portion consists of a mixture of earthy and saline matter, but so small in quantity, that at one time the presence of a residue, after the perfect combus- tion of vegetable matter, was considered an acci- dental occurrence, and of no importance; but more recent investigation has thrown much light on its uses and origin, and has proved that on a know- ledge of the composition of the ash of plants de- pends much of the economy and successful appli- cation of manures. If (remarks the lecturer) we submit to chemical analysis a portion of this inorganic matter — and we take for our illustration that of the turnip — we find it composed of at least nine different earthy and sahne substances, these holding a definite relation to each other, and consisting of potash, soda, lime, magnesia, iron, manganese, sulphuric acid, phos- phoric acid, chlorine, and silica. These sub- stances are found in the ash of all our cultivated crops, but they differ in their relative proportions with the different natural order of plants. Thus we find that the grasses, or the natural order THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 513 f^raniine.T, which inchides wheat, barley, and oats, contain a lavijer quantity of silica, or the earth of flints, in their comjiosition ; while the lc{ruminosa\, or ])ea tribe, including the bean and vetch, is nearly destitute of silica, l)ut abounds in lime salts ; while the crucifera", as in the turnip, cabbage, and swede, contains quantities of phosphoric acid, with the alkalies. These earthy and saline matters required by j)lants are supplied by the soil, and exists in very minute quantities even in our most fertile soils, and hence the necessity of adding them as maniu-e ; for it is the want of these substances in a fit state to ministerto the wants of the plants (other things being equal), that is one cause of the great disparity in the fertility of soils ; and there is every reason to believe, that by the addition of those defective ingredients to the soil, its fei'tility may be greatly increased. [The lectm'er exhibited a table of crops, show- ing the quantity of inorganic matter carried off an acre of land in a four-years' rotation, and then proceeded to describe the nature of various manures, and their value as fei'tilisers of the soil.] After the vegetable matter, which has been con- sumed as food, has performed its destined offices in the animal body, it is separated, and thrown out of the body as excretions ; the solid excrements of the animals consisting for the most part of refuse vegetable matter, from which much of the protein or nitrogenous compounds and saline matter have been removed ; the liquid excretions, or urine, con- taining the phosphates, with the alkalies and ele- ments of ammonia. These are dissolved in water, and constitute the most valuable part of the excre- ments of the animal. It is these excretions of ani- mals, mixed with vegetable matter, which consti- tute your farm-yard manure; and on the care be- stowed on the preparation and subsequent pre- servation of it, will very much depend its value as a fertilizing agent. That well-prepared farm-yard dung should be a never-failing source of fertility when ploughed into the soil, or that the practical farmer should so value it as a fertiliser, will be readily understood when we consider that it is composed of decaying vegetable matter mixed with the urine and solid excrements of animals, con- taining all the inorganic matter required by plants, as well as the salts of ammonia, and that these in- gredients are for the most part soluble in water, and consequently ready to minister to the wants of the growing crops. Can it, then, be surprising that when well prepared it constitutes one of the most valuable fertilisers, and one which is abtained at comparatively little cost to the farmers ? And yet how little attention is bestowed on its prepara- tion and si^bsequent preservation ! How often do we see the litter and dung thrown from the stalls and stables, and allowed to accumulate in heaps, where, by too rapid a fermentation, it becomes fire- fanged, and subsequently exposed for months to the full influence of sun, wind, and rains, by which the soluble saline matter, and what little ammonia the first fermentation has left, evaporate, or are washed out of it and carried away by the ditches ; the porter-looking liquid so often oozing from the farm-yard and manure heaps slowly carrying oft* that which to the farmer is as valuable as gold, and leaving to be applied to the soil, as an apology for manure, a mass little better than rotten straw ! Of the excretions which constitute the valuable part of farm-yard dung, the liquid is by far the most valuable to the farmer, for reasons I have before mentioned ; these excretions, as well as any portion of drainage from the dung heaps, should be scrupulously preserved and returned to the soil. By building suitable tanks, the whole of the liquid from the farm-yard might be saved. They should be large enough to contain all the urine voided in four months, and should be divided in the middle, so that when one end is full the liquid may be allowed to ferment for six weeks before applying it. In the process of fermentation the ammonia is liable to escape ; but, by mixing the urine with water before fermentation, the whole ammonia would be retained in the liquid. Of the value of the liquid excretions of animals few farmers are at all aware, or more attention would be paid by them to its preservation. It has been found by direct experiments that a single cow voids in her urine, in the course of one year, no less than 900 pounds of dry saline and organic matter, which is fully equal, in fertilizing power, to the best Peruvian guano, and which, if carefully fermented, will yield 2261bs. of ammonia. Now if this 900lbs. of solid matter — or, for convenience, we will call it 8 cwt. — be of the same value as Peruvian guano (£10 jier ton), then the urine of each cow will be worth, an- nually, £-1, and cajjable of highly manuring at least two-and-a-half acres of land. If we suppose, for illustration, that a farmer keeps 20 head of cat- tle the year round, and for the want of proper care one-half of the urine of these animals is lost, he is an annual loser of no less than 80 cwt., or four tons of highly fertilising matter, worth to him at least £40 sterling, and sufficient tomanui'e, year by year, 26 acres of land, at the rate of 3 cwt. per acje; and while suff'ering from this loss at home, he is pro- bably expending its worth in the purchase of bones or guano — manures which are incapable of supply- ing the place of the urine, since they are nearly wanting in potash and soda salts ; while the urine voided in one year contains 7400lbs. of these. 644 THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. The solid excrements, although not so valuable or rich in sahne matter as the urine, still contain some, and should Ije carefully ])reserved and returned to the soil. It should be collected, and mixed with litter firmly compressed to check too rapid fermen- tation, and also protected from rain and sun by sheds, and when removed to the field should be immediately ploughed into the soil, to prevent loss by exposure and evaporation. The importance of thus protecting your farm-yard manure is clearly shown by some experiments by Koerty, who found that 100 loads of dung, as usually prepared and l)reserved, were reduced in 81 days to 73.3 loads, sustaining a loss of 26.7 Ids. 254 days to 64.4 loads, sustaining a loss of 35.7 Ids. 384 days to 62.5 loads, sustaining a loss of 37.5 Ids. 493 days to 47.3 loads, sustaining a loss of 52.8 ids. thus clearly showing the great loss sustained by the soil in using manure carelessly prepared ; which loss is subsequently sustained by the farmer in the diminished produce of the soil. But there are some who have no tanks, and cannot protect the manure from the rains falling on it in the yard. To those I would say, have every building dis- charging rain-waterinto the yard carefully spouted, and let the Avater be conveyed away by a drain, so as to prevent more water mixing with the manure than falls perpendicularly on it. Let the yard itself be rendered concave and water-tight, so as to retain the fluid portions with the straw and litter; the excess being absorbed by the addition of ditch l)arings, peat, sawdust, or burnt soil, added in alternate layers with litter ; and when the manure is carried to the field, preparatory to the turnip season, place it on a prepared bed of soil or ditch parings, and cover it with four or six inches of soil, to prevent the action of the sun and air on it, the bottom and coverings being thoroughly mixed with the manure previous to carting on the field. The mode of preparing manure adopted by Mr. Warnes, of Norfolk, which consists in causing cattle enclosed in loose boxes to tread the litter and excrements firmly together, is an excellent mode of preparing it ; since, by the manure being so firmly com- ])ressed, as it is by the cattle, little or no fermenta- tion takes place ; and if it be quickly ploughed into the soil after its removal, the jilants derive the full benefit that farm-yard manure is capable of yield- ing. As it is a great desideratum to apply the manure with the drill, the liquid manure cart being in some instances inconvenient, I may mention the results of some experiments made in my laboratory for the purpose of ascertaining how far it is practi- cable to abstract the sahne matter and phosphates from liquid manure, by causing it to percolate a mass which could be subsequently passed through the drill ; and although no very satisfactory con- clusions were arrived at, yet it was found that some substances possessed far greater power of absorbing and retaining the saline matter of the urine than others, the most successful experiments being mth peat charged and mixed with burnt earth— with soil rich in decaying vegetable matter, and with soil " stifle burnt," i. e., burned in such a way as only to carbonize the vegetable matter it contains. A mass of such burned earth, if thrown into a tank, or placed in a heap, and frequently watered with drainings from the dung, or liquid from the tank, becomes after a time a valuable manure, which will contain much saline matter, and if mi.xed with super-phosphate of lime or fine bone-dust and salt, and allowed to ferment, forms an excellent substi- tute for guano, which may be used moist, or if dried by spreading it in sheds, may be preserved for a length of time unimpaired. But although farm-yard manure, when prepared as already de- scribed, will keep the land in a state of high fer- tihty, yet of itself it is incapable of restoring to the soil those substances which, for centuries be- fore, have been removed in the crops of corn, in the cheese, and in the stock which has been sold off the land ; and, although the soil and subsoil may still contain a store of these substances locked up in its rocky constituents, yet it requires time and exposure to the influences of the seasons before disintegration will set at liberty a suflSciency of these materials to supply the requisites of plants, or, in other words, convert the dormant into active con- stituents ; and hence much time would be lost be- fore any soil, which has been improperly managed, can be materially improved in its fertility from its own resources, even under the best farm manage- ment. Hence a supply of those artificial manures which are now so extensively consumed by the farmer becomes necessary, or the manure must be improved by the use of such imported articles of food as oil-cake, corn, and linseed, consumed on the farm. Another mode of improving the home manure is, by the consumption of large quantities of bran as food for cattle, by which means you restore to the soil the phosphates which would have been lost to the soil in the corn sold oflf, but in the use of which, as food, you must not be too liberal, as the earthy matter occasionally forms concretions in the stomach of the animal, and when this is the case, it is often destroyed. [The lecturer exhibited a specimen of concretion taken from the stomach of a horse which had been fed on bran ; it was the half of a stone of several pounds weight— the whole weight of the stones found in the animal's stomach amounting to 27flbs.] Within the last few years the introduction of guano, or the excrements of sea birds, as a means of giving increased fertiUty to the soil, by the phos- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 545 phates and organic matter it contains, is a great step in the right direction ; and the large sum of money expended in the year ending 1st July 1846, for this substance, amounting to no less than £1,247,600 sterhng, is a strong proof of the energy and enterprise of the tenant farmer. Of the guanos sold that year, 100,000 tons were African, and 37,300 tons Peruvian, These guanos differ in che- mical composition, the African containing the largest per centage of phosphates, with less organic matter ; while the Peruvian has more organic matter hut less phosphates. [The lecturer here warned his audience to be on their guard against spurious guano, of which there was so much in the market. He exhibited a nice- looking specimen which a gentleman sent to him for examination, as a precautionary measure, before making a large purchase at Liverpool, and which contained a larger per centage of gypsum that of guano. He then continued :] — We have recently had large importations of guano from Saldanha Bay, which, from exposure to atmospheric influences, has lost much of its organic matter, phosphates existing to a much larger extent that in the other guanos, amounting, in some specimens I have exa- mined, to 75 per cent. The guanos may be con- sidered as a mixture of bone earth, in fine powder, with the elements of ammonia ; the Peruvian, and those rich in organic matter, yielding mos't ammonia, and being more energetic in effect, but being less lasting in the soil ; while the African guanos are less active when first applied, but the action is pro- longed beyond the period at which the Peruvian would have ceased. Another manure, of similar composition and effect as guano, is bone, which is composed of phos- phate of lime and organic matter, with a little fat and salt. The bone, as usually supplied to the farmer, has had the fat removed by boiling previous to the crushing, by which the decay of the organic matter is facilitated. The rapid or prolonged effect of bones depends much on their state of mechanical division. Ifgroimdto dust, the effect would be similar to that of guano, since by the decay of gela- tine or organic matter, ammonia would be generated rapidly, and the phosphates being already in powder, would be readily acted upon by the rain-water; but when half-inch bone is used, the process of decay is much slower, and the effect, consequently, less energetic, although extended over a greater space of time. The use of super-phosphate of lime, and of bones dissolved in sulphuric acid, is a great improvement in the economy of bone as a manure. Tl:e bone earth, as it exists in bones and guano, is very sparingly soluble in water holding carbonic acid in solution, and hence can be supplied in very limited quantities to the young plants ; but when combined with acid, a portion of the lime of the bone earth is taken by the sulphuric acid, and forms gypsum, while the other portion is left in a much more solu- ble form, and, when drilled ^^^th the turnip seed, readily enters the young plant in solution in water, assisting in the rapid development of the rough leaf, and, as a secondary consequence, protection from the fly. But it will be observed that these manures are nearly destitute of the alkalies which are so necessary to plants, and especially the tur- nip. This defect might in some measure be obviated by an admixture of common salt .with the bone or guano before applying them to the land ; but the defect would be rectified by the admixture of some of the cheap salts of potash with common salt — such as the rough sulphate of potash. The use of wood ashes, at the rate of 20 to 30 bushels to the acre, with guano or bones, greatly improves the produce of turnips ; the wood ashes containing from 8 to 10 per cent, of the salts of potash and soda, readily supply the necessary quantity to the turnip plant. As an illustration, I may mention the result of an experiment with manures, for which I am indebted to Lord Talbot. It was tried at his farm at Birchwood Park, in which 200lbs. of bones dissolved in 841bs. of sulphuric acid produced 24i tons of swedes ; and a mixture of 12 bushels of bones 1 cwt. of guano, with 20 bushels of wood ashes, produced 34 tons 6 cwt. Here the soil did not contain a sufficient quantity of potash and soda in an active state to supply the full demand of the plant ; or in all probability we should have had a heavier crop than 24 tons and a half with the dis- solved bones, since when potash and soda are sup- plied with the phosphates, the weight per acre is increased to 34 tons 6 cwt. In addition to potash and soda, but more espe- cially the former, wood-ashes contain lime, gypsum, and sulphate of hme ; indeed, those constituents usually found in the ashes of plants, and, conse- quently, form a valuable manure, as far as the inor- ganic matter required by plants, would be found a useful top dressing for clover or lucerne. The ashes from coal are far less valuable than those of wood, since they contain but little potash or soda. They consist principally of gypsum, ^vith carbonate of lime and oxide of iron, mixed largely with unconsumed carbon or coke. They form a useful ingredient to absorb liquid manure, or if saturated with the solution of bones in acid, form a very convenient means of distributing it broad- cast or by drill. The effects of soot as a manure depend princi- pally on the salts of ammonia it contains. The carbon, from its extreme state of division, has the power of absorbing ammonia from the air- 646 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Salt is a valuable saline manure, and is capable of sui)plying plants with two constistuents — soda and chlorine. It is found to be far more efficacious on our inland soils than near the sea, the spray often being carried by the winds a considerable distance inland, by which the soil near the coast receives ample dressing. When mixed with lime and frequently turned, or when lime is slacked with brine, a partial decomposition of the salt takes place, and a portion of carbonate of soda and mu- riate of lime is the consequence. A mixture of this kind is highly recommended by the Rev. W, Hux- table as a dressing for wheat. He states that " the crop is greatly improved, the straw strengthened, and the harvest made earlier by nearly a week." The effect on barley and oats is that of rendering the skin brighter; and where salt is used, the mildew seldom appears. Salt, when used in any quantities, should be spread broad-cast, as when in too close contact with the seed, it often destroys its vegetative powers. A highly valuable, and I am sorry to say, shame- fully wasted manure, is night-soil. If we send to Peru for the excrements of birds which feed on fish, and consider it economical to purchase guano at £12 per ton, to use on our soil, why, I would ask, do we throw away thousands of tons of excre- ments of animals feeding on flesh and corn, which may be had for collecting ? Night-soil is rich in all the elements of fertility, and for a few pence per ton may be disinfected; and if mixed with burnt soil, coal ashes, or charred vegetable matter, may be converted into a valuable compost capable of being passed through the drill. One ton of night soil is equal in effect to half a ton of guano, or from 15 to 20 tons of ordinary farm-yard manure. On the continent the value of night-soil is duly api)re- ciated ; and in Paris the whole of the liquid and solid excrements are collected, and conveyed about three miles from the town, where it is discharged into tanks, three acres in extent, the solid being separated from the liquid portion by subsidence ; is is then disinfected and dried for sale, and is readily purchased at about £3 12s. per ton English money, by the farmers of France ; while in England millions have been spent in the construction of sewers, and thousands are annually expended in their repairs, for the purpose of discharging this valuable fertiliser into the rivers, by which they are polluted almost from their very source ; and if the overflowing of the Nile is a source of perennial fertihty to thousands of acres in Lower Egypt, from the small quantity of saline and earthy matter brought down from the high lands of Upper Egypt, and held suspended in its waters, the fertilising effects of that noble river, the Thames, if it could be used after it had passed London, would be equal to give fertility to tens of thousands of acres, for it daily carries in its course the elements of fertility which would produce as much corn and other food as would supply the wants of the inhabitants of the numerous towns situated on its banks. Consider- able efforts are now being made to economise some of this waste manure ; and, although much difficulty as well as opposition has to be overcome, I feel confident that the energy and preseverance which has characterised the proceedings of the company must ultimately prove successful. In conclusion, let me impress on you the necessity of economising all neglected manures, recollecting that, in addition to those I have mentioned, the waste of many of our manufactories is valuable, as containing the elements of })lants; and that, by careful attention, we may be enabled to greatly increase the produc- tion of our soil, while we decrease the cost of food. BLA.CK-SKINNED BARLEY.— The Cheltenham six-rowed black-skinned barley, propagated from three corns, by Mr. Vaughan, tobacconist, Cheltenham, and planted in January, 1843, during a severe frost of six weeks, produced 5,010 corns. It is supposed, from good authority, to be a native of Abyssinia, in Africa, where six-rowed black and white barley grows very luxu- riantly. Mr. Churchill, of the Plough Hotel, Chelten- ham, having been favoured with a few corns, dibbled them on a small piece of land, in December, 1 843 ; it yielded a very extraordinary crop, independent of the severe cold of the winter 1843-4, and the extreme drought of 1844 summer. After making presents of the black- skinned barley to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and several noblemen and gentlemen (who expressed their approbation of its superiority and produce), having a few bushels he was induced, on the 14th Feb., 1846, to drill and dibble it five pecks to the acre ; it was reaped 4th July, producing 52 bush, two pecks to the acre, weight per bushel 55^ lbs., but when hummelled by George Hacey's (of Uxbridge) small machine its weight was 58 lbs. to the bushel. On the same land, July 10th, were sown white stone turnips, which were large and fit for use on 2nd Sept. ; on 28th October Mr. C. drilled several acres of vetches and the black barley, which pro- duced him an abundant supply of keep for his cattle early in 1847. In Nov. and Dec, 1846, he drilled several acres, allowing to the acre 85 lbs. for valley land and 68 to the hill land. In Jan., Feb., and March, 1847, he c'riUed other land, allowing the same quantity of seed, all of which, independent of the very severe frost and cold winds of 1846-7 winter, produced extraordinary crops. The average producewas 68 bushels to the acre, weight per bushel 55 lbs. Planting after March in a dry season is uncertain, except to transplant for another year. It appears suited to any description of land, and proves itself good, either in frost or drought. That planted on two acres of poor land was more productive than THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 647 that planted on well manured and prepared land. Mr. Churchill intends to plant in October the black barley with vetches, and in Nov. for early keep, and to let it remain for harvest, feeling confident in obtaining a good crop. So hardy is the plant that a gentleman in Wolver- hampton raised a fev/ corns in his hot-honse, and during the severe cold ordered it to be transplanted into open ground, where it came to great perfection. The black barley malts well, and makes good light-coloured ale ; its flour is excellent, and makes very nice bread, which keeps moist for weeks, and if mixed with wheaten flour is very superior as to taste, samples of which were, at the request of the Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons, forwarded to him and others. The straw is very strong, fine, and fit for plait, and cuts excellent chaff, and is good for thatching. Mr. Churchill has, since the harvest, received reports from all parts of the country, informing him of the success and approbation of the growers. A gentleman at Lewes, to whom Mr. Churchill gave 17 corns, informs him the produce was 17,235. A tenant of Earl Soraers produced 290 ears from 15 corns, containing 20,880 corns. This barley, if sown in woods or forests, will be found excellent keep for game, as after eating it early off it will shoot out again for ripe corn, thus enticing them away from other crops, — Hereford Times. THE WEALD OF KENT FARMERS' CLUB. The usual monthly meeting was held at the George Inn, Cranbrook, on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Mr. Turley (Rolvenden) in the chair. SOUTH AMERICAN POTATOES. Previous to the commencement of the discussion on the subject appointed for consideration, the honorary secretary submitted to the members present a sample of seed potatoes which he had received through a friend direct from Peru, where, it is well known, the potato is indigenous, and where also no symptoms of the disease, so prevalent in Europe, have ever been observed. These potatoes, Mr. Hall stated, had been procured with the express object of trying whether, by the introduction of a new stock from roots which had never been diseased, and from the country which was their natural birth- place, we could not succeed in raising plants possessing a sounder constitution than our own, and free from that liability to blight which had been so fatally prevalent in the potato crops in Europe. With this view he should be most happy to place the sample produced at the dis- posal of the club. The members present eagerly accepted the offer, and engaged to give the seed the best possible chance, plant- ing some now, and some after Christmas, promising to report the result to the club. WHEAT SOWING. This was the subject for the evening's discussion, having been adjourned from the previous meeting. The discussion for the most part assumed a conversa- tional shape — probably, generally speaking, the best adapted to elicit the free opinions of members in meet- ings of this character. We shall endeavour to pick up, for the benefit of our readers, some of the crumbs of in- formation which were let fall on the occasion. Drilling without hoeing, it was observed by a member, was comparatively useless. In Romney Marsh it was the practice to drill, in order to give opportunity for keeping the land clean, which, it was remarked by ano- ther member, was as much or more important as the im- proved crop which it was expected to produce. The comparative merits of thick and thin sowing hav- ing been alluded to, a member begged to call attention to the following statement, in a letter on the subject, written by Mr. Hobbs, of Aylesford, and published in the Maidstone Journal :— " The land selected for the experiment was a pea gratten on a loamy soil, in which live plots, each measuring a quarter of an acre, were carefully set out. It had no manure, and it was a fair average season. The seed was all sown on the same morning — broad cast — and was at the rate of from one to three bushels per acre. The produce was most carefully harvested ; each cant had been divided by a furrow, and the com of each was cut, carried, and thrashed separately, and afterwards ac- curately measured and the straw weighed. The following was the result : — Seed per Acre. Produce per Acre, ^^'g^* Acre*'^'' ^" No. 1. — 1 bushel 4 qrs. 4 galg. 2 loads. 2.-1^ bushels 6 qrs. 3 loads 16 lbs. 3. — 2 bushels 5 qrs. 5 bushels. 3 loads 12 trs. 8 lbs. 4. — 2^ bushels 5 qrs. 4 gals. 3 loads 14 trs. 24 lbs. 5. — 3 bushels 5 qrs. 3 loads 12 trs. 12 lbs. " The result proves that in this, as in most other things, moderation is best — the medium course is the safest. It shows that overseeding land is bad, but that underseediug is worse. It wll be seen that, whereas one bushel and a-half of seed pro- duced six quarters of com per acre, and three loads sixteen pounds of straw, double the quantity of seed produced less corn by a quarter per acre, and only eleven trusses thirty-four pounds more straw. On the other hand, the reduction of seed to the rate of one bushel per acre was attended with a loss of nearly two quarters of produce per acre, and upwards of a load of straw. Nothing can, in my humble opuiion, more clearly show that, while thick sowuig is wrong, very thin sowing is still worse. The proper proportion of seed would seem to he between a bushel and a-half and two bushels per acre — the exact proportion, of course, each farmer must determine for himself, according to his soil and mode of cultivation." His object, as a young agriculturist, the member said in continuation, was to elicit the opinion of those present on the experiment, and the extent to which it might be relied on. The Chairman said he considered it a valuable ex- periment, and the result perfectly conclusive. The superior effect of the medium quantity of seed was cor- roborated by his own experience. He always sowed about a bushel and three pecks. A gentleman, farming 548 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, with his brother 2000 acres of land, went over his farm last summer, and said he was perfectly surprised at seeing such a crop from such an amount of seed, he himself having sowed a sack per acre, pressed in, yet his plant was not so thick. It was, however, difficult to draw any general conclusions on such a subject. In some cases he found a bushel and three pecks was sufficient, while four bushels was not too much. Mr. PiLCHEii could not do with less than two bushels, but then his land was not drained. A Member (Cranbrook) said in a portion of a wheat field which averaged throughout six and a-half quarters per acre, he had grown seven quarters per acre from a bushel and a-half of seed. In one corner of another field, which averaged a bushel and three pecks of seed, two and a-half bushels were sown, and there it was esti- mated the produce was three sacks per acre more than in the rest of the field. Mr. Unicume said last year was so unusually fine a season that some allowance must be made for that. Mr. Hague, jun., thought there were many things to be taken into consideration in determining how much seed should be put in — amongst others, the destruction caused by the wire- worm, the ravages of small birds and game, as well as the state of the land. For instance, when they had to keep fifty or sixty pheasants in a field, it would not do to be too sparing with seed ; nor where a field was near a town, and liable to the visits of crowds of small birds. Mr. Unicome thought that drilling was a protection against birds, as when they got depth, the birds could not find the seed. In reference to Mr. Hobbs's experi- ment, he was drilling one bushel and a-half, but by mis- take his man had done some with one bushel. He should observe the result and report it to the club. Mr. ToMKiN had always found larks and other small birds do more injury on light than on stiff lands. Mr. Hague mentioned the success which some allot- ment tenants had met with, this year, in growing wheat, which they had resorted to in consequence of the failure of potatoes. They had twenty perches of land, which they had sown at the rate of two and a-half bushels per acre, the furrows dug up with the spade, and the seed put-in in rows. The lowest produce was seven bushels, up to ten bushels and a quarter, being at the rate of ten quarters per acre. At the same time, as had been re- marked, this was an extraordinary fine wheat year ; and when they spoke of the large produce they got, it should be remembered the two and a-half quarters they got the year before. Several other instances were mentioned where ten and eight quarters per acre were grown this year. A long conversation then ensued on the extraordinary produce of 2,053 grains from one — mentioned by Mr Peel Croughton as the result of transplanting. The general impression seemed to be that the expense of it would render the system inapplicable on a large scale, while some members thought that the large space of ground required by each plant would bring the produce not far superior to what was at present obtained by drill- ing. It was, however, thought very desirable that every one should try it on a small scale— say a quarter of an acre. An experiment tried at Halden was mentioned, in which wheat was dibbled six inches apart, and being but a small piece, was constantly trampled during the winter and kept back. It consequently stocked amazingly, and the produce was estimated at ten quarters per acre. The Secretary urged the importance of strict ac- curacy in these experiments, without which they could not be depended on. The best judgment might be mis- taken— nothing but the scales and the measure ought to be relied on. As to the sorts of wheat, Mr. Pilcher said he was sowing the hoary white, which he had found to be a highly profitable sort. Mr. TuRLEY had also tried it, and liked it very much. Mr. Hague had sown his whole tilth with it this year. Last year he had sown the rattling jack, which was an excellent red wheat, resembling the Spalding, but su- perior to it. He considered it an improved species of the golden drop. The straw died a beautiful blood-red colour down to the first joint, which caused casual ob- servers to think it was very much blighted. This was also the case with the golden drop when he first tried it, but it lost its colour after a year or two, and he did not recover it again till he had tried the ratthng jack. The following resolution was adopted: — "Resolved, — That the amount of seed wheat per acre must depend very much on peculiarity of soil, climate, and manage- ment ; that experiments similar to those of Mr. Hobbs, conducted with care, and the results accurately obtained, cannot be too highly commended ; that if the crop could be protected from wire- worm, game, and small birds, a much smaller amount of seed than is now ever used would probably be sufficient, but that exposed as crops are to the attacks of various enemies, the quantity of seed best proportioned to difi'erent soils can only be determined by the judgment of the occupier ; that the club earnestly recommend continued experiment on this point, and also, on a small scale, Mr. Peel Croughton's experiment of transplanting ; that the hoary white, rattling jack, and Spalding, are the sorts of wheat which appear to be most serviceable and productive." On the motion of Mr. Turley, seconded by Mr. Hague, it was also resolved unanimously that the thanks of the club are due to the honorary secretary for the Peruvian potato seed which he had presented to the members. Steam Thrashing Machines. — It is but justice to Mr. Cambridge from whom the prize awarded at the Noiihampton Show for the best portable steam thrashing-machine was withheld, in consequence of some representations made by other implement-makers to state that the complaint having been investigated by the society, he has been declared fully entitled to the prize, as will be seen by the report of the proceedings of the Council. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 549 KUHLMANN'S EXPERI {Continued ft The experiments which I have detailed in the previous tables justify me in making the following deductions : — I. IN THEORY. 1. Amraoniacal salts employed as manures act in the same manner as other azotized manures, and the quantity of the crop is in exact proportion to the quantity of nitrogen which these manures contain. 2. The nitrate of soda employed as a manure gives analogous results. The nitrogen of the ni- trate of soda appears to be more easily assimilated than that of the ammoniacal salts, unless we con- clude that the soda produces some of the results. I am inclined to agree with the first part of this proposition. 3. The weight of the crop has been in proportion to the nitrate of soda employed. 4. The gelatinous solution employed as a ma- nure had an energetic action, which, when com- pared with that of muriate of ammonia, is in pro- portion to the quantity of azote contained in the two substances. 5. Liebig, in his "Agricultural Chemistry,"* sets out from the supposition that " one pound of rain-water contains only J grain of ammonia, then a field of 26.910 square feet must receive an- nually upwards of 80lbs. of ammonia, or 33lbs. of nitrogen. This is much more nitrogen than is ne- cessary to form 2,600lbs. of wheat, 2,800lbs. of hay, and 20,800lbs. of beet-root." I think no one vnW conclude from this circum- stance that the atmosphere actually furnishes the azote necessary for the development of these crops. My experiments show that if this quantity of azote actually exists in rain-water in a state as- similable by the plants, an extra quantity should be given in azotized manures to ensure a vigorous ve- getation. They also show that the azotized manure not only acts by furnishing azote, but also by giv- ing to the plant the power of assimilating a greater quantity of azote from the atmosphere. The ex- periments also show that the power of assimilation inherent in the plants increases with the quantity of azote fm-nished to them ; and in my opinion this fact applies not only to the assimilation of the azote, but also, and in the same degree, to the assi- milation of alkahne salts, phosphates — indeed, to all the mineral substances which are i-equisite to a vigorous vegetation, and especially to the fructifi- cation. There exists, then, a bond between these two * Agricultural Chemistry, page 45. MENTS ON MANURES. om page 375.) parts of vegetation, and, taken isolatedly, they only give incomplete results. II. IN PRACTICE. It is generally admitted in Flanders that the first crop removes half of the manure, especially if stable-dung has been used. As regards fresh farm-yard manure, it is remarked that its fertilizing action is nearly exhausted the first year. This last result is explained if we remember that its princi- pal fertilizing constituents are volatihzed in that time ; and this circumstance has caused me to re- commend our farmers to add to this manure, before spreading it on their fields, either gypsum or some salt, which by its decomposition may render the ammoniacal salt more fixed. This practice, having been recommended by chemists to be followed with general manures, must be of especial benefit with farm-yard manure, I scarcely know how to urge sufficiently upon agriculturists the value of ammonia in their farm- ing operations. Not that they must confine them- selves to the purchase and application of the ex- pensive salts, such as the muriate and sulphate. They must economize every source of it within their reach, such as by the use of various manufac- turers' refuse, whale-blubber, oil, &c. Thouo-h I hope to see in a few years, when there is a regular demand for the sulphate or muriate of ammonia for agriculture, that they will be produced in much greater quantities, and at a much lower price. In the different memoirs which I have published on agriculture and kindred subjects, showing the results of the isolated and simultaneous employ- ment of azotized and saline mineral matters, I have expressed myself with a reserve amounting almost to fear in the deductions and conclusions from my experiments. This reserve was caused not only by the importance, but also by the difficulty of the questions involved, and the declared opinion of the most eminent men of science. What has, how- ever, sometimes encouraged me in the expression of my own views, is the ultra opinions which have been asserted, and the dogmatical manner which has been every way assumed in support of some fa- vourite view, on the one hand ; and on the other, I felt myself borne out in my conclusion by the ex- periments which I had made. [The translator, from practical experience, quite agrees with the above conclusions, and %vishes that every writer on agriculture would bestow equal care in experimenting, and equal modesty in drawing their conclusions. — C] 550 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. POOR PRICE TO FRED. FARMER, OF THE COPELANDS. My Dear Fred, — The weather is doubtless always for the best, though it may not meet our wishes. For the last three or four days the rain has fallen incessantly, and many a cold shower-bath I have had, from which, I am happy to say, I feel no ill effects ; and I attribute my hardiness to this cause. Every morning I rub myself with a damp towel di- rectly I get out of bed, and then again with a rough dry one till I am all in a glow. By this means I rarely ever feel cold when dressing, even in the sharpest frost in winter. When I get wet through at any time, I go imme- diately into my own room, and change all my clothes ) I then drink a glass of good home-brewed ale, and sit down by the fireside with a newspaper in my hand. This I find never to fail, and I have no doubt if other people would do the same they would feel as few ill effects from getting wet as I do. Well, it's all about the weather I am grumbling, though I have no right to grumble, for it is making the turnips look as fine and healthy as any one could wish to see them, and the fogs are springing up like second meadows. But, you see, I can't get the wheat sown. Now, wheat should be sown on land which is neither too dry nor too wet ; for, in the former case, it will lie ungerminated ia the ground, for the birds and grubs to destroy ; and, in the latter, it will be starved, and spring away too fast for its strength, so that it will have a spindly and yellowish appearance. Both these extremes should be avoided, and the com deposited in a moist and loose soil, that it may shoot away as quickly as is consistent, and not be obstructed by any sadness of the ground. However, it some- times happens that when the corn has even had every advantage of soil and weather in sowing time, it will be much retarded or partially destroyed by other causes, such as grubs and wireworm, and such like agricultural plagues, in which, thank Hea- ven, I have had no experience. I am writing to you all about farming, because I know that it is your hobby, and it certainly is one of the most interesting professions in which any man can engage. There is just one objection I have to it, and it is surely no slight one : it is the least profitable of any business going, though I am of opinion it might be made quite as lucrative as many others. There is not enough steam em- ployed in agriculture. Everything is done by steam now in other branches of trade, and that is the rea- son why farming is so far behind. It has not enough steam. They must learn to plough, har- row, and sow by steam, as well as thrash, boU, and chop by steam. Before long you may expect to see a steam-engine pulling half-a-dozen ploughs after it in a field ; you may expect to see a field of eight or nine acres all ploughed, harrowed, and sown in a day. Ah ! you may expect to see far stranger things than that done, and not be disap- pointed ! Yet there are certain things which can- not well be accomplished by any sort of machinery or enginery, such as the taking up and dressing of turnips or the taking up of potatoes, but these are of minor importance. Air-drains are very much talked about just now, and I have no doubt will answer the fullest expec- tations ; because, you see, it is very natural, and in fact we know it to be the case, that there are nox- ious vapours in the earth which must come in con- tact with the roots, and can do them no good. If, however, atmospheric air is allowed to enter be- neath the earth, there can be little doubt but it will find its way up through the soil, in doing which it must necessarily carry away with it part of the foul air, and then the fresh draught circulating among the fibres and rootlets will cause a drier and freer soil for them to work in. Again, when there is a natural heat and dryness in the air, we may expect it to absorb water in the drain, and, carrying it up through the earth, aflford moisture to the plants from below when the ground is parched and dried above. The contrary wiU also take place when the ground is wet ; the draught, which will continually be making its way from below, will effectually dry it. Now, my dear Fred, I have sent you a long let- ter on various subjects, such as have been under discussion in this part of the country ; and I have told you the whole truth about them, and a great deal more, besides leaving out what I did'nt think correct, which was not material, only I know you don't like fiction, and countenance nothing but the plainest truth ; and, by the bye, if that truth is as plain as my mother's servant's, she may go to the kingdom of Hoky for me, for I'U have nothing whatever to do with her; though perhaps it is just in her plainness that her beauty consists — so my mother seems to think with regard to her servant's, but I can't see it. Good bye for the present, and believe me ever, my dear Fred, Very truly yours. Poor Prick. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 651 ON REARING CALVES. Leicester, August 25. Sir,— Will you be kind enough to inform me, through the medium of "The Farmer's Magazine" for this month, the best means of rearing calves, and whether they can be reared without milk ? By so doing you will much oblige Yours truly, A Leicestbrshirb Breeder. To S. A. Bates, Esq. TO "a LEICESTERSHIRE BREEDER." Sir, — The best method of rearing a calf is un- doubtedly that which in its effect keeps the animal in good and thriving condition, and brings it to early maturity at the most moderate cost ; but, so various are the opinions and practices of breeders of cattle on this subject, that it is almost impos- sible (altogether on my part) to describe that mode of treatment par excellence the best. In " The Farmer's Magazine," a few months back, I gave a few of my practices and opinions of calf treatment, which would be found practical and, I think, successful in maintaining these animals in a thriving and healthy state ] but there are various other means adopted which answer equally as well, I doubt not. But one may conclude that the best way of rearing calves is to feed them well — that is, sufficiently — with good wholesome food, give shel- ter where required, and attend to their cleanliness. Your question "whether calves can be reared without milk ?" may be answered in the affirma- tive, for undoubtedly they can. I cannot speak practically on this part of the subject, but having seen it practised, and knowing the treatment pur- sued, I am happy to give you the information I possess. After the first week of the young animal's life is passed, during which short period the most stingy of breeders (even if the dairy were an object), I imagine, would scarcely deny the aliment provided by nature for the calf, it is usually put into a field, where, with its companions, it roams heedlessly about, and where, after passing a day, or sometimes longer, without food, it is induced from hunger to drink whey out of a bucket, which is then supplied morning and evening, generally with profuse libe- rality. The effect of the whey diet is to stretch the poor animals' stomachs to an alarming extent, and, combined with the fresh grass they soon begin to pick, brings on diarrhoea, from which disease many die yearly that are attempted to be thus reared. The appearance of calves thus kept is wretched in the extreme. Their hair stands on end, and often is reversed ; their eyes are dull ; and various anatomical points are visible in their formation, that a sufficient allowance of good food would have hidden. This system of rearing calves is not by any means economical, as the mortified owner finds when he offers his bad yearhngs or stunted two- year-olds for sale. Indeed, it would require the most direct descent from Hubback to recover from such a mode of treatment as this, to which many an animal is subject which has no such pretensions. Were this practice of rearing calves thus barba- rously abolished, our counties might possibly ere long be rid of those abominable specimens of cattle that throng our fairs and markets. But there is another method of rearing calves without milk, more expensive in its practice, and, of course, in some degree, belter in effect. It con- sists in procuring a substitute for milk in gruels, and teas made from hay, hnseed, &c. A corres- pondent of the " Mark Lane Express" mentions sago as a substitute used in the north of England. Corn is given in considerable quantities by some to calves, where size and high condition are required ; but this, unless most judicially given, is most hurt- ful to the useful properties of the animal, as it is known that many heifers >vill not produce offspring from the effect of high (corn) feeding in their youth. On bull-calves the feeding on corn has an equally bad effect ; in fact,'it is a maxim which one of the most celebrated breeders in your county (of Leicestershire) has duly impressed on my notice — " Never to feed young animals extensively on corn." But I presume the breeder who would wish to pre- serve the milk of the cattle would not be particu- larly addicted to com feeding; but the inquiry " whether calves could be reared without mUk'' occasioned me to describe the modes of doing so. Many thousands of calves are weaned in both the ways I have spoken of ; but, as a breeder of cattle, of whatever kind, allow me to impress upon you as the safest, and in the end the most economical, method of bringing stock to perfection (after breed has been your primary object, as it should be of every farmer), to feed them liberally, but by no means lavishly. Do not deny them new milk the first month ; after this time they may do on skim milk for another month ; but, for my own part, I consider calves should have new milk for at least two months after their birth, and even three or 652 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. four, according to circumstances, beside other food. Corn (oatmeal, barlejTneal, or beanmeal), too, may be given in small quantities to calves that, from un- accountable causes, sometimes will not thrive ; but after they have recovered, it is advisable to desist the corn treatment, for fear of worse consequences. I would particularly recommend beanmeal to your notice as a species of food, when given with judg- ment, which greatly assists the well-doing of a calf. Crushed linseed, too, is used veiy extensively by many rearers of calves, and its effect is everything that cov^d be desired. I am, sir, obediently yours, S. A. Bates. Bourton House, Faringdon, VEGETABLE LIFE. BY F. P. NICHOLS. Vegetable, like animal life, is derived from pa- rental germination : it grows up to a state of matu- rity through the medium of nutrition ; it sinks and dechnes from the exhaustion of its organization oc- casioned by old age, and death ensues ; the mate- rials of its composition then decay, and dissolve into their ultimate elements — thus leaving a va- cancy upon the earth, to be filled up by the pro- geny of which it, in its turn, has become the author. Vegetation commences its existence in a state of embryo, surrounded by a pulpy or fluid substance, upon which it is nourished, and contained in a tough skin ; in this condition it is called seed. As soon as it becomes sufficiently strong to adapt the crude nourishment of the soil to its system, it grows ripe ; and then, bursting from the case that has enveloped it, and by which it has been united to its parent tree, it is scattered about — in some cases carried by the wind to a considerable distance, in others projected by the elasticity of the seed-case ; and in various other natural ways it is'distributed upon the face of the earth, which it covers with the means of vegetation wherever sustenance has been supplied for its support. As soon as the seed is deposited on a nutritive soil, it commences nourishing its enclosed germ, by absorbing the carbon of the surrounding air, and sucking up the fluids of the earth; thus strengthening and enlarging the tender plant, until, breaking through its covering, it sends forth two stems — one down into the soil, which throws out innumerable fibres, and is termed the root; the other, which is called the trunk, up towards the light, shooting forth branches, which in due season bear their appropriate leaves, flowers, &c. The fibres of the root take up the food in the soil, and convey it in the form of crude sap, or undigested food, into the body of the root ; from which it rises through the vessels of the tmnk* undergoing all those various changes by which it is assimilated to a fit and proper nourishment whereon to support the existence of the plant. The crude sap, thus deposited in the body of the root, is a compound of water and various earthy, saline, and gaseous matters ; from the root, it is impelled into the sap vessels of the ascending trunk, where such agencies as light, heat, electri- city, &c,, acting upon it, it becomes decomposed, and deposits its various matters, in a solidified form, in the various parts of the woody structure ; it is now digested, and, dissolving the various mat- ters it comes in contact with, rises up to the leaves, in order to receive the carbonic acid gas, which forms the vital ingredient of vegetable life, as oxy- gen does of animal ; this is accomplished by the process of respiration. The sap being passed down a central vein of the leaf, is distributed through those innumerable minute vessels, which form the net-work of that organ ; there, by the action of the solar rays, a portion of the oxygen, of the sap is given out, and the carbon of the air is absorbed in its stead ; this only takes place during daylight ; in darkness the reverse is the case — carbon is given out, and oxygen taken in. The sap now, like the arterial or oxygenized blood of animals, becomes vital fluid, and returning along the branches, and down the trunk, is carried through the decending vessels to every part of the tree, repairing what is worn out, sustaining exhaustion, depositing the material of such new formations as the growth may require, and clean- sing away all useless and obnoxious matter, which it carries down to the root, to be finally deposited in the soil. Thus the vitality of vegetable life is dependent upon its organization, and hence subjected to the casualties of disease and accidental death. It may be starved by want of food ; it may by poisoned by taking into its system noxious matter ; it may THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 553 be suffocated from want of air; its health may be inil)aircfl by breathing impurities ; it may be in- vit^orated by stimulants, and, in fact, is liable to all the vicissitudes of conscious nature. It performs its mission in replenishing the earth with verdure, fertilizing its soil, changing its inorganic sub- stances into organic matter, purifying the atmo- sphere by absorbing the carbon by which it has been vitiated, and so, whilst yielding a fit nutriment to animal nature, rendering the earth a healthy ha- bitation alike for man and beast. Such is the eco- nomy of vegetable existence. — Shai'pe's London Magazine, THE LAND STEWARD, (from a correspondent.) Next to the safety of human life, the security of jnoperty has ever formed the chief consideration in the establishment of civilized governments. The existence of it has assumed diffei'ent forms, accord- ing to the varied shapes of the social systems that ])revail, and the kind and extent of traffic which the commerce of nations has estabhshed. Pre- vious to the formation of artificial articles of pro- perty, the land formed the only article of posses- sion, and it was monopolized into very large extents by the fortunate surnvors of the conquest. After the pursuits of trade had obtained and estab- lished profits, and the counters of value had ob- tained a circulation, another kind of property arose in the hands of the lower orders of people, which was gradually converted into landed property as opportunities occurred of purchasing it from the original holders. It was thus distributed into a greater number of possessions, and, like other arti- cles of commerce, it undergoes the changes that are incident to the fluctuations of exchange, and be- comes great or small, according to the incitements to industry and the security and value that are attached to the attainment. Inequality of property • — in the degree in which it exists in most countries in Europe — is abstractedly an evil; but it is an enl which flows from the above considerations and rules, the origin of which is beyond correction. Land, and the material products of it, are the only " real" property ; and this reality implying a l)ermanent existence and assigned locality, the use of it is thus rendered most essentially different from other articles of property which are more evanescent in their nature, and limited in the apjilication. The land is burdened with the support of the people that live upon it ; and whenever any person con- verts his changeable property into land, he takes upon himself the burdens which God and Nature have imposed upon it — the employment and main- tenance of the people. The "reality" that is attached to land also implies that it possesses a substantial essence, and is, consequently, capable of being used in improvements, as well as for the current value that is stipulated in exchange. This most valuable quahty adheres exclusively to land ; it inherits a capalnlity of being raised to a superior value by means of the cultivation of the elements and particles of which it is composed, and whicli superior value can be made permanent and usu- fructuary. Other kinds of property have no pro- gress in value ; the rate of use is fixed by the inert nature of its composition, and it may be exchanged for an equivalent, but not raised al)ove a fixed mark. Land is thus superior both in use and in value to any other kind of property ; the current value is always certain, and the use of it never can stagnate, as the demands of sustenance are impera- tive and irresistible. As population increases, these demands are multiplied ; the land must be cultivated to meet them by an increase of produce, and consequently the value of it is increased as it affords an increased number of articles of value. Necessity thus compels improvement, and produces more value even when the essentials are got from it. A greater number of articles must always have a source of greater power to produce them. The pecuhar position of landed property demands the most serious attention, in order to make it answer the double purpose of its natural intent. The present division of landed property in Bri- tain includes extents of such a size as to require the exercise of a practical skill and care in developing its resources and in realizing those economical profits beyond what can be expected from the possessor, who is contented to live on the splendour that is derivable from the value of the property. Landed property is saddled with burdens of a peculiar but of a very evident nature ; the use and the produce of it " must" employ, feed, and maintain the popu- lation of any country, and the first-fruits have been given to the buyer of them at the market price. And all and every experience has shown that in exact proportion as these objects ai-e kept in view, so are the first-fruits increased ; and that in the precise ratio as an amplitude is given or withheld to promote these views of utility, just so are the in- 2 o 654 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. terests of all parties made to unite or di^'erge, and consequently they suffer, and are rendered of less value " individually." It is necessary that these preroises be rationally defined and clearly undei'- stood before entering upon the description of the particular duties that are attached to the management of the property. Towards one main object every view must be directed ; and that object is, the de- velopment of every natural resource that can be rationally exhibited to show any avenue to the pur- pose that is to be obtained — the increase of the first-fruits, and of employment, and maintenance. And in order to carry forward these projects of de- velopement, it is most abundantly evident that the first fruits must be applied, for it is the legitimate use of them, and in no case is this the proper appli- cation at all dis])utable. This steady purpose being kept in view, it is primarily necessary that on every estate of landed property a fixed position be selected for the con- stant residence of the person who is entrusted with the management and direction of the species of pro- perty that forms the object of concern. In the present days of enlightened and very rapidly pro- gressive improvements, it is most essentially neces- sary that " the" person to whom the possessor has delegated the power of superintendence and direc- tion over his property be very intimately acquainted with the most approved modes of cultivating the possession, drawn from a systematic education and a regulai-ly confirmed experience. For this pur- pose the education must be commenced with boy- hood ; and especial care must be used, that the pre- judices and trammels of the antiquated customs of a craft be not allowed to usurp the place of liberal ideas and of reasonable and enlightened entertain- ments. In addition to the utmost extent of the usual education, called " schooling," which is ne- cessary to any profession, we would mention and recommend, for practical use and for ornamental possession, a pretty extensive classical education — by which is meant a very considerable knowledge of, and acquaintance with, the ancient writers of Greece and Rome ; from the perusal of which may be drawn the most liberal sentiments, and also the most elegant and ingenious, and which never fail to exert a most favourable influence on the profes- sional transactions of any kind or degree with which they may come in contact. They also tend very powerfully to create and promote that graceful aftability of manner which is necessary for every person engaged in general business of a superior kind, where proper courtesy to inferiors, and the deferential respect that is due to superiors, are most imperatively required to constitute a negotiating " medium" for arranging and carrying on the busi- ness of the property. The use of a knowledge of these languages is undeniable in producing the aptitude of correct speaking and writing, than which there is not a more useful or ornamental part of a polite education. And no qualification more clearly shows the fitness of any person for a " business" occupation than the readiness with which ideas and conceptions are entertained, and the correctness with which they are quickly clothed with a becom- ing verdure of language, that is at once clear and intelligible, expressive and decorous, and which sends afloat in the commercial world as a current coin the very commonest transactions of business. Nothing more effectually contributes to the agree- able and faithful discharge of a mixed duty than a graceful and pleasing aftability of manner, and the prompt and correct use of the tongue and of the pen at all times and on any occasions that may occur ; and, to produce these requisites, no branch of learning is more efficacious than an intimate acquaintance with the language and ideas of Greece and Rome, the two great theatres of human glory, from whom every succeeding enlightened nation has very willingly borrowed, and whom many more have not yet equalled or approached. The common conversation of every person that is employed in the higher world of business — his intercourse with society, both vulgar and refined — his epistolary and business correspondence, and even his daily communications with his servants and domestics — will be elevated and dignified, and even rendered more clear and intelligible by being largely inter- spersed and ornately commingled with the " lactea ubertas" of Livy and the "immortalis velocitas" of Sallust. Among the branches of education which we reckon necessary to be cultivated by the person who performs the office of a land-steward, or the " curator and administrator" of landed property, we make an especial mention of " chemistry, botany, mineralogy, geology, and natural history," as being all of them more or less intimately connected with the nature and organization of the particular species of property with which they are connected. These studies, and a fair knowledge of each branch, are very often required to be exercised in the specific application, where the individual use is attended with very beneficial results. But, if occasions never happen to call forth the use of them, the general knowledge that is created never fails to have a very beneficial effect on the other branches that are exercised. Svich studies enlarge the circle of knowledge, ennoble the sentiments, refine and exalt the ideas, and insensibly lead the mind to form elevated conceptions of every object and trans- action that is presented to its comprehension and its negociation. The mind is whetted to vivacity of conception, and eagerness of comprehension and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 555 of action by the attrition of exciting causes — by the number and power of the mental stimulants that have been poured into the intellectual senso- rium, where, by the action of fusion and amalga- mation, a current of refined matter is produced and emitted, which improves every object which occurs, and burnishes with a brighter polish every transaction which is performed. It gives oil to the wheels of aftairs, and lubricates every trans- action. A most powerful incentive to the acquisition of general learning is, that it gives to the possessor of it a commanding position in society. Power is most gratifying to tlie mind of man, and mental power is so much more pleasurable than the mate- rial form of it, that it is exercised without the in- fliction of pain, and in its development it is in- noxious, and meets with opportunities of conveying benefits to others, than which latter employment no exercise can be more agreeable to human benevo- lence. A corresponding station in society is essen- tially necessary for every person who is engaged in a respectable and useful employment ; and it can neither be attained nor upheld without that enlarge- ment and refinement of the mind which flows from a general education, and which alone can entitle any individual to the proud distinction. The posi- tion in society must be graced by the man, and not the man by the position. A general education points unerringly to the paths of eminence ; it in- fuses virtue into every sentiment, and imparts a grace to every action. The fundamental part of a professional education must be that of the art or practice which is in- tended to form the occupation of the individual ; and, as the employment of a " land-steward" will be almost exclusively confined to the superintend- ence and direction of agricultural operations, it is most imperatively necessary that he receive a prac- tical education of the first stamp, and thus get acquainted with every detail and all the minutiae of the art. This most essential practical education must be of the most improved kind, the most en- lightened, and the most approved that the age and country can afford ; and care must be used that this fundamental education he not instilled at an age too young for the discrimination of ideas, and when the pliant ductility of the mind is too apt to receive and set down as the most incontrovertible truths the practices which only constitute the trammels and the antiquated prejudices of the craft. With this end in view, we would recommend that the study of practical agriculture be made to form the last part of the general education, and that the brandies formerly mentioned be previously ac- quired, in order that they may, by the power of their influence, liberalize the sentiments, and tend to neutralize the usual effects of an early infusion of prejudices and dogmas, which very often com- pletely defy all future eradication, and produce very baneful results. On the other hand, equally as much care and caution must be used that the overheated fancies of scientific lore be not allowed to take the place of "rational" practice, and overturn the best-laid schemes of discretion and prudence. The one part of learning must balance and improve the other : practice must show the results of every rational and well-conceived theory ; and general learning will enlighten the conceptions, and by de- duction show the feasibility of every scheme. Thus the two seemingly opposite elements of learning tend most materially to benefit each other : the meeting of the materials in the mind produce the scintillations and coruscations that are so very ne- cessary for the arrangement and transaction of affairs, and which illuminate every jiath and brighten every progress. If the mind be not stored to pleni- tude with valuable learning, it will quickly be occu- pied with lumbei', trash, and trifles. A general education never can be mentioned without a very " special" i-ecommendation being always given to the study of mathematics, properly so called. The word comprehends a very wide range, and the branch must be as extensively stu- died, for no education can be reckoned in any way complete without it : by it the mind is early accustomed to a strict disciphne ; it learns to dis- tinguish between causes 'and effects, to demand evidence for every fact, and a demonstration for every truth; and it dispels that very general, ignoble, and infectious art of" believing without evidence." The practice and the history of any art furnish the materials for the consideration of action, and ma- thematics teach us how to apply them. They also produce that systematic arrangement which is so essential to the proper classification and to the prompt despatch of business. Confusion is the bane of all transactions ; and it arises whoUy from the want of clearness of conception in the first place, and to the absence of method in making the concatenations in the future procedure, which it is the most peculiar province of mathematics to sup- ply. Mathematics admit no confusion : every ar- rangement is clear, and the deduction lucid. And so it must be in business : the arrangement must be methodical and clear, and the performance will be orderly, and the despatch of it will be regular. The study of mathematics is most essentially re- quisite in imparting to the mind a correct and wholesome discipline — in restraining the vagaries of fancy, and in curbing the hcentiousness of an unbridled impetuosity. At the same time they un- fold the most pleasant truths, and impart a trust- worthy confidence in the ultimate results of any 2 o 2 656 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. undertaking. These observations will apply to the pi'actice of any liberal profession. In the acquisition of the practical knowledge of agriculture, two stages of life may be recommended — the first, immediately after boyhood has acquired the rudimental parts of education, and when the body lias attained a strength that is able to undergo the initiatory drudgery of the mechanical part of the art ; and the second, after a fair knowledge has been acquired of the accessory sciences that have already been noticed. Not less than two years should be allowed to each term of the apprentice- ship. The first part will lay the foundation of the ])ractical knowledge, strictly so called ; and the second will show the art as a science after the mind has been elevated, by the study of the liberal sciences, to such a pitch of refinement, as will enable it to look at the thing as a naked object, and divested of the trammels and incumbrances with which time and prejudice have surrounded it. This is by far the most important period of the professional education, for upon it there depend the infusion and entertainment of ideas that will do honour to the individual, and to the station in society, and which will also promote the improve- ment of the art ; and there may be contracted pre- judices and antipathies that will retard the progress of the art, and keep it stationary, and which will cloud every action with a doubtful obscurity, and veil every transaction with the shroud of the most obstinate illiberality. That specific education must be then acquired whicb will regard, with the dis- tinction that is due to it, every new theory that is propounded, and which can entertain with defer- ence every acquisition that is offered to the practice of the art. And the mind must be fortified with energy, and strengthened by perseverance, to carry out the undertakings that are necessary to develop the natural resources of the property. The rudimental part of education may be ac- quired at the age of 18 years; and then the first term of the professional apprenticeship may com- mence, and last for three years. Some years must then be spent in the acquisition of varied scien- tific knowledge, and afterwards there must be some few years more in gathering enlightened views of the agricultural occupation. No person inust com- mence the office of " land steward," under the age of 30 years, or moi'e ; at which time the ideas will be matured, the experience extended, and the ha- bits confirmed. An earlier age only employs a raw inexperience, and an immaturity of intellect that can add dignity to no emjiloyment, and is often productive of much mischief. During the first term of the practical apprentice- ship, the juvenile attention must be directed to the operations that take place within the boundaries of the farm — to the careful inspection of, and the active ])articipation in, the varied manual and bodily occupations, of which an intimate know- ledge is most essentially requisite. The time of the second term of the apprenticeship will be occu- pied in superintending and directing these employ- ments, and in going beyond the boundaries of the farm — in attending markets, fairs, and shows, where a general knowledge is acquired of the higher departments of the art. The knowledge of the commercial part of agriculture is thus to be ac- quired— in marketing or attending the sales of grain and cattle, and by hearing, in conversational par- ties, the different opinions and actions that appertain to the business. One most material part of the general professional educationmust notbeomitted — a correct knowledge of the breeding and use of the improved animals of the farm, which now forms so very prominent a part of the rural occupation. No branch of practical knowledge can be found more useful, or more conducive to the benefit of the pro- perty and to the interest of the cultivators. No part of the employment is more rational or more tnily delightful. After the mind has been opened and liberalised by the study of the polite sciences and of elegant hterature, the attention must be most earnestly di- rected to the acquisition of the varied branches of knowledge, which will not only reflect a lustre on the profession, but will conduce most powerfully to the satisfactory and beneficial progi'ess of the pro- fessional undertakings. The practical ideas must be concentrated and fixed ; the habits of business must be chosen and formed ; and the whole cha- racter must be graced wth affability of manner and frankness of behaviour, which engage the attention of all who may approach, and always leave a very pleasing prepossession of remembrance. In the multiform varieties of a general business, no qua- lity of the mind is attended with more beneficial impressions ; it disarms hostility, and often wholly changes the frowns of opposition and the appeai'- ances of conflict. It is a quality of inestimable va- lue ; by it professional ignorance is very often shrouded in a veil, and mistakes are slurred over and pass unnoticed. When exerted along with the other necessary acquisitions of oflice, it adds a brilliancy to every conception ; and, in business, it gives a relish to every employment and a pass- port to every intrusion. In promoting this very useful quality, a general education will be found to exert very powerful effects ; and also in giving to the mind a stretch of liberality that is so necessary to every person who is engaged in the busy world, and whose attention is more particularly directed to the fruitful progress of a specific description of pro- perty. Early inculcated prejudices and rooted an- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 557 tipatbies exert a most baneful influence on eveiy human affair, and very often completely baffle every attempt of removal. For tbis purpose, a general education sbould be very early introduced, wbicb, by presenting to the mind the most varied assem- blage of objects and opinions, will accustom it to the very useful task of analyzing and choosing, and will prevent the pernicious extremity of one idea or practice usurping the imdisputed possession of the mind. Most men, or i-atherall men, have their crotchets; and the sooner and the more earnestly they set about the removal of them the better. The mind is not sufficiently trained, nor the haljits con- firmed for arranging and conducting an extensive and responsible business, till nearly the age of 40 years, or considerably turned of 30. Till that age the constant employment must be to gather in- formation, and provide a stock of knowledge for future use, by acting in subordinate capacities. It is necessary that a person thus qualified and appointed to the charge of an extent of landed pro- perty, must reside upon the estate, and be entrusted with the practical management of a farm of the ex- tent of 300 to 500 acres. On this farm, which must belong to the proprietor, in the stocking and moveables an example must be shown of the most " improved" practice in every respect, joined with the use of the accessory sciences, so far as they have been proved to be applicable. Not a purely experi- mental farm is here meant, but only the most en- lightened practice put into force, and the known truths of the art to be fully carried out ; and all new theories and rational experiments to be made upon a scale that ^viIl not interfere with the gene- ral results, and at the same time they must rest upon grounds that are tangible and practicable. Every proprietor of land is bound in " duty" to use every endeavour to develop the resources of the species of property into which he has converted his capital ; for, by the very act of taking possession of land, he incurs the obligations which God and nature have imposed upon it — the employment and maintenance of his fellow-creatures. The powerful spur of self-interest will also come into action ; for, wherever labour is judiciously employed, the re- compence is certain. The currency of such a farm upon every estate \vill always be attended with very great benefits to the property. The experience thence acquired and communicated will show the physical difficulties of the art j and the theories that are confirmed by prac- tice will add to the knowledge of it, and conse- quently will lead to a farther development of the resources. It is a very common observation, that proprietors seldom, or rather never, succeed in farm- ing. The reason is very obvious — they employ ignorance to conduct it, and their own interference completes the delusion. And it may l)e observed that they have, as yet, no proper class of educated persons from which to choose an agent; theygeteither the most rooted jjrejudices, or a spurious pretension from some adventitious class of individuals, that is wholly remote from the business. To these sources all the very general miscarriages must be referred. The salary of such an agent as we have mentioned may vary from £300 to £400 yearly, according to the extent of the charge. A fixed sum is better than a per centage on the intromissions ; it esta- bhshes a certainty, which is useful in all cases. It also prevents any attemjjts on the part of the agent to increase " unduly" the amounts of the rental, in order to raise his own emolument—than which insidious mode of managing any business nothing can be more detrimental to the property and dis- graceful to the individual. All such temptations must be very carefully removed. It is understood that all farms are let upon lease, of 20 years at least, and that the terms of entry are in May or in September, being the Whitsuntide and Michaelmas entries. The rents are made pay- able half-yearly ; and the day of "audit" is fixed one month after the half-yearly date. The pro- priety of granting leases of land for a term of years need not now be discussed : no person but a mad- man would expend money without securitj'^, for capital recoils \vith instinctive abhorrence from the want of it. Experience has long ago proved that leases granted on a liberal footing for 20 years and upwards are the means of improving the property and of rendering it more valuable ; and also of dis- tributing capital, which constitutes the true strength of society; and afford the means of undertaking and carrying forward improvements, by lodging a part of the fruits of labour in the hands of the farmer, for the purpose of reproductive operations. ITie periods of entry and of exit in a lease are quickly settled, and also the amount of the money, which is made payable half-yearly, in equal halves ; the other conditions must be few and simple, easily understood and as easily performed, and must nei- ther fetter the mind nor limit the physical per- formances. It would be advantageous that leases were made saleable in the market, like shares in a railway speculation ; for a stimulus would thus be given to improve the occupation, in order to realize quickly the greater profits. And the ex- ample of houses in towns shows that the original holder of the fundamental property sustains no da- mage, but derives a benefit by each succeeding occupier striving to improve it, in order to realize a profit. The force of circumstances compelled the breach of feudal policy in the case of towns ; the same force, now greatly multiplied and aided by the increasing intelligence of the age, now require 558 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the same application of common judgment, in order to produce the same results, by removing the bar- riers of a narrow-minded and most prejudicial po- licy. Freedom is most essential to the well-being of any human afiair. The lease may be put into words on common paper, with an engagement to go into a legal stamp when required. Or either party may employ their own professional agent to engross the deed at their own expense. But kindly feelings and mutual concessions must in every case be freely indulged, in order to prevent disputes and quarrels ; and in no case, except in the very last emergency, must ever an appeal be made to a court of law. No |X)int more clearly shows the professional and gen- tlemanly ability of an agent than the mild and hu- mane manner in which every detail of business is conducted, and the uncompromising integrity with which he interferes and settles every rub and con- cussion that always must unavoidably happen in the wear and tear of human affairs. When the last appeal is unavoidable, a legal conductor may be appointed and remunerated as in other cases ; or he may be allowed a fixed sum yearly for manag- ing legally any contingency that may happen on the estate. But in no common case must the em- broihng interference of such persons be permitted ; it is the very last thing that should be allowed. A commercial house or inn upon the estate, or in the immediate vicinity, is to be fixed as the re- ceiving centre, and to which, twice in the year, the tenantry are summoned by letter from the agent, in order to pay the half-yearly division of the rent. A form of the letter of invitation is subjoined : — Manor Park Farm, Dec, 8th, 1847. Sir, — The audit of your landlord {here insert the name or title) is fixed to be held at Hotel, in , at 11 A.M., on the 20th of this month. when the favour of your punctual attendance is most respectfully requested by, sir. Your most obedient servant, A, B. (Agent). The agent, accompanied by his clerk, comes to the appointed place at the hour prescribed ; for punctuality is the life of business. The receiving of the money immediately commences ; the first forward being satisfied and dismissed, and each customer being introduced in rotation. The re- ceipts being previously prepared on the proper stamp, is there signed by the agent, and given to the farmer, who in his turn gives the money to the agent, who counts it, and hands it to the clerk, who recounts it, and if no mistake is found it is mixed with the amount already received. The clerk keeps a careful account of each separate sum that is got, and from whom it is received. For this purpose the scroll sheet must be previously prepared, as the names of the farmers ai-e all known, and there only remains to figure the amount that is received. If any sum be only paid in part, a simple acknowledgment only is given on com- mon paper, the stamped receipt being reserved till the amount be paid in full. At a fixed hour in the afternoon, say three or four o'clock, when it is known that the receivingof money is completed, an oflicial person from the office of thebank for the estate is in punctual attendance, counts the money, gives to the agent an acknowledgment for the amount, and departs so as to lodge it in safety during day- hght. This last act finishes the business of the day. In another room of the inn a neat and comfort- able dinner should be prepared for the known num- ber of guests, within an hour after the business of the day is over. In this assembly the agent occu- pies the chair at the upper end of the table, and is 1847 Rent Book. Dr. estate cash-book. Names of Farms. Possessors Names. Rent. £ s. d. Date. Cash received. £ s. d. £ s. d. Arr £ eai s. s. d. 0 Newstead. . A. B. Money . . 300 0 0 June 24 Dec. 27 To half-year's rent To ditto 150 150 0 0 0 0 300 0 0 Grange. . . . E. F. Money . . 180 0 0 June 24 Dec. 27 To half-year's rent To cash .... 90 20 0 0 0 0 70 0 110 0 0 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 659 fronted at the other end by the farm bailift", his clerk, or some other respectable retainer on the es- tabhshment ; on the right and left of the agent should be seated the chief farmers on the estate in order, and it is most highly resjjectable and deco- rous when a clergyman is present to bless the meeting, to irajjlore a blessing, and to return thanks. Such a presence tends very much to check any outbursts or sallies of levity, and very effectually restrains improprieties. On such occa- sions the conversation should be professional, re- lieved occasionally by circumstances and generali- ties. Some estates give the dinner to the tenants in the proprietor's mansion-house; and in both cases the break up of the company must be time- ous, and the whole affair proper and respectable. The charge for the dinner may be made by the sin- gle number that is present, or by a contract fixed for the occasion. From the scroll sheet of the transactions of the day of audit, the agent transfers the entries into the columns of the estate book, a form of which we subjoin : In a week after the day of audit, the agent must send to his employer a copy- sheet of the transac- tions, showing the amount of money received, the arrears, and the net sum placed in the hands of the banker. For the purpose of a monthly, a quar- terlj'', or a half-yearly statement of receipts and payments, a very neat form is annexed, in which may be entered all receipts and payments of money of every kind, stating with whom and on what pur- pose the transaction has been made, and the ba- lance showing on which side the difference of Dr. and Cr. has been established. This account m.ay be called a " bird's-eye" view of the transactions, and wU prove very useful in exhibiting a short and a very easily intelligible statement of all money transactions. A monthly form of it may be chiefly recommended. Monthly Account. Account in respect of Receipts and Payments at for one month (or fovir weeks) ending — Receipts. £ s. d. Dates. Particulars of sums re- ceived and paid Payments £ s. d. In the estate rental-book, of which a form has been given, there must be very carefully and mi- nutely entered on the side opposite to the rent of each farm, the expenses that may be yearly in- curred on each particular farm, for repairs that are done on houses, or in any other way, and which must be duly specified when the sums are credited and entered. The addition of all these separate sums will show the yearly amount of expenses that are incurred in upholding the current value of the property, which in all common cases may be stated at five per cent, on the gross rental ; but allowance must be made for the actual existing state of the property ; for if it be in a dilapidated condition, three or four times that amount of per centage maybe re- quired for a number of years to put it into a cur- rent going condition, after which time the sum of five percent, will be sufficient to maintain it; but circumstances will very much affect and modify all such arrangements. Rent Book. CONTRA. Cr. Date. Expenses. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ — d. Aug. 20. . By cash paid, per bills 23 16 0 23 16 IS 0 0 0 July 14. . By cash paid, per bills j , . 17 18 17 Total expenses on farms 41 14 0 600 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. It is customary that the tenants keep in repair all the farm-buildings, gates, and fences on every farm, upon condition that these appendages be made usable and be approved by mutual inspection at the time of entry to the farm. But an opinion may be expressed that the better way would be for the landlord to take the charge of all such opera- tions, for which a yearly consideration may be added to the rental. Such an arrangement would afford him much greater pleasure in seeing his pro- perty well furnished and propex'ly guarded, than in being subjected to perpetual wranglings on the point of neglect with careless and indolent far- mers ; for with them the interest in the property is only temporary, and there is a natural and invinci- ble propensity in human nature to pass away the time of the holding with as little trouble and ex- pense as possible in these minor respects, as they are very often, but improperly, called. All planta- tion fences must be upheld by the owner of the property ; for a plantation is a sanctuary, and must protect itself, and the trespass of grazing in any plantation, either old or young, is very reprehensi- ble, besides being hurtful. On large estates, the agent has the assistance of a "manor bailitF," for the performance of the minor offices on the estate. This person must be well educated and intelligent, and well acquainted with practical agriculture, and with the functions of general business. He receives directions from the agent, sees his orders executed, and directs and superintends every im])rovement and the repairs that are done on the estate ; pays the expense of these things, and renders to the agent an account of the disbursements. A chief part of his office consists in visiting, twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn, each field on every farm on the es- tate, and in noting in a pocket maj) and rotation book, made for the purpose, the particular species of crop that the field has produced, and marking at the same time the perfect or imperfect cultivation that the field has undergone. Every estate must have a book of maps of farms, on the usual scale — each map containing one farm. From this map, one of each farm on the estate must be placed in a pocket-book, and on a suitably reduced scale, on the left-hand side of the volume ; and on the opposite side there must be drawn a rotation book, extending to the term of years of the lease, in the columns of which the agent or manor-bailiff marks the kind of Rotation Book. Plan of a farm of 250 acres in a mixed rotation, with about 30 acres in permanent meadow. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 501 crop of each field in every year, from his own personal inspection. From this jjortable book a larger one is filled up, from which can be seen at any time, without going abroad, the course of rota- tion of cropping which the whole estate undergoes, and also each farm, and each single field. The salary of this official person is usually £80 or £100 yearly, with the usual accommodations of a dwel- Hng, and keej) for a saddle-horse and a coujile of cows. It is best when twenty or thirty acres of land are attached, and the yearly value of it may be included in the stipend that is allowed. When the size of the estate does notaftbrd a "manor-bailiff," the duties above mentioned will devolve on the agent himself, assisted in the very minutest affairs by some inferior retainer. The form of the rotation book is annexed : Every estate must employ a woodman, or forester, as he is variously called, whose duty is to take charge of the plantations and timbers in every respect. This person must be active and intelli- gent, and able to pay the wages of the labourers under him, and competent to keep a correct monthly account. He must be well acquainted, from prac- tice, with the inclosing of grounds, the planting of young trees, the thinning of woods, and the felling and sale of grown timber. The upholding of the fences and gates around the plantations will form a very chief part of the duties attached to the office of a forester. For any neglect in this respect no excuse must ever be allowed. This department of force will be employed during summer in cutting water-courses in and around the plantations, in making and hanging gates, and in dressing (into a neat form) the hedges that are most exposed to view. In winter, the employment wiW consist in making new fences and repairing old ones, in planting young trees; and, in the spring, the felling and the barking of oak will be a very busy time. The quantity of the force, and the expense that is allowed for the woodman's department, must bear a very strict ratio to the quantity and the value of the timber and bark that can be sold annually. In most cases the value of the yearly sales will be sufficient to defray the cost of the forester's outlay ; and, for this purpose, two sales of growing or felled timber will be suitable — one in Novemljer, for all general sorts of timber, and the second late in April, for oak, to l)e felled in May for barking. Or, all timbers may be felled, the bark dried, and sold privately. But sales are generally most productive, and create much the least trouble. On estates that are well furnished with grown timber, the value of the yearly sales will very easily carry on the expense of this department. But upon estates that are of a more recent date in the formation, and wherein enclosings and new plantations are required to be made, a sui)ply will he required from some other source, and which must be restricted to a fixed yearly sum. And if this sum be exceeded in one year, it can be lessened in the next, so as to keep even with the amount that is allowed. The forester will receive monthly, from the agent, the amount of the money he may require, and render a due account of the expendi- ture; and he must act in every respect in strict conformity with the instructions he may receive, and according to the resolutions that are framed after consultation and a mutual interchange of opinions. A fixed quantity of performances, such as fences, gates, and ditches, need no reference ; but all new operations require'due deliberation, and some plan of a systematic performance. The resi- dence of the forester should be central upon the es- tate. The salaiy may be £60 yearly, with a suitable cottage-residence, with a garden, and a few acres of land to keep a cow and a pony. {To be continued.) Rotation Book. Fields. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. 1858. 1859. No, 1. Meado w, whe n dun ged. 2. 3. Turnip Barley Barley Clover 4. Clover Oats 5. 6. 7. 8. Oats Barley Oats Clover Turnip Clover Turnip Oats 9. 10. Turnip Wheat Barley Vetch. 11. Oats Fallow 12. Vetch. Wheat 13. Fallow Wheat 14. Clover Oats 563 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT. We have now the satisfaction of placing before our readers the report of the committee of " the Society for the Improvement of the Law," ap- pointed " to consider the propnety of amending the LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT, by (jiving the tenant a right to compensation for permanent improvements : having regard particularly to the present rule of law which prevents an agricultural tenant from removing fixtures." The consideration of this important question by a committee selected from a society which counts amongst its members so many talented individuals of the legal profession, cannot fail to be productive of benefit. We are highly gratified in being enabled to state that we anticipate considerable advantage will result from the conclusions arrived at in this report upon one branch of the subject — the removal of fixtures by an agricultural tenant. Moreover, there are certain important principles admitted in respect to the re- lation of landlord and tenant, which will gi\'e weight to opinions hitherto considered by many as novel and innovating, and most materially tend to a clearer understanding of the rights and relations of the respective parties. The committee, in considering the subject, have divided it into two parts : — " 1st— Those improvements in the nature of annexa- tions or fixtures which it is physically possible to sepa- rate and remove from the land : " And, 2ndly — Those improvements which are so embodied witli the land as to be incapable of separation from it." We earnestly recommend a careful perusal of the report as the readiest and best means of compre- hending the whole question, and learning the reasons which have induced the committee to arrive at the conclusions stated. As regards the first branch of the subject, we should scarcely have deemed it necessary to offer any remark, being quite content to find a committee "learned in the law," recommending the adoption of an instalment of that debt of justice to the tenant- farmer which we have long and earnestly sued for on his behalf; but we think it may be beneficial to direct attention to some important points and prin- ciples adverted to and admitted, and which must have an important bearing upon the second part of the subject, in respect to which the committee have not been enabled to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. The decision on the first branch of the subject is — "1. That power ought to be given to agricultural tenants to remove from their farms any buildings or other fixtures which they have erected, and that such buildings and fixtures ouglit, until the expiration of the tenancy, and afterwards if removed by them, to be con- sidered their property. " 2. That the right of removal should continue as long as possession is retained, whether under a new holding or not, and that it should terminate with the possession, except in cases where the termination of possession is sudden and unforeseen ; that in these cases any presumption of gift should be rebutted by a notice of intention to remove given to the landlord, and that the right to remove so obtained should terminate at some short fixed period afterwards. " 3. That if the freehold is injured by such removal so as to be left in a worse condition than that in which the tenant received it, the latter ought to be made liable in damages to the extent of the injury caused by the re- moval, and to that extent only." It will be seen that the origin of the law that " everything once attached to or embodied in the land belongs to the person entitled to the land in the same manner as the land itself" is ascribed by the report to " The very slight importance then attached to the tenant's limited interest as compared with the landlord's freehold ; to the small value of any improvement or an- nexation whifh the tenant could make ; and to the fact that laws were made by the landlord only. Above all, the landlord and tenant were not looked on simply as PARTIES to a CONTRACT Concerning property in which the rent on the one hand and the usufruct of the land on the other formed the only terms. They had personal relations which placed the landlord in the condition of a superior, the tenant in that of a dependant, and pre- vented the notion of a contract (which is founded on equality) from being fully developed." It is the continuance of this feudal feeling of con- sidering " the landlord in the condition of a superior, the tenant in that of a dependant''' which has retarded the advancement of the tenant farmers to their proper position as a class. In the report in question, the relative situation of landlord and tenant is thus defined : — " The relation of landowner and farmer is really the same as that of two parties to a contract concerning a chattel, one of whom bargains for the use of the chattel for a given time, the other for a pecuniary compensa- tion." The tenant is entitled to the usufruct of the chattel or land j the landlord is entitled to the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. C63 pecuniary compensation or rent, and no more. The next important question is, how is it to be used, and in what state returned ? Upon this point the report says — " He must return it uninjured ; but nothing short of special contract should oblige him to restore it improved. If, therefore, the tenant has during his tenancy made any addition to the land, he ought at the end of his tenancy to have the right of appropriating such addition for his own benefit." What has been the rule hitherto ? That it shouhl be returned with all the additions which the tenant may have been compelled to add in order to give him the full advantage of the ustifnict. The report thus speaks of this rule — " The injustice of the rule in question as applied to the present state of things is therefore obvious ; its in- expediency is no less so." The means l)y which an improved system of hus- bandry must be carried out are thus adverted to — " By far the greater part of these experiments are at- tached to, or in some manner affect, the soil and free- hold ; they consist of machinery and buildings annexed to the land, or of drainage, manures, and other such im- provements incorporated with it. " All these are expensive: they require an outlay of capital which cannot be repaid by the increased income of a short period. Now, under the present law, where there is no custom or special contract to the contrary, the tenant's interest in all these improvements ends with his tenancy ; and it is therefore his concern, towards the end of the time at any rate, not to spend money which will benefit his landlord only, nor to leave the farm in a better condition than he found it. The pre- sent system is therefore injurious to the reversioner as well as unjust to the tenant." That is, the present system is injurious to the la7id- lord as well as the tenant. As regards trade- fixtures it has long been the rule of law that they are removable by the tenant ; but the application of the rule to agricultural fixtures having been consi- dered, " it was most solemnly decided that it did not apply to fixtures erected for agricultural pur- poses oni}'." It is most extraordinary that the landowners should have been so short-sighted as not to per- ceive the advantages which this rule gives to the owners of property let for trading purposes, and that they should have acquiesced in a decision which had the effect of preventing the outlay of ca- pital upon land used for agricultural purposes. They showed themselves possessed of a limited knowledge of human nature not to be aware that the very existence of such a rule would prevent ex- penditure for such purposes, and that the very cu- pidity which induced a desire to appropriate the pro- perty of another because it was " attached to, or embodied in the land," would defeat itself. The committee considers " Contracts for the usufruct of land for agricultural purposes stand on precisely the same footing as similar contracts for other purposes, and that any 7-tde which is just to the landlord as regards his trading tenant, must be also just to him as regards his agricultural tenant ; they consider also that the farmer carries on a business no less commercial in its nature, and no less beneficial to the public, than the manufacturer or mer- chant, and they think that the farmer and the public as interested in his success, are entitled to demand that no less protection shall be given to him than is given to the latter." And hence — "That an agricultural tenant ought to possess the privilege of removing fixtures erected by him, to the same extent, at any rate, as the merchant or manufac- turer." And to which end — "That in all cases he ought to be allowed to remove anything whatever which he has placed there, so long as the removal does not put the land in a worse state than it was in at the commencement of the t?naucy." The committee concludes by expressing the opinion that they '"' Cannot conceive that any evil would arise fi"om fully carrying out the doctrine that any fixtures whatever erected by a tenant are to all intents his property." This recommendation of the committee will, there cannot be a doubt, have its due weight, and will lead to the removal of a serious impediment to the better cultivation of the soil. We are told by the report, that the origin of this absurd and mis- chievous rule is attributable to the fact " that laws were made by the landlord only." The landlords of the present day have only to exercise the same power, and they ^vill do that which is not only most advantageous to themselves, but to the tenant farmer, the labourer, and the pubhc. TENANT-RIGHT COMMITTEE OF THE LAW OF PROPERTY. The following reference was made to this committee :— " To consider the propriety of amending the " Law 0/ Landlord and Tenant, by giving the " Tenant a right to compensation for Permaiient ^'Improvements; having regard particularly to " the present Rule of Lau>, vjhich prevents an " Agricultural Tenant from removing Fixtures." The question referred to your committee involves a consideration of the old and firmly established principle that " everything once attached to or embodied in land belongs to the person entitled to the land in the same 564 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. manner as the land itself." It is hardly necessaiy to mention that it is on this principle that the whole law of WASTE is founded. Although the terms of the refer- ence relate merely to this doctrine as applied to agricvil- tural tenants, your committee conceive that it is necessary to discuss the general principles, to look to the circum- stances under which it was adopted, to consider whether present circumstances are not so clianged as materially to affect its justice and expediency, and then to ascertain whether it is possible without great inconvenience to make any, and what, alterations in the existing law by way of remedy. The rule that persons entitled to limited interests in land shall not take from it anything which has once been fixed to or united with it, thoui^h not carried to a very great extent by the common law, owes its chief import- ance to the statutes concerning waste passed as early as the reigns of Henry III. and Edward I. At those periods the notions concerning property in land, and the relation between landlord or reversioner and tenant, were very different from those which now prevail : and we may fairly attribute the extensive application of the rule in question, and the severity with which it was enforced, to the very slight importance then attached to the ten- ant's limited Interest as compared with the landlord's freehold ; to the small value of any improvement or annexation which the tenant could make ; and to the fact that laws were made by the landlord only. Above all, the landlord and tenant were not looked on simply as PARTIES to a CONTRACT Concerning property in which the rent on the one hand and the icsiifruct of the land on the other formed the only terms. They had personal relations which placed the landlord in the condition of a superior, the tenant in that of a dependant, and prevented the notion of a contract (which is founded on equality), from being fully developed. It is hardly necessary to point out how completely the state of things is altered. In point of value and of perfection of title, chattel interests now differ from freeholds only in duration : the ownership of the freehold gives no advantages unless accompanied by superior wealth ; the landlord brings the temporary usufruct of his land into the market, just in the same manner as the merchant brings his wares, and the only advantage he has, viz., that of possessing a commodity of which there is a limited supply, is one strictly com- mercial. The relation of landowner and farmer is really the same as that of two parties to a contract concerning a chattel, one of whom bargains for the use of the chattel for a given time, the other for a pecuniary compensation. What then ought the rights of the lender to be at the end of this time ; in what state, according to principles of natural justice, ought the borrower to be obliged to restore the thing lent ? In no worse state, certainly, than that in which he received it ; but more cannot be required of him ; he must return it uninjured ; but nothing short of special conti-act should oblige him to restore it improved. If, therefore, the tenant has during his tenancy made any addition to the land, he ought at the end of his tenancy to have the right of appropriating such addition for his own benefit. How this right may be exercised, and how far its exercise may be limited by the nature of tlie addition, are considered below. The injustice of the rule in question as applied to the present state of things is therefore obvious ; its inexpe- diency is no less so. Of all things which can be lent or borrowed there is none so capable of permanent improve- ment as land, none so rapidly rising in value, none for the produce of which there is so great and so increasing a demand. The application of science to this improve- ment, steady progress under its guidance, in the art of agriculture, and of jn'eparing the produce of the soil for market, are matters of yesterday ; and yet there are few arts which hold out, even now, so large promises of success. But experience is wanted ; experiments tried on a large scale in different situations, soils, and climates, not by amateurs only, but by men who practise farming as a trade, and who, depending on it for a livelihood) are required to make it answer. By far the greater part of tliese experiments are attached to, or in some manner affect, the soil and freehold ; they consist of machinery and buildings annexed to the land, or of drainage, manures, and other such improvements incorporated with it. All these are expensive ; they require an outlay of capital which cannot be repaid by the inci-eased income of a short period. Now, under the present law, where there is no custom or special contract to the contrary, the tenant's interest in all these improvements ends with his tenancy ; and it is therefore his concern, towards the end of the time at any rate, not to spend money which will benefit his landlord only, nor to leave the farm in a better condition than he found it. The present system is therefore injurious to the reversioner, as well as unjust to the tenant. It is also, and to this argument your committee attach great weight, altogether opposed to pub- lic expediency, which requires that land should produce as much as it can be made to produce. A condition of the law therefore which has an opposite tendency is detri- mental to the community in general. This brings your committee to the second and most important point, viz., how far it is possible to make any general alteration in the law which shall have the effect of removing the evils complained of without introducing greater inconveniences. For this purpose they propose to consider the subject with relation — 1st, to those improvements in the nature of annexations or fixtures which it is physically possible to separate and remove from the land : And, 2dly, to those improvements which are so embodied with the land as to be incapable of separation from it. With regard to the fii'st class of improvements, com- monly called fixtures, the general rule was felt to be too severe upon the tenant at a very early period. In the reign of Edward III. doubts arose as to the tenant's right to remove a furnace ; and the point was decided in his favour in the reign of Henry VII. It does not, however, appear to have been settled till long after that time to what extent the infringement on the old law should be carried, as the early decisions did not uniformly proceed on the principle now adopted. However, since THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. 566 the time of Lord Holt it has been considered settled law that the exception applies to fixtures erected for the pur- poses of trade or manufacture ; and in the leading case of Elwes V. Alawe* it was most solemnly decided that it does not apply to fixtures erected for agricultural pur- poses only. It has been found a matter of no slight difficulty to draw the line between these two species of fixtures. In cases where the produce of land is prepared for use or sale on the land itself, the fixtures employed for that purpose obviously partake of both descriptions ; and the leaning of the courts in these cases has been to construe the exception widely, in favour of the tenant. Thus steam engines and mills for manufacturing the produce of a farm — a cider-mill for instance — have been held to be removable : a nurseryman may, though another tenant may not, remove young trees which he has planted : whilst on the other hand, it seems to be the better ojiinion, notwithstanding some sensible remarks to the contrary by Lord Kenyon, that even a nursery- gardener may not remove hothouses or forcing-pits. A farmer certainly cannot remove a carpenter's shop or pump-house erected for the use of his farm, and the same rule would probably be applied to such engines as threshing machines. These doubts nnd difficulties your committee consider to be the natural result of the adoption of a fundamen- tally erroneous principle. They consider that, as stated above, conti-acts for the usufruct of land for agricultural purposes stand on precisely the same footing as similar contracts for other purposes, and that any rule which is just to the landlord as regards his trading tenant, must be also just to him as regards his agricultural tenant ; they consider also that the farmer carries on a business no less commercial in its nature, and no less beneficial to the public, than the manufacturer or merchant, and they think that the farmer and the public, as interested m his success, are entitled to demand that no less pro- tection shall be given to him than is given to the latter. Your committee are therefore of opinion that the rule laid down in Elwes v. Mmve ought to be altered, and that an agricultural tenant ought to possess the privilege of removing fixtui'es erected by him, to the same extent, at any rate, as the merchant or manufacturer. They are confirmed in this opinion by observing that Lord Ellenborough, in his very elaborate judgment in the case mentioned, founds his opinion almost entirely on autho- rity, and in reference to the policy of the rule, merely says, that "to hold otherwise would be to introduce a dangerous innovation into the relative rights and inte- rests holden to subsist between landlords and tenants. ' ' Had the danger been specified the remark might have had more weight. But your committee think that any alteration will be incomplete which does not go farther than the courts have hitherto gone even in respect of trade fixtures. It seems at least doubtful in respect of these, whether a tenant would be allowed to remove a building firmly fixed into the soil, and which has never had any of the properties of a personal chattel. In the case of Tlireslier v. East London Waterworks * 3 East 38. Company,* the question arose concerning a lime-kiln, but was not decided. If the principle adopted by your committee is the true one, viz., that the tenant, whether farmer or manufacturer, is a borrower, bound to return the thing lent in as good, but in no better condition than that in which he received it, it follows that in all cases he ought to be allowed to remove any thing whatever which he has placed there, so long as the removal does not put the land in a worse state than it was in at the com- mencement of the tenancy. He may, however, in the removal injure the property of the landlord ; and for this no doubt the landlord ought to have a remedy. But your committee think that it would be inconsistent with the principle adopted by them to allow the landlord in such a case either to prevent the tenant by injunction from removing at all, or to recover the amount of damages to which he is now considered entitled. They think that in such cases the landlord ought only to be allowed to prevent the removal where there is good reason to suppose the injury to his own freehold will be irrepara- ble ; and that after the removal is effected, the measure of his damages ought to be the injury done to his free- hold—i. e., the difference in value between the condition of the property as lent, and its condition as restored, and that it ought in no case to include the value of the addition which the tenant made and has taken away. The time allowed for removal remains to be noticed. At present, if the tenant quits the premises or accepts a new holding, a presumption is raised that he intends to leave any fixtures (though removable during his tenancy), as a gift to the landlord ; and the better opinion seems to be that this presumption would not be rebutted by any notice to the contrary given by the tenant. This rule must often work injustice in the case of a tenant taking a new holding, as well as in the case of one who quits possession upon a sudden and unforeseen determi- nation of the tenancy : in the former case the tenant is not likely to remove his fixtures or to take any notice of it in his new agreement : in the latter case he has no opportunity to remove. Your committee are therefore of opinion that no such presumption as that stated above ought to exist in the case of a second holding by the same tenant ; and that in case of the tenant's quitting possession upon re-entry for a forfeiture by the landlord, or any other unforeseen determination of the tenancy, it ought to be capable of rebuttal by a notice given to the landlord on the determination, the right of removal being however to be exercised within some short fixed period. Your committee are confirmed in these conclusions by observing that a bill introduced last session into the House of Commons by Mr. Pusey, for " the Improve- ment of Agricultural Tenant Right in England and Wales," contained in its original form a clause appli- cable to buildings framed upon the principle of the alteration proposed above, and that in its amended form it contains one which is apparently intended to have in some degree a similar effect. Some important consequences as regards the rights of creditors would follow from the alterations above * 2 B. & C, 608. g66 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. suggested. But your committee cannot conceive that any evil would arise from fully carrying out the doctrine that any fixtures whatever erected by a tenant are to all intents his property. Your committee observe, in conclusion, that if the proposed alterations were adopted, it is probable that very few fixtures or buildings would be actually removed : a consideration not immaterial, since frequent removals might in an economical point of view be anything but beneficial : they think that the alteration would lead to arrangements between the landlord and tenant, by which both would benefit : for as the fixture is in general more valuable in the spot to which it is attached than in any other, the landlord would generally be disposed to give the tenant as much or more than he could otherwise obtain for it, and would still make an advantageous bar- gain for himself. Many of the above observations apply to all fixtures erected by any tenants, agricultural or otherwise, for any purpose whatever ; and it would, probably, in any general measure, be advisable to include them all j but your committee have, in accordance with the terms of the i-eference, confined themselves as far as possible to fixtures erected for the purpose of agriculture. The second part of the subject, relating to improve- ments which it is impossible to remove from the soil, is involved in much greater difficulty. In these cases it is obvious that the tenant cannot have the option of deciding whether the land shall continue to have the advantage of the improvement or not ; it is im- possible, as in the case of fixtures, to put him in a posi- tion to enter into a treaty with the landlord which shall be voluntary on both sides, and thus to give him a fair and easy way of obtaining compensation : the landowner must have and keep the improvement : and the tenant, if paid at all, must be paid by something in the nature of a compulsory sale of it. The following questions then arise : 1st. Is it proper that the landlord should be com- pelled to buy what he has never bargained for ? 2dly. What arc improvements for which he ought to be obliged to pay ? 3dly. Ought not the landlord to have the option of making the improvements himself ? 4thly. By whom, in cases of difference, is the question of compensation to be settled ? 5thly. On what principle, and at what stage of the proceedings is this to be done ? Gthly, In what manner are the claims when settled to be enforced ? Most of these questions are of great nicety, and some of them require considerable agricultural as well as legal knowledge. But after due consideration of such sources of information as are open to your committee, as well as from a knowledge of the legal difficulties, they feel satis- fied with the negative conclusion, and the reasons for it which are stated below. Different solutions of the above questions have been proposed in the plans laid before parliament by Lord Lincoln (when secretary for Ireland), Mr. Sharman Crawford, and Mr. Pusey ; and as these plans have been framed and put forv/ard by persons of much experience and much interested in the subject, your committee have examined them, and propose to refer to them as satis- factory illustrations of the conclusions to which they have come. The first two of these plans relate only to Ire- land. The case of England, to which this report is con- fined, is, it is true, essentially different. Ireland requires some measure of the kind infinitely more than England : in most parts of that country the enormous demand for land, the consequent disproportionate amount of rents, and the continual liability of the tenant to eviction for non-payment, destroy any interest he might otherwise have in permanently improving the land. To this may be added that it is not, as in England, the custom for landowners to take on themselves the erection of the farm-house and buildings. This makes a case for legislative interference which does not exist in England ; but still the evils, though infinitely greater, are of the same class as those which are felt in England, and which are at present under consideration, and the remedies proposed for them must therefore be similar in kind. The first question, viz., whether a landlord ought to be obliged to pay for a benefit which he has not bar- gained for, is a veiy important one in a country in which the spirit of society and legislation is to such an extent and so increasingly commercial. The same principle of non-interference which dictates the abolition of a law giving to the landlord a benefit which does not come within the terms of his contract, is opposed to the enact- ment of a law which imposes on him a condition not contained in, or deducible from it ; a law compelling the landlord to pay for an improvement which he does not wish to purchase, would be of this kind, and could only be justified on the ground of some peculiar position of the parties or of public expediency. If land is a commodity so limited in quantity and so important in value and in the privileges it gives, as to give the holders an unfair advantage over the occupiers, and to enable the former to impose unjust conditions on the latter ; or if, again, an increased power of production in land being of the utmost importance to the community, the conduct of landowners is such as to prevent the improvement of cultivation, it may be admitted that a case for interfer- ence is made out. Without expressing an opinion on these points, so far as they concern English landowners, your committee think that they are at least open to great doubt ; and that the general justice and expediency of such a measure, even if it be found a practicable one, is not quite clear. The second question relates to the nature of improve- ments which are to be the subjects of compensation. All improvements are divisible into four great classes. 1st, buildings ; 2ndly, fences, roads, works for irriga- tion and draining, which permanently improve the soil ; 3dly, the application of lime, marl, and other substances, the eflfect of which extends beyond the first year ; and 4thly, the application of guano and other foreign or arti- ficial manures, the effect of which is temporary. With regard to the first class it is unnecessary to say THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 567 anything further, both because they are not irremovable, and fall within the suggestions made in the first part of the report ; and also because it is the general practice throughout England for the landlord to erect all farm buildings. With respect to the three last classes your committee conceive that any legislative provision must, in order to avoid doubt and litigation, be specific in its descriptions: and considering the present advancing condition of agri- cultural science, the vast variety of climates, soils, and situations, for each of which different improvements are desirable, your committee are of opinion, especially with regard to the two last classes, that it would be very difficult to give any definitions which would be at once sufficiently explicit and comprehensive. There would also be great difficulty in fixing any general uniform rate of compensa- tion for the improvements specified. Some operations — liming, for instance — effect a great change on one soil and very little on another ; or the change may be per- manent in the first place, temporary in the second ; on one farm the operation may be difficult and expensive, on another easy and cheap, so that no uniform statutory rule for each species of improvement could be framed which would be fair to the whole country. Your com- mittee are confirmed in their opinion on this point by observing that provisions for compensation now in use, either by the force of local customs or under agreements, are very specific and differ very widely from each other in the description of the works contemplated, each pro- vision being adapted to the peculiar circumstances, situa- tion, and soil of the particular country 0"r farm. The government bill for Ireland included nothing but building and loaming, and in including draining went beyond the recommendation of Lord Devon's report. Those of Mr. S. Crawford and Mr. Pusey include all the improvements specified above. The former plan would obviously be partial and inadequate to meet the wants of English agriculturists ; whilst to frame any suflSciently specific and satisfactoiy measure on the latter principle would be most difficult if not impossible, and any such measure would probably, after no long period, in consequence of changes in the system of farming, re- quire alteration. Next arises the question whether the landlord ought not to have the option of making the improvements him- self; i. e., whether the tenant's right to compensation ought not to be confined to cases in which the landlord has been asked and has refused to make them. Your com- mittee is of opinion that the landlord ought to have this power. In England the landlord is and ought to be looked upon as entitled to the corpus, the tenant to the iisvfruct of the property ; it is the business therefore of the landlord and not of the tenant to make additions to the corpus. It is obvious that all improvements which need compensation are to that extent additions to the corpus, and ought therefore to the same extent to be made by the landlord. In proportion therefore to the permanent character of improvements it is the business of the landlord to make them ; and your committee are of opinion that with respect to the second class men- tioned above, at any rate this principle ought to govern any legislative measure. It is the principle of the go- vernment bill and of I hat of Mr. Pusey, though it is not adopted by Mr. S. Crawford. In order to carry it into ettect, the tenant should be compelled, before commenc- ing the impi'ovements, to give the landlord a notice con- taining particulars of its nature and the estimated cost and time of execution ; and upon disregard or refusal by the landlord, and only then, ought the tenant to be en- abled to perlorm the works himself and claim compen- sation. But the landlord and tenant may often disagree both as to the propriety of the proposed works and the amount of compensation, and this brings us to the fourth ques- tion ; viz., by whom differences are to be settled ? If it is to be the landlord, there is no necessity for legislation, for he may exact any conditions he pleases as the jirice of his assent to the suitableness of the proposed work. Any such assent made by him with the knowledge that it would be followed by a statutory right to compensa- tion, would amount simply to an agreement to grant compensation, which may be made just as well under the existing as under any altered state of the law. Your committee would not have thought it necessary to notice this view, if it had not been applied by Mr. Pusey's bill to all cases of permanent improvements made by a tenant having less than five years of his holding to run. If, on the other hand, tlie tenant is to be the sole judge of the propriety of making improvements and of the extent to which they are to be carried, great injustice may be done to the landlord, by saddling him at the end of the tenancy with a heavy charge, which, though it would ultimately be repaid to him or his successors by the increased value of the land, it might at that time be very inconvenient for him to pay. None of the plans proposed go to this length : they all limit the compensation by making its extreme amount bear some proportion to the annual rent ; and within this limit they provide a tribunal for the settlement of differences. They are, in substance, unanimous in adopting the system of arbitration for this purpose, with an appeal to some regular court. It has been suggested that a body of local officers or judges might be appointed by government for the purpose, and that they would discharge their duties better and at less expense to the parties than arbitrators specially chosen for each case. Considering, however, how small the salary and how undistinguished the position of such judges must be, it is doubtful how far this would be the case ; and at any rate your committee feel unable to re- commend the appointment of a new judicial staff to carry on a system of litigation of which, if the foregoing con- clusions are correct, the difficulties would be great, and the benefits questionable. It is clear also that no court now existing would possess sufficient local and agricul- tural knowledge for this purpose ; and your committee are therefore unable to recommend any other tribunal than that of arbitrators chosen specially for each case ; whilst they feel that experience does not justify a confi- dent hope that this tribunal would be free from the evils of expense and delay, or that it would be able to meet the great difficulties attendant on the questions which would come before it. 568 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The fifth question is the most diflScult of all ; viz., on v.'hat pi-inciple, and at what stage of the proceedings, is the amount of compensation to be settled ? There are only two standards applicable for this purpose ; first, the increase in value of the land at the end of the tenancy caused by the improvement ; and, secondly, the prime cost, of the works, subject to a proportionate deduction for subsequent enjoyment by the tenant. The first is the one adopted by Mr. S. Crawford's bill as to most improvements ; the second that of the government bill, and Mr. Pusey's bill. Prima facie there is much to be said in favour of the former ; it is obviously the just, and the only strictly just, method. The tenant would by it, so far as his acts are concerned, be held bound to restore the land in as good, but in no better condition than it was in when he took it ; and for all increase of value arising from his acts he would receive an equivalent in money. But this method is unfortunately less easy of application than it is just in principle. In acting on it the following data would be necessary in order to come to a conclusion. First, the annual value of the land at the commencement of the tenancy — to obtain which a valuation at that time would be necessary. Secondly, the annual value of the land at the end of the tenancy, which would require another valuation. Thirdly, proof of the fact that the improvements were made ; and, fourtlily, proof of the extent to which the improvements alone, as distinguished from other co-operating circum- stances, have affected the value. Now, without taking into consideration the three former requisites, this last proof alone it would be almost impossible to give. In a country where the state of trade, the malting a road, canal, or railway, the building a town, and many other things, are daily changing the value of land ; how is it possible to eliminate all such considerations, and to at- tribute to the improvement just so much of the increase of value as is due to it ? This difiiculty taken with the necessity for two valuations above-mentioned is, in the opinion of this committee, quite sufficient to I'ender the first standard inapplicable. The second principle of estimating the amount, viz., by reference to the sum expended, may be applied in two ways, First, the question may be reserved till the deter- mination of the tenancy, and then settled on proof being given of the execution and cost of the work, subject to a deduction bearing for each class of improvements a dif- ferent fixed proportion to the lengtli of subsequent occu- pation by tlie tenant. To this there are several serious objections. The tenant's expenditure is under too little control ; he may himself choose what improvements shall be made without consulting the landlord. Again, the principle is not fair ; for the prime cost of the im- provement may bear no relation wliatever to the increase of value in the land caused by it, arising dependently on the skill and foreknowledge of the occupier, as well as on his expenditure, so that the landlord might have to pay very largely for a very small benefit, or the tenant receive but little for a very lai-ge one. Lastly, it would be almost impossible to devise a general scale of deduc- tion for subsequent enjoyment applicable to the whole country : an operation which improves the land for two years in one country may be felt for three times that period in another. Materials may in one place be perishable ; in another they may endure for an indefinite time. These objections it is not easy to overcome. It remains to consider the second way of applying the same principle. This is effected as before by settling at an earlier stage the amount of compensation by relation to the cost of the intended work, before it is commenced. This method requii'es of course that the landlord should have notice beforehand, and therefore can easily be adapted for carrying out the suggestion already made by your committee, that he ought to liave the option of do- ing the work. It also avoids the objection arising from the tenant's uncontrolled power ; and, to a great extent, that arising from the unfairness of the standard ; for the amount of compensation is settled and limited before- hand, if not by agreement, by a fair arbitration ; and being so, the work may be looked upon as a joint specu- lation of the landlord and tenant, in which each has agreed beforehand on the principle on which the profits are to be divided. The objection to making a general scale for subsequent enjoyment, extending to the whole country, still remains. But supposing that objection to be got over, your committee are unable to suggest any course by which this proposal could be carried into effect which would be free from great complication and prac- tical difficulty. If the proposed improvements are to be the subject of litigation before they are executed, and the fact of their proper completion afterwards open to dis- pute, as it must be, proportionate opportunities are given for delay and vexation. The government bill for Ire- land, which seems to have been very carefully considered, is so good an illustration of the difficulties with which this metliod is beset, that it is worth while to give an outline of its provisions. Under it the tenant is, in the first instance, to give a notice, to which the landlord may accede, and either un- dertake to work himself, charging the tenant with addi- tional rent, at a rate fixed by the bill, or agree upon a compensation. If he does neither, the tenant may give a second notice ; to this also the landlord may accede and undertake the work, charging additional rent as be- fore, or he may specify objections. In this latter case arbitrators are to be appointed, with an appeal to the assistant barrister. On the award being settled, the landlord may still do the work himself, charging the ad- ditional rent. On completion, the person doing the work is to give a notice to the other, and to this an ap- peal to the barrister lies, on the ground of imperfect execution ; and in case of non-execution an appeal also lies. In case of non-execution by the landlord, the tenant may complete the work himself and recover da- mages. In case of execution by the tenant, the landlord may pay down the compensation at once, and claim the additional rent. The tenant's compensation is never to exceed three years' rent, and to be reduced in proportion to the period after the improvement during which he holds the farm ; such proportion being fixed by the bill and differing according to the species of improvement. All the notices, awards, and decisions are to contain minute specifications of time, cost, and description. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 569 Tliere are no less than six which may, and four which must be made and delivered, in disputed cases, before compensation can be claimed. One arbitration is, in such cases, inevitable ; two are probable ; and from each an appeal lies. In addition to these proceedings several registrations are necessary. Your committee think it jirobablc that such a system would either be useless from its complication and the difficulty of working it, or that it would produce fre- quent and long-continued litigation, expense, and delay. They also think that it would not be possible to amend the plan in such a way as to remove these objections. Such being the difficulties which surround all the methods hitherto proposed for fixing a standard of com- pensation, your committee cannot v/ith confidence re- commend any of them for adoption ; they think, how- ever, that if a choice is to be made, the one last consi- dered, and embodied in Lord Lincoln's bill, is the least objectionable. Tliere is no other course which it occurs to them to mention, except that of throwing the matter at large into the hands of arbitrators, which would only be to shift the difficulty from the legislature to the judge, and would obviously, by giving rise to litigation upon litigation, be a pregnant source of evil to all parties con- cerned. The sixth and only remaining question is, as to the manner in which charges for compensation, if allowed at all, should be enforced. The landlord may be either absolute owner, or tenant for a limited time, with a power of leasing. In the first case, the only doubt is, whether the sum due ought to be a charge against the person, or the land exclusively, or against both. The analogy of the remedies v.-hich the landlord has for non-payment of rent points to the latter alternative. The land is the thing benefited, it is therefore but just that it should bear the charge ; and as the owner of it is the person and the only person benefited, and as the personal remedy is often the most convenient, there seems to be no I'ea- son why the debt should not be personal also. Your committee think therefore that in this case the tenant ought to have a remedy for his debt, with interest from the expiration of the tenancy, both by means of a charge on the land, with powers of distress and entry, and by action against the landlord. The lessor may however be only tenant for a limited period. This I'aises a very im- portant question, into the details of which your com- mittee do not at present purpose to go, as they consider that it concerns the relation of tenant for life, and re- mainder-man, rather than that of landlord and farming tenant, and would lead to a very wide discussion of the principle lately adopted by the legislature, in giving tenants for life power of charging lands for permanent improvements. Your committee content themselves, therefore, with expressing a general opinion that every person who has a power of leasing, ouglit to have the power of making that lease as beneficial as possible to the ownersof the reversion, the farming tenants, andthepublic. Some valuable arguments, as well as much useful in- formation, on the subject of compensation, bearing inci- dentally on England, may be derived from the report of the Parliamentary Commission on the occupation of land in Ireland, and from the evidence taken by them. As regards Ireland there is scarcely a witness examined on the subject who does not bear testimony to the extreme want of some measure which shall give to the tenant sufficient interest in the land to induce him to improve it. By far the greater number speak in favour of some legislative measure for giving the tenant compensation ; many go into the details of what they conceive would be a proper scheme — schemes for the most part similar to those mentioned above. The persons who do so are not farmers alone : merchants, bankers, lawyers, agents, proprietors, all feel the want of some measure of the kind. And yet the commissioners in their report, although they recognise the justice of the general principle, and the expediency of adopting it where practicable, confine their recommendation of compulsory measures to im- provements in farm buildings, leaving any contribution on the landlord's part towards other improvements un- mentioned. Their reason for this omission was probably the impracticability of framing any measure or machinery which should adjust the rights of landlord and tenant in a sufficiently simple and satisfactory manner. Tlie bill introduced by Lord Lincoln went, as we h ;ve seen, a little farther ; it included drainage, but no other improve- ments. If in Ireland, where the proprietors of land arc so few and the tenant cultivators so many, where land is in so backward a state, and so much encouragement is confessedly needed by the farmer, the commissioners thought any such measure impracticable, it is a strong argument against the adoption of any such change in England, where the landlord is so much more attentive to his real interests, the practice of granting leases as well as of contributing towards imi^rovements so much more general, where the market is less overstocked with com- petitors for the use of land, and the tenant consequently more able to make good terms for himself. Indeed some of the witnesses who had been in the habit of managing estates in England and Scotland, as well as in Ireland, in their examination before the commissioners, attribute the great superiority of cultivation in the for- mer to the long established practice of effecting improve- ments by the voluntary co-operation of landlord and tenant, and Mr. Sharman Crawford, the great advocate of the scheme for Ireland, states in his evidence that he does not think it necessary in countries where there is not so great a demand for land. From such means of knowledge as are open to them, your committee believe that the practice of giving as- sistance to tenants for permanent improvements is on the increase, and that it is effected generally by means of a special agreement or understanding, containing stipu- lations most beneficial a'; i-egards the particular situation or estate, but which it would be utterly impossible to make the foundation of any general law. Your com- mittee believe that increasing efforts are making to awaken landowners to what is their real interest as well as their duty to their tenants and the pubhc in this par- ticular, and that these motives will in time be found sufficient to effect the object desired ; Ihey believe that legislative interference might produce alarm and occa- sions for aggravation which would necessarily delay the 2 p 570 THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. progress of tliis good work ; for these reasons, there- fore, as well as for those stated above, they are disposed to deprecate any legislation on this subject, whilst at the same time they feel that the efforts which have been made in Parliament and out of it, have had and will have a most beneficial effect in calling the attention both of landowners and tenants to their real interests and duties to each other and to society, In conclusion, your committee therefore suggest — 1. That power ought to be given to agricultural tenants to i-emove from their farms any buildings or otlier fixtures which they have erected, and that such buildings and fixtures oixght, until the expiration of the tenancy, and afterwards if removed by them, to be considered their property. 2, That the right of removal should continue as long as possession is retained, whether under a new holding or not, and that it should terminate with the possession, except in cases where the termination of possession is sudden and unforeseen ; that in these cases any presump- tion of gift should be rebutted by a notice of intention to remove given to the landlord, and that the right to re- move so obtamed should terminate at some short fixed period afterwards. 3. That if the freehold is injured by such removal so as to be left in a worse condition than that in which the tenant received it, the latter ought to be made liable in damages to the extent of the injury caused by the re- moval, and to that extent only. But your cojamittee cannot, though fully ahve to the importance of the object proposed, recommend with confidence any alteration of the law respecting other improvements. They thuik, however, that in such altera- tion, if attempted at all, the following principles should be adopted : — 1. Improvements for which compensation is to be al- lowed should be carefully specified by means of informa- tion obtained from persons of agricultural experience. 2. No compensation should be given, unless the tenant has given the landlord the option of doing the work himself. 3. The propriety, extent, and cost of the work should be settled before it is done. 4. Disputes should be settled by arbitration. 5. Compensation should be limited by reference to the annual rent ; and within these limits its measure should be the prime cost of the work, subject to a de- duction, bearing for each class of improvements a dif- ferent but fixed proportion to the length of subsequent enjoyment by the tenant. 6. It should be subject to deduction, pro tanto, in case of incomplete execution. 7. A subsequent holding should, for the purpose of compensation, be considered a continuing holding. 8. If the landlord is the absolute owner, the compen- sation should be recoverable both as a charge on the land and as a personal debt from him. CULTIVATION OF FLAX. Sir, — Not having seen a reply to queries put by " H. C," Wooburn, Bucks, in respect to the cultivation of flax, I offer the following opinion. Clean pond or ditch-water is best, I believe, for steep- ing flax. If river water is led into a ditch made for steeping flax, it should be let in some weeks before being used. The water in the chalk pit is most probably rain water, collected and not filtered through the chalk ; and if it was, I presume it is not injurious to flax. If water is intended to be used as manure after flax is steeped, of course the smaller the quantity the more impregnated it will be, and the less cost in applying it. A second bed of flax ought not to be placed in the same pond or ditch, if of small extent. A ditch or canal cut on purpose, 40 ft. long 6 ft. broad, and 4 ft. deep, is commonly sufficient to water an acre of flax. If it is a ditch and the water is intended to he used as manure, it should be filled up across both ends of the steeping place. No cattle will drink at a pond, however large it may be, in which flax has been steeped, for some months, unless there is a stream through it. I once saw the fish in a river sick and dying, for miles, from hemp being rotted in it. The pike, and some other strong fish, swam up the marsh ditches to avoid the putrid stream, yet were so affected as to be taken with a rake. The fibre of seeded flax is of so much less value than that of flax grown purposely for the fibre, that it seems most profitable commonly not to attempt to produce both seed and fibre ; and thus, at least, as a first experi- ment of growing flax, it is better to raise it for seed only. This is little trouble : as an experiment, broad- cast six pecks on an acre ; let it stand till the seed is ripe; mow it, and gather and tie it up in small bundles, and shock'(stoke it) till perfectly dry, when the seed may be combed off, if required, for feeding. If to sell or sow, it is far better stacked when perfectly dry, and left till the spring. I have not grown flax, except some twenty rods, to ascertain whether I preferred it to other cattle crops — but have seen much grown, watered, and gone through every process it requires. I was informed that there was a stronger and more productive species of flax than what is grown, and I procured some of the large seed, and drilled alongside of the common, but the large seed produced the shortest straw. It was not more than a foot high, but produced a greater quantity of seed. If a considerable breadth of flax is grown /or seed, it should be drilled at a foot from row to row, when I think sixteen or twenty bushels per acre may comm )nly be obtained. I know nothing of the value of the straw as mamtre. I got a waggon load, intending to use it as litter ; but doubting the propriety of laying it in a cattle-yard, I laid it in a road-way, where there was a great traffic of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 571 carriages, cuttle, &c., and it was not reduced to a proper state to lay on the land until it had laid two winters, and it is now spread alongside of soap-boilers' ashes on wheat land. When the bounty of -Id. per stone was granted by parliament, it amounted to more than the rent of the land on which fl;L\ was grown, and labour was not more than half the ])resent amount. The bounty was seldom claimed, from being grown in small patches, and it being necessary to obtain certificates, and trouble and expense were caused in applying for it. A small quantity of flax was annually grown in this county, for the fibre, up to about the year 1800 ; since which time I saw no more till '21 or '22, when it was grown to find employment for the women and children, but discontinued, from its not producing a remunerating price when spun ; but I am not aware that the flax was ever suffered to produce seed before it was pulled, until Mr. Warnes adopted that mode. I have no doubt but Mr. Warnes and otiiers have by great care produced flax seed and tolerable fibre. The land he occupies, with thousands of acres in that district, is capable of being reduced to a fine tilth early in the spring, and of being ploughed immediately after the flax is pulled, and is much less injured by growing flax than much land of a different texture. The benefit of growing flax has been discussed for- mei'ly as much as at present ; fine flax was somewhat extensively grown in Sussex eighty years ago ; and a cambric manufactory was carried on at Winchelsea ; and a Miss Leslie established a manufactory of fine thread in Scotland, "of as fine and strong a texture as the best brought from Flanders." " In raising this flax in the neighbourhood of Hamilton, nature, through peculiar circumstances of the air and soil, did the offices of art ; the poverty of the ground, and the coldness of the at- mosphere, bringing up the flax small and weak, witliout any deviation from the common method of culture, than sowing the seed somewhat thicker." And the author goes on to say that " there are doubtless many other parts of Great Britain, in mountainous, barren, cold places, such as Wales, Derbyshire, Northumberland, &c., where ground that at present affords none, or very little advantage, would yield crops of tliis very valuable flax, which would also employ the half-starved inhabi- tants of such parts in growing, breaking, and dressing, and the females in spinning it." Fifty years ago, Arthur Young stated, in his Survey, that ..€200,000 per annum was earned in this county by spinning alone, which is £-100 per annum for each parish, or nearly equal to the present amount of poors'- rate, and when the population was one-third less ! And then there was the breaking, scutching, bunching, weav- ing, and whiting, to employ hundreds more. Twenty bushels of flax seed have been grown of late on a poor black sand near Ipswich, and little more has been grown on good soils. Some have given up the growth of flax from having their crops infested with dodder. I am, sir, your humble servant, Chas. Poppy. Wiinesham, Ipswich, Suffolk, Nov. 16. ANSWER TO AGRICULTURAL QUERY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir, — In answer to your correspondent's in- quiry respecting the carrots, the running to seed of which he complains is caused either by too early sowing or by an unusually mild autumn — having seen a similar misfortune happen to Swede turnips from the former cause, I would recommend later sowing next year. No advice which can be needed by a farmer, wishing to cultivate any root to which he is unaccustomed, is given in a more agreeable style than in " Lowe's Elements of Practical Agri- culture." With regard to the oil, its value will materially depend on the quantity of sea-water mixed with it. I remember to have seen a field manured with spoiled linseed-cakes at about £2 per ton. The crop was enormous. We pay 30s. per ton for refuse whale-blubber : it is so rich in ammonia, that we are obliged to mix it with soil as a compost. It forms an excellent manure for grass land and tur- nips in that form. If your correspondent knows any chemist that can ascertain correctly for him the quantity of ammonia in the oil, that will at once give him the best criterion of its value. A very valuable table has been published by Payen and Boussingault, showing the comparative value of the different manures in this respect. Nov. 11. A Practical Farmer. VOLUNTARY GAME REFORM.— The Duke of Marl- borough has caused au official circular to be addressed to the his tenantry, giving them permission to destroy hares aud rabbits ou their fanns by all means in their power, except by the use of guns ; and suggests that the object should be at- tained, if possible, by the use of greyhounds only. For this concession, he expects that they will preserve the wnged game, and that he wiU hereafter have no claims made upon him for injury done to the crops by game. His Grace reserves the uninterrupted right himself and his keepers to enter upon the lauds aud kill game. We are glad to find that his Grace has at length done this tardy act of justice to his tenantry. It will be the means of preventing the heartburnings and cl'S- satisfaction which has hitherto existed, and we have no doubt that His Grace wiU be rewarded by the improvement of his propei-ty, which must necessarily result should he follow up this first important step by other necessary and sufficient reforms. Dumas, in his "Applied Chemistry," has urged upon the French Government to undertake the forma- tion of canals, for the purpose of irrigation, on an im- mense scale, throughout the country. He thinks this would at once render France independent of any foreign supply of corn and cattle. He attributes the richness of England's pastures, and the beauty of her cattle, entirely to the numerous canals she possesses. — C. E. D. 2 p 2 572 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. METEOROLOGICAL DIARY. Barometer. Thermometer. ! Wind and State. Atmosphere. Day. 8 a. m.; lOp.m- Min. Max. 10p.m. Direction. Force. 8 a. m. 2 p. m. j 10 p.m Oct. 22 in. cts. 30.16 in. cts. 30.— 42 57 50 W. by South gentle fine cloudy fine 23 29.84 29..57 49 58 48 South strong cloudy cloudy cloudy 24 29.80 29.81 45 50 42 S.W.--N.W. gentle fine cloudy fine 25 30.02 30.30 40 50 41 1 N. West gentle fine sun fine 26 30.40 30.40 35 50 46 i S. by West gentle cloudy cloudy fine 27 30.40 30.4a 45 52 56 ! W, by South gentle fine cloudy cloudy 28 30.40 30.35 45 53 52 S. AVest gentle i cloudy cloudy cloudy 29 30.30 30.25 49 60 56 S. West gentle fine sun cloudy 30 30.35 30.27 46 53 54 s. s. w. brisk cloudy fine cloudy 31 30.16 30.30 51 58 56 West gentle fine fine cloudy Nov. 1 30.37 30.36 52 60 52 S. W. by W gentle fine sun fine 2 30.38 30.40 50 62 53 S. S. W. airy fine sun fog 3 30.40 30.31 46 50 49 N. East gentle haze cloudy cloudy 1 4 30.30 30.20 45 50 47 S. East gentle haze cloudy hazy f 5 30.12 30.05 47 54 52 S. S. E. gentle cloudy sun fine f. 6 30.08 30.— j 50 51 54 53 South gentle cloudy cloudy cloudy 7 30.— 29.90 56 54 S.--S. by W. lively cloudy cloudy cloudy 8 29.73 29.64 53 59 52 South variable cloudy cloudy cloudy 9 29.93 30.24 44 55 42 W. N. W. gentle fine sun fine 10 30.35 30.35 37 57 46 s. s. w. gentle fine sun fine 11 30.30 30.20 : 44 53 53 S. West lively cloudy cloudy cloudy 12 30.20 30.10 53 57 44 Westerly lively cloudy cloudy cloudy 13 30.32 30.30 ' 39 52 47 W. by Nortli gentle cloudy sun fine 14 30.35 30.33 , 45 52 52 Southerly gentle cloudy cloudy cloudy 15 30.33 30.30 51 55 52 Westerly airy cloudy cloudy fine 16 30.30 30.24 50 52 40 S. W.~-North gentle cloudy cloudy fine 17 30.16 30.26 i 36 46 37 North lively cloudy sun fine 18 30.38 30.40 32 41 32 N. West gentle cloudy sun fine 19 30.40 30.36 28 43 34 W. --Various gentle fine sun fine 20 30.28 30.07 32 38 38 ' Southerly calm fog fog fog I estimated averages of NOVEMBER. Barometer. I Thermometer. High. 30.270 Low. 29.080 High. 62 Low. 23 Mean, 42.9 REAL. AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF THE PERIOD. Highest. I Lowest. I Mean. 52.90 44.4 ! 48.65 Weather and Phenomena. Oct. 22, fine, genial day. 23, wet and windy. 24, fine, early, rainy evening, brilliant coloured aurora. 25, very fine. 26, hoar frost, serene day. 27, fine day, rainy afternoon. 28, overcast, windy night. 29, fine and warm, clouds at night. 30, pretty fine, windy evening. 31, warm day, wind, lull in the evening. Lunation. — Full moon, 23rd, llh. 36m. night. Nov. 1, 2, two of the finest days; fog came on suddenly at 4 p.m. of the 2nd. 3, heavy and wet mist. 4, the same. 5, fine clouds, calm. 6, here ends the extraordinary height of the Baro- meter, above 30 degrees for 23 days ; rain at night. 7, changeable, some showers. 8, fine early, rainy afternoon. 9, a beautiful day. 10, same, sweet air. 11, changeable, overcast. 12, rain early, again at night. 13, fine forenoon, changeable. 14, cloudy, drizzle in the evening. 15, drying but gloomy, red sunset. 16, showers, cold clear night. 17, bracing, cool day. 18, morning frost, clear day. 19, very keen frost, hot sun, all the tender flowers destroyed. 20, dense fog. Lunations. — Last quarter, Oct. 30th, 9h. 56m. night. New moon, 8th, 3h. 11m. forenoon. First quarter, 15th, 6h. 15m. afternoon. Remarks referring to Agriculture. — A complete contrast to the corresponding season of 1 846 : then, wheat sowing was interrupted by the 20 days' rain of October. Now, not a day has been lost ; the thin sowers upon properly prepared land see with triumph their thin plants beautiful to behold ; their early beans in wide rows, three in- cheshigh; their taresand rye very fine. Thegenerous farmers, who spare no cost or labovir, have plente- ous cause also to rejoice in the dense covering of verdure that their thick sowings aflford. I quarrel with neither, but shall watch, and honestly re- port. Meantime the indolent and careless plod on, with no other expectation than that of the old rou- tine, forlorn hope. Pity this ! Croydon. J. TowerS. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 573 CALENDAR OF HORTICULTURE.— DECEMBER. Retrospect. — October to its close continued mild and serene, with occasional sliowers, in sufficient quantity to moisten tlie ground pretty deeply, but not so as by any means to compensate for the long drought of eleven months. We admit of excep- tions, as must ever be the case; but assuredly in Surrey, and the drier counties to East and South, no "ground-water" has fallen; nothing to supply the springs or wells, many of which are now (Nov. 15th) dry in places wherein the like phenomenon has not occurred during more than two-thirds of a century ! The condition of vegetables is undeniable; the moisture of the ground and the absence of fi'ost have encouraged growth, and all things in season are verdant. Broccoli is admirably fine, particu- larly the whites ; not much purple Cape has come under observation. Cabbages, since the departure of the white butterfly and its filthy caterpillar, are fine, • as in the best season of spring. Winter spinach, particularly the broad-leaved, is quite superior ; endive very good, and it blanches beauti- fully. Carrots are clear and well spindled ; parsnips begin to appear at market : and garden turnips, though not large, are of very nice juicy flavour : we have seen no beet as yet. Potatoes form now the im- portant consideration; they are not perfect; some of the latest diggings produce bad ones, partially mar- bled by the vestiges of the disease ; but none that I have seen, or produced, are deeply affected. It is pretty evident that these are the remains of a taint communicated by diseased seed-tubers planted in the spring. If, therefore, planters be careful to select sound potatoes, and to keep them quite sepa- rate, and apart from the store, so cold as just to be secure from actual frost, and perfectly dry, the next year's crop may be sound throughout. If we might advise, 7iot one tuber should be planted till mid February, and then salt lohole ones. They indeed, who feel that they have completely succeeded with autumnal plantings, are justified in a repetition of the experiment ; but the results cannot compensate for the hazard. Above all things, let every one preserve with the utmost caution the ash-leaved and other early kidneys, and the second early round varieties, pink-eyes and shaws. Such potatoes keep equally well as the later sorts, and are more safe. We cannot be too secure, nor can we too highly estimate this best of all vegeta- bles. If we ever mean to restore the potato com- pletely, and to prevent (so far as it is in the power of man) the recurrence of disease, we must abandon damp winter stowage. Deep cellars, thatched to the ground, and guarded from frost and moisture, as before urged, offer the best security. Opera-tions in the Vegetable Garden. What can be said of December ? If the weather I)e rainy, the land must be reduced to a swamp ; if locked up with frost, nothing remains but to pro- tect, so far as circumstances will permit. In a mild, open season, with the ground friable, and free to the spade, we may continue to trench and manure ; remembering to move the subsoil deeply, for that is the storehouse of alkaline silicates, and ought to be exposed to air. Set up firm and binding ground in ridges, working-in the manure; these ridges should be straight and regular, for then the intervening furrows can be planted with potatoes, &c., without further digging : this process will be duly noticed. Peas, broad beans, and radishes, can be sown ; yet, as little time will be gained, we prefer to sow in frames. Framing otters the best of all resources, for it protects not only from cold, but from preda- tory insects, and thus saves seed and time. We do not profit as we ought from the example of the market gardeners. "Nothing," as WiUiam Cob- Ijctt said, — "' nothing fails in the hands of these .skilful men." We have known, in hard winters, a handful of cabbage or aavoy leaves sold for 2d. — not a plant left; yetina fewweeks, seedlings are raised by these men, nursed in frames, and brought to market early in April. The truth is that they alone have gardens ; their ground is deeply and con- stantly trenched ; manure is profusely incorporated ; rills of soft water flow in the grounds, and crop succeeds to crop in rapid, but orderly rotation. Thus it is our markets are, at the earliest, supplied with tender-hearted cabbage, with at least six varieties of successional broccoli, from January to May, and with every other herb or vegetable that the season is expected to produce. Beans, that were sown early and thick in a small bed, should be protected, as also lettuce, celery, artichokes, &c., with fern or long litter. Earth-up beans or peas, celery, &c., in dry, open weather ; tie endive, closing the extremities of the leaves to whiten the hearts. Take up a supply of all the tap-rooted plants. The plants that should always be in frames to be preserved with any certainty are caulijlowers and 574 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. lettuces J these must have air vvhenevei* the weather is dry and mild by day ; hut the glasses are to be put on every night, and at all times'when rainy or damp with mist. Pick off all dead and decayed leaves. Lettuce-seed, radish, small salads, which are, mustard, cress, corn salad (fedia), and rape, can be sown with success in frames ; all framing should be covered with double mats in hard frost, the sides being hned with masses of leaves, fern, and the like ; protection, not forcing, is now contem- plated. A little horn carrot-seed can be sown in a sunny bed of light earth, as it is long in vegetating, and some early-roots maybe obtained. Mushrooms in open beds must be effectually de- fended from rain and frost by a deep stratum of dry straw, throwing over that a sheet of oiled can- vass. The mushroom houses are best, and 50 degrees can be kept up by a gentle flue, or water pipe. Asparagus. — Second crop can be excited over a four-feet deep bed of tree leaves, collected in parks or elsewhere, where the withered grass can be drawn up with them ; the two together heat better. By this time the great warmth has become tempered, and therefore the bed can be moulded, and packed closely, with three-year-old plants, which at first are to be just covered with light earth, tilting the glasses over, but not closed down till the shoots advance, excepting in very sharp weather, when the frost must be kept out by day and night. Fruit Department. Vines on the wall. — Finish the close winter- pruning of these, if the operation has not been done in November. Mat or branch Fig-trees. Spur-prune apples and pears against walls and es- paliers, if time and abundance of work urge ; but otherwise, spare the knife everywhere, till there be some signs of activity in the sap. Newly planted trees of the autumn. — Stake se- curely, not by driving the wood upon the roots, to their, perhaps, great injury, but by passing the stakes sloping towards the stems, on which twist a piece of hay-band, and tie the whole together, so as not to gall the bark. Raspberry -bushes are most safely supported by a trellis-rail, the uprights placed widely apart between the plants. Never dig raspberries, but mulch the surface mth short littery dung ; and also do the same above all fruit-tree roots. Remember to examine the stores of apples and pears ; mould and decay are spreading evils. Pleasure Grounds and Garden. Protect by leaf-mould spread over tender roots ; but do no planting or digging. If snow fall on evergreens, whisk it off ere the sun shine. Sweep and roll, occasionally, lawns and walks. The Green-house, When the weather is open, give air on every fine day till 2 or 3 p.m. Keep close in fogs ; 42 degrees as a maximum, is warm enough in the absence of sun. The same may be said as applying to cold pits : avoid much water ; it is better to be too dry than too wet ; yet it is an evil to suffer any plant to flag and droop. Forcing-houses. I have before said so much on all the particular departments that it will suflSce to generalise a little. The great essential is a command of heat to an extent that shall produce equability of temperature through every pai't of the structure, at any one given time. How is this to be obtained, whether the degree be high or low ? The arguments that have been maintained on the subject of Polmaise — the oppositions of science and of prejudice, have led to much inquiry. The late Mr. Meek, of Nut- field, thought that he had solved the question ; perhaps he did not quite succeed, but at all events he has aided in showing that a heated body of air propelled from behind, so as to fill the general space, the lowermost or cold air on or just below the floor being in its turn made to pass through a still lower and decending opening in the wall, thence to be conducted to the heating machinery, becomes the basis of a theory which practically exj)lains the principle of radiating heat. Hot water is too expensive for the humble gar- dener and amateur. Flues are uncertain, and liable to be foul and out of order j yet still, a good flue, with a thorough acting furnace, will burn breese, small coke, and any rubbish that emits little smoke. Now, if such a flue form the walls of a pit within a house, the walks passing round or on three sides of it, it is plain that the external surface of that pit will radiate heat on all such sides, while the internal wiU heat the air within the pit, which then can be covered over with a tin or slate tank, to hold six inches of sand and charcoal dust, or other phmging material. The subject will be re- sumed. Keen frost yesterday — this morning 4 degrees 28 Faht, J. Towers. Nov. 19. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 675 AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR NOVEMBER. Tliat the past has been a very fine and a some- what more than seasonable month, its ])Osition in the kalends considered, is, we conceive, pretty ge- nerally admitted. With some few exceptions, the atmosphere has been bright, and the slight frosts experienced on one or two occasions have been productive of good rather than injury to the grow- ing crops. In nearly the whole of our large dis- tricts the sowing of the winter wheats has been brought to a general close, under the most favour- able auspices ; and our accounts agree in stating that the plants have tillered well, and further, that the breadth of land under culture this season is large almost beyond recollection. It is very grati- fying for us to be enabled to make such a remark, and to be in a position to confirm it from observa- tion ; for all may rest assured that so long as the skill and energy of the agricultural body are thus directed, so long will the consumers enjoy the blessings of plenty— leaving, of course, out of the question the sad results which almost immediately follow a bad harvest — and so long shall we be in a position to maintain our long-acknowledged and well-established reputation of having amongst its the most energetic, the best, and most practical farmers in the world. Although a diflference of opinion still exists as to the actual quantity of wheat produced this season, we may, we consider, estimate it at a full average crop ; and we may further add, from details which have lately reached us, showing that the quantities of that grain dis- posed of during the last three nionths have fallen short of those at the corresponding period in 134G by nearly one million quarters, that the stock now held by the growers is seasonably large. From Ireland the most unfavourable accounts con- tinue to arrive of the prevailing misery and distress consequent upon the scarcity of potatoes, the prin- cipal food of the lower classes of society in that un- happy covmtry. In England that esculent is rising in value, as it is a well-ascertained fact that the sup- ply on hand will barely keep pace with the future demand. It will be observed that the imports of stock from abroad have been again on a very liberal scale, and our various markets fully supplied with that home- fed ; yet, owing to the want of condition, and the falling off in the sui)ply of meat compared with the numbers brought forward, the cattle trade has ruled firm, and in most instances prices have been well supported, with every prospect of their being steady for some time hence. Lean stock has been in moderate request, but the quotations have not been very high. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. In comparing the state of the cattle trade ex- perienced during the greater portion of the month just concluded, with that at many corresponding periods of the year, notwithstanding several some- what extensive fluctuations have occurred in value, we find that it has proved firmer than had been pretty generally anticipated. When, hoAvever, the causes which have unquestionably led to this com- parative firmness are duly considered by the prac- tical man, the present position of the trade must be a matter otherwise than productive of surprise. It is quite true that most of our leading markets have been seasonably well supphed with stock — beasts in particular — and, in many instances, the quan- tities have been considerably in excess oi former consumptive demands; but though the supplies have been apparently large, the actual weight of meat brought forward and disposed of has fallen short of many previous seasons. This point ob- viously requires a clear explanation, or the consum- ing classes may be led to the conclusion that our graziers, in spite of the eflforts made by the legis- lature in admitting foreign stock for consumjjtion here free of duty, are realizing enormous profits at their expense. Now we would observe that it is one thing to talk of number, and another of quality. And this, by the way, is the great error into which many contemporary prints have fallen, while dwell- ing upon what they have been pleased to term " enormous supplies" on offer in Smithfield and elsewhere. But surely it does not follow that, be- cause the supply as to number on any given day is large, the quantity of meat is pro]iortionably extensive. Had such been the case during the last two months, should we have had to report the best beef to have been disposed of in the great metropohtan market as high as 5s,, and the best Down mutton at 5s. 4d. per 8lbs. ? Decidedly not. Supplies of meat, adequate to the numbers of stock on oflter, would have been productive of a veiy serious decline in the quotations, and tended ma- terially to lessen the. returns of the grazing com- munity. On this head much could be written, for 576 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. in our judgment not a few parties have placed themselves in a false position, whatever may have heen their efforts — successful no doubt in very many instances— to improve the C]uality and general condition of our native breeds of both beasts and sheej), by jjrematurely "forcing" the stock for our markets. It is well known that the system of close-stall-feeding is now becoming pretty generally adopted in many of our large grazing districts, where many more beasts are being fed than would have been thought of or entertained some years since. We have known the bullock stalls emptied of their occupants three times during one year, and sent to market with a very moderate quantity of meat on their backs, to make room for fresh pur- chases. Our object in making these remarks is not for the purpose of wholly opposing the system, which may ])e yielding fair profits to the feeders ; but the all-important questions to be considered are, would not these animals have paid better had they been kept at home for a somewhat longer period ? especially if the available supply of fodder is good. Would there not be a greater number of beasts kept back for fattening purposes at a future time, and thereby prevent the necessity — for, in point of fact, necessity it almost appears to be — of importing such enormous numbers from abroad ? AVoidd there not be a better and an improved quality of meat ? — a disideratum greatly to be de- sired at the present moment. Would not the butchers purchase with less caution than they do now ? for it is a well known fact that comparatively few of our beasts or sheep carry anything like their usual quantity of internal fat, frequently so profit- able to the buyers. And, lastly, would not those gentlemen who practise stall-feeding extensivel}', as well as the country at large, from the actual saving in the number of stock slaughtered, be con- siderable gainers in the end ? In discussing this important subject with many graziers, we have been told that so apprehensive have they become of losses from the epidemic — which is, we find, some- what on the increase in some counties — that they have made it a point, for some time past, to send away their stock at the very first opportunity. This argument would stand very well, were the owners left without the means of securing them- selves against all such losses. Have they not, in London, an office—" The Farmers' and Gra- ziers' Cattle Insurance Company" — which has stood the test of time and experience, and which has given its protecting influence to thousands of graziers ; and the benefits derived from whicli have saved many an industrious family from absolute ruin, in which to insure their stock at very low premiums compared with the risk ? We assume, therefore, that no prospective benefits can result from forcing the stock to market too early, as it is evident the greater number of middling and in- ferior animals brought together for sale on any given day, the smaller must be the general returns, while the really ])rirae ones will be selling at rela- tively high rates. For instance, we have known as gi'eat a difference in the quotations of the best and the most inferior beef as that of not less than one shilling and sixjience per Slbs. in the last month. Now, had the quality of that description of meat been more even, and the number of animals less, no suclv dis- partity of value could have taken place, and a much smaller portion of the supplies would have been driven away unsold from our various markets — much to the detriment of the stock, and greatly to the loss of the owners — than has been the case during a large portion of the present year. Again, A'ery serious complaints have been made — well founded, we have no hesitation in saying — by the shippers and importers of foreign stock, of the small returns which they have received from Smith- field and elsewhere for some considerable time past. But why, we ask, have the returns in question been unprofitable to them ? Simply from the fact that the stock has been forwarded to this country in, frequently, less than a half-fat state ; hence, none l)ut those who live in very poor localities have be- come purchasers, if, indeed, we except a few of the large carcass butchers. Now, it is quite evident to our minds, that had more attention been paid to quality, both by the home and foreign graziers, the greater would have been their respective profits ; an immense number of beasts and sheep would have been kept back (without producing any tem- porary deficiency in the supply of meat) for slaugh- tering purposes at a future period; and the country generally, especially the farmers living in those districts in which abundance of food may be found hereafter, greatly benefited in the long run. It is gratifying to observe that at length a stop has been put (owing, chiefly, to the stringent orders issued by the Government to the various officials in London and the outports) to the introduction of diseased foreign sheep into this country from Hol- land and Germany ; stiU we are in no way satisfied that future importations may not be productive of the same disastrous results as those we have alluded to in preceding Reviews. For what guarantee have we that the disease will not be received here in its incipient state, and be communicated to those English sheep which may come in contact with the importations ? The difficulties (aiising from their want of condition) which have arisen in finding ])urchasers for the foreign sheep, and to which we have already alluded, have not unfrequently caused numbers of them to be turned out of Smithfield on several successive market-days ; and, as a conse- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 677 quence, they are sent into lairs in the neighboiu'- hood of the metropohs, and are mixed with the EnfTUsh breeds, which, as a matter of course, tlms run the risk of contamination, and their owners of beinjj- considerable losers. Not a few of the cargoes from Holland which arri\'e hither on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, are sent into Essex and Surrey to wait till the next market-day : hence it is obvious that existing arrangements are not calculated to prevent a recurrence of the evil. In our judgment, therefore, it should be made im- perative, either that the sheep and beasts should be made to perform quarantine, or that they should be slaughtered immediately on being landed. As they look as well dead as alive, no possible injury could be inflicted on private interests by the com- pulsory adoption of the latter'alternative. In the early part of the present year a large por- tion of the foreign arrivals found^buyers for grazing puri)oses; but no such speculations are ventured upon at this moment, worthy of notice, as nearly or quite the whole of those, who have been feeding the stock from abroad have abandoned their views, from its proving almost impossible, except in a few instances, to obtain an adequate return for such an investment of capital. The turnip crop having turned out very good, and the weather proving mild (sufficiently so to produce a full average quantity of grass in the pas- tures), depastured and stall-fed animals have fared extremely well during the whole of the month j and we may observe that the actual losses from the epidemic have been on a less extensive scale than in many previous seasons. Foreign Importations. Annexed is a statement of the arrivals of live stock from abroad into London and the outports during the past month : — Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs London . . 3,486 16,213 121 667 " 41 Outports . 2,000 4,200 — 90 10 433 Total .. 5,486 18,413 121 757 51 Imports in October, current Year. Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs Total . . 5,433 17,635 378 1225 Imports in November, 1846. Beasts. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. London.... 2,823 8,939 1'24 — Outports... 2,206 2,751 207 530 Total 5,029 11,690 331 530 From the above it will be seen that the actual number of stock imported in the past, has been about equal to that in the preceding, month ; but considerably in excess of that at the same time last year. Supplies, Demand, and Value in Smithfield. Full average supplies of live stock have been on sale in Smithfield. Prime beasts and sheep, from tlieir scarcity, have sold at very full prices; and the value of other kinds of stock has been well supported. The numbers shown have been as under : — Head. Beasts 20,5 14 Cows 583 Sheep 121,320 Calves 1,608 Pigs 3,206 monthly comparison of supplies. Nov. 1844. Nov. J845. Nov. 1846. Beasts.. 12,560 17,433 20,361 Cows .. 596 500 470 Sheep .. 123,200 120,390 114,460 Calves.. 1,040 1,060 1,186 Pigs 2,600 2,555 2,838 MONTHLY COMPARISON OF PRICES. Per 8lbs. tojsink the oflfals. Nov. 1644. Nov. 1845. Nov. 1846. s. d, s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef,from 2 4to4 2. . 2 6to4 6. . 2 6to4 2 Mutton.. 264 2.. 365 2.. 3854 Veal ....3 0 4 0. .4 0 5 0. .3 8 4 8 Pork 3 0 4 0. .3 6 5 4.. 3 6 4 10 The quotations ruling since our last have been as follow : — Beef, from 3s, 2d. to (in some few in- stances) 5s. ; mutton, 3s. 8d. to 5s. 4d. ; veal, 3s. lOd, to 5s.; and pork, 4s. to Ss. 2d. ])er 8lbs. The bullock droves have been principally de- I'ived as under : — Head. Northern counties 6,800 Eastern, western, and midland do. 3,400 Other parts of England 5,350 Scotland 630 The supplies of meat brought fonvard in New- gate and Leadenhall markets have been somewhat on the increase ; yet the demand has ruled firm, and the quotations have had an upward tendency. Beef has sold at from 2s. 8d. to 4s. 2d. ; mutton, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 8d. ; veal, 3s. 8d. to 4s, lOd. ; and pork, 4s. to 5s, 2d. per 8lbs. by the carcass. WILTS, Within the last few weeks the weather has been varia- ble, yet mild ; on the whole, favourable for the hus- bandman. The wheats not sown previously to the late rains have been put into the earth in first-rate condition, the ground in this county generally working like that of a well -cultivated garden : the long-continued dry wea- ther for several weeks after the harvest had been gathered in gave the farmers evei-y opportunity of cleansing their foul land, and fitting the same to receive the seed ; when the rain did come, thousands of acres in Wilts were sown with wheat, and that operatioa may be said to have 678 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. been finished ; such in every direction is coming up strong, and looking remarkably healthy ; the early- sown appear to be too forward, very rank, and tliick on the ground, the appearance more luxuriant than is gene- rally seen in the month of March. More wheat appears to be sown this autumn than other years. The short crops of turnips being early eaten off, enabled the farmers to sow land with wheat, instead of its remaining until the spring of the year for barley or oats. On the downs in the parishes of the three Winterbournes, Laverstock, Winterslow, Everley, Amesbury, Wilton, South New- ton, and as far as Devizes one way, and Warminster through Codford another, more land has been ploughed up and sown with bread corn than was ever seen before, the plant on the fresh-broke-up earth looking beautiful. Taking that part of this county beyond Devizes, in the vicinity of Pewsey, Manningford, Market Lavington, Marlborough, Swindon, &c., the wheats are very pro- mising, on every side the fields looking green, re- minding us of spring instead of gloomy November. In another part of the county — by Downton, Broad Chalk, Fovant, Hindon, &c. — the same cheering pros- pects appear. Through the shortness of green food, in- cluding turnips, up to the month of October, more tares were sown than formerly ; also of rye, mixed w ith winter barley and oats, such having come up thick, and no doubt will prove exceedingly beneficial to the large sheep breeders in this county. Turnips, particularly the late -sown, have grown amazingly since the late rains, and still continue to do so, as yet there having been but little frost to check the same. The low price of sheep at Wilton, Britford, and Weyhill fairs have risen within the last three weeks from three to five shillings per head. The yield of last year's wheat varies much in Wilts. On some well-managed land from ten to twelve sacks were grown per acre ; while on shallow, sandy, and chalky soils, from six to eight sacks may be taken as the aver- age : the general opinion being that something more than the general yield w'as this year gathered in, being in the finest condition possible. The markets in this county have been greatly depressed from various causes, the principal through the failure of Messrs. Brodie's (of Salisbury) and other banks ; yet many now " hope" that the worst has passed over, and that things will gradually improve. Barley yields differently, in some parts ex- ceeding the growers' expectation, in others more straw than corn ; yet the produce is certainly beyond the usual average. In some parishes we heard of from six to seven qrs., others five, some few but four qrs. per acre. Maltsters are this year extensive purchasers, the supply of the malt of 1846 being nearly exhausted. The price of barley during the last three or four weeks, at all the principal markets in Wilts., have been gradually falling, so that at the present time the best Chevalier can be purchased at from 30s. to 32s. per qi*. Oats were generally a good yield, considering tlie quantity grown in this county. Beans were generally a deficient crop, the blight having taken them when in bloom. The same may be said of peas. Rye is much grown in some parts of Mllts. ; and, generally speaking, this year the yield was good. Of potatoes, fewer were planted last spring than other years, partly from the fear of the disease of the two previous years, added to the dearness of those sold for seed ; yet many were sown, the early ones pro- ducing excellent crops, the later sorts being much smaller, from the continued hot and dry weather in Au- gust and September. The best are now selling at 10s. per sack of 20 gallons, inferior at 8s. and 9s. do. Other garden produce is abundant and cheap, such as carrots, parsnips, onions, cabbage, and winter-greens. Fruit, particularly apples, was a great yield, many having cider to sell at 8d. per gallon. ESSEX. The time has now arrived when we can give a pretty correct opinion of the plants of wheat in our county, and we have the pleasure to iej)ort one of the finest plants it has ever been our good fortune to look upon ; indeed we have neither seen nor heard of a single missing plant. All descriptions of agricultural work are in an almost unprecedcntedly forward state ; pasturage of all kinds have aff"ordeJ a vast amount of keep, and every descrip- tion of spring-sown feed very promising. We have had thin sowing'of wheat very general, and the season has been much in favour of the practice, and better plants might tliis season have lieen secured with even one bushel of seed than in some seasons with from three to four. The war between the advocates of the two systems has waged angry and wrathful in our provincial papers ; but after all, the really practical man must be the best judge of his own interest, and acts according to the fertility of the soil and geniality of the season. We confess ourselves much disgusted at the very dogmatical manner in which amateur farmers, laying out their counter profits in the most extraordinary manner, throw dirt on the man of sterling experience who refuses to lay out capital till he finds the new system withstand the test of profit on the balance sheet. Your reporter has bec-n an experimental - izer all his life, and has at length come to the conclusion 'tis a bad trade to live upon. One season he has been crowned with success ; another, results have followed quite the reverse ; and we have come to the conclusion the really practical, old-fashioned farmer is the man who gains the most in the long run of comfort and the best interest for his capital. We by no means object to theory or experimental practice — they are both worthy encouragement ; but what we object to is the most abusive spirit by which these modern reverend and commercial gentlemen endeavour to make the old prac- tical agriculturists carry out what they consider right. Our markets wear a gloomy appearance, Init the fairs lately held have not suffered much depreciation ; indeed stock has rather risen in price than fallen, although we have had a very excellent supply. Turnips and mangold improved very much during the last two months, and, being well secured with an abundance of fodder, both hay and straw, this circumstance has no doubt kept up the prices. The yield of barley has not been so excessive as was once supposed it would have been from the abundance of straw ; nevertheless there is a good ave- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 579 rage crop. Wheat has also in many places been over ' rative prices, and the effects of free trade in corn will estimated, but of that also there is a good produce. : miich facilitate the fattening of cattle, in the abundant Oats, beans, and peas have failed, and are belov,- our supply of rye-meal and other inferior descriptions of average. These descriptions of grain are selling at good , foreign grain being made use of at much lower prices prices. Wheat of all descriptions is selling at remune- than oilcake is obtainable. — Nov. 19. AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c. ANDOVER FAIR.— There were about 76,000 sheep penned, and the best sold readily at the late advanced prices. For poorer sheep, the demand was not so brisk. More than two-thirds were down sheep ; the rest were half bred and horn. Best down ewes sold at 34s. to 36s. each ; middling, 30s. to 32s. ; small and inferior, 27s. to 28s. Large Dorset ewes, 38s. to 403. ; moderate, 35s. ; half bred, 30s. to 35s. There were a few couple of Somerset ewes and lambs, which sold at 44s. to 45s. the pair. Lambs, the finest pens, made 32s. to 34s. each ; good stock lambs, 28s. to 30s. ; middling, 24s. to 26s. ; small, 18s. to 21s. ; stock wethers, best, 40s. each ; some good ones, 36s. ; middling, 32s. to 34s. A few foreign sheep and lambs, sold at 30s. to 35s. Fat sheep sold readily, the best old wethers made 7^d. per lb. ; good large sheep, 7d. ; some well-fed barren ewes, CM. ; inferior, 6d. Some fine fat lambs made 8d. per lb. Beasts were plentiful ; Devous and short-horns sold equally as well as at Kingston ; the small Scotch and Welsh were in good demand, small beasts suiting th» land of Hampshire. Cows and heifers in calf were in good demand ; ditto, with a calf, were soon purchased, at prices from 10/. up to 16/. the couple. Some fine calves made 3/. to 4/. each ; small, weaned, 21s. to 25s. The best bacon hogs, fat, made about 10s. Od. to 10s. 9d. the score ; porkers up to lis. The best riding and driving horses found purchasers at prices equal to those obtained at other fairs during the last month. Cart and machine cattle were also soon selected ; good warranted cobs and ponies sold readily ; the poorer sorts were not so much looked after. There was but a trifling business transacted in hops ; the price asked for new country hops was £4:, but buyers did not appear inclined to offer more than £S. Some little business was done in yearland hops, but at very low prices. There were a few tons of cheese pitched, the trade in which was ex- ceedingly dull. AUCHTERGAVEN FAIR. — Sales were effected with extreme difficulty, and limited to stall-feeding stock, and the best descriptions of young stock. Abundance of winter keep induced a goodly number to return their beasts back to the Highlands. BARNSLEY FAIR. — We had a good supply of store pigs, which realized 7s. 6d. to 7s. 9d. per stone and few remained unsold. We had a very small lot of bacon pigs ; the few shown sold at 7s. 9d. per st. BEDFORD ST. LEONARD'S FAIR.— There ^ an average supply of sheep, and a good trade for the best sorts ; but for inferior the business was dull, and prices lower. Of beasts there was a fair supply, and plenty of buyers for the best kinds ; inferior met with dull sale. A brisk trade was done for fine milch cows. Good horses were dear, and met with a ready sale. BINGHAM FAIR was much better supplied with foals than last year. Several were sold at good prices. A few draught horses were exposed for sale, which being of an inferior quaUty, were unsold. BROOMFIELD FAIR.— A large stock of oxen and sheep, but not many head of the former of superior des- cription. The sale was rather dull, but store sheep and fat oxen were considered rather dearer than at late neighbouring fairs and markets. Tbe horses were of an indifferent character and most of them very bad. CASTLE DOUGLAS FAIR.— Anything really good was quickly offered for, and not a few exchanged owners, at remunerative prices. For aged and inferior animals the demand was very slack, and the prices no- minal. A breeder refused ^'34 for a very superior two- year-old colt; and altogether the fair fully equalled ex- pectation. There was a tolerably large show of lean stock, but we believe that the sales were very slow, at reduced rates, and many were driven away unsold. Really good stock, for wintering, notwithstanding va- rious drawbacks, still bring fair prices. CALLINGTON FAIR. — Fat cattle very scarce. Bullocks fetched about 58s. per cwt. ; sheep, from 5^d. to 6d. per lb. There was a good supply of store cattle, but the prices realized were low, and showed a scarcity of money ; there were none of the usual up-country buyers present. Cows and calves fetched from i,9 to ^^12. CAMBORNE FAIR was well supplied with cattle of all descriptions, but in consequence of the high prices demanded, and the unfavourable weather, few sales were effected. The stock sold realized about the following prices : — Fat cattle, 5Gs. to GOs. per cwt. ; store cattle, 45s. to 50s.; cows and calves, 50s. to 56s. per cwt. ; sheep, of which there were but few penned, sold at 6d. per lb. CHELMSFORD FAIR. — There was an excellent supply of sheep and cattle of all kinds, and great brisk- ness in the trade. The number of sheep offered was estimated at from 10,000 to 12,000, some of them in excellent condition, and few with any signs of the much- talked-of disease about them. The lowest price for ewes was M. 16s., and the best fetched as high as 21, 2s. jjer head ; good wethers sold freely, at an advance of Is. to Is. 6d. per head upon the rates obtained at the late fairs. Hereford and Welsh beasts, of which there was a good supply, averaged, the former from 15/. to 16/., and the latter about 13/. per head. Scots were also taken off freelv at advanced rates. DONCASTEIl. — The show of cattle was large, arising principally from the great number of lean stock exhibited. Fat stock was in short supply, and prices averaged from Gs. 6d. to 7s. per stone. Anything of first-rate quality could not be had lower than the latter quotation. Good incalves met with a brisk demand. Very few strong steers were shown, and these met with a ready sale at a small advance upon late prices. Lean stock were to be purchased on more easy |terms. The supply of sheep was rather indifferent. Superior lots could not be purchased under 7d. per lb. Tbe show of horses was by far n.ore meagre than on any previous oc- casion, while those of a good description were to be ob- tained at lower rates. DUNKELD MARKET was dull for lean stock, and sales were effected with great difficulty. Three year- olds for the stall were in better request, and brought higher prices. Prime fat ranged from 8s. to 9s. ; good 580 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. milch cows from j^lO to £U 10s. Most of the lean stock will have to be kept over winter. FARNHAM FAIR was but poorly attended. There were plenty of beasts for fattening offered, but only the best were picked out. Irish, and other inferior oxen were not saleable at any price. Horses were plentiful, but few very good for driving or riding ; such sold readily at good prices. All cart colts and other heavy horses, of good symmetry, were in demand. A fair number penned, yet prices were inclined to go down ; some of the best south downs, wethers, ewes, and lambs, sold readily ; inferior remaining in the hands of those first offering them. Ewes fetched from 30s. to 36s. each; lambs, 22s. to 32s. ; wethers, from 34s. to 42s. GATEHOUSE HORSE FAIR.— The show was larger than we have seen at the same time of the year, and in every instance good prices were offered for young, strong, well-bred animals. We understand that a num- ber changed owners, though for several days prior to the fair the dealers were on the look-out, and picked up many superior animals, at from ^£"35 to £bO each. From £3b to .£41 were common rates for good three-year-old colts, and from the eagerness to purchase, it was evident that the supply was not adequate to the demand. HAWICK FAIR.— Though there was scarcely the usual supply of cattle, still business was dull, and only the better descriptions of animals were selling. There was a pretty fair show of stirks, or cattle rising two years old, which brought from 6/. to 71. ; and superior animals 71. I7s. 6d. to 9/. 10s. Milch cows, 71. to 11/. ; and best sorts, 14/. to 20/. Farrow cows 5/. to 8/. — There were several lots of kyloes in the market, but few if any were sold ; upon the whole, it was the worst market we have had here for some years. A considerable number of cattle were driven away unsold. HORNBY FORTNIGHT FAIR was well supplied with both beasts and sheep. The attendance of buyers was numerous, a ready sale being the consequence, at a little advance in price, viz., beef from 5}d. to 6d., and mutton from 5}d. to 5fd. per lb. KINGSTON FAIR.— The beasts left unsold on Saturday were again driven into the fair on Monday ; about half were sold. The largest oxen were sold at least 10s. under the prices given on the first day; the Welsh black cattle at 5s. less, and then many were not sold. The Scotch do. were all sold at a decline from the first prices demanded. Poor animals, of every grade, scarcely found a bidder for them. Good hunting, car- riage, gig, and hack riding horses sold well. LAUNCESTON FAIR was well supplied with cattle, which changed hands at very high prices. Fat cat- tle from 60s. to 63s. per cwt., and nearly the whole sold; store cattle, 38s. to 40s. ; cows and calves, 58s. to 60s. LEOMINSTER FAIR.— There was not so much stock as usual, except of young cattle, of which there was a very large number of animals, and those of good quality realized fully 10 to 15 per cent, more than at late fairs ; lean and inferior beasts were almost un- saleable. Best fat beef was worth from 6d. to Q^d. per lb. ; cows and calves scarce, and dear ; sheep from 6d. to 7d., according to the quality; large and pork pigs sold well, but small stores were exceedingly low. The show of horses was by no means good, and middling animals sold slow ; good ones met with a good sale, at satisfactory prices. LENTON FAIR.— With a very scanty supply of fat stock, prices ruled from 7s. to 7s. 6d. The show of store stock was rather lai'ge, but sales were heavy. In the horse fair, but few animals were exhibited. LOGKERBY MARKET.— A fair supply of stock, mostly, however, of moderate quality, consisting of Galloway stirks and two-years-olds, a few lots of High- landers, second and third lambs and ewes. A good deal of the stock shown was sold. For sheep the rates Were barely supported which had been current at the October market. The highest price given for Galloway two-year- olds was about £7 ; stirks were selling at from £'6 10s. to £'5. LOSTWITHIEL FAIR was tolerably supplied with cattle. At first the sale was rather dull, but at the latter part of the fair many bargains were made at the follow- ing prices : — Fat cows, 55s. per cwt. ; steers, &c., 40s. ; cows and calves, 50s. ; sheep, 6d. LOUGHBOROUGH FAIR.— The supply of fat stock was moderate, but of excellent quality, and sold at 6d. per lb. The number of store cattle was exceedingly large, and there was a great number of buyers, some from Birmingham and other distant places. The prices were rather higher. The horse fair was also much larger than we have seen of late, and for good animals high prices were asked. NEWPORT FAIR.— The beasts and cattle shown were not of the best description ; where transactions took place lower prices were accepted. Cart horses realized fair prices, while those of a lighter description and in good condition were lower. Many profitable bargains were made before the termination of the market ; and business was, on the whole, as good as was to be ex- pected. WARWICK FAIR was moderately supplied with both beef and mutton, both of which fetched from GJd. to 7d. per lb., according to quality. REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE DURING THE MONTH Though there can be no doubt that the harvest of 1847 has on the whole yielded an abundant re- turn, farmers have not hitherto shown much dispo- sition to bring their produce to market, and the de- hveries of wheat have been decidedly short. This will be the more apparent if we compare the quan- tities brought forward for sale, at the towns at which the returns are taken for compiling the averages, during the thirteen weeks succeeding the harvests of 1846 and 1847, as shown in the following state- ment : — OF NOVEMBER. 1847. 1846. August 21... 40799 66306 28... 4G074 152306 September 4. . . 46697 121446 11... 55459 152291 18... 61172 152307 . 25... 74S33 179876 October 2... 96895 170123 9... . 1250S4 184346 16... . 107161 190499 23.. . . 105718 159005 30... . 113486 143405 Novembe r G... 82098 138198 13... otals. , . . 87008 . 1042484 116161 T 1926269 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.' 681 From the foregoing it will be seen that 883,785 qrs. less wheat have been sold at these places where an official account is kept, and presuming that the falhng oflf in the supplies has been in the same pro- portion in other parts of the kinj^dom, it follows that the growers must at present have a larger pro- portion of the new crop on hand than is usually the case at the corresponding period. On the other hand, however, we must not forget that the stock of old wheat of home growth was reduced into a very narrow compass at the time of harvest ; in- deed, so little was left of previous years' growth as to render it doubtful whether the surplus produce of 1847 brought stocks up so as to render the total quantity in farmers' hands equal to what they hold in ordinary seasons . If this be really the case, it accounts for the evident imwillingness displayed by the growers to submit to lower prices. Very little anxiety has, at all events, been hitherto shown to realize, and agriculturists generally appear to feel satisfied that the value of wheat cannot recede much. This may be all very well if we look only to the next three or four months ; but that we shall receive important supplies from abroad in the spring, whether wanted or not, cannot be ques- tioned. Meanwhile, we have still large stocks of foreign in the kingdom, which the holders will lose no opportunity to turn into cash. During the three months ending 10th October, the imports of wheat and flour into the United Kingdom have been as follows : — 1847. 1846. Wheat. Flour. Wheat. Flour. Mouth euding Qrs. Cwt. Qrs. Cwt. 5th August .. 409550 656172 .. 152036 483583 5th September 439583 136906 . . 95787 277383 10th October ... . 404626 1245684 .. 79393 345075 Of the latter article the greater part has gone into consumption, but of the wheat a large proportion remains in warehouse, and, all circumstances con- sidere<^ we do not think it will be prudent for far- mers to calculate on higher prices than those now current. The weather has throughout the month of No- vember been open, and favourable for out-door work ; we have had one or two sharp night frosts, but not of suflScient intensity to render the ground too hard to allow of its being worked, nor has the quantity of rain been so great as to render the soil too wet. The sowing of wheat and other labours incidental to the season have, consequently, pro- gressed imder highly auspicious circumstances, and both as to the breadth of land sown and the manner in which the seed has been deposited in the ground, the season may be regarded as re- markable. In the southern parts of the kingdom the young wheat blade is above ground ; its aspect is healthy and vigorous, and thus far everything promises well for next year. We have now to say a few words respecting po- tatoes ; that the disease of 1845 and 1846 has again attacked this root, though in a milder form, cannot be questioned. The early varieties escaped better than the later sorts, and we much fear that a large proportion of the latter, though apparently sound when dug, will not keep through the winter ; al- ready the price has risen materially, and there is too much reason to apprehend that in Ireland the suflTerings of the poor will be almost as great as they were last year. In antici])ation of a greatly in- creased consumption of Indian corn and meal these articles have recently risen in value, and at Liver- pool important pnrchases have been made with a view to the Irish markets. Whether the scarcity of potatoes \vill become so great as to have an influ- ence on the value of wheat remains to be seen, but we are rather disposed to think that the coarser descriptions of food, such as Indian corn, barley, and oatmeal, will be most affected thereby. The fluctuations in the price of wheat have not been very important this month, for whilst, on the one hand, holders have shown a great degree of firmness which has prevented much decline, buyers have, on the other, conducted their operations with so much care and circumspection as to obtain the turn in their favour. The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have been decidedly small, and the quantity brought forward at Mark Lane by land-carriage samples from Essex and Kent has been less than might have been expected. In the early part of the month there was an evi- dent disposition to" demand higher terms, which was, however, resisted by the millers, and the ut- most that could be done was to obtain an advance of Is. per qr. on the best qualities. This small improvement was subsequently lost, and since the middle of the month prices have given way 4s. to 5s. per qr. Capital red wheat has lately been sold at 50s., and the top price of white can scarcely be quoted higher than 55s. to 56s. per qr. The market has not been largely supplied with foreign wheat, but the quantity received has exceed- ed that taken ofi"the market, and a further though not an important accumulation of stocks in ware- house has been the result. A very large proportion of the foreign wheat at this port consists of Black Sea and similar qualities ; there is also a good deal of St. Petersburg and Riga wheat, but of really fine qualities there is comparatively little in granary. The best Danzig and superior kinds of Lower Baltic red have consequently been held very firmly, and the reduction on these descriptions has not been nearly in the same proportion to the fall 582 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. which has taken place in English ; indeed, there is not more than Is. to 2s. per qr. difterence between the present prices and those current at the close of October. Russian and similar sorts have been rather pressingly offered ; inferior samples have in some cases been sold at 3Ss., and 40s. to 42s. per qr. may be considered the top price of St. Peters- burgh. Quotations of town-manufactured flour have undergone little or no change, the extreme price having remained at 46s. per sack throughout the month. Norfolk and other country marks have been saleable at proportionate rates. Fine American flour has become very scarce, nearly the whole re- maining on hand consisting of doubtful brands. The highest price realized has been 2Ss. per barrel, and really good fresh parcels could scarcely be had cheaper at present. The value of doubtful and partly sour flour varies from 22s- to 26s. per barrel. At Liverpool this article is dearer than with us, and the latest quotation from thence is 30s. per barrel for fine Western Canal. The arrivals of home-grown barley have not been particularly large ; indeed, until very lately the receipts were smaller than usual. The malt- sters and brewers have, however, acted with the utmost caution, which we are disposed to attribute in some measure to the recent alteration in the period of credit ; for even the most wealthy find it inconvenient under existing circumstances to pay in one month, instead of being allowed the usual two months' time. Up to the 15th inst. prices re- mained neai'ly stationary ; and previous to the day narr.ed, prime malting parcels could not be bought at Mark Lane below 35s. per qr. Since then the value of the article has gradually given way 2s. to 3s. per qr., and capital qualities may at present be had at 32s. to 33s. per qr. These rates can scarcely pay the growers, unless they have got a crop and a half. They appear, however, more in- clined to sell barley than wheat, and the supplies of the latter article are evidently on the increase. The operations in foreign barley have been of very little interest : heavy sweet Baltic samples being comparatively scarce, have brought relatively higher terms than the light southern sorts, but the enquiry has not been at all active for either de- scription, and quotations have receded Is. to 2s. per qr. Malt has, of course, been influenced by the dull state of the barley trade, and its value has declined quite as much as that of the raw material, very good ship samples having lately been sold at 56s, to 57s., and the finest ware at 60s. per qr. The supplies of new oats, principally from Scot- land and Ireland, have rather increased of late; but those from abroad have, on the other hand. fallen off materially, and the total arrival has cer- tainly not been large. What we have stated above, relative to the alteration in the period of credit, has been quite as much felt in the oat as in the barley trade. The small dealers and consumers are un- able to hold anything like their accustomed stocks, and even the large dealers regulate their operations in conformity with the altered state of affairs. The transactions have, on the whole, been on an extremely limited scale since our last, and only the finest old oats have maintained their previous position : new, however fine the quality (and some of the samples of Irish brought forward have been very fine), have declined Is. to 2s. per qr. at least, from the point they were at in the commencement of the month. The future value of oats will depend on the ex- tent of the Irish supplies. Stocks on the spot are certainly short, and there is not much prospect of further receipts from abroad. Enghsh beans have come very sparingly to hand, and, until within thelast week or two, prices gradually crept upwards ; nor has any reaction of consequence since taken place, though the inchnation to buy seems to have somewhat subsided. The operations in Egyptian beans have not been of much conse- quence, but good qualities have been held firmly at 2Ss. to 30s. per qr. The supply of home grown peas has not been by any means large, but having received rather a large quantity from abi'oad, this article has receded in value, and good white boilers have lately been selling at 45s. to 46s. per qr. In maple and grey peas the decline has not been so great, and fine quahties of the former are still held at 43s. per qr. Indian corn has met with a moderate share of attention, secondary sorts at 2Ss. to 30s., and the finer kinds at 32s, to 35s. per qr. Indian corn meal has risen about Is. 6d. perbrl. since the beginning of the month, in anticipation of an increased demand during the winter, as a substi- tute for potatoes. Most of the Russian rye flour remaining on hand is more or less |tart, and is not suitable for human food, but the article appears to be much liked for cattle feeding, and in most cases where a trial has been made the parties purchase a second time ; the price is now £7 per ton. By our foreign advices it appears that all parties were looking to Great Britain as the market for their surplus growth ; and though the winter will of course prevent shipments either from America or from the Baltic, the stocks at the principal ports are hkely to accumulate during the months that the navigation is impeded; or, at all events, quantities THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 583 of produce will be got down to the banks of the different rivers and canals, ready to be sent to the different shipping ports early in the spring. ITie accounts from the United States agree in describing the yield of both wheat and Indian corn as very large ; but as the fanners had not begun to bring their new produce forward, and stocks of old had been nearly exhausted by the immense exports during last spring and summer, prices had been well supported ; indeed, at New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, flour had risen in value, and its price was actually higher at those places at the close of October than it is at present in the London market. No one expected, however, that that would long continue to be the case, and we have no doubt that prices will hereafter be regulated in a great measure by the quotations on this side. Stocks of old Indian corn had been much re- duced, and the new is not considered fit to stand a sea voyage until hardened by frost ; but early in the spring we must calculate on large arrivals of that article from the other side of the Atlantic. From the north of Europe the accounts relative to the grain crops are, on the whole, favourable ; but potatoes appear to have failed more generally over a large portion of Germany than was the case last year. Letters from Danzig, Konigsberg, and neighbouring ports, state that the poorer classes would have to subsist almost wholly on rye and pulse, potatoes being very scarce and dear. At Danzig very httle had been done in wheat for ex- port ; and the deliveries from the farmers having slightly increased, new wheat had been offered cheaper. Ordinary sorts, weighing 57 lbs. per bush., had been offered at a price equal to 43s. per qr. free on board, and 59 lbs. to 60 lbs. high mixed had been sold at 47s, per qr. It was confidently expected that prices would go much lower during the wintei*, if Enghsh merchants would only remain quiet. At several of the Lower Baltic ports vessels ap- pear to have been chartered to load wheat to Great Britain. At Rostock as much as 51s. per qr., cost and freight, had, we are informed, been paid ; and at Stettin the finest qualities had brought equal to •18s. per qr. free on board. The close approach of winter will most likely prevent further shipments ; but it is probable that a few small cargoes of new wheat may yet reach us before the frost sets in. All over the Mediterranean prices of wheat are much too high to admit of supplies reaching us from that quarter. Even at Marseilles, notwith- standing continued large arrivals from the Black Sea, wheat was, by the latest accounts, dearer than in the English markets. — — 49 31 — 31 — 29 — 33 — CURRENT PRICJES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND IN JIAKK-LANE. Sliillin^-s p. NEW. WiiKAT, Esses and Kent, white 49to55 Ditto red 45 49 Norfolk and SulTolk 46 48 Lincolusliirc and Yorkshire ... Rye 31 Barley . . Essex, "J com. Malting 30 Kent, Norfolk, > Distillers' & Grinding 24 and Suffolk . . ) (;iiev;dier 32 Malt. . Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk .... — — Kingston, Ware, and town made .... — — Oats . . Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lin- colnshire, and Yorkshire, feed .... — — Ditto, Poland and potato — — Northumb., Berwick, & Scotch potato — — Ditto, feed — — Devon & West Country, feed or black — — Dundalk, Newry, and Belfast, potato — — Ditto, feed — — Limerick, Sligo, and Westport, potato — — Beans. . Ticks 37 39 Harrow and small 41 45 Peas. . BoUing 46 50 Hog and gray 40 43 Flour. . Town made (per sack of 2801b) . . — — Norfolk&SuSolk, honsehold (do.) ., — — FLOUR 1- UimltiT, DLn. 54 to 57 49 52 57 59 59 02 21 23 20 27 27 29 25 27 18 21 21 20 22 24 24 26 41 40 47 50 41 40 36 40 FOREIGN GRAIN. SliillingfS per Quarter, Wheat. . Dantzic & Konigsberg, finest high mixed Free. white 51 to55 Ditto, good mixed 50 53 Ditto, red mixed 48 52 Stettin and Rostock 51 53 Danish 47 50 Hamburgh and Pomeranian 50 52 Black Sea (nominal) hard to soft 38 44 Riga, St. Petersburgh, and Liebau, soft 38 43 Canada 50 53 Spanish 53 56 Buck or Brauk 31 33 Indian Corn 28 32 Barley. . Hamburgh, Dantzic, Konigsberg, and Riga 25 31 Ditto, Grinding 24 26 Danish, Mecklenberg, and Pomeranian 21 25 Oats. . Dutch,brew,&Po!and,Friesland, &Groninigen 25 27 Danish and Swedish 20 23 Russian 20 23 Beans. . Tick 36 40 Small 42 45 Mediterranean 28 30 Peas. . White boding 42 45 Tares (none) — — Flour. . United States 23 27 Canadian 22 26 Indian Corn Meal (per brl. of 1 96 lbs.) . . 16s. 16s. Od. Rye Flour (per ton) 6i. 10s. 71. IMPERIAL AVERAGES. For the last Six Weeks. Week Ending; Oct. 9, 1817.. Oct. 16, 1847.. Oct. 23, 1847.. Oct. 30, 1847.. Nov. 6, 1847,. Nov. 13, 1847.. AggregateAverage of the six weeks which regulates duty Comparative Aver- age same time last year. Wheat, d. 53 10 61 5 Barley. s. d. Oats, d. 22 11 ^7 10 44 6 23 0 26 9 Rye. s. d. 2 0 0 4 1 7 34 4 42 4 Beans, d. 46 2 46 3 47 1 46 0 46 6 45 9 46 46 10 Peas, s. d. 14 4 15 4 47 9 50 10 19 4 18 3 17 8 50 10 No Duties are now to be levied on the importation of com or flour until March 1st, 1848. 584 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. PRICES OF SEEDS. November 22. Cloverseed continues neglected, and quotations can- not at present be depended on. Linseed has lately been in fair recpiest, and has realized full terms. Cauaryseed was more inquired for to-day, and it was certainly not cheaper than on Monday last. BRITISH SEEDS, liinseed (per qr.). . sowing- 60s. to 63s ; crushing 46s to 49s. Linseed Cakes (per 1,000 of 31bs. each) £13 to £13 10 Trefoil (percwt.) 12s. to 20s. Rapeseed, new (per la?t) £30 to £32 Ditto Cake (per ton) £6 to £7 Mustard (per bushel) wliite . . 7s. to 7s. 6d. ; brown Bs. to 9s. FOREIGN SEEDS, &c. Linseed (per qr.) . . Baltic 48s. to 52s. ; Odessa SOs. to 52s. Linseed Cake (per ton) £9 to £10 Rape Cake (jier ton) £6 to £6 10s. Clover, red (duty 5s. per cwt.) per cwt 30s. to 43s. Ditto, white (duty 5s per cwt.) per cwt 35s. to 50s. HOP MARKET. BOROUGH, Nov. 22. A fair amount of business has been doing during the past week in all fine Hops with colour, which fully maintain their value. Inferior qualities, however, move off slowly at rather lower rates. Mid. and East Kents, 63s. to 105s. Weald of Kents, 56s. to 66s. Sussex Pockets, 54s. to 63s. POTATO MARKET. SOUTHWARK WATERSIDE, Nov. 22. There is still a regular supply of Potatoes to this mar- ket quite sufficient for the present demand. There have been some fine rooms of York Regents sold, which main- tained the advanced price we mentioned in our remarks of last week. The advance is in consequence of the supe- riority of the sample, as it has not been general; there being similar samples sold last week at 120s., which had been sold for weeks previous. Since our last report there have been some hundreds of tons of Potatoes arrived into this market from Hol- land, and they are selling at lower prices, which con- siderably affects the sale of all secondary samples. The following are the present prices : — York Regents 12.5 to 1.30 Do. secondary HO to 120 Kt'iit&; Essex Regents 110 to 120 Do. Rlues .. 100 to 110 Do. Kidneys 100 to 120 Wisbech Regents.. 110 Do. Sliaws 100 Dutcli Whites 75 to 90 Scotch do. and Cuffs 90 to 95 Do. Cups 95 to 100 BUTTER, CHEESE, Butter, per cwt. s. s. Dorset 108toll2 Carlow 90 96 Sligo 86 88 Cork, 1st 88 90 Waterford 88 89 Limerick 86 — Foreign, prime Frieslaud 106 110 Kiel 94 102 Fresh Butter, per doz., 12s. Od. to 14s. 6d. BACON, AND HAMS. Cheese, per cwt. s. s. Double Gloiicestei 58 to 64 Single 58 64 Cheshire 56 76 Derby 62 66 30 50 Edam and Gouda — 50 Bacon, new 68 — Middle 58 62 Hams, Irish 40 60 Westmoreland... 88 — York 94 — HIDE AND SKIN MARKETS. s. d. 8. d. Mnvket Hides, ."16 to 641bs ) 0 to 0 3 per lb. Do. 6* 721DS 0 3 0 3i „ Do. 72 80Ibs OS 0 3J „ Do. 80 881bs 0 3i 0 4 Do. 88 9Glbs 0 4i 0 4.^ „ Do. 1)6 1041bs 0 4| 0 5 Calfskins 4 6 6 6 each. Horse Hides 13 0 0 0 Polled sheep 4 2 4 10 „ Kents and Halfbreds 3 0 4 2 „ Downs 2 9 .3 6 „ BARK. Per load of 45 cwt. F.njrlish, Tree £11 0 0 to £12 0 & Coppici. 12 0 0 14 0 0 LIVERPOOL (DUTY free)— Quercitron, 8?.6s. to 91 Cs.; Dutch Oal(, per ton, il. to 5i. ; German, 31. 10s. to 61. WOOL MARKETS. BRITISH WOOL. LEEDS, Nov. 19. — There is not any material varia- tion to notice in this branch of trade during the present week. Sales continue very small, and prices are in a great measure nominal. LIVERPOOL, Nov. 20. Scotch. — There has been rather more doing in Laid Highland Wool this week, at rates in favour of the buyer. White Highland, of good length of staple and clean, has been more inquired for. There has been little done in either Crossed or Cheviot, and prices are, there- fore, somewhat nominal. s. d. s. (1. Laid Highland Wool, per 24lbs .... 6 0 to 6 9 White Highland do 8 9 U 0 Laid Crossed do .. unwashed.... 7 9 9 0 Do. do... washed 8 6 9 6 Do. Cheviot do... unwashed .... 8 0 10 0 Do. do... washed 12 0 15 0 White do. do 20 0 22 0 Foreign. — There has been a little done this week in Buenos Ayres and Peruvian for export ; else the home trade is quiet. The trade are putting off for the public sales next week, when will be offered 500 bales Port Phillip and South Australian, 850 Spanish, 1 ,200 East India, 200 Smyrna, 500 Buenos Ayres, and 700 Iceland. FOREIGN. LEEDS, Nov. 19.— There has been a better feeling in the market during the past week than we have noticed for some time past, and the demand, although not yet very active, has perceptibly improved. IMPORTS OF COLONIAL WOOL INTO LIVERPOOL AND LONDON. Compiiscd in Catalogue. All 18)6. To Nov. 8, 1847. London. Liverpool. Sydney .■?9,142 .. 35,878 .. 35,707 .. .. Port Philip 20,100 .. 2.5,628 .. 22,042 .. 2,557 Portland Bay (direct) 796 .. 1,887 .. 1,851 .. .. South Australia 6,094 .. 7,ii92 .. 5,866 .. 1,098 Van Dieman's Land 1,36.56 .. i:,800 .. 14,056 .. ,. Swan River and New Zealand 1,686 .. 1,086 ., 908 .. 19 Capo 11,626 .. 12,097 .. 11,133 .. 85 93,130 .. 99,468 .. 91,623 .. 3,759 END OF VOLUME XXVII. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand, London. .^^. \jy'k<^ -U\.- ^ 'j>*^' m m_^ W£M!. W^^:. ; '^^%kL ' J : >%' ^-^^/It^ 't^^^M-^mt^ ^:Pr. ■■ - y'L T"^- ^\^ :^*'-