MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE GOODELL LIBRARY B ev Yl6 n-Ti^T -iTBt^ati^a^Trin ran imsttiimrmmrommB^^KM \^~rs-,r ri tiir^ T-rrr a^a. fiiiaw—^— ^sr i itt - ,- - — -, ■ - --|,: -|— r Tniar No. I, Vol. XVI. I JULY, 1859. [Third Series. THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE AMD MONTHLY JOURNAL OP THE AGEICULTURAL INTEREST. TO THE FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAND. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. BOaEJtaOM AMD TCXVOBD,] [P£INI£SS, 246, 8TBAMS. DR. HASSALL ON THORLEY'S FOOD FOR CATTLE. PEOM THE "MAKK LANE EXPRESS," lOtli JAN., 1859. 74, WiMPOLE Street, Cavendish Square, 21s* December, 1858. Having, on more than one occasion, been requested to make an analysis of Thorlet's Well-known Food for Cattle, and to express my opinion respecting it, I placed myself a short time since in communica- tion with Mr. Thoiley, desiring to be furnished with certain particularg relating to his Food. Mr. Thorley, who was previously a stranger to me, at once conducted me over his Manufactory, showed me all the ingredi- ents employed, and also the process of manufacture of the article. I took away with me samples of the food as well as of every ingredient entering into its composition. I have since carefully examined and tested these, and I have also compared the samples procured at the Manufactory with orhers obtained by myself from other sources. I am, therefore, now in a position to express an authoritative opinion respecting the composition and properties of Thorlet's Food for Cattle. I would remark of it — First. That the ingredients used are all of excellent quality, and are purchased without regard to expense. Second. That the receipt or formula, according to which the Food is prepared, is an admirable one, no ingredient being selected on account of its cheapness, but those only being chosen which are best adapted to fulfil the objects intended. Having regard, thus, to the composition of Thorlei's Food for Cattle, 1 find that it possesses the following properties in an eminent degree — it is highly nutritious and fattening — it is a tonic and gentle stimulant, aiding, when mixed with other descriptions of food, materially the digestive powers of an animal — a point of great consequence, since it is an undoubted fact that much of the nourishment contained in the ordi- nary food given to cattle is lost in consequence of the impaired or defective action of the digestive organs. Comparing Thorlet's Food for Cattle with other Cattle Foods, with the composition of which I am ac- quainted, I unhesitatinuly assert that it is infinitely superior to any others, at present known to me. In all those of the composition of which I have a knowledge, I have found ingredients to be present which have been added solely on account of their cheapness, that is for the purpose of adulteration, and to the exclusion of other more valuable, but more expensive, articles. In some of the Foods I have detected ingredients which are positively hurtful. Comparing, also, the samples taken by me from the Manufactory with others procured from different source-", I fiiund a pcfect accordance in the composition of both series of samples. Before bringing this Report to a conclusion, I would notice an objection sometimes urged against the use of Cattle Fi)ods generally, namely, that the price at which they are sold exceeds considerably that of the materials from which they are prepared ; this can be readily shown to be a very unreasonable objection. Thorlet's Food for Cattle is a compounded and manufactured article, upon the composition and preparation of which much care, labour, and expense have been and are bestowed. Moreover, the refuse materials resulting from the cleansing, grinding, &c., and which are an entire loss, amount to twenty per cent. To estimate, therefore, the value of such an article merely at the cost of the raw materials is both absurd and unjust. Neither must the value of this, or any other Cattle Food, be determined by the exact amount of nourishment contained in them; although in the case of Thorlet's Food this is very considerable, but the indirect effects resulting from its employment must be taken into consideration ; that is, the effects of the article in improving the appetite, digestive powers, and general vigour of the Cattle fed upon it. By the improved condition of the dijicstive organs animals may be fed upon coarser and cheaper articles of food, and from which, without the aid of Thorlet's Food, they would be unable to extract all the nourishment which such articles actually contain. I consider, then, that the use of Thorlet's Food is attended, not with an additional, but with a considei-able saving of expense. I am glad, therefore, to be enabled to recommend — which I do strongly and conscientiously — Thorlet's Food for Cattle as a highly important and valuable compound for the feeding of all descriptions of Cattle. .«igned, ARTHUR HILL HASSALL, M.D., Analyst of the Lancet Sanitary Commission ; Author of the Reports of that Commission ; of " Food and its Adulteration ; " " Adulterations Detected; " §'C., ^c. From Alfred Brown, Esq., Wandsworth, Surrey, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England ; Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Company, London ; Fellow of the Medical Society of London; late Demonstrator of Anatomy at the St. George's School of Medicine. Wandsworth, Surrey, Dec. 11, 1858. Sir, — I shall feel obliged by your sending me another cask of Thorley's Cattle Food. I have been making experiments with it upon one of my milch cows, and think it only fair that I should let you know the results. My cow, before I used the Food, was fed upon hay, wortzel, and water ad libittim, and upon this diet she yielded one gallon of milk per day, making two pounds of butter per week. She was five months gone with her second calf; when she had the Food I discontinued giving her the wortzel, and gave her a measure-full (about half-a-piot) of the Food with a peck of damp chaff night and morning; besides, she had as much good hay as she would eat. Upon this diet, in less than a week she doubled the quantity of milk and butter; and in order that I might be sure that this excellent result depended upon the Thorley's Food, I discontinued it, and returned to her former diet, and she speedily went back to the gallon of milk per day. After waiting about a fortnight, I again leturned to the Thorley's Food, and in a few days she increased to two gallons of milk per day. This experiment I repeated several times, and with the same results. I have tried the Food upon other animals — horses, sheep, &c. — and with the most satisfactory results. I have also analysed the Food, and find that it contains nothing that would in any way injure the system or constitution of cattle. You are at liberty to make any use you please of this communication, and I am. Sir, yours, &c., To Mr. J. Thorley. ALFRED BROWN. THE FARMER'S MA(IAZi:j;rE. JULY, 1859, CONTENTS, Plate I.— THE EMPEROR: a Suffolk Stai-lion, the Property of G. D. Badham, Esa., OF BuLMEK, Essex. Platr II.— the warren HILL= Description of the Plates = , , . The Herds of Great Britain • Mr. Bolden's Herd . . , . Lord Feversham's Herd .... The Babraham Herd .... Wool. — By Cuthbert W. Johnson, Esq., F.R.S, The Administrative of the Royal Agricultural Society Conditions of Stock Shows, and the Condition of the Stock Practicability and Advantage of Farm Leases Oat Culture ...... An American Show Farm ; its Management and Stock Fowler's Steam Plough .... College for the Relief op Decayed Farmers., their Widows and Orphans Justice between Landlord and tenant Best and Cheapest Method of Manuring the Farm Implements of Tillage .... Do WE Waste our Straw ? , . . . Practical Problem ..... Death of a Norfolk Worthy .... Malt Tax . . . . . Strength of Food for Cattle and Sheep, without the Aid of Chemistry Aristocracy of England, and Durham Cattle Apiarian Society ..... Bath and West of England Society. — Meeting at Barnstaple The English Farmer in Belgium Buckwheat, or Brank . < . . Oxfordshire Agricultural Society, and Banbury Agricultural Association. Meeting at Oxford .... Summer Grazing. — Grazing of Cattle Value of the Earth-worm .... " Present Circumstances" of the Turnip London, or Central Farmers' Club : Cultivation of Mixed Soils Future Course of the Trade of the North American Watercourse Essex Agricultural Association.— Meeting at Colchester The Globe : its Number of Acres of Land and Water, and Population Norfolk Agricultural Society. — Meeting at Swaffham PoYAL Agricultural Society of England: Proceedings in Council Agricultural Reports Review of the Caitle Trade during the past Month Calendar of Agriculture Calendar of Gardening Review of the Corn Trade during the past Month Corn Averages and Market Currencies Index. page . 1 . 2 . 6 . 9 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 25 . 27 . 30 . 31 . 31 . 32 . 33 . 35 . 37 . 37 . 38 . 39 . 39 . 39 . 40 . 47 . 50 . 52 . 54 . 55 . 56 . 57 . 64 . 69 . 73 . 74 . 7S . 82 . 83 . 83 . 84 . 84 . 86 RANSOMES AND SIMS, IPSWICH. THE FOiiiiO'if's::^^^ im]*]:.jbme:;wt^ oibtaitved tuc: AT THE CHESTER MEETING OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND, JULY, 1858. Root-Cutter for Power. Hand-power Chaff-Cutter. Bruisinff-Mili. Price £5 5s. to £7 7s. Price £5 6s. Price £10. Illu«!trate«l Catalogues, in XlEiglislB, iFresiclB, anci ^reriuaii sent free 05B application. London Agent: SHEPPARD RANSOME, 31, ESSEX STREET, STRAND. HAYWOOD'S IMPROVED PORTA'BLE STEAM ENGINES WITH VERTICAL CYLINDERS, AND IMPROVED PORTABLE COMBINED THRASHING MACHINES, FROM TWO TO FOUR HORSE POWER CONSTRUCTED to Thrash, Winnow, \_J and Bag the Corn in one operation, are now in extensive use, and are giving tlie liigliest satibfaction. FIXED ENGINES, OF ALL SIZES, From. Two-hoksb Power, upwakds, IMPROVED CIRCULAR-SAW BENCHES, PORTABLE GRINDING MILLS, AND LIQUID MANURE PUMPS, Illustrated Catalogues, with Prices and Testimonials, sent free on application to J AS. HAYWOOD, Jun„ PHCENIX FOUNDRY AND ENGIJNEEUING WORKS, DERBY. London Agent-- Mk. B. .SAM U ELS ON, 76, Cannon Stkeet West. THE EOYAL FARMERS' A.€^»lCUIiTUKAl^ A]¥]> € O M Jff SRC I A II. INSURANCE COMPANY. 3, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, LONDON (W.C.) RATES. HAIi/. — WHEAT, BARLEY, OATS, and other ordinary Crops, without limitation! «, as to quantity grown. J ^' |6d. per Acre. It should be borne in mind that no care whatever can prevent damage by Hail, that there is no means of protection other than that now offered, and that the ROYAL FARMERS' INSURANCE OFFICE was the first which introduced this additional means of protecting the interest of the Farmers iato this country. BoircSi — A division of profits every five years, the last one (1856) was upwards of OG pel* Cent, to insurers of the COUI* previous yeitl'S, and in proportion to Insurers for a less period. FIRE.— FIRE INSURANCES of every description at moderate rates. FARMING STOCK without average, 5s. per cent. LOSSES paid immediately after the amounts have been ascertained. JLIFE. — Life Insurances on moderate terras by Policies payable to the Registered Holders. BONUS. — The next division of profits, faur-fifths of which will be allotted to Policies of the participating class, will be on the five years ending on on the 31st of December of the year 1863. The amount for the Five Years ending on the 3l9t of December, 1858, will be made known to the Policy Holders immediately after the Annual General Meeting in May next. ASSIGNMENTS. — The Policies are payable to the Registered Holdeis, whereby much expense and incon« venience is prevented. Further particulars may be had at the Chief Office, or of the Agents. JOHN REDDISH, Secretary and Actuary. Agents wanted in those districts in which the Office is not represented. m^ §xii}m ill tjie Jlingiinm* CUFF^S FARMER^S FRIEND. One dose of this invaluable medicine will cure the SCOUR or LOOSENESS in Lambs, Calves, Sheep, Colts, Heifers, Steers, and all Cattle, without leaving costiveness ; and given occasionally to Beasts whilst fattening will promote a healthy and thriving condition. It will also perfectly cure the FRET, COLIC or GRIPES in Horses. Price Is. 8d. or 3s. per Bottle. CUFF^S FOOT-ROT POWDER Is a cheap and effectual remedy for the FOOT- ROT or HALT, a single Packet of which will cure One Hundred Sheep, and large Flocks may be soon freed from the Disease by its use. It has been extensively used and highly approved of for nearly thirty years by large Sheep Breeders throughout the Kingdom. P.ice Is. per Packet. CUFF^S FLY, SCAB & MANGE OIL Will very quickly destroy MAGGOTS in Sheep, and LICE or VERMIN in all animals. It will also cure the MANGE, and SKIN DISEASES in Horses or Cattle, and effectually cleanse a Flock of Sheep from ihe SCAB or SHAB. Price Is. 8d. and 3s, per Bottle. SHERWOOD^S ORIGINAL DRIFFIELD OILS Are strongly and confidently recommended for preventing GANGRENE or MORTIFICATION after lambing or Calving, and for Healing CUTS, STABS, WOUNDS, BRUISES, STRAINS, SWELLINGS, &c., &c.. As these Oils are in constant use by some of the most celebrated Breeders in the world, and have maintained a re- putation about fifty years, it would be superfluous to enlarge upon their value and importance. Pints, 28. 6d., Quarts, 5s. Prepared by J. H. Cuff, No. 10, Smithfield Market, London, and sold by Drnggists and Medi- cine Vendors. None is Genuine unless signed by J. H. CUFF in writitig. DRYING OINTMENT FOR DRYING MILCH COWS.— The above Ointment is recommended to Farmers and Graziers as the simplest and best remedy for drying Cows of their milk, and without any of the bad effects attending the drinks which have been so much condemned by the most eminent veterinary surgeons as highly dangerous and improper. Prepared only by W. R. Gibbons, Druggist, Brigg, and sold in Pots, with Directions for Use, at 2s. each. On receipt of P.O. order for 249., one dozen Pots will be sent free of charge. PHILLIP'S AND COMPANY, TEA-MERCHANTS, 8, King William Street, City, London, E.G., invariably sell the BEST and CHEAPEST TEAS and COFFEES in England. Good strong useful Congou Tea, 2s. 4d., 2s. 6d., 2s. 8d., 2s. lOd., and 3s. ; Rich Souchong Tea, 3s. 8d., 3s. lOd., and 48. A Price-Current free. Sugars at market prices. PHILLIPS & CO., send all goods Carriage Free, by their own Vans, within 8 miles of No. 8, King William Street City, E.C., and send Teas, Coffees, and Spices Carriage Free to any Railway Station or Market Town in England, if to the value of 40s. or upwards. Just Published, price One Shilling, THE HISTORY AND PROPERTIES of the DIFFERENT VARIETIES of NATURAL GUANOS. By J. C. Nesbit, F.G.S., F.C.S., &c., Principal of the Chemical and Agri- cultural College, Kennington, London; Corresponding Member of the Imperial and Central Agricultural Society of France, &c., &c. London : Rogerson and Tuxford, " Mark Lane Express" Office, 246, Strand. TO THE FLOCKMASTERS of the UNITED KINGDOM.— Gentlemen,— Mai. j of you having publicly admitted that the dipping of Flocks is indispensable to their well-doing, and that frit'htfiil losses have taken place through the use of some preparations, amounting in one dreadful instance to nearly 900 sheep, I am induced to hope that you will in future select a safe preparation, and one which has now obtained a world-wide celebrity. To the few of you who have not already used my " Sheep Dipping Powder," allow me to state, that within the last 13 years I have manufactured more of it than would sutfi to dip the present aggregate number of sheep in England, Scotland, and Wales; and I can britfg ample pro that the demand for it of late years, both at home and abroad, has been such as to require the constant em- ployment of powerful machinery, turning off never less than five tons at each batch, and insuring uniformity of strength to the whole. I may further explain, that the very low price of my " Dipping Powder" and " Wheat Dressing" is sinply owing to the scale upon which they are produced. The Chemicals of which they are composed are made on my own premises, where I also constantly employ printers to exercise their art in making my Preparations known, not only in our own language, but also in that of different foreign nations. Thanking you for the past, and soliciting further favours, through my Agents, or any Chemist, I am. Gentlemen, your obedient servant, William Cooper. CHEMICAL WORKS, GREAT BERKHAMSTEAD, HERTS. T>ATS. — RATS taken witliout Poison or Traps by Wholesale. — Ships, barns, stables, JLL granaries, malt warehouses, farmsteads, houses, &c., cleared at one sweep. Anj person can by this method clear the entire premises of every rat, however numerous they may be, in one single night. Printed directions how to entice and secure the whole lot alive sent free by return of post for 2s., by William Goodwin, High Halstow, near Rochester. VINEGAR. — PArRONIZED BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. C O ND VS PATENT PURE CONCENTRATED MAZ.T VINEGAR. FAMILIES, by using this delicious Vinegar, insure purity, and effect a saving of 50 per Cent. See Report of Dr. Letheby, Cily Officer of Health, Dr. Hassell, of the ' Lancet' Commission, and others Sold by the Trade, in Bottles, labelled and capsuled. Wholesale 63, KING WILLIAM STREET, LONDON BRIDGE, E.C. Six Quart Sample sent free to any Railway for 3s. 6d. The Fourth Edition, just published, 8vo, in cloth, price 6s., by post free, 5s. 6d., ON TRUE and FALSE SPERMATORRHCEA; with the View to the Correction of wide-spread Errors in relation to the Treatment and Cure of Sufferers from Debility of the Generative system, or Sexual Hypochrondriasis. Translated from the German of Dr. PICKFORD. " Dr. Pickford is known to English readers by his frequent practical contributions to German medical literature. This is the first time, he informs us, that he has addressed himself to the non-medical reader. We trust that this may not be the last, if he shall detect any other equally flagraut evil which it may be in his power to correct." — London Medical Gazette. "The editor has conferred a great boon on the sufferers from this distressing malady by translating this little book, and by laying bare the scandalous practices of unqualified adventurers, who profess to cure a dis- ease of which they know nothing, with no other object than to fill their own purses. The difference between true Spf ruiatorrhoea and the various forma of disease which resemble it are accurately described, and thus a safe guide is offered for the treatment of the malady." — Medical Circular. " We have delayed so long upon the contents of the preliminary chapter, that we have scarcely left ourselves space for any notice of the subject specially treated of by Dr. Pickford ; but the moderate price at which the ' brochure' is sold, places it within the reach of every one interested in the matter." — Dublin Medical Press. London: — H.Bailliere, 219, Regent-street. / iT I f ^j-ot.'-ci' J o F^iaf^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. JULY, 1859 PLATE I. THE EMPEROR; A Suffolk Stallion, THE PROPERTY OF G. D, BADHAM, ESQ., OF BULMER, ESSEX. The Emperor, or " Chester Emperor," as he is now called by way of distinction, was bred by Mr. Badham in 1854. He was got by Newcastle Captain, out of Moggy, by Mr. Catlin's first horse, of the famous " Artis " strain of blood, her dam by Lord Rivers' horse, Newcastle Captain, one of the most justly celebrated of all the SufFolks, was bred by, and long in the possession of, Mr. N. G. Barthropp, of Cretingham. After leaving, however, his mark in his own country, he was sold to the Reverend H. Beever, of Cowbridge, Glamorganshire, who is introducing the sort into the Principality. Although now some sixteen or seventeen years old, the Captain is reputed to be as lively and as fresh as ever. Moggj', the dam of Emperor, was long a favourite of Mr. Badham's, and the first brood mare he purchased when he commenced farming in Suffolk. Emperor entered public life at a very early age, having been shown as a foal at the Norwich Meeting in June, 1854, when he was awarded the first prize of 4 sovereigns. He was, however, so ill at the time with influenza, that he could scarcely stand. Nevertheless, he went in the month follow- ing to the Saxmundham show of the Suffolk Societ}', where, looking still very wretched, he was not noticed. He afterwards visited Lincoln with no better success. Having so lost the summer, Emperor was fed highly during the following winter, and brought quite round again. But in the July of 1855 he knocked himself about terribly when undergoing the operation of shoeing for the first time. In this OLD SEBIKS.] battered condition he was exhibited at the Ipswich Meeting of the Suffolk Society the week following, when he was still highly commended, as well as winning a sweepstakes against a colt, which sub- sequently took the first prize of his class at the Royal Agricultural Society's Meeting at Chelms- ford. In 1856 Emperor was again exhibited at Nor- wich, but without notice ; neither was he more in favour at the Stowmarket Meeting of his native county. At the " Royal " Show, however, at Chelmsford, he took the second premium of 10 sovereigns for two-year-olds, being only beaten by Mr. Sexton's colt, which Emperor had beaten the previous year for the sweepstakes at Ipswich. This was allowed to be one of the largest and best classes of young horses ever seen. Emperor was now taken off his hitherto liberal supply of corn, and, imtil the March of the follow- ing year, was fed upon cut clover, hay, and straw, with half-a-bushel a day of mangel-wurzel, and about a peck and a half of bran. In the April of 1857 he began travelling in Suffolk, and about ninety mares were put to him, only four or five of which missed. He was entered this year again at Ipswich, where his real form began to show itself. Although only three years old, he took the second prize of five sovereigns, in the all-aged class of stallions, despite there being three or four "Royal" winners parading the Ring ; and he then carried oflf the first prize of six sovereigns, as the best of his own proper order — the three-year-old colts. Emperor after this again wintered on very moderate rations. Early in 1858 he was let to a gentleman in Surrey; but soon after the horse was B [VOL. LI.— No. 1, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, sent there, the Essex Society was established, and Mr. Badham having by this returned to the county, was anxious to support the opening meeting. His friend was kind enough to take another horse in his place, and Emperor once more appeared at Chelmsford, where he took the first prize of 15 sovereigns, as the best cart stallion travelling in the county; and the All-England open premium of 25 sovereigns, as the best horse from anywhere. In the same week, he took the first prize for stal- lions at the Norwich Meeting ; but a little later on was entirely passed over by the judges at Bury St. Edmunds. This mistake, however, was sig- nally corrected at the Chester Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, where he took the first prize of 30 sovereigns in the class of agricultural stallions, against a very good entry. He was beaten for the special premium, for which former first prize winners were admitted, by the famous Shire horses Nonpareil and Matchless : but it is only fair to say that Emperor was but four years old, and the others just double his age. He has furnished con- siderably since then, as we can answer for, having had the pleasure of again looking him over at the Colchester Meeting of the Essex Society, where he repeated his last year's performance, taking the first prize of 15 sovereigns in the County class, and the All-England premium of 25 sovereigns. He now goes on to Ipswich for similar honours ; a special prize of 30 sovereigns, for all comers, being expected to bring some very strong competition. The Emperor is a red chesnut horse, with a few grey hairs shot here and there through his coat. He stands something over sixteen hands high. He has the most beautiful blood-like head perhaps ever seen on a horse intended for "agricultural purposes." He has a strong neck and fine crest, good oblique muscular shoulders, deep girth, and first-rate loins and quarters. His hocks and arms are also excellent; and he has a small but good foot. He stands short on the leg ; and this, with his fine quarter, makes him a very lengthy-looking horse, but still with a short powerful back. Em- peror is, altogether, one of the most handsome and symmetrical cart-horses ever seen, possessing in perfection those three leading " points " — great strength, fine quality, and capital action. Emperor has this year been serving a great many mares in Suffolk ; and hia stock is already highly spoken of. PLATE II. THE WARREN HILL. The subject of our plate is becoming rather a momentous questron just now. The gamekeeper and his perquisites have had to stand up against a good deal of hard hitting, and the rabbits, most probably, will have to endure even more yet. Indeed, every man's hand is against them ; and as the law goes far to countenance this, we may expect to see them gradually thinned out. A plague of rabbits in a well cultivated district is, no doubt, a terrible nuisance, while there is really little in the way of sport to be argued for its countenance. So long as there are enough to feed the house and the foxes, the keepers had better be kept to their own proper business of rearing pheasants, and not to making a market at their neighbours' expense. In a range of rough country, however, like the Warren Hill, a morning's rabbit shooting and ferreting is a very agreeable occupation, and our illustration, accord- ingly, quite " in order," THE HERDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. Chapter VIII. MR. BOLDEN'S HERD. Lancaster, both to the historic and the Shorthorn mind, is essentially a land of Dukes. The former loves to contemplate that bold eminence, crowned by the Lungess Tower and the grey bastions of that castle which Roger de Poitou built, and where John o' Gaunt oved to dwell in the perilous strife of the Roses ; and the latter thinks, in a less martial mood, of the two mighty Grand Dukes, which dwelt beneath its shade, and then crossed the Atlantic, each with a thousand guineas on his head, to join their fair Ducie and Towneley mates on the banks of the Hudson river. These modern Dukes of Lancaster held their state either at Springfield Hall, which has forty acres of pasture land round it, on the southern outskirts of the town, or at the Red Bank Farm which is foi?r miles to the north, on the desolate THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. beach of Morecambe Bay. The two places form the summer and winter residence of Mr. Bolden's herd, which numbers about fifty head ; and as we visited it in the latter season, we found at least forty at the farm? whither they had duly migrated, to consume the hay, straw, and root-crops on the spot whore they are grown. Natty as the arrangements are throughout, the coolness and comfort of the shippon at Springfield chiefly caught our eye. The whole of it, with the exception of the yard of Third Grand Duke, is under one roof, with the calf boxes at each end ; and the cows stand vis a vis, with a gangway, from which they are fed, of six feet wide between them. Wood and glass find no place here. Open iron-work separates the gangway and the stalls ; the partitions between the latter are large slabs of blue slate ; and the ventilation comes not only from the roof, but through the minutely perforated zinc windows, which do not admit of a draught sufficient to blow out a candle. Mr. Bolden inherited his taste for Shorthorns from his father, who, along with Mr. John Colling of White- house, and Mr. Lax of Ravensworth, caught his inspira- tion from the Brothers Colling, and died in 1855, at Hyning, near Lancaster. No man was fuller of Short- horn lore, intermixed with the quaint sayings and the doings of the old Durham and Yorkshire worthies. He kept a herd for many years, always sticking to the old-fashioned roomy heavy-fleshed cows ; and hired Leonidas, Leander, and Royal Buck, and other bulls, from the Booths, in days when a man who gave only sixty guineas for a season was considered quite an intrepid character, and when Warlaby females could be had for money. Four of these now '' Veiled Prophetesses," Fame, Rachel, Bridget, and Vivacity, were purchased by Mr. Bolden soon after he commenced breeding, in 1849 ; and along with cows of the Duchess, Cambridge Rose, and Waterloo tribes, from Kirkleavington ; the Cherry tribe from Col. Cradock, and the descendants of No. 25 at the Chilton sale, gradually formed the present beautiful herd, all of which, with the exception of Waterloo 12th and 13th, were bred by their owner. No herd has made greater strides towards perfection, and it is a remarka- bly encouraging instance to prove that if a man begins with good sorts, and gives his judgment full scope in selecting crosses, he may even in ten years plsce him- self in the front rank. The whole herd is in breeding condition, and this fertility seems due both to his pre- ferring a state of nature, to " the red, white, and blue" ribbons of the show-yard, and the free use of Duchess bulls. The late Mr. Bates, when he published the portrait of the Duke of Northumberland in 1839, did not fail to improve the opportunity by giving an abstract from the title-deeds of this tribe. Through that document we trace them back to 1784, when Charles Collings purchased from the agent of the Duke of Northumberland that ori- ginal cow, whose ancestors had for two centuries peace- fully cropped the Stanwick herbage, or been driven oft' by the mailed mosstrooper in many a border foray. Hence it was that he rechristened the cow DucJiess " after that family, because they are justly entitled to be held in commemoration for having possessed a tribe of cattle, which Mr. Charles Colling assured me was the best he ever had or ever saw, and that he was never able to improve upon her, although put to his best bulls." There is quite a Hebrew grandeur in the pas- toral simplicity of the old Kirkleavington enthusiast, as he spurns the nine hundred armorial ensigns of the blood royal of England and the chivalry of France, commingled in the Percy banner ; and calmly paints in the old red and white cow grazing, instead of the lion rampant, on their proud baronial shield. Still, write as he might about their glories, his deep partiality for them had nearly been their ruin, and although they had been in his hands for five-and- forty years, they were reduced to a very low ebb when he died. Duchess 64th, the dam of Second Grand Duke, he did not live to see, and she was the youngest of the eight which stood up before Mr. Straff'ord in the memorable sale ring, close by the little church-yard, where, when we last heard, not even a stone is sacred to its memory. Her dam. Duchess 55th, has been a very Barbelle in the herd world, as three of her produce were sold for 2,300 guineas, and she was both the dam and the grandam of a thousand-guinea bull. Mr. Bolden bought the first of the Kirkleavington eight in Duchess Slst, dam of the Fourth Duke of York, for whom Lord Ducie gave 200 guineas at the same sale, and sold atter three years' use to the Americans for 500 guineas. The saltwater was fatal to him, as he broke his neck in a storm ; but the change from the banks of the stately Tees to " the gently curving lines of creamy spray," that wash the Red Bank Farm, redeemed his dam from the curse of barrenness, which had sunk her to 60 gs. She bred three heifer-calves, the first of which, by Leonidas, died in the birth, and the others were ushered into the yard at Springfield for us, in the shape of two roan cows. Grand Duchess and Grand Duchess 2ud, by Grand Duke. A noble pair they were, and as Earl Ducie used to say of Duchess 55th, and one or two other of his favourites, " You might stop and smoke a cigar over them." The eldest is a beautiful specimen of a " Bates toucher, "silky hair on astout elastic hide, with thatpecu- liarly dainty cellular tissue between the hide and flesh. The head, too, has all the most favourite characteristics of the tribe, slightly dished in the forehead, with a pro- minent nostril, and a great general sweetness of ex- pression. And what is still better, they are well down in the twist, and are great milkers, combined with heavy flesh — qualities which we too rarely meet with now-a- days. Her first bull-calf was accidentally killed; but there are two heifers from her, one of them Grand Duchess 4th, a neat roan of twenty months, in calf to Grand Duke 3rd, and a red Grand Duchess 7th, of about five months old. Grand Duchess 2nd beara s strong family likeness to her sister, but she has more substance and gaiety of carriage ; and she held up her head, as if right conscious of her lineage. She is little more than five years old, but she has had three heifer calves, Grand Duchess 3rd, 5th, 8th, and Third Grand Duke, The former of these two has a very good roan B 2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. heifer by Prince Imperial, with the same gentleness of eye and mellowness of touch that pervade the whole tribe, which already numbers eight females and one male in Mr. Bolden's hands. Three of the heifers are red with a few patches of white, and it is curious to notice in their marks the exact resemblance to that original Duchess, from whom thrice 183 gs. would hardly have separated Mr. Bates at the Ketton sale. Coates's Herd Book has preserved to us her picture, as she feeds on the Tyne- side, with Halton Castle in the distance. The white patch on the flanks and crop, the star on the forehead, and the gay little beauty-spot just above the muzzle, rae all there; and with the exception of Duchess 3rd, who is enrolled in the Sibylline leaves of Shorthorn fate as " a light grey," there was no break in the " red and white succession till Duchess 19th was crossed with Belvidere of the " White Bull," or Princess family, and two roan heifers were the produce. A double cross of Belvidere brought the colour to white for the first time in Duchess 50th from Duchess 38th, by the Duke of Northumberland, from the first roan, Duchess 33rd. Cambridge Rose 5th, by Second Cleveland Lad, was five years old at the Kirkleavington sale, when Mr. Bolden senior bought her, and with the exception of Cambridge Rose 6th, who is still kept as a Shorthorn memento at Cobham, and Cambridge Rose 7th, who was purchased by Mr. Downcs, and from him by Mr. Bolden for 70 gs., the next autumn, there were then no more descendants in the land of the celebrated Hustler's ■Red Rose. Cobham proved the value of this blood by the biddings for the gay old cow, and her Marmadukc calf, Moss Rose, for whom three hundred guineas has twice since been refused. In Mr. Combe's hands, she bred four bulls and three heifers ; and there is every hope that the iron mineral waters, which Belle has met with in her new home, will make her blossom like a rose once more. The First and Second Dukes of Cam- bridge alone represent Cambridge Rose 7th, and as she persisted in breeding nothing but bulls, the tribe was lost to Springfield at her death. When Mr. Bolden had got home the old Duchess 51st, and compared her with some other very good Shorthorns on bis farm, he became so convinced of the goodness of the Bates blood, that he determined to make his stand on it. His first move was to purchase Grand Duke (10284), by Second Cleveland Lad from Duchess 55th, for 205 gs., the same price that Mr. Hay of Shethin, Aberdeenshire, gave for him at Kirkleaving- ton. At the time he bought him, he and his father had several cows almost useless, after having been served repeatedly by idle bulls ; but with him and successive Duchess bulls, the fertility (which Mr. Bates attributed in the case of the Duchesses, to the cross with Belvedere) gradually returned. The same was observable in other herds where Duchess bulls were introduced, and Earl Ducie did not conceal his opinion that his was saved by the uFe of them. Grand Duke was four years old when he came, and he departed for America two years after ; and whether in addition to the Dukes of Cambridge we look at May Duke and Grand Turk (the sire of Great Mogul), from Booth cows ; and two Cherry Dukes from the Cherry tribe, all of which have been sold and resold at high figures, Mr. Bolden stands as a bull- breeder second to none. Grand Duke 2nd, by fourth Duke of York, from Duchess 64th, who was calved at Mr. Bolden's, had rather more white on him than Grand Duke, and was only two years old when he followed him, in November 1855, to the New World. He had not quite the bold look of Grand Duke, and although it would seem to be the perfection of a Shorthorn to read good nature in his face, the Americans always thought that he looked rather too placid. Unlike the gentleman who described himself as having been absolutely unable to close his eyes from emotion, the live-long night after his unex- pected " Vision of Fair Women," in the shape of Queen Mab, Nectarine Blossom, and Queen of the May, a recent visitor to Thorndale does not seem to have been the least stirred up by treading such classic soil, or much struck with anything beyond Grand Turk weigh- ing 2,8001bs. He tells us, however, how he found him in company with Second Grand Duke and Neptune of the Booth blood ; and how he calculates that Duchess 64th and 66th, Oxford 5th, 6th, and 13th, and Bloom, Frederics, LallaRookh, Buttercup 2nd, Miss Butterfly, and Pearlette would be alongside them. Such an Ameri- can Congress would be worth all the sea-sickness and all the expense to see. Duchess 64th (600 gs.), who was generally considered the best of the eight Duchesses that were sold at Tortworlh, died a short time since, along wilh Duchess SOlh (350 gs.) ; and Duchess 66th (700 gs.), that " brand plucked from the fire" (as Earl Ducie termed her, when the news was carried to his dressing-room one morning that a calf had at last been found in Duchess 55th) was among the fifty head whom Mr. Thorne purchased after poor Mr. Becar's death for .£'7,000. She has bred remarkably well, and had a calf this year to Duke of Glos'ter, who has been resold, though not for 650 gs. Mr. Alexander's herd, who first opened the American market by his purchases from Col. Towneley, has his pasture lands in Kentucky, eight hundred miles from Thorndale. Mr. Sheldon also began last year, with a new herd at Geneva in the State of New York, and has bought Duchess 7lst, and a daughter of Duchess 64th, as well as some O.xfords ; while Babraham has furnished him with a bull. Before leaving Springfield, we hal a look at Third GrandDukeby the SecondDake of Bolton (who was from Florence, a daughter of Booth's Fame), and a striking ex- ample of the combination of the two royal lines. Second Duke of Bolton got so heavy at four years old, when he stood nearly 120 stone on the machine, that he was sold to the butcher, and his son took his place. He is a particularly handsome bull, well filled up over the steaks, and as even as a horse throughout. The great thickness through the heart is another of his points, and to this we must add very well laid shoulders. VA'ith all its gentleness, there is a particular dignity about his forehand, which so many modern bulls of high breeding renown have lost, and a touch must be dead or saucy indeed that does not own him mellow. His fee is THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fifteen guineas, and the Duke of Devonshire's Oxford 15lh and her daughter are among his fair visitors, while Leila is duly expected. When his box was closed, we soon changed the venue, with a bitter north-easter in our face, to the farm at Red Bank. It is only twelve years since Mr. Bolden began farming here, and six or seven stacks with a dozen head of cattle then formed the principal " rolling stock." Time, that gentle innovator, has worked won- ders for the soil. The traveller from cannie Aberdeen or merrie Carlisle feels sure that there is still corn in Egypt, as he glances to his right at a platoon of forty stacks thick, and the century of acres yield hay, tur- nips, and mangolds as well, to supply the whole of the present herd. All the winds that blow seem to form a coalition on that promontory ; but still thu Shorthorn thrives in all its native hardihood, and the calf-houses never lack their goodly little company. The mist jealously shrouded Langdale Pike, and the other Lake Hills ; but still, Wharton Crag made up a bold grey back-ground, when Prince Imperial came on to parade, by the side of the bay, where the Americans first saw Grand Duke. As he was led along, we thought how an imaginative mythological spirit would have fallen back on the belief of his school-boy days, and pictured to himself, in that massive roan son of Bride Cake, another moody Jupiter waiting for Europa by the lone sea-shore. He is by Second Grand Duke ; and although it so often happens that the first cross is too strong, he has well united the Booth substance and the Bates' touch. Mr. Bolden is putting him on Bates' cows again, and, to judge from the calves, with good success. His grandam Bridget was, along with Rachel and Vivacity, the last cows Mr. Richard Booth ever sold. Bridget came in calf to Crown Prince of Bridecake ; and Britannia (who was sold as a calf to Mr. Ambler) and Blissful, both of them by Grand Duke, were her other calves after leaving Warlaby. Bridecake is dead ; but her daughter, the White Bride by 2nd Duke of Bol- ton, an 18 months' heifer, was sold with another out of Blissful, the very day we were at Springfield, for 600 gs. ; and Blissful was there still with a roan calf. Bashful by Prince Imperial. Rachel — who, like her two com- panions, was believed to be barren — had only two calves : to wit. Grand Turk by Grand Duke, who de- parted from Springfield as a calf, and was resold at Mr. Ambler's sale for 300 guineas ; and Rachel 2nd by Duke of Bollon, who went to America at eighteen months for 350 guineas. Vivacity also produced May- duke, to Grand Duke, under the influence of the salt- water cure ; but she bled to death in calving, and three bottles of port wine were poured down lier in vain. We found the footsteps of Fame, the ten-year-old senior of these whilom Warlaby emigrants, in the Fe- nella family. The old cow, who was own sister to Faith, the dam of Hope and gi-andam of Charity, was purcliased by Mr. Bolden from Mr. Henry Watson, of Walkeringham, with her calf Fay by at her foot. She only bred bull calves at Springfield ; but Fay had two heifer calves to Grand Duke, and the first was christened Fenella. She went to America as a year- ling, with Griii by the same bull ; and they proved the pioneers for him, as Mr. Thorne chanced to see the pair when they landed at New York, on their way to Mr. Alexander's, and made up his mind at a glance that the sire of such daughters must be got at any price. The speculation was not fortunate in his case, as his over-activity was his ruin, and he proved to be hopelessly injured after getting seven calves. Fenella 2nd is still here in the shape of a fine roomy cow ; and Fenella III., by Prince Imperial, is full of promise for her twelve months. It was to Mussulman out of Col. Cradock's old Cherry that Mr. Booth went for the celebrated cross for Bracelet, which produced Buckingham; and tl/ bull himself was purchased for 150 guineas by Mr. Bolden's brother, and taken to Australia. The price was high for the period ; but he was a fine-fleshed animal, with great muscular development, and one cross wrought wonders with the native cattle. The original Cherry was purchased by Mr. Unthank, of Nether- scales, at the close of 1842 for £26. Col. Cradock fancied that she had ceased to breed, and she was tied up to fat for the butcher, when Mr. Unthank de- termined to chance it. The transition from Yorkshire to " Cannie Cumberland," brought about a new state of things, and in 1844-5, she calved Wonder (7730), and Queen of Trumps to the renowned Captain Shaftoe. These were her last; and she was slaughtered in 1847, when she had reached the ripe age of nineteen. Mr. Bolden took a liking to the sort, and accordingly pur- chased a Cherry cow at Mr. Lax's sale. She was small, from so much breeding in ; but the cross with Grand Duke restored the fine Cherry character, combined with capital quality and gaiety of appearance in Cherry Duchess, who is an especially neat cow, with heavy flesh, and the most beautiful racer-like bone below tho knee. We saw her under peculiarly favourable circum- stances, as one of the old sort, with thin shoulders and staring hips, was turned out at that moment from an adjacent shed, where she acts at once as nurse and "frightful example."' Her son, Second Cherry Duke, was purchased last year by Mr. Shepherd for 205 gs. (the same price his grandfather gave and received for Grand Duke), and got the first Highland Society prize for two-year-old bulls. Next to her we noticed Waterloo I7th and I8lh, who were brought out together, both of them by Second Grand Duke, and full of Duchess character ; but per- haps we were most struck with the hind quarters of tho latter. This was a tribe on which Mr. Bates set great store, and he would never say from whom he obtained them. He thus spoke of them in a letter, dated 1841, which he addressed to Mr. Bolden's brother in Australia, to whom he had sold some cattle. After advising him to put them to a Waterloo bull, which he had recently- shipped, he proceeds : " The dam and grandam of the above were both by Waterloo bulls, and tho blood was good for many generations previously; though I only asked as to the dam, when I bought the first Waterloo cow, ten years ago.'' Thero were three more Cherries, THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. and several other promising young Waterloo heifers, but a Waterloo Meeting on the plains of Altcar was looming- in the distance for us, and we could not dwell. One more tribe remained, going back to No. 25 at the Chilton sale, whose portrait, along with Clarion, was given in the Cattle volume of the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge Society, to show what a shorthorn should be. Among them were the neat roomy Garcia, a twin sister to Grisi — and two good heifers from her ; while Mario and Lablache — who were sold, one at 70 guineas and the other at 100 guineas at six months, keep up the musical honours of the line elsewhere. Chapter IX. LORD FEVERSHAM'S HERD. The sale of the Aldborough herd had become a thing of the past ; its three Roses had departed to bloom in Carnarvonshire and Chippenham Park, leaving their little kinsman, the Earl of Aberdeen, with the King Arthur calf, as the germs of a herd to come; but ere we sped from Darlington to pay suit and service to Sir James and his fair Roses of the East Lothian, we partly antici- pated our summer visit to Yorkshire, by harking back some thirty miles, to have a look at the Fifth Duke of Oxford, and the herd of which he is the far-famed centre, at Duncombe Park. The train was full of Shorthorn men, homeward bouud it is true, but each with some mission or other on the road. Some got out at Northallerton, to have a " quiet morning at Warlaby ;" others dropped on to Mr. Anthony Maynard, at Harlsey ; another couple wanted to see the Sixth Duke of Oxford, and the bevy of Duchesses at Captain Gunter's ; and hence, when we changed carriages at Thirsk for the Malton line, and heard " Helmsley Station!" shouted at last, in the unsha ikled Doric of tlie district, we had only one companion left. The scenery of the country is a striking combination of wildness and fertility. The Trafalgar Column, which the late lord reared to the hero of immortal memory, is the portal to the park, which extends along a richly-wooded plateau ; while at your feet there seems to be a vast plain in every stage of the four-crop rota- tion for miles, and then fading away in the far distance into some heather forelands, which almost shut out the view of the German Ocean. This Kirby Moor was at once the hunting ground and the death scene of the Duke of Buckingham, in days when the rafters of Helmsley Castle rang again with his revels, after he had retired from the court and cabinet of Charles the Second ; and its fame has not died out. Few foxes would care to be "at home" in Grange Whin, or Waterloo Plantation, or among the laurels of the Terrace Walk, close up to the house, if they could read when John Parker and the Sinnington intended to call; and although the hounds are collected the night before, and drop off, one by one, to their farm settlements, as the huntsman rides home, they can account for their twenty brace in a season. The old castle lies just within the Duncombe Park gates, in the midst of the little primitive market town of Helmsley ; but the wild music of the cannon which was once levelled against it for six weeks by the Iron- sides, under Fairfax, is exchanged in these happier times for the caw of the rook colony, which sail solemnly in circles round its ivy-shrouded ramparts. The only room left in it is used on rent days, and few farmers on all that vast property, which stretches away fifteen miles to Cleveland bank, and seventeen to the East Moors, pass through the lodge at those levees, whether they love shorthorns or whether they do not, without exchanging a word with " Old Anna." It is many years since she resigned office as head cow-woman, and her Herd Book memory seems to have stopped short at that point. She has caught no reflected glory from the Fifth Duke of Oxford and Symphony, and professes, we grieve to say, quite a fashionable unconsciousness of their very existence. Her heart was irretrievably lost some thirty years ago to a "Young Grazier," and her love has known no change. As for Bates and Booth, she " might have heard their names;" but Mr. Col- lings and Mr. Wiley, they were the men for her. Grazier would be by one of Mr. Wiley's bulls, and he was always buying from Mr. Collings. No wonder there was such a sympathetic chord ! What were modern breeders, and their Bates grandeur, and Booth substance, and Fawsley neatness, to her ? Give her the cows of her buxom womanhood — " big roomy yans." Then, warm- ing with her subject, after this general sentiment, she ticked her ancient favourites off on her fingers. " T/ie7-e would be Em2}eror," she said, " and Baron, and Baroness, all oot of one coo — Wildair ; them WERE just the shorthorns ! I could tell my lord, when the gentlemen came, every one of their yagesfor fifteen years back, and all aboot them." When we saw that fond and yet triumphant leer, we did not won- der (though in stature she is not the woman to wrestle with a bull) at the recital of that mysterious fascination on which she next dwelt, when the mention of Young Grazier touched another and a still tenderer key. Away she went at score, leaving our pencil and note- book staggering hopelessly behind. " Aye .' Young Grazier — you've got that right enough ; — he was a savage one, but I could just handle him as I liked. None could lead him out to please my lord, like Old Anna." Wuxing bolder, we then cross-examined her as to their parting scene. " Took him away when he was sold ? Now who's been telling you that ? Of course I did. No one else dar come nigh him. I walked seven miles on end with him, that I did. I had clogs on in those walks, and I could use 'em quick too." To a last inquiry as to whether she had not ex- tended her walks in another direction, and driven True Blue's dam to the butcher at Stilliugton, she gave us to understand that she had a slight weakness for that " coo" as well, and was determined to " see the far end of her." And on we strolled from this old marvel to see the modern herd. We had received a parting assurance that " they can give a good pedigree of me at the farm up yonder — a five-and-twenty years yan," which would place the commencement of her premiership back to about 1818. Before that date, the late Lord Feversham, then Mr. Charles Duncombe, had nothing but Devons, and THE FARMER'S MxiGAZINE. found them too delicate for the climate. The Barmpton sale was the beginning of his shorthorn herd, and Wildair, by George (I76gs.)» and Young Moss Rose, by Wellington (190gs.), both of them above five years old, were his purchases. At Mr. Mason's sale, eleven years afterwards, he gave 94gs. and G9gs. for two Satellite heifers ; Major Domo was an accession from the Castle Howard herd ; and he also dipped into the Booth blood by buying a bull from Major Bower, and hiring Albion from Warlaby. The present Lord Fever- sham has continued the herd quite as much for his tenants as himself, and with the same cosmopolitan spirit J not sticking to any particular lines of blood, but purchasing at sales, as often in person as through hie agent, anything which from its symmetry and pedigree seems most likely to prove valuable. At present it numbers about fifty head (besides twelve or thir- teen at his Lordship's seat at Oakhill, near Barnet), and some of the bull calves, which have come in a 6 to 1 proportion during the last few months, are sold to the tenants soon after they are dropped. To judge from his purchases at Kirklevington and Tort- worth, his Lordship's inclination has rather been for the Bates blood, whose bulls have done him good service. He gave 300 gs. for First Cleveland Lad ; and when he proved unable to serve, Second Cleve- land Lad (the sire of his Perfume and Belinda) was lent, and the two were at Buncombe Park together. This Cleveland Lad cross did much to- wards restoring the milking properties of the herd ; and two cows of the breed gave as much as forty quarts of milk a day between them. Belmont and Jenny Lind were by the Earl of Beverley, whom his lordship hired from Kirklevington for a year ; and the latter, a still well-remembered shorthorn specimen, took the first prize at Smithfield in 1850, when the cow classes were open to all breeds ; while, in the fol- lowing year, Puella, by First Cleveland Lad, from Primula, by Grazier, earned the same honour. The Smithfield Show was also the early destination of Wild Eyes 29th, who was among his Lordship's four pur- chases at Kirklevington, as she never had a live calf her- self, and had nearly set all the other cows wrong. Hence they deemed it best to feed her, and won the silver medal in the extra stock class. Ebor, by Third Duke of York (10,166), got two or three things, and then died; Oxford 12th died after her first calf, and in fact, the only one which bred was Duchess 61st, the dam of Desdemona, and the cream-coloured Highland Duke, the sire of May Duke. At Tortworth, his lord- ship bought China, a two-year-old half-sister to Oxford 12th, for 90 gs., and came out with a vigour worthy of the occasion for Tilth Duke of Oxford, by Duke of Glo'ster (11382), dam Oxford 11th, who was little more than five months. Never was 300 gs. better laid out; and the 120 gs. for his half-brother Glo'ster, who was a month younger, also came back with usury. In 1855, Glos'ter was second to Booth's Windsor at the Royal and the Yorkshire Society's Shows ; in 1856-57 he was the prize bull at Paris and York ; and in the following year he was sold for 200 gs. to Australia, leaving no mean legacy to Buncombe Park in Peram- bulator and Prince Imperial. His lordship was also a buyer of the highest-priced lot at Mr. Kirkham's sale; and Vauxhall, by Duke of Cambridge (7987), 36 guineas, and Mint, by Captain Shafto (6833), for whom Mr. Hopper Majon fought him out, bid- ding for bidding, up to 160 guineas, are still iu the herd ; but Lavender died from a remarkable ac- cumulation of warts, all underneath her, after having a fine calf, Lady Mayoress, to the Fifth Duke of Oxford. Oakleaf, by Duke of Glo'ster, 81 guineas, and Fanciful, 51 gs., from Mr. Tanqueray's ; Blithe- some, by King Arthur (13110), 70 gs., and Symphony, by Jock of Hazeldean (13085), 96 gs., from Mr. Marjori- banks ; and Claribell, by The Earl of Dublin (10178), 95 gs., from Mr. Grenfell's, have been his lordship's principal purchases of late years. Those at a less figure have generally gone to Oak Hill, where Saucebox and Dairy, from Cobham, now roam. We had learnt this much of the antecedents of the herd, when we reached the summer temple at the top of the avenue, and then leaving it on the left, turned into the first farm-stead, through a handsome troop of those Polish fowls, which seem to have fled the earth before the allied forces of Spanish and Dorkings. The build- ings here, which are sufficient to accommodate eighteen cows and several calves, are of a neat but simple descrip- tion ; the gangways were strewn with sawdust, and the beds were of fern, a supply of which stood piled in a large stack hard by. Fanchette, a purchase at Mr. Ack- royd's sale at Farnley, was the first to show. She has a very nice head, and looks like a milker, and of her breeding powers we had good proof in her white and rare-coated bull calf by Prince Imperial, whom, from his size, we felt disposed to ante-date by nearly three weeks, i Bloomer, by Ben Nevis (9960), from Blue Bell by First Cleveland Lad, was bred by his lordship, and is a nice clever cow, with beautiful quality, and especially neat in her bosom and fore-quarters and head, which wears the gay waxy horn of Kirklevington. Mint, a compact, but not very large cow, with a good back and loin, and well-sprung rib, has dropped the prefix to her name, which she bore at Mr. Kirkham's, but without reason, as far as her success is concerned. One of her daughters, Miliicent, by Highland Duke, was sold to the Emperor of the French last year for 100 gs. ; and Medora by Glo'ster, and Melody by the Fifth Duke of Oxford, have all proved happy crosses for her renowned Captain Shafto blood. Sunrise, by Glo'ster, and her dam Sunflower, appeared together, but the daughter is an improvement on the mother. They go back through Sunshine by Second Cleveland Lad to Sunbeam by Grazier, who slipped into a drain and died. Sunflower has at present a bull calf Stack- allan, by Fifth Duke of Oxford, who forthwith appeared from the opposite side of the yard to meet her, and is, with the exception of a little plainness behind, a very clever calf. And so, through Laurel Leaf, by Bumper, a very neat cow, with a Splendour heifer calf ; Butter- cup, by Belmont, not a big cow, and with a good deal of the old fashion about her ; and Blithesome, who is small. 8 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, but has all the Buckiugbam quality, we reached Charm. This cow is more of the old Wild Eyes sort, and very nice in the horn, but hardly equal to her red heifer calf Charmer, by the Fifth Duke of Oxford. She is by Leicester (14787), who came originally from Lord Ber- ners, in exchange for another calf, and her calf Charm- ing Lad won in a tenant's hands at Kirby Moorside last year. Claribell was a very stylish cow, with beautiful fore-quarters, and shows great breeding. Unluckily, her bull calf died, and she has never bred since. Cheveril, by Prince Imperial, does both him and her dam Cheerful every credit, and a nicer and more mossy coat we have seldom handled. There was also another of the Fifth Duke of Oxford heifers in the shape of a twin from Belinda, who is since dead — quite a Bates both in colour and head, and with ears and nostril standing out in true Kirkleavington fashion. Choice, by Highland Duke (13025), from China, struck us as a particularly even-made, hearty cow, with a nice back and ribs, but a trifle plain in her hind- quarters. Bloomer was the plum of the lot, and she never looked better than when we watched her and her companions, including three or four Alderneys, which are kept to improve the cream, stroll- ing quietly into the park after parade, beneath the over- hanging oaks and beeches of Blackdale Howl; Claribell, with her gay neck and head, leading, and the old cow bringing up the rear. And so we strolled across the wide and beautifully- belted park in search of the others, and took a prelimi- nary peep down the valley of the Rye, which bounds it on the west. The broken ground on the opposite side of the river, which terminates in one point in the dark green of the Waterloo plantation, which was planted as a wood of victory by the late lord, is singularly rugged and beautiful; and a distant peep of the hills of Ilambleton, with all their Kingston and Knight of St. George recol- lections, may atone, to "a stable mind," for getting none of the ruins of Rivaulx Abbey, which still linger, in all the majesty of calm decay, a little further down the valley. The Griff Farm, that scene of Old Anna's glories, to which we were bound, lies about a quarter of a mile from the park, along a field route, lined, at inter- vals, with those dark-green holly trees peculiar to this Riding, and which catch a stranger's eye at once from their enormous size. Ear, however, came into play before eye, when we at last neared the box of the Fifth Duke of Oxford, and were saluted with a roar, quite worthy, in its depth and tone, of a Libyan King of Beasts, and he looked the character to the life, with that shaggy " lion-like old head" and mane, as he was at last led forth, snorting, in blinkers. The fine length, beautiful tDuch, and rare union of hip, loin, and rump take the eye as much as ever ; but although he is reduced some twenty stone since he wore the Chester and Northallerton prize ribbons, his day of usefulness is, we have reason to fear, like his temper, quite gone. Still, he seems active, and walks two hours a day ; but the change from training to ordinary life, although he was let down quice gra- dually, ruined his mettle, and he has not served a cow since the autumn. The £b prize at the Cleveland Show was his maiden one at two years old. In 1856 came the bronze medal, which is equivalent to an H. C. at Paris ; and at Rotherham that year he only bowed to Grand Turk. His son Skyrocket, from Swift, who faces Prince Imperial in the next place, did not serve till he was banished for penance to some poor land at Cock- ayne, adjoining the moors; and several roan heifer calves have recently been dropped to him by cows belonging to the tenants in Bransdale. He is of a beautiful colour, with long quarters, and a stylish head, but with not quite the quality of his sire, or the massiveness of Prince Imperial, who is a year his senior, and like him a prize winner at the shows of the district. The latter, who was calved on the May morning of 1856, is by Glo'ster, from Perfume by Second Cleveland Lad, and through her, in the good old line, to Grazier. He is a splendid roan of great length, with especially fine hind quarters, and well let down in the twist, in short an awkward July customer in the " Lammas Meadows." In neatness he was perhaps ex- celled by his brother Perambulator, who is very remark- able in that respect, and was highly commended as a calf at Northallerton. Splendour by Glo'ster formed another of the congress, and so did Oxonian by Fifth Duke of Oxford, who is level and clever, but of rather a bad colour. As we left the bull boxes, old Vauxhall, who is up- wards of eleven years old and very lame, headed a pro- cession of her Duncombe Park produce (in which Victor Emanuel, who was sold to the Duke of Montrose, alone was wanting) on to the little green behind the yard. She was originally bought in calf with Varna by Usu- rer, who followed her ; and then came her Victorine and Valetta, both of them by Fifth Duke of Oxford. Victorine is very level and beautiful, but was never shown ; while Valetta, who was highly commended at Northallerton, has hardly quite her style, and seems to have grown a little plainer since she was in public. Symphony, on the contrary, has improved most wonder- fully since Mr. Wetberell's hammer fell at Bushy Grove. After being placed second to Queen of the Isles as a calf, she won high commendations both at Chester and Northallerton, in a year quite unparalleled for strength. She is wonderfully thick and elegant throughout, with a deep bosom, and peculiarly catching forehead ; and her ofiTal is so fine, that some judges have positively taken exception to her on that score. Un- luckily, she will be springing with calf to Mayduke the week before Warwick, and hence the class will be shorn of one of its most promising features. Mary, Chivalry, Alma, a capital toucher, but not very handsome, and Piccolomini— all by Fifth Duke of Oxford, then joined in the rank and file ; but although the last named is a very square, true-made heifer, the eye gets dainty after a glimpse of Symphony ; and for this reason perhaps Olivia by May Duke, and Medora by Glo'ster, whose colour is a good deal against her, received less notice than was their due. There was Songstress also from the Grazier blood, of a very grand colour and style, and her twin sister Stately, whose somewhat upright horns were her only take-off. Portia, a long low THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 9 thick style of cow, with a rare back aad good character, who was commended at Lincoln, and won at Kirby Moorside, was the last of the cows save one, and that was_Bride, a white cow on a large scale, of the Castle Howard breed, who is in active training for the Christ- mas Fat Shows. Three were in the calf houses ; to wit, Chorus by Splendour; a bull calf by Prince Imperial, from Oakleaf ; and the infant of the herd, the last pro- duce of China, in the shape of The Duke of Chester, so called from his being the first that was dropped to the Fifth Duke of Oxford, after his victory on the plains of the Dee. His fine quality and remarkably beautiful head make him worthy of his name; and he has found a new owner at a hundred pounds. Old Anna had a few last words with us on our return, to correct some statement about Baroness ; but she treated with proper disdain all our hints that she should make "her positively last appearance" in the Shorthorn world, and try those soothing wiles on The Fifth Duke, which had won her Young Grazier's heart. She does not, however, monopolize all the character of the place, as it came out in a remarkable degree in the omnibus youth. Sundry embraces and trunk hoistings had made him very late, and the smoke of the train was full half a mile beyond its accustomed point, when we got to the last long bit of level road. Nothing daunted, he set to, and with his cigar in mouth, his left hand on his hip, and his cap knowingly cocked, he remarked that now he would "just give us a touch of the mail coach days." At first, we felt as much concerned as if another "Peter the Wild Boy" had been caught in the Grange Whin, and raised forthwith to whip's estate, and heartily wished ourselves (as we held on for our life, amid those perilous rockings) at the quiet side of Symphony once more ; but a fourteen-miles-an -hour velocity just beat the train, and a most fearful pour down to boot, in a most exciting finish ; and we were soon snugly en route for Athelstaneford. Chapter X. THE BABRA.HAM HERD. Babraham, Tiptree, and Doncas^cre, are said to be the three shrines, towards which all foreigners of agri- cultural and stable mind, journey, like pious pilgrims, before they depart from our shores. Like them, we had been insensibly led to believe that Mr. Jonas Webb was quite unitarian in his admiration for a long line of fleecy heroes, whose fame had been spread through Old Babraham, Plenipo, and The Captain, into all lands; and we were hardly prepared to find that while the Southdown flock was still in its full strength, a herd of 142 head of shorthorns had gradually arisen at its side. It was no little relief, with the hot shout of " Promised Land !" and " Mayonaise 1" still ringing in our ears, to get quit of The Devil's Dyke at last, and find ourselves on these Downs, so fraught with Bishop's Charity and (iuaker Charity Farms, which separate Babraham from Fulbourne, and with no other sounds in the air than the lazy tinkling of the wether bells, the fitful objurgations of the crow boys, and the ceaseless chatter of a troop of girls, busy among the mangel ridges, in the best of spirits, and the broadest of straw hats. Cambridgeshire told its true Christmas tale, as we turned off the Roman road, and espied another of these fair Broadbrims looking after a flock of turkeys, while she plied her crochet work under a scanty hedge ; and then Babraham began most unmistakeably to prophesy of itself, as we approached "The Reed Barn," and part of Mr. Samuel Webb's flock of southdowns would hardly get out of the way. Anon we leave Gog and Magog, with their thirty-three church prospect and their Godolphin Arabian glories, to the right, and we are soon skirting the well-wooded park of Mr. Adeane, M.P., whose southdowns and pheasants seem to flourish in harmonious fatness. Mr. Webb once lived in a portion of this park, but the site of the house where three-and-thirty years come July he entertained the guests at his first ram-let ling, has been merged into a plantation. The meadow, which was erst the scene of those busy marts, is still rich in buttercups as ever ; and as we think of the great agri- culturists John Duke of Bedford, " Portland," Earl Ducie, and a host of others who have stood there in their time, the Granta brook, which does not rise into the full- blown dignity of " the willowy Camus" till it nears the University, which has written so much in English and Greek and Latin in its honour, may well seem to whisper as it ripples gently past, " And men may come, and men may go, But I flow on for ever." Two thousand at least rallied round Mr. Webb at that spot, in the year of The Cambridge Royal, and it was then that the Duke of Richmond, with rare foresight, made his first 100 guinea off"er for a mere ram lamb, which was destined to win the head Royal prize at Liverpool and Bristol in succession, and then to earn his name "Clumber," from the home of his noble hirer; Dick Gurney, the best "jockey of Norfolk" across the pastures of the Pytchley and the Quorn, was not thought " too bold" when he offered 360 gs. in vain for Thick- thorn (whom he had hired the year before) and his sons Babraham and Cantab. The agents of crowned heads are also busy each July in the new letting meadow, and the Emperor of the French paid his tribute to the " dark faces" at the Paris Exhibition of 1856, by the presentation of a piece of plate to Mr. Webb, with the " truly British" design of a couple of blood-mares and their foals, standing under the shade of a gnarled ivy- grown oak. A chesnut Suffolk mare, and a foal by Mr. Fisher Hobbs' prize horse, was the only occupant that morning of the meadow, which lies within a stone's throw of the present residence ; and although the paddocks were plen- tifully dotted with rams, it was not; until we got into the fold yard that we became cognizant of the presence of shorthorns at all. Mr. Webb's farms consist of about 1,200 acres of arable and 100 of pasture, and his herd is kept specially to make straw into manure. They are all fed well for this purpose, but forcing and train- ing for &how8 is not part of his plan. No cow brings up its own calf, but the most promising young bull has simply two or three sucks to keep the wind off' his stomach, and nurses are unknown. The herd, which 10 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. was begun in 1837, is made up from six dififerent tribes, the first of which was purchased, through the agency of Mr. Strafford, from a Mr. Allison, in Nottinghamshire. It consisted of Blcdiisa and Moppet ; and it was from the former, of the Spencer blood, that Mr. Webb bred Victoria, by Chancellor (3335), whom he showed at the Cambridge Royal as a yearling. Through this cow, whom he was especially anxious to cross with Mr. Adeane's best bulls, the tribe went on ; and First Duchess of Richmond, Lady Godolphin (who had twins four times in succession), and Lady Caroline, the dam of four Lord Dacres, three of which went abroad, have sustained it right well. Two years later, Mr. Webb dipped again into the Spencer blood, with Dof/onft, by Alabaster (1616), from Mr. Mason's No. 6. She had already bred two calves ; but, although she was only five years old, she was thought to be a some- what speculative purchase. However, she had twin heifers to Vanguard (5545), only one of which, Duchess, was retained, and then Countess, the dam of Lady Louisa and Lady Ann, the latter of whom has bred twelve living calves. Vanguard, who was pur- chased by Mr. Adeane from Wiseton for 50 guineas, as a calf, was a very good bull ; and Mr. Webb used that gentleman's Pam (6272) and Paris (7314) very freely, and did not keep one of his own till he purchased Minstrel (8687), in 1845, from Mr. Maylans, of War- wickshire. He was by Accordion (o708) from Charmer, by Little John (4232) of the Fawsley blood, which it seemed desirable to cross with Lord Spencer's. Scri- vener (10791) was purchased from Lord Ducie in 1849, and through him and Lady Bird from Belinda, Mr. Webb had a double dip into old Usurer in one year. It was about this time, too, that he added Red Roan Kirtling by Battus (7816), from Bessy, half sister to Buttercup, to his bull list, and by putting him on Countess, got the Marquis of Bute, the sire in his turn of the Earl of Haidwicke. Mr. Bates's stock found its first repre- sentative in Cclia by the Third Duke of Northumber- land, who was bovight at Mr. Beaufort's, of Bletsoe, sale, in calf to Percy by the same bull, and the produce, The Countess of Hardwicke, was the eldest of ten. Mr. Webb's eldest son, Mr. Henry Webb, has some repre- sentatives of the first three tribes at his farm at West Wickham ; with their produce by Young Cheltenham, besides a pair of twin Duke of Cambridge heifers from Flora by Kirklevington (14333), and others of the Chel- tenham stock, but time pressed, and we were unable to visit them. A fourth tribe was added in 1848, through Belinda by Ranunculus (2479), from Sylph by Sir Walter (2637). After Lady Bird by Usurer, she had Lord of the North (11743) and Lord of the South (13216). The latter went for 150 gs. as a yearling to Australia, leaving only four or five calves ; and from the cross between Lord of the North and his dam, the only instance in the herd, came Young Sylph, who found a 120-guinea purchaser as a yearling at Paris. Belinda bred in all three bulls and three heifers ; and Lady Bird, with four heifers by Lord of the South, still represent her in the herd. The purchase of Boddice, the founder of the fifth tribe, originated in Mr. Webb's not caring to go beyond his five-hundred-guinea bid for Duke of Glo'ster (11382), amid the frenzy of the Tortworth sale; and hence he was determined to buy something in calf to him, as well as a bull by him. The determination was neither rash nor unfruitful, as Boddice (125 gs.), and in calf with Duchess of Glo'ster, not only brought a strain of Lord Ducie'sold Bessy into the herd, but bred Gi-and Duke (12695), who was sold for 200 gs. at Paris ; while Cheltenham, the 125 guinea Tortworth calf, and the sire of both her Grand Dukes, put his mark for good more unmistakeably on the herd than any other bull, and was sold after three seasons for the same price to Lady Pigot. The Princess tribe was also added through Daffy Gioy7ine, who was bought at Mr. Tanqueray's sale in calf to the Duke of Cambridge (12742); and it was in order to get a double " Oxford mixture," by crossing her with the produce, Duke of Cambridge (14433), that Mr. Webb would not leave The Beauty at Mr. Combe's. The Duchess of Glo'ster was almost the first cow which caught our eye as we crossed into the largest fold-yard. She bears a strong resemblance to her sire in her general look and quality, and is remarkably sweet about the head. Mr. Webb has twice over refused 300 gs. for her ; and she is so deep a milker, that they have sometimes to milk her three times a day. Coun- tess of Mexborough, a daughter of the Countess of Hardwicke, is another honourable name in the Babra- ham peerage ; and her dam was scarcely one and twenty months when she was calved. Like their eldest sister. Heartsease and Happiness bore no witness against this early breeding, as the Australians liked the former sufficiently to give 200 gs. for her; and Happiness, who was sold for 50 gs. more to Lady Plgot, won the first prize in her class at the Royal Irish Society last year, and the gold medal as the best of all the cows as well. Unluckily she caught cold on board ship, and died soon after she reached Chippenham Park. There was also the Countess of Caledon, and her sister the elegant Lady Stuart de Rothsay, both by Red Roan Kirtling ; Lady Elizabeth, a younger sister of the Countess of Hardwicke, stood near her, holding silent converse with Queen Lily, a very good gay heifer of. the Dodona tribe ; while DafFy Gwynne, with her fine size, and that re- markable head which has been preserved in the tribe for forty years, reminded us once more of the "old, old fashion." Just underneath the antique pigeon-house, we found the first relic of Young Holland, who perished from a stroke last year, when the sun rose to 132 degrees vertical heat, above the Chelmsford show-yard. They got him out of it, after he had won the open challenge prize, without comprehending the extent of the mischief, and he walked in the evening from the Chesterford station to Babraham, but he was found dead in his stall next morning, as cold and stiff as a piece of black marble. The young bull Goldfinder, from Lady Jane, was a thick, good-looking animal, but too shy to show himself to any advantage. Standard Bearer by Earl of Hardwicke represented Lady Jane this year in one of the calf-houses ; and in the next one was a daughter of the Countess of Caledon, who dips slightly in the back like her dam ; but still there is very good length and a remarkably good coat to compensate. Astrjea's calf, the first that has been dropped to May Duke, kept her company, and has a good deal of the Gwynne style about it. There were also two more of the Earl of Hardwicke's bull calves ; one of them a re- markably lengthy one from the Duchess of Glo'ster, and another from Lady Ann, especially good in the shoulder, and rich in the hair. Young Holland also claimed two out of the three bull calves who came bounc- ing out next on to society. One of them, from Mock- ing Bird, has a peculiarly catching forehand, and his horns go back with that sweep which lends such a de- licate grace to the head of Rose of Athelstane ; but the one from Lady Stuart is decidedly the truer and the thicker throughout. Old Lady Ann, the patriarchcss of the herd, was in another yard, and she still looks wonderfully gay and straight for her age. Lady Jane is not one whit behind her in her breeding powers, and she goes as a capital representative of the blood of Red Roan Kirtling into the cow class at Warwick. Young Celia, a remarkable milker, and very Bates-like in her general look, was there, and her Lead stood out THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. U in contrast to the somewhat Roman one of Miss Abigail at her side. The cream of the yearling heifers composed a quartet, in a sort of intermediate yard between this and the one allotted to the bulls. Miss Emily and Lady Alice Bur- dett, the one with a great deal of the Athelstaneford and the other with the Warlaby character about it were per- haps the pick ; but Duchesse de Maille was a good third, nearly equal in her substance, but not quite so striking ; while Second Duchess of Glo'ster has rather a coarser head and requires time. The two senior bulls, Earl of Ilardwicke (14476), and Duke of Cambridge (14433), stood tied up behind large canvas curtains, parallel to the entrance of their shed ; and hence at first sight we were only favoured with a glimpse of the fine lengthy huggins of the one, and the strong Daffy Gwynne head of the other. ' ' The Duke" has quite a Godolphin crest, and is remarkably low in the twist; while " The Earl" pleased us more especially by his fine length generally. There has as yet been only one more bull out of the eleven from his dam, but it was castrated in consequence of an injury in attempting to jump a gate. Three younger bulls were tied up in another shed, one of them a half-brother to " The Duke" by Young Holland ; and Gold Jacket by Young Cheltenham, a very thick one, who is bound to Australia. There were also a trio of heifer calves of remarkable promise on the other side of the wall, one of them by the Earl of Ilardwicke from Young Celia, with a very beautiful head and long crops, but unfortunately just too old to show as a yearling ; while Lady Alice had no mean belle to follow her, in Lady Augusta Burdett. Before we sallied forth again to the two outlying farms, we turned for a slight interlude from beef to mutton. Even in our Shorthorn researches in the Home farm, the embodiment of the latter was always in view, in the shape of " Derby" reduced two thirds, and doing duty as weathercock, on the top of the old barn. The leg of mutton point on which he was so great, has certainly been made the most of by the mo- deller ; but it comes out in all its strength in many of his descendants among the July yearlings. The old long- horned Norfolk rams, whose narrow backs and sharp spines proved such a very uncomfortable seat for Mr. Webb, when he used to ride them in his boyhood at West Wickham, and set him a thinking in his maturer years, live only in story at Babraham now ; and not one even is kept as a relic of the dark ages. The South- down flock at present consists of about 1 ,400, and about 1,000 lambs as well. Originally there were three tribes, but a fourth and fifth have been added ; and Mr. Webb never hires rams, as he can now always keep the blood sufiiciently distinct without it. In number the tribes are nearly equal, and they have all produced prize sheep ; and at present there are from 120 to 140 rams, for letting next month. The selection is made within fifteen days from lambing, and upwards of 200 ram lambs are re- tained each year. Besides the elaborate ear marks, and divers others on the shoulder and hip, they have caba- listic crosses of green above yellow, blue above red, and EO forth, on their sides, which tell their descent at a glance to their owner's eye ; and furnish an unfailing clue, when they rise to ram hogget estate, and are ripe for entry in the Flock Book. All the fleeces are weighed, and if they do not come up to 7 lbs. the ewe hoggets are sold to go abroad. The Old Babraham shearlings nearly all averaged 8 lbs., and although the late mild winter and spring was not favourable to the growth of wool, the majority of the fleeces this year have touched it. The nature of the soil is, moreover, not pecu- liarly favourable to wool, as it is gravelly, and almost fine enough for an hour-glass ; and the sand rather prevents the grease from getting through the fleeces. Mr. Webb never sells ewes in England : he has a few from twelve to thirteen years old, and he has bred from them at fourteen, but the rams are seldom let beyond their seventh season ; and the heaviest of them have killed at 50 lbs. a quarter. The losses among the breeding ewes are calculated at about one in twenty ; and as the diffi- culty of breeding is much enhanced by the want of grass, Mr. Webb has had anything but a May-game of it, in bringing his flock to their present position. Two lots of yearling rams, making some forty iu all, were in train- ing for the final Warwick Royal Selection, on some seeds behind the house. They were principally by the prize old sheep and the first and second prize yearling at Salisbury ; and we found on enquiry, that the second pi'ize old sheep has gone to America. Plenipo, who was a yearling in 1834, when his great chesnut namesake and neighbour was in his zenith, swelled the tide of Southdown success for Mr. Webb ; and The Gen- tleman, Clumber, Liverpool, Shrewsbury, Derby, Young Elegance, Gloucester, The Captain, and Old Uncertain, &c., have never suffered it to ebb. There was Fancy Boy also, who was never let, and hung himself in early life in a fence ; Perfection, the sire of The Captain, for whom Mr. Lugar's offer of 150 guineas as a yearling was refused ; Dictator, who elicited a like answer ; and Windsor Castle, the conqueror of his half- brother at Windsor, who received the name of The Queen's Own, from her Majesty's expression of dissa- tisfaction at the verdict, though the royal prerogative was not potent to reverse it. Fifty yearlings for letting were busy on the yellow globe mangel in another pad- dock ; and two renowned heroes, to wit Old Duke and Young Flenipo, were railed off in state at one end. The latter has the Babraham flock blood in him for ten generations on the dam's side ; and Mr. Webb valued him so highly, that, in spite of a 200 guinea offer, he kept him for two seasons, and let him last year for the first time. Old Duke is five years old, and has achieved 410 guineas at three lettiugs. In one of them Mr. Henry Overman bid 169 guineas ; and the Duke of Richmond made it even money, and got him. The pasture behind the fold yard was full of Old Duke's descendants ; and Yoimg Captain, the flock patriarch of the Emperor of the French, who hired three last year, could also claim a hand in some of the ninety couples of glorious legs of mutton, which scampered off at our ap- proach. A short ride past Sawston Hall — whose woods, with Mr. Adeane's, encircle the farm, like a dark green belt — and the quaint old village cross, brought us to the Hunt- ington Farm, amongst the herd once more. Fourteen or fifteen cows were in the fold-yard. There was Young Wallflower (whose first bull by Cheltenham went to Swe- den), looking very poor, but with a rare character at the milk-pail ; The Countess of Hardwicke, with her fine wide hips aud great length, and reminding us both in her staring colour and general character of Aylesby Garland ; and Empress of Russia, the eldest daughter of the Countess of Mexborough, and a nice snug cow, and rather neater in the offal than her dam. Along with them, we also noted Miss Bletsoe, one of whose bull calves is in the royal stalls of Holland; Grace Aguilar, the dam of Thorndale, and, like Lady Sextus and Amy Robsart, of Wiseton descent ; Queen of the May, the dam of Mayduke, another of the snug ones; and so on to Lady Caroline. We then entered the barn, and as the eye gradually settled to it, we were conscious of a long dim vista of calves and bulls, arranged along the sides and ends. In fact, every barn and building seemed as inexhaustible in shorthorns as the conjuror's hat is of eggs and other knick-knacks at a Statty Fair. They came on to us out of snug little hiding-places when we least ex- pected them, and those hiding-places were legion. Six heifer calves were housed on one side of the barn, with Lady Elizabeth Yorke, a daughter of the Countess of 12 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Hardwicke, as the belle, and Miss Amelia next to her in merit. Lord Royston, a yearling bull from Miss Bietsoe, then marched out in the shape of a good- looking red animal, very like Cheltenham both in colour and his forehand. A stylish Brother to Sir Charles, by King Alfred from Ermenstrade, followed with Lord Derby, by Second Grand Duke (14640), behind him. His lordship was rather thin in condition, as he was taken from the milk too early. His half-brother won the yearling bull prize at the recent Colchester Show ; where a Cheltenham yearling heifer was alike fortunate in her class. Young Merry Lad, a very gentlemanly gay bnll, with good crops, fine quarters, and a very blood- like head, along with Captain Cook and two others ex- hausted the bull supply in the barn, but a couple were still to come from the adjoining stable. May Duke, the winner of the challenge prize at Colchester, who has so amply vindicated Mr. Webb's Duke of Glo'stcr fancy, showed first, and although he may, perhaps, be a little on the leg, and not very catching in his crest, he is one of those even-made useful bulls, with the best of backs. For his age. Sir Charles has, perhaps, more size and finish than any of them, and it seemed as if a wheel-barrow would go with ease through his front legs. His quality was undeniable, and he is very long and good in his quarters ; and another year ought to make a very grand bull of him. It would have been strange indeed if we had not " drooped and turned aside" once more from the short- horns, to visit a flock of 300 ewes and lambs, before we proceeded on to the North farm. The dam of Young Norwich and Young Plenipo needed no pointing out, as the veriest tyro ought to have challenged her as " a mother of the Gracchi ;" and there was also the dam of the 197 guinea ram by Young Elegance, with a ram lamb, by a son of Young Plenipo, at her side, which bids fair to be as good a Southdown King in its turn. Three more sons of Young Plenipo were among the forty picked rams, who were ruminating with Young Duke among the clover of the North farm, which lies rather more than midway between Sawston and Babra- ham. Eight heifers were its principal tenants ; four of them by Cheltenham, and four by Young Cheltenham. There was Lady Pigot, a roan yearling, wide and close to the ground, and half sister to Lady Mary Craven, who is unfortunately just too old to show as a yearling. She is among the very best of the herd, with a wonder- ful middle especially, well placed shoulders, and the sweetest of heads. Rising Star, a clever Suffolk chesnut of Mr. Webb's, occupies the stable, and his dam, who was never put to the horse till her twenty-second sea- son, is still " chating Natur" by working in her twenty- seventh. But orthodox as the chesnut is, we cannot afford to linger over him. We have passed through the last flock of Southdowns, and under the broken arch of the grass- grown Newmarket railway, and we are once more on the high road, with a troop of gaunt Hampshire downs graz^ ing at its side, as if on purpose to reduce us, at one fell stroke, back to the contemplation of the sheep-walk of common life. The Field farm has next its shorthorns to show, with a Daffy Gwynne heifer by Young England, an especially good roan twin from the Countess of Mex- brough, Celia II. and old Wallflower among them. A roan bull calf by Young Duke of Cambridge, from a Cheltenham heifer, will also bear looking at and handling as well ; and " The Duke" and the Duchess of Glo'ster have no reason to be ashamed of the Prince of Prussia, a long, low bull, with a forehand very full of character. But the herd was not at an end yet, and the old inn yard at Chesterford, of which the walnut tree, under whose shade generation after generation of postboys must have smoked their pipes, is still the time-honoured centre, has yet to be visited. The stables, from which 40 pairs could issue on a Newmarket week, have given up their old vocation. Miss Goodwood, no unworthy sister to Lady Pigot's Empress of Hindostan (who has vindicated the honour of Babraham both at Barnstaple and S waff ham already), and a good roan heifer by Cheltenham, from Lady Jane, lent life to them yet. Ermenstrade, with the neatest of shoulders, and altogether a remarkably sweet style of cow, had a loose box to herself, and looked none the worse for having very recently got rid of a putrid skele- ton of a calf six weeks after her time. There, too, occupying a whole stable, whose stalls had vanished, was The Beauty, a great slashing cow, though perhaps a trifle weak behind the crops, and her very clever blood-red Marmadukc heifer calf, with that beautiful head, which is the badge of all his stock, railed off be- side her. Remembering the steady but exciting bid- dings for this cow at Cobham, we should like to have seen more of the pair in their new abode, but the railway whistle told us there was no time to " dwell," and the land of the Southdowns was soon upon our lee. [R WOOL. BY CUTHBERT W. JOHNSON, ESO., F.R.S. The wool of his sheep is not only interesting to the farmer from its commercial value, but after being wrought into woollen fabrics he gladly repurcliases it as a powerful manure. It is only in modern times that his wool slowly escaped from the care of the legislature, or almost as tardily became known to him for its fertilizing powers. It was as early as the year 1337 that we find the exportation of English wool prohibited. The same measure of injustice to the farmer was conferred in 1521. And in 1696 the loisdom oi Parliament was evinced by the ])rohibition of the export of wool from England, or even from Ireland into England. It was not till the year 1824 that the acts of Parliament restraining the exportation of wool were finally repealed. It was not always, however, without reason that the Parliaments of other days interfered with the production of wool. Even as late as the sixteenth century the flock- masters of Ireland and Scotland had a summary way of gathering the wool from the sheep, which the rulers of those times were enlightened enough to restrain. Thus, by the act of the Irish Parlia- ment (11 and 12 Charles II., c. 15), entitled "An act against plowing by the tayle and pulling the wool off living sheep," it is declared that " in many places of this kingdome there hath been a long time used a, barbarous custome of ploughing, har- rowing, drawing, and working with horses by the tayle, whereby (besides the cruelty used to the beasts) the breed of horses is much impaired in THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. IS this kingdome. And also divers have, and yet do use the like barbarous custome of pullinjr oft' the wool yearly from living sheep, instead of dipping or shearing them." These miserable practices were then declared to be illegal, and to be punish- able with fine and imprisonment. It is evident, however, that there had been a previous Irish ordinance on this subject, since such a reformation is referred to in a letter written to his Scotch council by King James, in 16 17. Chambers' Annals of Scotland (vol. i. p. 471) gives an extract from a curious entry in the Scotch Privy Council Record. The document states that " In some remote and uncivill places of this king- dom an old and barbarous custom was still kept up of i^hicJcing the wool from sheep instead of clip- ping it'' The king hearing of the practice, wrote a letter to his Council, denouncing it as one not to be suffered; telling them that it had already been reformed in Ireland, under a penalty of a groat on every sheep so used, and was " far less to be en- dured in you." The Council immediately (March 17, 1617) passed an act in the same tenor, and after stating that many sheep died in consequence of this cruel treatment— concluded with a threat of severe fines on such as should hereafter con- tinue the practice. " It is remarkable," adds Mr, Chambers, "that in the Faroe Islands there is to this day no other way of taking the wool from sheep than that which was then only kept up in remote parts of Scotland." It is curious to notice by what slow degrees just notions were adopted with regard to the sheep and its wool, not only by the Parliament but by the farmer. We can only get hints of these things from the early Engli'sh agricultural writers. Old Worlidge, in 16S0, in his considerable folio work on agriculture, barely bestows a dozen lines upon the sheep. He tells us that in his time " The Herefordshire sheep about Leominster bore the fairest fleeces of any in England." But Worlidge ever seemed to prefer the live stock that had the most young ones at a birth : thus he concludes of the sheep, " But the Dutch sheep are the largest of all, being much bigger than any I have seen in England, and yearly bear two or three lambs at a time. It is also reported that they sometimes bear lambs twice in the year." Whatever may have been Worlidge's notions with regard to sheep, he was evidently aware of the value of woollen substances as fertilizers, for he tells us in his chapter on the Manuring of Land, "In rags of all sorts there is good virtue; they are carried far, and laid upon land, and have in them a warming improving temper; one good load will go as far as a dozen or more of the best cow dung." It was nearly two centuries after the time of this early English author on rural aflairs that the use of woollen rags as a manure began to be better understood, and especially as to the portion of them in which their ferlilizing virtue consists. To this question Professor Way addressed him- self with his usual caution and amount of success. He very justly felt that it would hardly be satis- factory to content himself with the analysis of wool, since, as he observes {Jour. Roy, Ay, Soc. vol. X, p. 617), to reason from the composition of a raw material of any kind upon that of the manu- factured article, which has passed through perhaps half-a-dozen processes, is often to lay oneself open to much error; and nothing short of the direct analysis of the rags themselves would enable any person to form a correct notion of their manuring value. Wool in a state of purity contains upwards of 17 per cent, of nitrogen. Were woollen rags, therefore, of the same strength as the wool itself, they should produce ultimately a larger amount of ammonia than even pure peruvian guano. It will be valuable, then, to examine the chemical com- positions of some of the commonly sold refuse woollen rags. These rags are well known, and extensively employed as a manure in some parts of our island. Owing, as the Professor remarks, to their slow decomposition in the soil, they are not well fitted for root culture — turnips and other plants of this kind requiring active and readily soluble manures to produce a rapid growth. Still this must not be taken as an undoubted fact, since, in the experiments of the late Mr. Pusey on the growth of beetroot {ibid. vol. v\., p. 530), when 13 tons of farmyard manure per acre produced 27^ tons of clean roots, the addition to the dung of 7 cwt. of rags raised the produce to 36 tons. This increase he attributed to the large proportion of azote or nitrogen present in the rags. Woollen rags were formerly, as Mr. Yfay adds, to be purchased of good quality, and unmixed with any less valuable substance ; but of late years rags, of a size that used to be sold to the farmer, are bought up to be reconverted into an inferior kind of cloth. The supply being in this way in part cut oflf, is frequently made good by the admixture of such linen or cotton rags as may not be wortb the papermaker's attention. Three specimens of these refuse rags were ex- amined by the Professor. Specimen No. 1 consist- ing of the seams and other useless parts of old cloth, which had apparently been cut up to be re-manufactured into cloth. No. 2, called " pre- mings," and No. 3, "cuttings," appeared to be much of the same character, but totally different from the rags — they both consisted essentially of coloured wool less than an eighth of an inch in length. These all contained in their ordinary state a certain proportion of water. In the three specimens above referred to, the Per cent. Rags contained of water . 7.87 Premings . . . .7 Cuttings .... 8.70 In this state the proportion per cent, of nitro- gen which they contained, and the proportion of ammonia, which, by the decomposition of the ani- mal matter, will be eventually produced from them, and from a specimen of "shoddy," is given in the following little table : — Nitrogen. Ammonia Rags . 10.47 12.71 Premings . . 9.92 12.05 Cuttings . .11.84 14.31 Shoddy . . 4.55 5.52 It appears then, says Way, that it is quite u THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. incorrect ta estimate the value of the different kinds of woollen refuse by the known composition of the wool itself, for, to whatever cause the in- feriority may be due, it is plain that they do not, on an average, contain two-thirds of the nitrogen found in the raw material. The mineral substances found in wool refuse are of small fertilizing value. In 100 parts of some inferior wool refuse were found Water . . . . 7-15 Animal matter and oil . 58.52 Phosphate of lime . . 1,48 Oxide of iron and alumina. 2.10 Carbonate of lime . , 9.42 Sand, &c 21.23 Loss, &c .10 This specimen contained about 2.5 per cent, of nitrogen. Professor Voelcker has explained the chief rea- sons for the considerable difference of opinion, which exists in different places, with regard to the fertilizing value of woollen substances (ibid vol. xvi., J). 94), These, he considers, are to be best understood by a reference to their analysis, and the time of their application, and the physical composition of the soil. Shoddy, for instance, often contains from 20 to 25 per cent, of oil, which, by excluding moisture, and the atmospheric air from the interior of the wool hairs which compose this refuse, prevents its decomposition, as effect- ually as the oil in sardines, or a cover of grease the potted meat. And thus the decomposition of the shoddy is retarded for a considerable period, so that no effect is produced if it is applied to the land when the young wheat has already made its appearance, or even if applied two or three months previously. But if the same refuse is applied to the land a considerable period before the sowing of the crop which it is intended to benefit, or if it is previously brought into a state in which it will readily ferment (and then it may be applied at once to the young wheat), a very marked and early good effect will be produced by its use, since am- monia is then gradually formed from the nitrogen of the shoddy. In light and porous soils this necessary preparation proceeds much more rapidly than in stiff heavy lands. The farmer by his practice confirms these chem- ical conclusions. The Kentish hop-growers, we are told by Mr. S. Rutley, in his prize essay {ibid vol. ix., ^j. 562), deem woollen rags, shoddy, and refuse seal-skins to be very lasting manures, but much more valuable and early in their effect on dry than on wet soils, all of them being the best adapted for the soils of the Kentish rag. On the Kentish hop grounds they apply from 12 to 20 cwts. per acre of woollen rags; 20 to 30 cwts. of shoddy, and about 160 bushels per acre of seal- skin. For corn crops on light chalky land, or for grass, about 10 or 12 cwts. per acre of woollen refuse are used in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The amount of wool produced by different lireeds of sheep was some little time since ascertained by Mr. J. B. Lawes. The average weight of the wool per head, pi-oduced from .^O wether Cotswolds, 40 Sussex, 43 Leicesters, 40 Hampshire Downs, and 41 cross-bred wethers, was as follows ; — lbs. oz. Cotswolds . 9 4f Hampshire .G 4 Sussex . 5 10 Leicesters . 8 2 Cross-breds . 6 7 The proportion of wool to lOOlbs. of the live weight of the sheep, at the time of its being shorn in March, was Cotswolds • . • . 5.44 Hampshire . . . .3.77 Sussex 4.57 Leicesters . . . .5.58 Cross-breds , . . .4.60 Mr. S. Bruce, of Ensham, considers the average weight of the fleeces of different breeds of sheep to be as follows (Farmers' Almanack, vol. vi., p. 219) :— Ewe. Teg. Cotswold 5 to 71bs. 7 to lOlbs. Leicester 4 6 5 8 Hampshire Down 3 5 5 7 Pure Southdown 2 4 3 6 Cross Cotswold and Southdown 4 6 5 8 The importation of foreign wool has largely and steadily increased during the present century. Previous to the year 1800 all the wool annually imported barely exceeded 3,000,000lbs., and this was chiefly Spanish. About the year 1801 this had increased to about 9,000,000lbs. In 1810 to , . 10,914,137 lbs. 1820 . . . 9,789,020 1830 . a e 32,313,059 1840 . , . 49,436,284 1S50 c , . 74,326,778 1858 . . . 126,738,723 Of this large quantity in the year 1858, 16,597,504 lbs. came from the Cape of Good Hope, and 51,104,560 lbs. from Australia. Of these im- ports, 14,054,815 lbs. were exported in 1850, and 26,5S7,4261bs. in 1858. A considerable quantity of foreign woollen rags, fit only for manure, are also yearly imported. In 1830 they amounted to 41 1 tons, to 1052 in 1840, and to 1102 tons in 1842 — since which I am not in possession of an official statement. It is remarkable how little the large supply of foreign wool has tended to reduce its English mar- ket value. From 1784 to 1790 the price of South- down wool was about Is. per lb,; in 1800 it was Is. 5d.; in 1810 2s. 4d, ; in 1820 Is. 5d.; in 1830 it had fallen to lOd. : it is now about 2s, And not only has the flock-owner had to contend with an annually increasing import of wool, but, more- over, the number of our sheep, and, consequently, the home produce of wool, has enormously in- creased during the present century; and, again, from improvements in their breed, the weight of their fleeces has also become considerably greater. The number of sheep in Great Britain were esti- mated, in 169s, by Gregory King, to be about 12,000,000. In 1740 they were calculated to have increased to 16,640,000, Arthur Young, in 1774, thought they were about 25,589,754 ; and in 1801 Mr, Luccott estimated them at 26,148,463. They THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 15 are now estimated to be about 35,000,000 — England possesses 27,000,000, Scotland in 1854 had 4,787,235, Ireland in 1853 had 3,142,656, so that at 30s. a head the sheep stock of Britain is worth £52,500,000. About 10,000,000 are annually slaughtered ; these at SOlbs. each furnish 800,000,000lbs. of mutton, which at 6d. is worth £20,000,000 sterling. Professor Lowe thinks that on an average each fleece weighs 4ilbs., so that the total produce of wool will be 157,500,000lbs.; fixing then the total yearly value of the wool of Great Britain at Is. 3d., this produces nearly £10,000,000. As regards the increased weight of the fleece, in 1800 Mr. W. Nottage, of Bermondsey, fellmonger, ascertained that Southdown sheep, when slaugh- tered at full maturity in London, produced about 3ilbs. of wool per skin. Thirty years afterwards he found that they yielded from 4 to 4^1bs., and that this has still farther increased of late years. I trace these very important and interesting statistical facts with the more pleasure, because I feel that happily my countrymen possess, in their sheep farming, one branch of the profession of agriculture which well rewards them for their skill and energy. Fortunately, too, there are as yet no symptoms of the flocks of England being ex- hausted in their produce, or deteriorated in value ; but, on the contrary, there is yearly to be found in our island more numerous, and more productive flocks ; and in support of these a larger, a better paid, and consequently better fed and warmer clad population. Happily too for our country, whilst the demand for woollens and mutton has thus largely increased, foreign importations, however con- siderable, have failed to diminish their market value THE ADMINISTRATIVE OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. On the very eve of the great Meeting of the year, the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society have deter- mined on the dismissal of their most responsible officer. It is very evident, from the Special Councils called and the several reports received, tliat the ad- ministration has of late had a difficulty to deal with. The public, or the general body of members, have had no information whatever as to the nature of this, but rumour has of course been busy enough. The step, indeed, resolved upon at the last Special Meeting, was so far expected, that for the last few weeks it was impossible to enter any company of agricul- tui'ists, but you heard of some one or another who was canvassing for tlie appointment of Secretary. It is as well, perhaps, that tlie Council have now put this matter beyond a doubt, as all will at least have a chance to start fair. Hitherto " the best informed" have had a somewhat undue advantage; but with this formal announcement that the office is vacant, we are sure to have many more Richards in the field. "With so good a locum tenens, however, as Mr. Brandretli Gibbs, the Council appear inclined to be anything but precipitate. A Committee has been appointed "to take into consideration and report to the next General Council what in tlieir opinion should be the general and particular duties of the Secretary, and the mode of his appointment." This Meeting will be on the 6th of July, as the first Wednesday in the month. So far as it goes nothing can be better than this. We may reasonably assume there has hitherto been something wrong as to the interpretation of such duties. The powers invested in the appointment may have been too great. Undue license may have been allowed, or opportunities existed that no man should have been tried against. It is a great principle in the commercial character of this country that in the con- duct of any public business, more particularly, no one is altogether beyond control. It would be alike unfair to him and to others that he should be invested with any such undivided responsibility. As a consequence we see the several parts of the machinery each more or less dependent on the other for the safety and regularity of its action. There are none going too fast, for the one holds his fellow in continual check. The Secretary looks to the Board, and the Board in turn has to in- vite the scrutiny of the common body of shareholders, subscribers, members, or by whatever name they have an interest in the undertaking. Of course, if any neg- lect their duties, it must be in some degree at least at their own peril and cost. If the Committee permit the Secretary to do too much or too little, they have to answer for it at the next General Meeting ; while if the great majority of members are easy enough to let the Committee and the Secretary do pretty much as they please, who have they to blame but themselves when the concern comes to grief .' The administration of the Royal Agricultural So- ciety is coming to be judged a good deal in this wise. Is it fair to put quite all the blame upon one man ? Are there not others remarkable for the participation they take in the affairs of the Society, who have neglected their duties? A City man once said he could always tell how a Company was going on by the way the shareholders spoke of the Secretary. If it was prospering he was " rather a keen sharp fellow." On the other hand, if the speculation did not answer so well as had been anticipated, the same official was sure to be "the biggest fool alive." From what we are forced to hear on all sides, the same kind of con- venient argument will hardly tell in this case. Some of the members of the Council themselves declare that their business is seriously impeded by the injudicious interference and exclusive lead taken by one or two of their fellows in the administration. It is but natural to look directly to these, as everybody does, for some solution of this present " difficulty." Have they, when taking upon themselves these responsibilities, asso- ciated with all this power and position anything like proportionate care and vigilance in the discharge of such functions ? If the business of the Society has been mismanaged, it has not been by any one man. It should have been out of his power to do so. And we are only giving expression to the common opinion now abroad, that it is not one man alone who is upon his trial. In fact, the Committee appointed, consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents, Trustees, the Honourable Colonel Hood and Messrs. Barnett, Jonas Webb, Wren Hoskyns, Torr, Fisher Hobbs, Milward, Brandreth Gibbs, Amos, and Brandreth, have something more to do than defining the duties of the Secretary. It is utterly impossible for them to even attempt this with- out going further. They must also define the duties of the Finance Committee and of the Auditors, without 16 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. they are willing to take the onus of these appointments generally upon themselves. And, moreover, when they are looking out for a fit Secretary, they must see whether they have a fit Finance Committee, and pro- perly qualified Auditors. " John," said the Squire, who hunted his own pack, to his drunken aid-de-camp ; " John, I can stand this no longer ; and I shall get a new whipper-in." " Very well," hiccupped out John, in answer, " and if you was to look out for a new hunts- man at the same time, it would be quite as well for the hounds." The Auditors are elected, or re-elected at open greetings of the Society. So far so good. But who re-elects, and when do they re-elect the Finance Committee? One member of this Committee, we hear, has already resigned, and it would be but a graceful act on the part of his fellows that they should follow an example so honourably set them. Of course they could offer themselves for re-election. In speaking thus out, we must be understood as not merely offering our own opinions on a delicate and painful matter. We are the rather but em- bodying the common talk of the country, and it has only become a question as to who shall speak first ? Wherever we go, we hear the same complaint, not only from the members generally, but, we repeat, from the members of Council themselves. The deduction to be drawn from all this is in the hands of the Committee. In common parlance, they have "a duty to perform," and they know what that duty is, quite as well as we could tell them. Moreover, the whole country knows it too. There has been something seriously wrong in the finances of the Society. What can the Finance Committee have been about? The significant response of one member of it is, that he withdraws from such a duty. But why should he thus invidiously stand alone ? THE CONDITIONS OF STOCK SHOWS, AND THE CONDITION OF THE STOCK. At the meeting of the Kirrier Agricultural Society, held at Ilelaton, ou Tuesday, Juue 23, Mr. Rosewakne, one of the judges, said, he had certainly seen many better shows than the show of that day. There was one regulation adopted by tlie society which would account for this circumstance. The male animals that carried away prizes at one year's show were ex- cluded from competing for prizes at the succeeding years' ex- hibitions, and thus they kept the best stock away, and only obtained a second class of animals. If the society were to offer sweepstakes for the best classes of animals, these would be sent into the field, and they would thus have an opportunity of comparing them, and those sent for competition for prizes, and of ascertaining the progress they had made. If, however, the society only obtained a second class of animals for exhi- bition, persons visiting the show yard would run away with the impression that they were the best that could be produced in the district, whereas he had no doubt that many better ani- mals could have been shown than had been exhibited that day. In his opinion, as long as an animal continued to be the best of his class, and was capable of worlarate them, or prefer ono to the other. The crowning point of all was in this seeing them out, and " v/ith the action of a pony" becomes more than ever a proverb. Mr. Wall, who went for the Welsh, had unfortunately over-done his pets in their preparation, A stallion pony w as positively disfigured with fat ; and there was scarcely one of his but would have shown better for a little more work. That beauti- ful miniature, sent by Mr. Blakemore to Cardiff last year, was here again in the Extra Stock class, as the property of Mr. Wall. The "talk," however, of the extra class was the famous Galloway stallion, " Bobby," three parts or more bred, with a dash of the Arabian to go back to. He has been brought out of Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire by Mr. Robert Smith as a cross for the Exmoor pony — that is to give a little more size to the stallions. And certainly as far as good looks can go, his use is well warranted. But Bobby's character is even better still. He is the sire of many famous hacks in the districts we have traced him from, and some of the best of those clever cobs Mr. Milward annually brings up to Tattersall's have been got by him. One we believe was sold last year for two hundred guineas ; while at the sale, on only Monday last, the highest price— a hundred and ten guineas — was given for one of his get, and four of his stock averaged over sixty guineas each. The only question is whether the cross with bigger animals may not gradually destroy the true character of the pony. But as it is, the Exmoor has been "improved" to the picture we now see. The original Moor or Mountain pony was a very different animal ; with neither the size, power, nor handsome appearance of the present representative of the race. Beyond the ponies, the horse show was not very remarkable : it seldom is at a West-country meeting. There were one or two useful cart mares, and a good Suffolk stallion, of a harder colour and closer build than is altogether the fashion. The young stock gene- rally, either for heavy or light work, were below the mark, and some of the prizes wei'e withheld. The two best hunting mares were more commendable, and the second had a very varmint, sneaking sort of look about her. The first prize yearling filly was one of her pro- duce. But " the pull" here was with two-year-old cart colts, the first of which, Mr. Holland's, promises to furnish out into a great fine horse. The second THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 43 prize was preferred by many Devonshire breeders as nore suitable, from his compact form and smart action, ;o the district he was in. Although entered as a pure- ored draught-horse, there was a certain style and cha- racter about him it was difficult at first to account for ; but it turns out his dam threw her two first foals to a chorough-bred horse, and hence the effect of " the impression" so visible in this animal. His owner, Mr. Watson, has often materially strengthened these meet- ings with some hunting stock ; but he had only this one entry at Barnstaple. " The Council report there had been a larger number of entries in all the principal classes of poultry than had ever been exhibited before" ; and we think they might have added a smaller one of pigs. A very successful cross of the Chinese and Neapolitan led off the large breeds, and beyond them the Berkshire had it all to themselves. In the small sorts the improved Essex were equally dis- tinguished. Leicester sheep, Essex pigs, and their own cattle are the strongholds of the Devonshire farmer. There is nothing like carrying out a principle, and the Council of the "West of England Society cannot certainly be accused of anything like half measures. When the Implement Committee were re- quested to report on the relative merits of the prize and certificate systems, they did not stoop to unravel the Gordian knot, but boldly cut it in twain. They answered not merely — Let there be no prizes — but. Let there be no trials, no reports, no certificates, and, in a word, let us officially have nothing at all to do with the matter. At Barnstaple they fairly took the public with them. The steam engines were at work in the yard, and we have already noticed the extraordinary interest the spectators found in the proceedings ! But the steam- plough, the reapers, the mowers, the rakes, and hay- makers, the horse-ploughs and the harrows were care- fully ordered a long two miles off, where comparatively no one went to see them. We rode out one morning, and found some half-a-dozen sight-seers inspecting Smith of Woolston's cultivator ; some dozen or two more were just leaving Owen's or Burgess and Key's new American mowing-machine, the impression, from the work performed, being altogether favourable. Then there was a reaper or two in action under propor- tionately excitable and encouraging circumstances ; and ploughs and harrows, it was said, had also done some wonderful work. There was, indeed, a rumour of a series of local prizes, but no prize list was ever published. This would have been a breach of faith with the great implement makers. Then, these gentle- men, little and great, foreign and local, found they had got more than they wanted. " The Society did not take sufficient interest in the trials, and there ought to be reports, and instructions, and directions, and so on." " The abuse of a system should not be per- mitted to do away altogether with its manifest uses." The middle-class or not very great men came to the almost general opinion that the non-trial plan would be productive of far more harm than good to them ; while the little or local men spoko out in this wise : — " NOTICE. " As Prizes for Implementa connected with the Bath and West of England Society have been discontinued, through the combination of the North Countiy Makers to the disadvantage of the Local Makers, I, as one perhaps who has won more prizes than any other manufacturer in this county of the above-named Society, am willing to test the improvements made since the last trial. I see no other way of doing so than by testing my portable engine now in the show-yard against any engine in the show, of corresponding power, for £10, not- withstanding all the largest makers are there represented. " B. J. Webber." Mr. Shuttleworth, in returning thanks at the dinner for the exhibitors, argued on the other side : — "He thought if there was any gentleman present who had hesitated to consent to the principle which the Society had adopted — that of withholding prizes from the im- plement exhibitors — he would consider that this exhi- bition bad proved that the council had adopted the right course. It was a course which must now be adopted by all the great societies of the kingdom. They must recollect that the agriculturists of 1820 were not the agriculturists of 185'9, and that it was an awful responsibility to fix upon any one man or half-dozen men to say which was the best machine. He believed that the farmers of England had got suflBcient intelli- gence to judge for themselves of these matters, and that they did not want half-a-dozen gentlemen in any county to tell them what they required. The Bath and West of England had been considered the second society in England, but it was his candid opinion that it would soon rank as the first. It had given the key-note, and the Royal Agricultural Society of England must follow the example, or she would not stand where she now did. He had never seen better implements, and he had never seen better work performed." This last sentence is particularly satisfactory, and on the strength of it we proceed to state that the fol- lowing implements were at work during the week : — The Ploughs of Messrs. Eeevea Tasker Page & Co. (late Williams) Howard Ransome Maggs Wright The HoRSE-HoES of Messrs. Ganett Comius The Harrows of Messrs. Page & Co. Howard Wright Lyne (lever harrows) Clodcrushers of Messrs. Com ins Magga The Reapers of Messrs. Cuthbert (by Busby) Hellard (of Taunton) The Mowing Machines of Messrs. Owen Comins The Haymakers of Messrs. Samuelson Ransome Smith & Ashby The Horse RAKES of Messrs. Samuelson Ransome Howard American Rake of Rowsell The Paring Ploughs of Messrs. Snowden Vanstone Hancock's Pulverising Plough, And the Steam Plough of Mr. Smith, of Woolstoue. Kearsley (of Ripon) Of course all these did the best work ever seen. This was very evident to all but two exhibitors of reapert;, who challenged each other to a public trial. More extraordinary still, this was suffered to come off. The following is the award : — 'f Whei-eas a chal- lenge having been made between Mr. Busby, the representative of McBsrs. Cuthbert and Co., and u THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Messrs. Hellard, of Taunton, relative to the merits of their respective reaping machines, umpires were chosen to decide on their respective merits ; now we, having, been chosen to act as umpires for the above purpose, do make and publish this our award ; that is to say, that the machine belonging to Mr. Cuthbert did its work first, made the best work, and in less time, and with considerably less distressive powers to the horses engaged ; and we therefore declare it to be the best ma- chine. Signed for self and Mr. Forrester, the arbitrators first above mentioned, this 3rd day of June, 1859. — John Shapland. We noticed that the price of Messrs. Hellard's machine was £"25, and that of Messrs. Cuth- bert & Co., represented by Mr. Busby, was ^£22." It is impossible to give the names of all the exhibi- tors, and we would rather, as heretofore, have allowed the prize-list to determine the selection ; but the fol- lowing were amongst them — Barrett, Exall and An- drews, Bentall, Brown and May, Busby, Cambridge, Carson, Clayton and Shuttleworth, Comins, Coleman, Eddy, Fry, Garrett, Hart, Hellard, Holmes, Hornsby, Howard, Humphries, James, Maggs, Page, Picksley and Sims, Ransome, Reeves, Richmond and Chandler, Samuelson, Smith and Ashby, Tasker, Turner, Tux- ford, and Webber. It is but right to say that no prize placard was exhibited, but reference to former triumphs of course abounded in the catalogues distributed at the different stands. The Arts Department has been added to the exhibi- tion of live stock and implements, according to the new number of the Society's Journal, " to please the farm- ers' wives while the farmers are handling the live stock or discussing the merits of the implements — to promote the general trade of the district — to diffuse a taste for elegance and novelty of design — to make known the best productions of the West of England — to promote the sale of drawings and pictures by native artists — to replenish the funds of the Society," and so on. The farmers' wives, and the farmers themselves, for that, had certainly no lack of entertainment to please them even in other ways beyond the Arts Department. We never knew such a holiday week. There were balls, and dinners, and concerts, and bespeaks at the theatre, and regattas, and firewoi-ks — all superintended by and crowned with the princely hospitality of the Mayor. He had a small party of four hundred to dinner one day ; a '• private " ball, with the general public invited, another j continual luncheon laid out, and the best of welcomes for everybody. The only difficulty was to becomingly associate the business and pleasures of the occasion, although all we met with had amply succeeded in doing so. As far as hearty support, well-directed liberality, and active co-operation are concerned, the So- *^iety has never made a better selection than Barnstaple. PRIZES FOR CATTLE, DEVONS. Judges.— S. Bloxidge, Warwick. J. Buckley, Normanton, Loughborougli. T. Umbers, Wappenbury, Leamington. The best Bull, above three years old. The prize of 8 sovs. to John Bodley, Stockley Pometoy, Cteditoa. (Monarch.) The beat Bull, not exceeding three years old. First prize of 12 sots., and Special Prize of 10 gs. as best young Bull, to James Merson, Brinswortby, Northmoltou. (Prince of Wales.) Second, of 5 sovs., to W. Farthing, Stowey Court, Bridg- water. (Sur Peregrine.) The best Bull, not exceeding two years old. First prize of 10 sovs. to His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, Windsor. (The Colonel.) Second, of 5 sovs., to T. Hooper, Heautou, Buraton, Pen- trockatow, Devon. (Sir George.) Third, of 3 sovs., to George Turner, Bamton, Exeter. (Prince Frederick.) The best Cow in-calf or in-milk, having had a calf within six months of the show. First prize of 8 sovs. to W. Farthing. (Nelly.) Second, of 4 sovs., to Cecil Smith, Lydeard House, Taun- ton. (Florence.) The best Heifer in-calf or in-milk, not exceeding three > ears old. First prize of 8 sovs. to George Turner. (Vandine.) Second, of 4 sovs., James Quartly. Holland House, South Molton. (Gem.) The lohole class liigMy commended. The best pair of Heifers, not exceeding two years old. First prize of 8 sovs. to Hia Royal Highness the Prince Consort. (Lovelia and Gardenia.) Second, of 4 sovs., J. W. BuUer, M.P., The Downes, Ore- ditoD. SHORTHORNS. Judges. — W. Bartholomew, Goltho Wragby. W. Sanday, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. The best Bull, above three years old. The prize ol 8 sovs. to Edward Holland, M.P., Dumbleton Hall, Eveshatn. (Duke of Cambridge.) The best Bull, not exceeding three years old. First prize of 12 sovs. to John W. Brown, Upcott, Swindon. (Botanist.) Second, of 5 aovs., to Rev. G. T. Marker, Ufifculme Vicarage, Cullumpton. (Saladin.) The best Bull, not exceeding two years old. First prize of 10 sovs, to R. Stratton, Broad Hinton, Swin- don. (Mentor.) Second, of 5 aovs., to C. H. Abbott, Long Aahton, Bristol. (Ariel.) Commended. — G. W. Blaithwayt, Dyrham, Chippenham, for Bull. (Monarch.) The beat Cow in-calf or in-milk, having had a calf within six months of the Show. First prize of 8 sovs. to R. Stratton. (Matchless 4th.) Second, of 4 sovs., to Lady Pigot, Chippenham, Cambridge. (Princess Saxe Weimar.) The beat Heifer in-calf or in-milk, not exceeding three years old. Firat prize of 8 aovs. to C. Hardcaatle Abbott, Long Aahton, Bristol. (Nonpareil.) Second, of 4 aovs., to R. Stratton. Highly commended. — Another of R. Stratton's Heifera. The beat pair of Heifera, not exceeding two years old. Firat prize of 8 aovs. to Lady Pigot. (Empress of Hindostan and Stanley Rose.) Second, of 4 aovs.. to R. Stratton. (Matchless 6th and Roan Rosette.) HEREFORDS. Judges — J. Buckley, S. Bloxidge, T. Umbers, The best Bull, above three years old. The prize of 8 govs, to Edward Price, Conrt-house, Pern- bridge, Leominster. (Goldfinder 2nd.) The beat Bull not exceeding three years old. Firat prize of 12 aova. to John Williams, St. Mary's, Kings- laud, Leominster. (Sir Colin.) Second of 5 aova. to Edward Price. (Shamrock.) The beat Bull not exceeding two years old. Firat prize of 10 sovs. to Thomaa Edwarda, Wintercott, Leominster. (Leominster ) THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 45 Second of 5 sovs. to Lord Bateman, Shobdea Court, T-eo- minster. (Shobden.) The best Cow in-calf or in-milk, having had a calf within six months of the Show. First prize of 8 sovs. to William Perry, Cholstrey, Leomin- ster. { Worcester Flower.) Only one entry. The best Heifer in-calf or in-milk, not exceeding three years old. First prize of 8 sovs. to Lord Bateman. Second of 4 sovs. to AVilliam Williams, Red House, Ely, Cardiff. (Blink Bonny.) The best pair of Heifers not exceeding two years old. First prize of 8 sovs. to Edward Price. (Well-a-Day and Miss Coningsby). Second of 4 sova. to J. Williams. (Barmaid and Gay lass.) SHEEP. LEICESTER, OR LONG-WOOLLED. (Not qualified to compete as Cotswold.) Judges. — W. Bartholomew. W. Sanday. The best Yearling Ram. First prize of 6 sovs. to Thomas Potter, Yellowford, Thor- verton, Devon (Leicester). Second of 4 sovs. to George Turner (Leicester). Third of 2 sovs. to George Turner (Leicester). The best Ram of any other age. First prize of 5 sovs. to George Turner (Lieicestei). Second of 3 sovs. to George Turner (Leicester). The best pen of Five Two-teethed Ewes. First prize of 5 sovs. to George Turner (Leicester). Second of 3 sovs. to James B. Corner, Longforth, Welling- ton (Leicester). Third of 2 sovs. to J. W. Buller, M.P. (Leicester). COTSWOLDS. The best Yearling Ram. First prize of 5 sovs. to T. B. Browne, Hampen, Andovers- ford. Second of 3 sovs. to E. Handy, Sierford, Cheltenham. The best Ram of any other age. First prize of 4 sovs. to T. B. Browne. Second of 2 sova. to E. Handy. The best pen of Five Two-teethed Ewes. First prize of 5 sovs. to T. B. Browne. Second of 3 sovs. to W. Smith, Bibur^r Fairford. SHORTWOOLS.— SOUTHDOWNS. JuUGES, — J. Beevis, Sydling, Dorchester. W. Rigden, Hove, Brighton. J. Whittaker, Bratton, Salisbury. The best Yearling Ram. First prize of 5 sovs. to Sir R. G. Throckmorton, Bart., Buckland, Faringdon. Second of 3 sovs. to Sir R. G. Throckmorton. The best Ram of any other age. First prize of 4 sors., and second of 2 sovs., both to Sir R. G. Throckmorton. The best pen of Five Two-teeth Ewes. First prize of 5 sovs. to Sir R. G. Throckmorton. Second of 3 sovs. to R. N. Grenville, Butleigh, Glastonbury. SHROPSHIRE DOWN, OR HAMPSHIRE DOWN, (Not qualified to compete as Southdowns.) The best Yearling Ram. First prize of 5 sovs. to J. W. Brown, Uffcote (Hampshire). Second of 3 sovs. to George Harbin, Newton Surmaville, Yeovil (Hampshire). The best Ram of any other age. First prize of 4 sovs. to Ed. Holland, M.P. (Hampshire). Second of 2 sovs. to J. W. Brown (Hampshire). The best pen of Five Two-teeth Ewes. First prize of 5 sovs. to John Moore, Littlecott Farm, Pewsey (Hampshire). Second of 3 sovs. to J. W. Brown (Hampshire). SOMERSET AND DORSET HORNS. The best Yearling Ram. First prize of 5 sova. to T. Danger, Huntstile, Bridgwater (Somerset). Second of 3 sova. to F. Bond, Whitelackington, Ilminster (Dorset). The beat Ram of any other age. First prize of 3 sovs. to T. Danger (Somerset). Second of 2 sovs. to F. Bond (Dorset). The best pen of Five Two-teeth Ewes. First prize of 5 sovs. to T. Danger (Somerset). Second of 3 sovs. to F. Bond (Dorset). MOUNTAIN SHEEP. The best Ram of any age. First prize of 4 sovs., and special prize of 5 ga. as best Ex- moor ram, to James Merson, Brinsworthy. Second of 2 sovs. to J. Merson. The best pen of Five Two-teeth Ewes. No entry. The best pen of Five Ewes of any age. First prize of 4 sovs., and special prize of 5 gs. as best pen of Exmoor ewes, James Merson. Second of 2 sovs. to James Harris, Bittadon, Barnstaple, HORSES. Judges. — H. Fooks, Whitchurch, Blandford. W. C. Spooner, Eling, Southampton. H. Terrell, Meavy, Tavistock. FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. The best Mare and Foal, or in-Foal. First prize of 8 sovs , Robert Gibbs, Carhampton, Dunster (black). Second of 5 sovs.. Sir R. G. Throckmorton (Suffolk). The best Two-year-old Colt. First prize of 10 sovs., Edward Holland, M.P. (Shire). Second of 5 sovs,, Richard H. Watson, Dorsely, Totnes (Gloucester). The best Two-year-old Filly. ' First prize 7iot awarded. Second of 3 sovs., William Smith, Bibury (Shire). The best Yearling Colt or Filly. First prize of 5 sovs., W, Smith, Bibury (Shire colt). Second of 3 sovs., G. S. Poole, Bridgwater (colt). HACKS AND HUNTERS. The best Mare and Foal or in-Foal. First prize of 8 sovs.. Rev. G, F. Hodgson, North Petherton, Bridgwater. Second of 5 sovs., Richard Passmore, Eaatdowu, Barn- staple. The best Two-year-old Filly. First prize of 5 sovs.. Rev. G. F. Hodson — by Bowstring. Second of 3 sovs., H. Baillie, Ash Hall, Cowbridge — by Sebastopol. The best Y'earling Colt or Filly. First prize of 5 sovs., Richard Passmore (filly by Sextus). Second of 3 sovs,, H. Baillie (colt by St. George). The best Two or Three-year-old Colt or Gelding. First prize of 5 sovs., W. Gapper, Duddlestone, Taunton, Somerset (colt by Bowstring). Second of 3 sovs., R. T. Head, The Briars, Alphington (colt by the Baron). The best Mare Pony not exceeding 14- hands high. First prize of 4 sovs , F. W. Knight, M.P., Exmoor Forest, Southmoltou (Exmoor). Second of 2 sovs., J. C. Wall, Redland Lodge, Bristol (Welsh). The best Mare Pony not exceeding 13-hands high. Fiiat prize of 4 sovs., R. Ogilvie, Barnstaple (Exmoor). Second of 2 aovs., R. Cridge, South Aller Farm, South- moltou (Exmoor). The best Stallion Pony not exceeding 14-hand3 high. First prize of 5 sovs., J. C. Wall (Welsh). Second of 3 sovs., R, Ogilvie (Welsh). PIGS. Judges, — H. Fooks. W. C. Spooner. H. Terrell, LARGK BREED. The best Boar not exceeding Two years old. First prize of 4 lovs., William Bryant, Pitt Farm, Barn- staple (Chinese and Neapolitan). 46 THE FARMER'S MAtJAZINE Second of 2 sovs,, W. Hewer, Sevenhampton, HighwcrLh (Berkshire). The best Breeding Sow. First prize of 4 3dvs., W. Hewer (Berkshire). Second of 2 sovs., Sir R. G. Throckmorton, Bart. (Berk- shire). The best pen of three Breeding Sows not exceeding nine mouths old. First prize of 3 sovs., W. Hewer (Berkshire). Second of 2 sovs., Rev. H. G. Baily, Swindon (Berkshire). SMALL BREED, The beat Boar not exceeding two years old. First prize of 4 sovs., John Partridge, jun., Bow Crediton (Essex). Second of 2 sovs., George Turner (Essex). The best Breeding Sow. First prize of 4 sovs., George Turner (Essex). Second 2 sovs., W. D. Bragington, Knapp, Bideford (Essex). The best pea of three Breeding Sows not exceeding nine months old. First prize of 3 sovs., Rev. S, N. Kingdon, Bridgeriile Vicarage, Holsworthy (black). Second of 2 sovs., W. D. Bragington (Essex). LOCAL PRIZES. DEVON CATTLE. The prize of 5 sovs , George Luck, Instow Barton, for pair of steers not exceeding three-and-a-half years. First prize of 5 sovs., Richard Mogridge, Holland, South- risolton, for pair of steers not exceeding two-aad-a-half years. Second of 3 sovs., R. Mogridge. Fii-st prize of 4 sovs., John Snow, Bude, Brauuton, near Barnstaple, for cow in calf. Second of 2 sovs., G. S. Barden, Kerscott, Swirabridge, Barnstaple, for cow in calf. First prize of 3 sovs., W. Langdon, Ashford, Barnstaple, fur heifer in calf. Second of 2 sovs , Henry Passmore, Ash Barton, for heifer in calf. First prize of 3 sovs., John Tapp, Twitchen, Southmolton, for two years old heifer. Second of 2 sovs , John Snow. First prize of 3 sovs., John Snow, for yearUng heifer. Se- cond of 2 sovs., G. S. Burden. SHEEP. The Prize of 3 sova,, Robert Syraonds, Buckland Barton, Br.iunton, for Nott ram. First prize of 3 sovs.. Lord Clinton, Heanton Satchville, Beaford, for a pen of 5 Nott ewes. Second of 2 sovs, James B. Torr, Westleigh House, Bideford. The prize of 2 sovs., James Harris, Bittadon, Barnstaple, for horned ram. First prize of 3 sova., James Harris, for pen of horned ewes. Second of 2 sovs., J. Harris. First prize of 3 sovs., C. Halse, Holland, Southmolton, for pen of five horned wethers. Second of 2 sova., C Halse, HORSES, The prize of 3 sovs,, Jamea Harris, for bay cob Frolic. The prize of 3 sovs., William Howe, Townsend, Braunton, for cart mare. The prize of 2 sovs,, H. K. Bowden, Berrynaibor, Comb- mnrtin, for cart colt. The prize of 5 sovs., W. J. Brewer, Barnstaple, Devon, for his thorough-bred stallion (Swinton) by Mulatto. The prize of ."i sovs., J. Harris, Bittadon, Baruataple, De- von, for cart stallion (Suffolk). PONIES, The prize of 4 sovs., F. W. Kaight, M,P., for Exmoorpony t iUion, under 13 hands high. The prize of 4 sovs , T. J. Dennis, Bradiford Villa, Barn- BtsplCj Devon, for pony mare, under 13 hands high. PIGS. The prize of 3 sovs., A. Clement, Sloo Farm, Parkham, Bideford, Devon, for Essex sow. The prize of 2 sovs., Thomas J. Penuis, for black sow. HIGHLY COMMENDED. J. Merson, for a pen of mountain ewes. The Rev. J. G. Coplestone, for a cart filly, Thomas Brady, for a riding filly. J, Meraon, for an Exmoor pony mare. J. A. Bude, for a mare pony. Sir R. Throckmorton, for a Berkshire sow, F. W, Knight, M.P., for two Exmoor pony stallions, COMMENDED, S. Kingdon, Lynch, Thorverton, Devon, for a Leicester ram. G. P. HartnoU, Court Hayes, Braunton, Devon, for a Lei- cester ram T. B. Brown, for a Cotswold ram. J. Moore, Littlecott Farm, Pewsey, Wilts, for two Southdown rams, George Harbin, for a pen of Hampshire Down ewes, J. Moore, for a pen of Hampshire Down ewes. Jas. Merson, for a mountain ram. T, Keable, Rowdefield Farm, Devizes, Wilts, for a cart mare. R. Bucknell, Whitefield, Southmolton, for a cart colt. Sir R. G. Throckmorton, Burt., for a cart colt. John Anthony, Yealmpton Mills, Yealmpton, Devon, for a ridiug gelding. W. Hewer, for a Berkshire boar. Rev. John Huyshe, Clyathydou Rectory, CoUompton, for a breeding sow. Thomas Brailey, Bishop's Tawton, for a bay cob. R, Symouds, Buckland Barton, Braunton, for a black sow. EXTRA STOCK. A prize of £4, Richard Pethebridge, Borough Farm, Barn- staple, for Devon bull, A prize of £2, John Partridge, Bow, Crediton, for penof Leicester ewes. A prize of £2, James Meraon, for pen of Exmoor ewes and lambs. A prize of £2, George Elliott, Swilley Farm, Plymouth, for cart stallion. A prize of £2, W, I. Brewer, Lichdon, Banstaple, for thorough-bred horse (Firebrand.) A prize of £2 and the special prize of 5 guineas, as the best stallion pony, not exceeding 14 hands high, to Robert Smith, Emmett's Grange, Southmolton, for Scotland entire pony Bobby.) A prize of £2, James C. Wall, for entire Welsh pony. Highly Commended in Extra stock. — The Rev. J. Bond, Romausleigh Rectory, for pen of white Ducie piga. Commended. — J. Meraon, for Devon cow, and W. F. Neville, for pen of Yorkshire sows. ANNUAL MEETING. The General Meeting of the members of the Society took place on Thursday, the president of the year, J. Sillifaut, Esq., in the chair. The mmutes of the last meeting having been read and con firmed, the President read a letter he had received from Sir Thomas Dyke Aeland, enclosing a cheque for £50, which he requested might be distributed as extra prizes among the suc- cessful exhibitors of cattle and sheep. The letter was received with acclamation, and a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the donor. Several gentlemen were then elected members of the So- ciety. Mr, Maule, the secretary, read the report of the Council , of which the following is an abstract : — The Council reported the steady increase of the Society. There was aiuce the last annual meeting an increase of five governors, two life members, and 75 other members, makiug a totnl gain of 82. The Council reported that his Royal High- ness the Prince Consort had beeu graciously pleased to honour the Society by becoming a member, an auuual subacriber, and nn e-thibitor. There were 146 exhibitors of stock at the pre- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 47 sent meeting ; and the number of animals was : cattle 177, sheep 325, horses 55, pigs 33 ; total 592. The number of exhibitors of implements was 108, and about 1,080 articles were entered for eihibition in this department. In the por- tion appropriated to machinery in motion there were 18 exhi- bitors. The report stated that in January last the Council decided upon having an exhibition of arts and industry, and they had the satisfaction of reporting that the exhibition com- prised one of the most beautiful collections of the works of art to be found in this country. The Council acknowledged the kindness of those who had contributed in this department, in which there were about 5,000 articles. They recommended that the place of meeting next year be at Dorchester. The Committee appointed by the Society, on the question of weights and measures, reported that they considered it de- sirable that a uniform standard of weight and measure should be adopted throughout the kingdom ; that weight is the surest test of quantitj' as well as quality of graiu ; and that in any legislation on the subject it will be necessarj' to determine what weight of corn should be substituted for the imperial bushel, in ascertaining the averages for the pur- poses of the tithe commutation. The Council recommended that Lord Rivers be invited to accept the appointment of president for the ensuing year. The Council acknowledged the valuable assistance rendered by the various local rail- way companies in facilitating the objects of the Society. The Council reported that there had been a larger number of entries in all the principal classes of the poultry show than hitherto exhibited. The Council congratulated the Society upon the hospitable reception they had met within North Devon, and considered the thanks of the Society to be especially due to the local committee of management. The adoption of the report was moved by Sir George Bucley, seconded by Mr. Thompson, and agreed to. Some explanations took place respecting a misunderstanding which existed as to the intention of the Council to recommend another gentleman in the county of Dorset, for the office of president during the ensuing year. The misunderstanding appeared to have arisen from a private conversation which took place between a Dorsetshire gentleman and one of the members of the Council, who attended as a deputation to make arrangements for the meeting next year at Dorchester. On the motion of the President, Richard Bremridge, Esq., mayor of Barnstaple, was elected a vice-president of the society. Mr. T. Wills suggested that the report of the proceedings of the society should be circulated within six months of the holding of each annual meeting. Mr. AcLAND, in reply, said the Journal had been ready for circulation during the past two years within sis weeks after the holding of the meetings, but they could not be sent to members gratuitously although they might be had on appli- cation. He recommended that an editor should be appointed to superintend the Journal, which he suggested should then be published twice every year. A vote of thanks to the president concluded the proceedings. THE ENGLISH FARMER IN BELGIUM. Sir,— ■! never knew any one in England grow " Jeru- salem artichokes" on a large scale as food for cattle ; I will therefore relate the proceedings and results of an agriculturist in France who has done so — M. Aristide Monterol — whose land is too poor to grow beetroots with advantage. So universal there is the opinion that all roots should first be manufactured into something in preference to consuming them in a raw state, that this gentleman grew sufficient artichokes to keep bis small distillery constantly at work throughout the season, viz., three tons per day, and with the residue he fed his forty fatting bullocks and twenty stores. But I cannot do better than give you his own account, in the Journal d' Agriculture Progressive : — " For these four years past all who are interested ia agricultural progress have never ceased to proclaim an agricultural distillery an indispensable annexation to a farm, as it must lead to the increase of root cultivation, and consequently more abundant crops of corn. " This is well understood and practised, and lucky is he who has erected one. I am happily so situated ; and if I have not many acres of beetroots, I have abundance of Jerusalem artichokes, which answer my purpose as well, beca se they do not require such good land, pro- duce heavily, and give five per cent, alcohol in distilla- tion (equal to . 9 gallons English at proof), and, above all, a residue, whl:h is of the utmost consequence. " Forage being so scarce for some months past, the question has been raised, whether it is best economy to give our roots to the cattle in their natural state, or first distil them ? " JVIy crop of hay (1858) was less than half an ave- rage ; and having sixty head of valuable cattle, which I would not sell at present prices, it is of con.sequence to me to make the most of my fodder. " I have not many bete raves, but plenty of artichokes, as, in spite of the dry summer, they perfectly succeeded. They were eleven feet high (English), and the roots produced twelve to fourteen tons per acre. "Everyone knows bute raves raw are not good for cattle or sheep. Last year I saw the ill effects of them thus used on a neighbour's flock, he having lost many of his sheep, whereas I did not lose one, and they fat- tened most rapidly with the residue of my distillery. " If I were to feed my cattle with my raw artichokes, what could I do with my barn full of cloverseed, stover, and rape husks and chaff of wheat and oats ? Cattle will not do well on these alone, and I cannot afford to use these resources in this year of need. I shall be told, ' cook your roots, and mix these things with thtm.' True, I might do so ; but I have forty fatting bullocks, among my sixty, which require better food. However, let us look at this cooking affair. First, I must erect a boiler at some outlay ; then the roots must be washed, sliced, cooked, and when done mixt with the dry chaft', Stc, and left to ferment for twenty-four hours ; all this 48 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. would cost 4s. 2d. per ton. My register of expenses of distillation tells me this is exactly the cost of distilling a ton of roots. The amounts are exactly the same, but, by the latter, I have the sugar turned into alcohol, and the residue also ; thus I get two productions instead of one. " Now, how much nourishment for cattle have I from each process ? I must have three tons per day. Does not the fermentation in the cooking process destroy some of the sugar ? Most certainly ^it does ; and the alcohol remains in the three tons to the extent of fifty- seven gallons (English), which is nearly a gallon of spirit in each cwt. " Is alcohol nourishing for cattle ? because if so, it opens the question. How much per day can each beast take with advantage ? " Practice has quite decided that raw roots are not more valuable than the distilled residue. " If I cook my roots they lose in weight 10 to 12 per cent. By distilling they lose 25, i. e., 15 per cent, more than by cooking. Let us examine if this loss is actual or imaginary. " What is really the substance lost by distillation ? It is the sugar in shape of alcohol; but it is not all alcohol ; some of it is water, which constitutes this dif- ference of 15 per cent. This water would have been useless to the cattle, and in its evaporation has not taken any of the nutritive parts of the roots with it. The pulp or residue retains then all the salts, the cellular, and albuminous parts, the fatty matter, and the azotes, which are really useful and nourishing to cattle. Thus in smaller volume the pulp contains the same value, and in my opinion this loss of 15 per cent, in weight is not of the least importance whatever. " But let us for a moment admit it is a loss, and then consider if it is best to distil. Figures can only answer this question. I will continue my calculations on 3 tons. Thus £ s. d. " If I cook my 3 tons roots at 8s. 4d., that amounts to 1 5 0 " Washing, cutting, cooking ditto at 43. 2d. ..012 6 1 17 6 " And I have 2 tons 14 cwts. of food. " If I distil my 3 tons roots at 8s. 4d 1 5 0 "At an expense of course including washing and cutting of 4s. 2d 0 12 6 1 17 6 " I have 2 tons 5 cwt. of residue, being 15 cwt. less than the raw root, which at 8s. 4d. per ton would be 6s. 3d., and 12s. 6d. is to be added for the cost of dis- tillation. But what have I for thislSs. 9d. .' I have 57 gallons of spirit worth £3 2s. 6d., and deducting from that the IBs. 9d., there remains a clear profit of £2 3s. 9d, ; or if we add the 4s. 2d. per ton, cost of washing, cutting, and fermenting on 2 tons 5 cwt., which is already done for us when distilled, the profit would be £2 138. 1 Jd., which would amount to a difference in my favour of £598 8s. 9d. per annum— as I work 3 tons of roots per day, and the season lasts 150 days. " I ask every sensible farmer if with these facts before him distillation is not the best method of obtain- ing profit from our roots, and food for our cattle ? *' To repair the supposed loss of 15 cwt. of food, which is equal in nutritive quality to 3| cwt. of hay, I must buy corn, as my neighbours have no hay for sale. " I should buy rye, 1551bs., which would cost here 7s. 6d., and here I should have a balance in my favour of Is. lO^d. per day. " Thus both in quantity and quality (with the 15 cwt. supposed loss made good) of food the distilled roots are the best, and it is the most advantageous mode of prepar- ing them for cattle. Even were the price of alcohol to fall one-third under its present value, I would continue it. *' My opinion is formed on my own experience re- duced to figures, which every one may criticize, and if any one can show me an error I should be obliged. " Aristide Monterol." The above letter is so clear an exposition of the facts adduced that I have given the whole of its matter con- densed. I never read one which more clearly showed the manner in which the British farmer may understand how the juice of the succulent beet-root is better turned into gin than washed through our animals. Mr. Monterol is one of those cultivators who has a small distillery on his farm ; and he therefore only charges 8s. 4d. per ton as the price of his roots in his very nice calculations. 1 find the agricultural experiments are carried on in a much more careful manner than in England, and more fi-equently also. Thus their agricultural journals are exceedingly interesting ; and you can hardly take up one of them without finding one or more articles which would be gladly read by my countryrien. There would be great difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of subscribers to pay the expenses of it, or I would publish a monthly selection from all of them. They would be a useful addition to the agricultural shelf of any gentleman's library. The leaves and tops of the stalks are useful as fodder in this country, where nothing of that sort is lost. Even leaves of trees are being applied to that purpose, and the leaves of the beetroot are being experimented on to discover if they can be preserved in salt. I know one gentleman so doing, and I will communicate to you, in some future letter, his results. When last I saw him, he told me he believed he should succeed. The weight of stalk and leaf per acre would be very heavy; and if the roots were left till November, would make an excellent cover for game. Mr. Monterol does not say if he took them all up at once, or as he required them ; but as the Jerusalem artichoke stands the frost, I do not see why they should not be daily .sised as wanted. They require so little manure, th' . the stalks, mixed with sufficient lime to decompose them, would be sufficient to keep up the crop; at the same time, like all roots, no doubt the more the dung the heavier the produce. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 49 Tobacco is even cheaper in Belgium than in France. It is sown in beds, in March, very highly manured, protected from frost by long straw laid over the bed, and from cold winds by strawed hurdles. It is transplanted on the 25th of May. I gave full par- ticulars of its cultivation in the June number of the Farmer's Magazine in 1858, page 533. Coio Cabbage. — I know a man who carries out the cultivation of this most productive plant to a further extent than any one else I ever met with. He preferred the great drum-head cabbage, which forms a solid hard globe of food, to the variety which many like here, which grows high, and with an abundance of leaf. It is called the "northern-curled cabbage," and stands frost well. In the spring they cut the top, and allow it to shoot again. A quarter of a pound of seed is sufficient to produce plants for an acre, at distances of two feet by two and a-halt. My friend at first plants his much thicker, thinning them by degrees ; and by growing a succession of crops he has a supply all the year round nearly : and certainly a most extraordinary weight he produces per acre. He sowed his first batch in April, to be transplanted in June. In dry weather he had that part of the bed well watered, the night before, whei"e he wished to draw up the plants for the morrow, and then soaked the roots in guanoed water till planted, being careful the roots were not doubled up : which is prevented by giving the plants a slight scratch upward after the first pressure of the earth to them. This crop he only planted at such distances as he wished them to remain till perfect in growth, viz., two feet in the row, and three feet from row to row. The time of transplanting being the height of summer, he wished to have the intervals free, to enable him to clean the land. If the weather is dry, the plants should be watered at the time of planting. This crop he used as he wanted it till the spring, when, being finished, he had his other crop. This one was sown in June, to be transplanted at nine inches each way after harvest, as the market-gardeners plant their " collards " near London. The land can- not be too highly manured, as the more rapidly they grow the better, not many weeks of growing weather being left for them at the autumn-end of the year. As they become too close, every other one is taken out, and used for sheep or cattle as required ; and when spring commences, and all other cabbage and turnips are consumed, he then again takes them as he prefers — every other row, or every other cabbage, or wholly clearing the ground. The grand secrei of growing the numerous green crops they have abroad, occupying the ground but so short a time, is the heavy coats of manure they put on for them. We are not nearly so careful as we ought to be, to economise every sort of ofial which can possi- bly be turned to advantage as manure. We never, I expect, can use the liquid manure of towns as they do ; it is contrary to our ideas of delicacy or health, as we ai-e only anxious for our town-drainage to run ofi" as quickly as possible, whereas they allow tlie most offeu- sive to remain in the house-cesspools till they are full, when men come round with large butts on wheels, and purchase it. They have a long leather hose and a small patent pump, and quickly, and without much ofience to the olfactories, empty the cesspools into these butts. In the large towns this is done by dealers, who, after adulterating it with water, sell it to the far- mers, who carry it sometimes as back-carriage in casks, with lai'ge bung-holes stopped with straw. They cart it into the fields, and at certain intervals empty each cask into a tub, and from that tub spread it by means of a small bucket at the end of a long pole. Thus the whole field is gone over as equally as possible ; and they generally give two such dressings to each green crop. Farm-yard liquid they use in the same way, which has less rain-water admixed with it than in our farm-yards, because their buildings are smaller, and shorter in the roofs ; consequently they have not those heavy flows of rain-water which we have from our so frequently un- spouted eaves, and, also, there is not so much rain fall- ing there as with us. I once had a farm with a manure tank in the centre of the yard ; more rain certainly ran into it than I could wish, and for that reason I will not say it was a fair trial of liquid manure. But, allowing for its reduced quality, I certainly was disappointed at the result as I carted it on a piece of clover ; and I never could see any benefit from it. I had a friend who burnt his weedy hedge-rows and brows, and any other spare earth, and filled a shed with the ashes, on which, with troughs and a pump, he conveyed every few days the contents of his tank. The ashes absorbed the liquid, and it became a most excel- lent and portable manure. I do not think there is at present a cheaper or better mode of using our farm- yard drainage, which is not worth the expense of cart- ing in its liquid state, and still worth too much to be lost. I will finish the cow-cabbage by saying it will pro- duce more weight per acre than wurtzel, with much less exhaustio7i to the land ; and I am only surprised they are not more generally grown. It still, with all our improvements, takes time to overcome prejudices j but I fancy nothing would tend more to destroy them, and introduce useful "innovations," than the present price of wheat. Gigantic Sainfoin, or, as they call it in Belgium, " twice-cutting sainfoin, they sow three bushels to the acre, in the husk. They consider it requires better land than the common, and that it should only be sown on the same land at intervals of at least ten years. This crop is of course well known in England, but not so much grown as it ought to be. Some twenty years ago a little of this seed was discovered in the loft of a corn-dealer at Royston, in Herts; he did not know how it came there. It was sown ; and from that very stock it was distributed over England : but whether it originated from Belgium, or the Belgian sort from that, I cannot say. Winter Colza, or Rape.—Hhh is, of all others, a crop applicable to us. It does not draw the land ; it occupies it but a few summer months, enabling a second 8 50 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. crop to be taken. It is always saleable ; and, more- over, the oil is more likely to rise than fall in value in time hence, as every year the number of oil lamps in- creases. It is sown from the Ist of July to middle of August, at the rate of five quarts to the acre ; this producing sufficient plants for three acres. In the autumn it is transplanted on the stubbles, which are ploughed deeply, and laid very dry, by cleaning out every furrow as a water-furrow. They even spade them out, and throw the earth on to the "lands." They are planted at one foot from row to row, or a little more ; and from four to six inches in the row. The ground is not harrowed, but left rough all the winter. In spring it is hoed, but it very soon shoots beyond the hoe; and in June, or beginning of July, according to the earliness of the season and land, it is harvesttd. It is fit to cut as soon as the pods begin to turn yellow. It is thrashed in the field. The chaff is used for mixing with the residue of the distilleries, and the straw is used for litter. Three quarters per acre may be cal- culated on, if well done and pretty good land ; though very much more is sometimes grown on the rich " polders " of Belgium — this is that district running along the coast from Antwerp nearly to Dunkerque : I have heard of as high as five quarters. No crop is grown with less trouble ; it is not an iiu» certain one; and ve.-y profitable. It may be succeeded by cow-cabbage or white turnips the same year. I wonder it is not thus grown for sheep feed, in the spring, in England. There is no plant, under this method of growing it, so early; and, unlike white tar- nips, it does not become woody. It may even be eaten down, and afterwards allowed to stand for seed. The rapeseed contains four-elevenths of its weight of oil. So supposing a bushel weighs half a hundred weight, this three quarters per acre would produce, in round numbers, eight hundred weight of oilcake. This would last two hundred sheep four and a-half days : if they each consume 1 lb. per day, call it five days. Now, as an acre of good swedes will last two hundred sheep ten days, I think we may calculate on producing a crop of white turnips on this colza stubble which would last the same flock five days with the cake. Thus the dressing would be equal to that derived from the con- sumption of half a-piece of good swedes, and the straw being also conveited into manure in the yards, the farm receives back all the crop, less the oil. There- fore, considering also that there is no crop which de- rives a larger proportion of subsistence from the air than colza, it cannot be injurious, but, on the contrary, a benefit to the land, and if continually grown would maintain it in a constant state of improvement. Poste Restante, Brussels, Wm. HAKTLBy. BUCKWHEAT OR BRANT, Buckwheat has been grown in this country for nearly three hundred years, yet appears to have made small progress, being little attended to as an agricultural crop here, while it is held in considerable repute on the continent and in America. Although not classed with the cereals, its seed furnishes sustenance to large num- bers of people throughout Asia and Europe, and is eaten with relish by many in the United States. It forms a valuable article of diet in countries where wheat will not succeed. The people of the East make declicaeies from the meal of buckwheat, which is called " ble monde," or peeled grain. Among the most chosen dishes served upon the tables at the splendid banquets of Haroum el Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad (recorded in the Thousand and One Nights), were bermacedes or ragouts of mutton, with the farinaceous meal of the "ble monde," that is, of peeled buckwheat. Lord Ma- cartney, in his embassy to China, reports that a dish offered him by the Chinese in the name of the Emperor, as a mark of distinction, was nothing but the meal of buckwheat. In China, Japan, and Russia, it forms a considerable portion of the food of the inhabitants. Buckwheat is cultivated in the Himalayas, and in the mountainous countries north of Bengal, Oude, &c. It is supposed to have originated in Asia ; and one of the common species cultivated comos from Siberia and Tar- tary. Buckwheat seems to have been introduced into France in the eighth century by the Saracens, in the time of the invasion of that country, and lias preserved its name (Sarrazin) from this people, as it has in Po- land, where it was introduced by the Tartars six cen- turies afterwards, where it is called Tartarka. The two kinds of buckwheat usually grown, viz., common buckwheat (Fagoprjrum esculentum), and the Tartarian buckwheat (F. tataricum) differs very much. The former is more farinaceous than the latter. Prepared with the hull, it is sweeter, and does not heat so quick, as it is less resinous than the other kind with the hull. The taste is more bitter ; but it may be kept a long time. The latter sort, however, is preferred. Two crops of this can be grown in a season, since neither frosts nor hot winds injure it; and it produces fifty, one hundred, and even five hundred fold, while that first named does not produce more than twenty or thirty to one. The Tartars did not employ the first, as they did not use the farina, but hulling the grains, they cooked them as they do rice, boiling them in water or milk. The process of hulling was performed without the use of a mill. Boiling water was poured upon the seeds, and after standing an hour, the water was poured off, and the grains were dried by the fire or in the sun ; and after they were dry, placed between two sheets, and rolled with a wooden roller, by which the hulls were separated from the grains. They were then fanned, and ready to be cooked. What is surprising, as the result of this process, is, the grains were kept distinct from each other, while those hulled in a mill and cooked, be- came compact and adhesive. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 51 Buckwheat forms iu some departments of France the principal bread corn of the people. Over the conti- nent generally buckwheat, in mountain districts, is much grown. In Poland it is very generally sold, both in the form of coarse and of fine white meal. In Germany it is well known as a healthy light nutriment, and is much used in making pork sausages, mixed with the muscle and fat. France harvests more than 2,000,000 quarters of buckwheat, and about two mil- lions and a half of the population live chiefly on this production. They use it in the form of farina, of which they make a porridge, pancakes, and bread ; but for the last it must be mingled with the flour of barley and of rye. It is thus made as black as the soot of the chimney. It is dark-coloured, because the grain is mixed with it without hulling. The late Mr. H. Colman, in his Survey of Continental Agriculture, states, that buckwheat is grown very largely in poor soils, in some parts of France ; but it seems (he says) to be a mere shift to live, and leaves only the regret that land capable of a much better cultivation should be thus appropriated ; and yet buckwheat is largely grown in his own country. In the United Kingdom the main consumption of buckwheat is for feeding poultry and some kinds of stock. In 1846 and 18-47 large quantities of buckwheat were introduced from the continent, reaching to nearly 4G,000 quarters in the two years : now the imports annually ai'e very small, and being mixed up with bere or bigg in the returns, it is difficult to ascertain the quantities precisely, but the imports are scarcely more than 2,000 to 3,000 quarters. Besides fattening pigs on the continent, it is given to horses, all animals being fond of the seeds. It is sometimes used by distillers, being capable of yielding a considerable quantity of good spirit. At Dantzic it is said to be extensively employed for this purpose. In Europe, and also in some places in America, it is very extensively raised as food for bees. It is grown for fodder, and if cured in a green state, and stowed away in small stacks of two or three tons each, or in a dry loft, or on an open scaffold, and then steamed before feeding during the winter, or cut fine in a straw-cutter, slightly moistened with water, and mixed with meal, it makes tolerably nutritious food for cattle and horses. Finally, it is also grown as a fer- tilizer, to be ploughed deep under the soil when in blossom. Though not equal to clover for this purpose, still it enriches the land rapidly, and has the advantage of growing when and where clover will scarcely show its more delicate head. The consumption of buckwheat flour in the chief American cities during the winter months is very great. The coarse parts of the grain, after the flour has been separated, make good food for swine, milch cows, or other stock; and, as a good yield can frequently be obtained on land where wheat cannot usually be cul- tivated to profit, the crop has many advantages. Buckwheat, although very popular in America, seems, however, to be confined to a few States, prin- cipally New England and the middle States. The crop is not raised by any persons in extensive fields, but in scattered patches ; so that though the aggregate forms a considerable amount, yet it does not show so much to the eye as to attract notice. Hence the information respecting it and the means of forming an estimate are both more scanty and less reliable than with regard to many other crops. The best soil, undoubtedly, for buckwheat, is a good, dry, light sandy loam ; but it may be made to grow well in any soil if properly pre- pared. Fresh manure should only be applied to this crop when a growth of straw alone is wanted. When its grain is desired, dissolved bones is the best manure ; next comes a mixture, half-and-half of guano and bone-dust. Large crops have been raised on the poor sandy soils of Long Island and New Jersey, by an ap- plication of ten to fifteen bushels of bone-dust per acre. Plough deep, sow the seed broadcast, scatter manure, then harrow well, and finish by rolling smooth. If sown for a fertilizer or for fodder, put in one and-a-half to two bushels per acre ; if for the grain, three-quarters to one and-a-half bushels per acre is usually sufficient. Sow broad-cast or in drills as most convenient. If for grain, cut as soon as the berry is well filled with milk, and before it gets very hard. Loss frequently ensues by letting it stand too long, for it is a gi-ain that shells easily, as the straw is turned in the field. When wanted for fodder, cut just as it is going out of bloom, and cure the same as clover hay. When ploughed in for a fer- tilizer, do this in full bloom, and cover as deep and as well as possible. Buckwheat is a crop of considerable importance in many parts of the State of New York. It is usually sown from the middle of June up to July, and sometimes as late as August. A bushel of seed to the acre is the usual quantity, but more or less is oc- casionally employed. Sometimes it is sown on land from which a crop of hay has been taken the same season, and on a clover lay ; if the soil is loamy and friable, it will frequently do well. Buckwheat is also sometimes sown in New York in connection with winter wheat as a protection to the latter for winter. The maximum yield per acre seems to bo about 50 bushels, the average 25 bushels, and 12 bushels to the acre will, it is said, there pay for cultivation. It is rather an un- certain crop. In a good season it may produce from 15 to 30 bushels per acre, but an early frost or a few days of hot weather blasts the husbandman's hopes. Buckwheat flour in limited quantities sells in Ame- rica for nearly the same price as wheat flour. Indeed so high has the former been at times, that wheat flour has been extensively mixed with it. Hence few farm crops have paid better of late years than buckwheat. Its principal use among the Americans is for pan- cakes, familiarly known as flap-jacks or slap-jacks; and as our farmers' wives may like to gain a wrinkle respecting the mode of preparing this favourite article of food, considered by the Americans and Canadians as a national dainty, we give the recipe for making them which is furnished by Mrs. C. P. Trail, in her Female Emigrants' Guide: "Take about a quarter three pints of the finely-sifted flour, mix to a batter, witli warm milk or water, a tea-spoonful of salt and half a tea- cupful of good barm ; beat it well for a few minutes, E 2 52 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE . till it is smooth, and leave it in a warm place all night? covered in an earthen pot or tin pail, with cover. In the morning have ready your griddle or frying-pan wiped clean, and some lard or butter, made quite hot ; into tliis drop a large spoonful or small tea -cupful at a time of your light batter, till jour pan be full ; but do not let them touch. If the lard be very hot the pan- cakes will set as you pour them in, and be well-shaped and as light as an honeycomb. Fry of a light brown. and turn them ; lay them on a hot plate, and serve quite hot with maple-molasses, treacle, or butter." Buckwheat pancakes ai-e a favourite breakfast dish with the old Canadian settlers. The recently-improved hulling mills for removing the black shell has tended greatly to extend the use of buckwheat in America. So much for buckwheat : if not worth notice by our own farmers, it is at least deserving attention in the Colonies. OXFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, AND BANBURY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT OXFORD. Within the last few months the two societies, thus ju- diciously rolled into one, have come to a still better un- derstanding with each other. They are for the future to pull more uniformly together, and it is only a ques- tion whether the somewhat clumsy tide they continue to work under could not merge into one more thoroughly comprehensive of the county. There are many still, who read its action as limited to the immediate districts of Oxford and Banbury. Certain it is that this year's show had by no means the general support of the shire, either in the way of exhibitors or visitors. The attendance of the latter was very moderate, while the absence of the gentlemen of the county was so marked as to call forth a complaint at the dinner. Mr. Middleton, on behalf of the Oxford, and Mr. Cother, for the Banbury committee, argued on the absolute duty of their landlords giving something more than a merely passive encouragement to associations so closely identi- fied with their own welfare. The three county members were present, but beyond them the list was very circum- scribed, and yet Oxfordshire abounds in more local insti- tutions of the same order, where the Squire is sure to take a lead and an interest. It has to be clearly set forth that this united Oxford and Banbury Society now em- braces in its operations the strength of the whole county. And this once understood, the farmers themselves will want a little whipping up as well as '' the gentlemen." In fact, the show, although not large, was quite good enough to have commanded more attention from the agriculturist. Some of the classes were exceedingly well filled, and many of the prize animals would take precedence in fuller meetings. As it is, some of them are going on to Warwick, but chiefly in competition for the local premiums. Such sheep, however, as Mr. Cothcr's Cotswold rams, or Mr. Gillelt's Oxfordshire Downs, would be likely to hold their own in the best of company. The entry of the sheep now associated in their very name with society was altogether commend- able and encouraging, but still the Brize Norton flock had clearly the best of it. The prize rams are both really good sheep, with beautiful heads— a nice test in such a breed or cross— a healthy active carriage, and a touch almost as fine as a Leicester. There was a great deal of discussion as to which was the better of Mr. Cother's shearling Cotswolds : but as they both bad the honour of beating Mr. Beale Browne's and Mr. Smith's representatives, their quality may be estimated. Mr. Browne righted again with the ewes, the beautiful pen he sent only last (veek to Barnstaple being equally dis- tinguished here. The Southdown and other short-wooUed sheep were rather overdone in the way of prizes. There was very little competition, and in this scarcely any de- cided character of the sort supposed to be so illustrated. If the Oxfordshire Down sheep are finding further favour in these parts, so assuredly are the Shorthorn cattle. Both landlord and tenant are alike taking to them, and there was no other breed exhibited. Amongst Dukes, Members of Parliament, and Masters of Hounds, whose herds had a place in the entry, it was a healthy sign to see a plain practical farmer take the first. One of the effects of this should be to cause some alteration in the arrangement of the prize sheet. In some cases, as this is now drawn out, a precial premium is given, not to the best beast of the class, but to the best in the name of a tenant farmer. The awards as a consequence were occasionally in need of explanation, and the worst of three entries, in one particular instance, had stil to be adjudged the prize. Mr. Hutt's heifer is of extraor- dinary size for her age, as well as being of very good symmetry and quality. The " next best" to her was Mr. Langston's prize bull, just a sveek or so too old to take the special prize of his class. Both this and Mr. Hall's highly commended bull have some very good blood in their pedigrees, as they demonstrate in the handling ; and Mr. Langston's, at least, goes on to the great meeting at Warwick. In the cow classes the judges had the courage to pass over a great fine cow that was palpably too fat to carry out the conditions as to being " in milk ;" but the entry of aged cows was altogether very creditable to the county, and far superior to the bulls of the same ngc. There were only three of these exhibited, to one of which the judges gave the first prize, the second to another, and they commended the third. Still there was nothing extraordinary in any of them ; THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 53 and the first-prize bull " began" with a common look- ing steer's head. As a whole, however, estimated by its general strength, the entry of Shorthorns, either for appearance or the more delicate test of quality and pedigree, was far above the average of what it still really was — a mere country show; for the redoubtable Mr. Stratton had overlooked the time for making his nomi- nations, and there was not an animal of his on the ground. The show of horses was confined to hunting and draught brood mares, and although the entries were lamentably short, there was at least one good specimen of either sort. Mr. Hall's hunting mare is, indeed, as fine an animal as one would wish to see — of great size and substance, and still with plenty of " breeding" about her. She was quite the attraction of the day, being rendered the yet more remarkable by the twin colt foals by Woolwich at her side. Singularly enough the mare that took this prize at the Banbury show last summer has also dropped twin foals. Mr. Sheldon's draught mare was well worthy of her prize — very active and good looking — and there were one or two more useful animals shown against her, but for numbers in either class there was no competition. The judges, however, were very kindly disposed to what did come, and dealt out their commendations accord- ingly. The implement section of the show was chiefly com- mendable for some well-arranged " collections," but the opportunity at such a season of the year of putting the mowing machines to work was unfortunately not availed of. It might have added materially to the interest of the meeting, which, we can only repeat, was not so great as it should have been. No where was this more evident than at the dinner. Mr. Henley, as chairman, had a very uphill time of it ; but the services of those gentle- men who did attend will no doubt be remembered. To keep the Oxfordshire Agricultural Society, however, fairly going, both landlord and tenant have something more to do for it. Merely passive patronage, subscrip- tions or donations, are of themselves little better than useless. PRIZE LIST. Judges. — S. Bloxidge, Warwick, C. Howard, Biddenham, Bedford, — . RobiuaoD, CUfton Pastures, Bucks. SHORTHORN CATTLE. The best Bull, not less than two years old. First pr.ze of 71 , to Josepli Druce, Eyoaham. Second, of 3^., to J. Hutt, Water Eaton. Commended. — H. Middletou, Cuttealowe, for Bull, Tlie best Bull, not more than two years old. First prize of 5/., to J. H. Laugston, M.P., Sarsdeu. Second 31, and extra prize of 5gs., for best Bull uuder 15 months old, W. H. Hewer, Sevenbamptou. Highly Commended. — H. Hall, Barton, for Bull. The best Cow of any age, in milk, having calved within six months of the day of exhibition. First prize of 6L, to J. H. Langatou, M.P. Second, of 3/., to J. Hutt Commended. — Another of J. Hutt'a, aud the Duke of Marlborough's Cow. The best Heifer, under three years old, iu milk or iu calf (to calve within four months of the day of exhibition). First prize of 51., and Champion Prize of Sgs. aa Beat Horned animal in the ahow, to J. Hutt. Second, of 3?., to J. K. Tombs, Langford. Higlihj Commended.— 3 . H. Langston, for Heifer. The best pair of Heifer?, for breeding purposes, under 18 months old. First prize of hi., aud second, of Zl , to J. H. Langaton. The best pair of Heifers, under 18 months old, the property of a tenant farmer, being a member of one of the Societies. A Silvtr Cup, value 5/. Ss., to C. Clinch, Witney. HORSES. The beat Brood Mare for Breeliug Hunters. A Silver Cup, value 5Z. Ss , to H. Hall, Barton, for mare with two colls. Commended. — J. Hutt's msfe. The best Cart Mare and Colt. First prize of 5/ , to H. J. Sheldon, Brailea. Second, of 'il., to J. Hutt. Commended. — J. Drucea'a mare. S II E E P. DOWNS. The best Southdown Ram of any age. First prize of 4?., to the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim. The beat Down Shearling Ram of any breed, except South- down or Oxfordshire Down. First prize of il , to H. J. Sheldon. The best Down Ram, not a shearling:, of any breed, except Southdowu or Oxfordshire Down, First prize of il, to J. Hutt. COTSWOLDS. The best Long-wooUed shearling Ram. First prize of 4/ , to W. Cother, of Middle Aston. Second, 2L, to W. Cother. The best Long-wooUed Ram, not a shearling. First prize of 4^, to W. Cother. Second, 2i., W. Smith, Bibury. OXFORDSHIRE DOWNS. The best shearling Kam. First prize of U., and extra prize of Zl. Ss, aa the best Ox- ford Down ram, to AV. GiUett, Brize Norton. Second, 2^ to W. Gillett. Highly Commended. — J. Druce, for two rams. Commended. — H. L. Gaskell, Kiddiogton Hall, for ram. The best Ram, not a shearling. First prize of il., to J. Bryan, Southleigh. Second, 2/ , to S. Druce. The best pen of five Breeding Long-woolled Ewes, with their Lambs. First prize of 21., to T. B. Browne, Hampden. Second, 1^ W. Smith, Bibury. The best pen of five Breeding Long-woolled abeatling Ewes. First prize of 2/., T. B. Browne. Second, 1/., W. Smith. The best pen of five Breeding Oxfordshire Down Ewes, with their Lambs. First prize of 21 , to the Duke of Marlborough. Seconil, 1/ , to J. Walker, Begbroke Hill. The best pen of five Oxfordshire shearling Ewes. First prize of 21 , to G. Wallis, Hinton. Second, \l., to H. L Gaske I. Thia Class Highly Commended. PIGS. The best Boar, not less than 12 Months or more than 3 Years. Prize of 3 sovs. to J. Halt. The best Boar, not more than 12 Llonths. Prize of 2 sovs. to W. Hewer; and extra prize of 2 gs, as best boar. Highly commended. — J. Hutt's boar. The best Sow, not more than 3 Years. First prize of 2 sovs. to J. Hutt. Second of 1 sov. to W. Hewer. Highly commended. — J. Druce's sow. IMPLEMENTS. JuDGE.s. — J. P. Field, Shipton-on-Cherwell. J. Hitihman, Little Milton, Oxon. The best Collection of Implements. First prize of 8 sovs. to J. S. Browning, Oxford. Second of 3 sovs. to G. Billing, Hazeley. Third of 1 aov. to Messrs, Beaumont, Reading. 1 54 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. T. Nalder, Wantage, for steam engine, thrashing ma- chine, and corn screen, prize of £1 lOg. J. E. Kirby, Banbury, for two thrashing machines and steam engine, prize of £1 10s. Joseph Gardner, Banbury, for chaff machine, prize of 1 sov. This note was appended to the awards : " The Judges of implements regret that they are unable to form a satisfac- tory opinion of the merits of some of the more important implements exhibited, such as the thrashing and the mowing and reaping machines, as they have had no opportunity of seeing them at work. The judges also desire to express their especial satisfaction with the very excellent collection of implements exhibited by Mr. Browning, of Oxford." SUMMER GRAZING — THE GRAZING OF CATTLE. The Grazing of Store Cattle. — This is a subject of great importance to every grazier. Every grazier has store cattle to depasture, but it is only the favoured ones who are in the occupation of lands qualified to fatten cattle, and which department is generally looked upon as being the more honourable and onerous of the two orders of grazing. The grazing of store cattle is adopted and pursued on almost every description of pasture lands — from the sweetest Devon pastures to the bleak northern Highlands, and the varieties of stock are from the results of experience so chosen as to be suited to each separate district, and to which it is always, with slight deviations, desirable to adhere. It is not so much the precise breed of stock that should be ad- hered to, but their similarity in size and constitution ; the active roaming little animal for the mountain pas- turage, the quiet docile one for the lowlands and ge- neral grazing lands. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed," is a good old adage, and it applies with great truth and force in the grazing of store cattle. Unless store cattle are wintered well, it is at great risk to turn them to good pastures. The great secret of the safe and satisfactory grazing of store cattle is to prepare them for summer grazing by good winter keeping. Stock turned out of the yards in good store condition is a strong guarantee for their well-doing throughout the summer grazing. If their constitutions are impaired by hard living and bad treatment in the winter, the summer's grass will fre- quently destroy them. They are too weak to retain and appropriate the nutritive qualities of the grass they imbibe, a laxative habit of body ensues, and a gradual decay and ultimate death are the consequence. The liberal and good business-like treatment of store stock in the winter is, then, the true precursor of a safe, satisfactory, and profitable grazing season. The grazier who has his stock to buy cannot be too careful in his selection. We have long had to contend with a mysterious disease, now commonly designated "the foot and mouth disease;" we have also another disease still more fatal in its course, known as the lung disease — " pleura pneumonia." These complaints are exceedingly enfeebling and detrimental, and often re- duce the animal to a mere skeleton. The grazier can- not be too guarded ; he must, if possible, avoid pur- chasing any of those partially-restored animals which have had the latter disease, and he would do well to be very cautious to see that those which have had the for- mer are quite recovered, or he may thus introduce it upon his farm, to his great hurt. When these trying visitations will leave us, it is impossible to say ; but so long as we have them to impede our successful grazing, we must use every caution against their introduction and propagation upon our farms. But we have them, and their effects are seen in the large accession of poor and enfeebled stock with which our markets and fairs abound : these animals of course require grazing, and it is to the grazing of this class of poor animals that I will first offer an observation or two. In the grazing of poor and somewhat hazardous stock too much caution and judgment cannot be exercised. One of the best resources to strengthen and prepare such stock for better grazing is to preserve and provide for them a field of rough pasture grass, or a rough over- eaten eddish, so that they may be turned there during the day in the early spring, and be taken into the fold- yard again at night to be supplied with good dry food, either of straw and hay, and a ration of linseed-cake, or a feed of meal. In this way the animals will gradually recover condition, and be able to abide stronger keep- ing. Should, however, no such field or application be obtainable, then I would recommend that such stock be put into the most superior pastures first, and be there supplied with cake and corn ini moderate quantity, suited to their state and condition, and as they improve and appear competent to sustain better and stronger pas- turage, to be removed to it. The grazing of such stock is often attended with great hazard and difficulty; but where graziers have a gradation or succession of pas- turage so as to rise gradually from worse to better, it is by no means an unprofitable mode of grazing ; but inexperienced graziers should not attempt it, as it is by the exercise of clear and matured judgment that good results follow. The grazing of ordinary store stock which have been " well wintered and come out in fair condition" is a matter of such general routine that it seems scarcely requisite in these improving and inquiring days to pen a few lines upon the subject ; but there are so many varieties of such stock to be grazed that I shall attempt to say a few words in reference to each kind of stock in order, beginning with the youngest, or Calves and Yearlings. — By calves I mean yeaned calves, or such as have been fully reared, and have now to draw their food from the fields alone. These of course may now be classed with the yearlings, and be treated as such in common grazing. I will first ob- serve that it is unpardonable management not to have these prepared for good pasturage : nothing pays better for good management than these young animals, and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 55 few losses are more provoking than their loss— to see tliese interesting little steers and heifers dwindle away and die, when so little expense in food might have saved them. It is, however, pretty certain death if they are turned in a weakly or enfeebled state upon succu- lent, though sweet and nutritive pastures — such pastures as would have just suited them had they been properly wintered. The ordinary mode of grazing such animals is to run them thinly upon the sheep pastures during the summer, changing them according to circumstances, or as they seem to require it ; sometimes from a good to an inferior pasture, and again from an inferior to better, or again from a highland to a lowland pasture, or vice versa, or any such salutary change that the farm will aflford, or the judgment of the grazier may dictate. In the autumn an eddish or aftermath should be provided, to which they should be taken as the summer pastures begin to lose their freshness ; and as the eddish begins to decay they should be supplied with a small allowance of cake daily. In this way young steers and heifers may be speedily brought to maturity, and I firmly believe in the long run they would amply repay the extra cost and attention. Grazing Steers and Heifers. — These are generally "two-year-olds" and upwards. The same order of grazing would apply as for the above, but they would not necessarily require the best pasturage : they will, if properly wintered, thrive almost any where and upon any pasturage, if only enough of it. I look upon them as the purifiers or scavengers of the grazing lands, taking off all the rough pasturage, and finishing up what the sheep will inevitably leave. This rough grass ought, however, to be mown for them in daily portions. This plass is often too much put upon by graziers. It would be very desirable to provide them with artificial food, in case of need, as it is most unprofitable management to let them shrink on the approach of winter ; a few early mangolds or early cabbage, or even cake, would prevent this. Cows and Breeding Animals. — The grazing and summer management of dairy cows gives ample scope for a separate paper, but I will endeavour to condense a few remarks. It is very unprofitable management to keep a herd of dairy cows on land not suited for the purpose ; no pasture land which causes the animals to be of a laxative habit will do ; nor will the cows thrive upon good pasturage with bad water. In the Lincoln, shire marshes the grass is so succulent and the water so impregnated with saline matters, that dairying to any extent is abandoned. The cows from being too much purged, give but little milk, and that of poor quality. Cows require the most healthy and sweetest grasses, and the purest water to yield the greatest profit. The best and strongest pasture lands are unsuitable. These would rather fatten than enhance their milking proper- ties. Pasture lands of good useful character abounding with pure water or a running stream, are the best suited for dairy cows. These should be laid in early, and a good pasture should be obtained before turning the cows upon them out of their winter quarters. It is certainly best to permit the herd to enjoy their pasture without the intrusion of other stock, but cows do very well along with a moderate quantity of sheep. In all cases, how- ever, due regard must be paid to keep up a good pas- ture, not permitting it to grow coarse. Cows ought never to be allowed to travel far to or from pasture : it deprives them of much valuable milk, as many experi- ments have satisfactorily shown. Cows cannot be kept too quiet and contented : every exertion or drift or any disquietude causes a less yield of milk. In very wet or untoward seasons it is desirable to take them occasionally to the fold-yard, and give them straw or hay as dry food, and withhold any large supply'of water. I need not say that good clean milking is absolutely neces- sary. The Grazing of Breeding StocJt. — Breeding cows and heifers do not require so much careful attention as for milking purposes. A few in each field, along with other kinds of stock, generally thrive admirably, and their calves are rather amused and benefited by the mixture. It is a point worthy of note, that all suckling farm stock require plenty of room : they love to roam in search of stray blades of grass apparently, and the thinner they are placed on the pastures, the better they thrive as a rule ; the other kinds of stock being either ^tore sheep or store cattle, so that the pasturage is kept in proper grazing order and fruitfulness. The kind of land best adapted for suckling purposes, is what is gene- rally known as second-rate sheep land, i. e., land of somewhat inferior quality, and not quite strong enough to fatten sheep. These pastures must also be supplied with good water, or they are not qualified for suckling pastures. It is a material point in suckling that the cow should yield her milk of an even or uniform quality, so that no damage shall arise to the calf; but if scouring or fever intervenes from bad water or bare pasturage, the cow's secretions are all wrong, and the calf soon suffers ; care must, therefore, be given to provide a change of pasture rather than this should occur. The calves will seldom require much attention during the time of suckling. The Incalved Cows and Heifers. — These may for the most part be classed and managed as store stock, and have the run of the pastures along with mixed stock. It is not desirable as a rule that they should become too fat. The produce in such case is generally a very small and delicate calf, hard to raise, and slow of growth, "A well grown calf is half raised." I am well aware that our first-class breeders resort to many practices differing from ordinary breeders, or their splendid ani- mals would not breed at all ; I am speaking of common breeding and common management, and would urge that every care should be taken to keep these animals in a fair healthy breeding state, and nothing more. ' VALUE OF THE EARTH-WORM.— The common earth-worm, though apt to be despised and trodden on, is really a useful creature in its way. Mr. Knapp describes it as the natural raanurer of the soil, consuming on the sur- face the softer parts of decayed vegetable matters, and con- veying downwards the more woody fibres, which there 56 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. moulder and fertilize. They perforate the earth in all direc- tions, thus rendering it permeable by air and water, both indispensable to vegetable life. According to Mr. Darwin's mode of expression, they give a kind of under-tillage to the land, performing the same below ground that the spade does above for the garden, and the plough for arable soil. It is, in consequence, chiefly of the natural operations of worms that fields which have been overspread with lime, burnt marl, or cinders, become in process of time covered by a finely divided soil, fitted for the support of vegetation. This result, though usually attributed by farmers to the j " working down" of these materials, is really due to the action of earth-worms, as may be seen in the innumerable casts of which the initial soil consists. These are obviously produced by the digestive proceedings of the worm, which i take into their intestinal canal a large quantity of the soil in which they feed and burrow, and then reject it in the form of the so-called casts. " In this manner," says Mr. Darwin, "a field, manured with marl, has been covered, in ' the course of 80 years, with a bed of earth averaging 13 I inches in thickness," — From the Encyclopcedia Brilannica— ' Neiv Edition. THE "PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES" OF THE TURNIP. The worthy alderman, when he did pay his long- promised visit to the country, could not disguise his astonishment at the importance his rural friends ap- peared to attach to a matter of which he had little or no previous cognizance. Everything seemed to de- pend on the turnips. If there was a refreshing shower, people heaved a grateful sigh, and joyfully ex- claimed, "Ah! how this will bring on the turnips!" On the other hand, if he ventured to observe that it was nice fine seasonable weather, his companions would shake their heads, and question whether they didn't " want a little more rain for the turnips ?" In his mind, this necessary vegetable was associated with a dark cor- ner in his greengrocer's shop, or a small plot in big neighbour's garden. If he had a neck of mutton, or, by way of a change, boiled a leg, of course he expected to have turnips with it ; otherwise he really thought nothing about them. His experience was not suffi- cient to lead him on to any logical deduction. He would have been only the more surprised still to learn, as he might have done, that the connection between turnips and mutton was much closer than he had sup- posed, and that without the one he might find it diffi- cult to ensure the other. The closing discussion of the session, at the Farmers' Club, turned a good deal upon this. " What system of cultivation upon mixed soils will, under present circumstances, be found most pro- fitable ?" put present circumstances into a very dif- ferent position to what some political economists would have anticipated. There was not a word about the war. The name of the Emperor was never once men- tioned. Our own chance of a share in the fight was not so much as hinted at. The turn out of a Conserva- tive Government had not the slightest possible consi- deration. The very price of wheat had little or nothing to do with the business in hand. What could present circumstances mean ? There are patriots left still, who might twist such an opportunity into a restrictive duty or a sliding scale. There are cautions growers who would make the present depend no little on the future, and argue how long it might be safe to hold. There are present circumstances, in a word, which require all sorts of remodelling and adjustment, to place the far- mer on a proper footing with other people. But the members of the London Farmers' Club arc proverbially practical men, and they discussed this sub- ject much after their usual wont. The good citizen, on his retui'n from his three weeks' sojourn, would have been quite at home here. Every thing still went on the turnips. The one great difficulty, in fact, of present circumstances is the turnips. Landlords may be ex- acting or capricious. Markets may be uncertain, and times be trying ; but the important question^is, what are we to do for turnips ? The soil is sick of them. Some trace this back to the use of artificial manures. The most primitive, however, of Adam's gardeners are equally at fault. Of course there is a sequence to this, and the land is not only turnip sick, but clover sick, and barley sick. Like Paterfamilias at Christmas time, It has become weary of the monotonous rotation of cod and oyster sauce, roast beef, boiled turkey, and plum pud- ding. It wants a break from the four " course" sys- tem, and for the sake of a variety would rush even into the hazardous experiment of " removes," or be content' with the more simple alternative of a chop and a chop to follow. There is naturally one very pertinent query that arises here. If, as about everybody agreed, the four- course kind of cultivation was worn out, why did we not, as reasonable men, try another ? This is the very age of reliable experiment in matters agricultural. If there is any thing really good, it is certain to eventually succeed. If there be a weak place, it will yet more readily bo discovered. If so, the farmers, the land, and the crops are tired of the four courses, why, in the name of common sense, do we not try some other ? Say six, or five, or three, or two, or anything that will revive the turnip, or enable us to do without it. The law, however, exercises its full majesty at this point. There is scarcely a solicitor's-office in the king- dom but has a model form of agreement, telling the tenant how he shall farm and how ho shall not. Twenty or thirty years since, if a man had taken a white corn crop out of its registered turn, we are not quite sure but that he might have been indictable for the felony. Or, if an agent had let a man a place, with liberty to do pretty much what he liked with it, he could only have been considered as qualify- ing himself for the nearest lunatic asylum, where, in accordance with the wisdom of the age, they flogged, starved, and terrified people once more into their senses- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 57 But we are to be flogged, starved, and terrified into doing what is right no longer. The old truism rises before us again, at this stage of the journey. The in- terests of landlord iind tenant are altogether identical ; and if the two can only be induced to put anything like becoming faith in each other, there need be no further fear of robbing the land, or troubling lawyers to tell farmers how they sliall do their own work. De- pend upon it, a man who has anything like due confi- dence in the one he holds under, will be very careful ere he commits an injury that can scarcely be but mutual. " Under present circumstances," the owner of the soil has ample opportunity of selecting its occupier. And let him once get a good tenant, the more liberty of action he allows him the better for both of them. The red tape routine of "our form of lease" has gone by. The Farmers' Club discussion all tends to prove this. If a man goes indifferently about his business, there is no lawyer's office in England can do much to improve him. On the contrary, the old ob- solete line and rule of this and that has cramped the energies ot many a man ere now— ruined the turnips — spoilt the barley crop, and shortened the supply of victuals and drink for the people. We believe the ques- tion really comes to this. The majority of farmers do not alternate their systems simply because they are not permitted to do so. The report we give is worthy alike of the serious consideration of either class ; and in Mr. Baker's much regretted absence we can only con- gratulate the Club on the selection of so good a man to fill his place. Whatever reading Mr. Baker himself might have given to so open a question, no one will quarrel with the strictly practical and useful interpre- tation Mr. Owen Wallis has put upon it. LONDON, OR CENTRAL FARMERS' CLUB. THE CULTIVATION OF MIXED SOILS. The last monthly meeting previously to the usual adjournment took place on Monday evening, June G. The question for discussion was, '' What system of cul- tivation upon mixed soils will, under present circum- stances, be found most profitable .'" Mr. Thomas, of Bletsoe, presided, supported by Messrs. Owen Wallis, H. Trethewy, J. Pain, James Wood, W. Fisher Hobbs, S. Skelton, L. A. Couss- maker, T. Congreve, J. Gray, R. Marsh, G. Smythies, J. Cressmgham, J. Wood (Croydon), C. J. Brickwell, W. Heard, J. Beddoe, J. Hooker, J. S. King, F. J. Baines, J. Parkinson, J. C. Morton, T. Lyall, J. Maund, D. Reid, H. Gibbons, Pell, &c. In the absence of Mr. Baker, of Writtle, from illness, the subject was introduced by Mr. Owen Wallis, of Overstone Grange, Northampton. Mr. Wallis, after expressing his regret at the cause of Mr. Baker's absence, and claiming the indulgence of the meeting for himself, as having unexpectedly been called upon to take up a question which was assigned to another member, proceeded as follows : The sub- ject for discusssion as proposed by Mr. Baker is — "What system of cultivation upon mixed soils will, under present circumstances, be found most profit- able .'" This is by no means an easy question to answer ; it is not easy to give an answer to it that will not be open to dispute. There can be no means of proving the superiority of one system over another, until they have been tried one against the other, under the same circumstances and conditions, for a number of years, and accurate accounts of the profit and loss of each faithfully recorded. This, however, has never been done, that I am aware of; and even if it had, other circumstances would have to be taken into account which might render the trial anything but conclusive. For instance, one system, though at first the most pro- fitable, might contain within itself the seeds of its own destruction by exhausting the soil of certain properties essential to the production of healthy crops ; while the other, by the non-exhaustion of those properties, miglit be continued for an indefinite period. The question, then, becomes one of opinion only, and not of positive proof. We may, however, from the information which our daily observations aff"ord us, form pretty correct conclusions ; and I think it is now very generally agreed, that on light soils the four-course system can no longer be defended, but that a more extended rotation must be adopted, in order that the turnip and seed crops may be sown less frequently, and by that means, it is hoped, grown more successfully. That this opinion is rapidly gaining ground is shown by previous discussions at this Club. It is also apparent from the proceedings of the Royal Agricultural Society of England ; for in the schedule of prizes last issued is one of 20 sovereigns " for the best repi^rt on the modifications of the four- course rotation which modern improvements have ren- dered advisable." There is also another prize of 20 sovereigns " for the best report on the causes of the in- creasing difficulties of turnip cultivation, and the remedies." Every year, indeed, brings additional evi- dence of the necessity of a change ; for, notwithstanding the assistance we have derived of late years by the use of artificial manures, the turnip crop is becoming rapidly more precarious, and is deteriorating both as to weight and quality. The difficulty as to the clover plant has long been felt ; but, great as the loss from its failure has been, we have found less difficulty on the generality of farms in keeping our stock in summer without clover, than in winter without turnips. Now, however, that the double difficulty has come upon us, we have no alternative but to look about for a remedy. But there is not only this difficulty as to the green crops : there is an equal deficiency in the barley. On most of the farms with which I am acquainted that crop has fallen off 58 THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. nearly one-third in quantity, and the quality is inferior in comparison with former years. Six quarters per acre used to be obtained where four can only be got now, and this, too, with the land in a much higher state of cultivation than formerly. It used to be strong and reedy in the straw, and stand up till ripe ; but now, it is no sooner a few inches high than it tumbles about in all directions ; and, though in appearance a great crop, there is in reality nothing but a lot of soft weak straw and about two-thirds of a crop of inferior corn. Its effects upon the young clover seeds are very injurious. Those that live are very much weakened, and a great part of the plant is often lost altogether. It being, therefore, apparent that a more extended rotation of cropping must be adopted, we have to inquire what other is likely to prove the b3st sub- stitute for the four-course one. On ordinary soils the extension of the white corn crops should, I think, depend upon the amount of artificial food, or purchased manures, used upon the farm, unless they are accom- panied by a corresponding increase in the green crops. There can be neither reason nor justice in restricting one tenant, who uses these very liberally, to the same covenants as to cropping as you do another who either uses them sparingly, or not at all. A departure from one general rule may give some trouble to agents on large estates; but cases ought nevertheless to be dealt with on their own merits, and the good and the bad tenants no longer tied down by the same restrictions. For myself, I have nothing to complain of in this respect. Happily, I rent under a liberal and considerate landlord, whose agent is a large farmer and a thorough practical man of business ; and using as I do large quantities of cake and meal in finishing off beasts in the stalls that have not got fat at grass, and also in pre- paring others for summer grazing, and using also a con- siderable quantity of bones, which I grind and dissolve on the farm, I have been allowed — indeed, I may say, compelled to extend ray corn crops. I find that nothing bears high-farming so well as wheat and oats ; and I therefore sow all my land, after tui'nips, mangolds, and fallow, with those cereals. My present course is : turnips or mangold ; wheat ; barley ; seeds — composed of clover, trefoil, rib-grass, and rye-grass either mown or grazed one year ; and then wheat again. I not only find that I can grow more wheat after turnips than I can barley, but that I can grow more barley and of much better quality after wheat than I can after turnips. I think, moreover, that this plan may with advantage be somewhat modified. There is considerable risk of mildew in wheat sown in the spring after turnips on deep land, subject to heavy crops of straw, I there- fore think it advisable to sow such land with oats after the turnips, and take wheat after the oats : sowing seeds in the wheat. It may be supposed that this extension of crop will lead to an increase of couch-grass and other weeds. This need not be the case. Indeed, I think it capable of increased cleanliness. Before either the mangolds or turnips are allowed to be pulled up for storing, or stocked with sheep, the land ought to be carefully looked over, and any couch, docks, &c., that have escaped the previous cleaning or horse-hoeings ought to be forked out and carried off the land. And, again, after the first crop has been harvested, the stub- bles ought to be subjected to the same process ; and as no seeds have been sown with that crop, if required, it ought to be carefully hoed, in order to destroy any annual weeds that make their appearance. The second crop of corn may therefore be sown on land quite clean ; and if only clean seeds are sown, there is no reason why it should become foul during the whole course. Upon this point, however, there is always great difficulty, for there is nothing worse to find than clean rye- grass and clover seeds. I have myself on several occasions gone nearly the whole round of the seed stands in Mark Lane, for two or three consecutive weeks, and have not found one clean sample of ryegrass ; and many of the samples contained an immense quantity of couch seed. I cannot, however, blame the growers and ven- dors of these foul seeds so much as the sowers of them. If there was not a ready market for them they would cease to be produced ; and if farmers would only sow clean seeds, those only would be supplied to them. I have now described the course of cropping I have adopted on my turnip soils ; but as three-fifths of the land is under corn crops, it requires liberal dressings. In growing my turnip crops, I find it much better to use half a dressing of farmyard dung, with half a dressing of superphosphate, than a whole dressing of either alone. I also make a point of dressing nearly all my seeds with about eight loads of good farmyard dung per acre ; and I know of no application of dung that is so profitable as this. If, however, I find I am likely to run short of manure for topdressing my seeds, I then grow some of my common turnips with superphosphate only. I gene- rally draw off one-third or one-fourth of my turnips to be consumed in the yards, and eat the remainder on the land with sheep, which, in addition to their turnips, are well supplied with good chaff, and most of them have either cake or corn as well. For my lambing ewes I always sow about ten or twelve acres of rye, immediately after harvest, on land intended for turnips the following year. This, with mangold and chaff, keeps both the ewes and their Iambs during the lambing season, till the latter are old enough to be drafted on the seeds or old pasture land. As soon as the sheep have finished the rye, I plough it up, and prepare for turnips, and generally get a better crop upon this land than upon any other part of the farm. And now as to farms where the self-supporting principle is to be relied upon. And here I think the course of cropping should be still fur- ther extended. When I was a very young farmer, the six-course rotation was in very general use in North- amptonshire ; and I have long been of opinion that there never was so much corn and stock produced at so little cost as there was under that system. The course of cropping was — turnips, barley, seeds (two years), wheat, and barley. For this last crop the land was partly cleaned, and half a dressing of manure applied. The seeds were generally mown the first year and grazed the second. They were stocked chiefly with sheep, but partly also with young beasts, or the cart horses, to eat THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 59 the ryegrass bents, and keep the pastures good for the sheep. On some land it is, I know, objected to sow ryegrass at all. On clay land it has generally been thought injurious; but I have sown it very frequently, mixed with white clover, trefoil, and ribgrass, and, as it is not allowed to run to seed, I have never seen any harm from it ; and have grown quite as good wheat after it, or even better than after clover alone. It seems stronger in the straw, and falls less readily. It is one objection to having seeds down one year, that they are often much weakened by the previous crop of laid corn, and are only just getting strong, and capable of making a good pasture, at the time they must be ploughed up for wheat. By keeping down the seeds two years, the yearly cost of sowing is reduced very considerably. The quantity of live stock upon the land during the summer would be doubled, and many farms would be suitable for breeding both sheep and cattle where none are bred now ; and with present and probable future prices of store stock, breeding has been, and will I think continue to be, one of the most profitable parts of a farmer's business. I am also decidedly of opinion that if cattle and horses were more generally pastured with sheep in the seed fields, we should hear much less of the serious losses of the latter, and to which the able paper of Mr. Marshall, of Riseholm, read at the Club last year, had special re- ference. By stocking the land heavily with sheep only, and by the liberal use of cake or corn with the seeds, you first poison the land with the dung of the sheep, and then poison the sheep by compelling them to eat the herbage produced. Disease and death are the natural consequences. In making this suggestion, I am aware that to some localities it is altogether inapplicable, because the farms are without subdivision-fences. In many others also, the hedges have been so weakened by annual cuttings, that they are no longer of use as fences against cattle and horses. With regard to this practice of cutting the hedges, I am decidedly of opinion that it must be discontinued, or there will not be a fence in the country that will even stop a sheep. To old hedges it is utter ruin ; and it will very soon so weaken the young fences as to make them little better than old ones. I have therefore ceased on my own farm to cut them annually ; nor do I think I shall soon be induced to re- sume the practice. I am aware that I have done so at the expense of that appearance of neatness and order that nicely-trimmed hedges impart to a farm ; and at risk of being considered an untidy fellow by those who do not know my reasons for the change. There is no occasion, however, to allow hedges to grow to the size they did in former times ; neither is there any necessity for wide open ditches by the side of them. These may all be safely drained with tiles, and filled in. The hedges should also be cut and laid once during the course of cropping, varying the sides on which you cut them. By so doing, the old wood left at one cutting will all be removed at the next, and the fences will thus be kept in a thriving condition, being full of young wood, and witli a good thick bottom. I ought, perhaps, to apologize for this digression on the subject of hedges ; but, as good ones are an essential condition to the course of cropping and the method of grazing the seeds which I am advocating, I do not see that I could very well omit these remarks. There is another important feature in reference to the six-course system of cropping when compared with the four- course, namely, that fewer horses and less manual labour is required ; and that without any diminution of the corn-crops, one-half of the land being still devoted to them. I have heard lately of instances where wheat has been grown after two years' seeds, and the yield has been great beyond all former occasions. The acreage of the turnip-crop will of course be lessened, but I am inclined to think that the amount of food would not be so to any considerable extent. If a return to the six-course has the effect of restoring the turnip-crop — and I have great faith that it would — we should then have good crops of sound roots available for feeding stock, instead of the present misera- ble ones of diseased tubers ; which, if not assisted with other and better food, would pine the stock confined upon them. There would also be the second year's seeds, upon which either the lambs at turnips or the stock ewes might be turned for three or four hours during the day ; and they would, if rested in the autumn for the purpose, lessen the consumption of turnips con- siderably. In some districts of the Midland Counties it is the custom to take a crop of oats after the two-year- old seeds, and then wheat after the oats. This plan affords still greater facilities for wintering sheep stock on arable land. It is in other respects advantageous ; for the very finest oats are produced in this way, 461bs. per bushel being a common weight ; and at the prices such corn has of late com- manded, no crop has been so remunerative. On the deep rich loams, wheat of finer quality is obtained after oats than in any other way. Taking into account, then, the increased facilities for breeding, rearing, and feeding sheep and cattle ; that one-half of the farm is still under corn crops ; the decreased expenditure in respect of both horse and manual labour; the little oc- casion there will be, on soils of average fertility, for the use of artificial manure, or any great amount of artificial food; the more than probable resuscitation of the turnip and clover crops — I am quite of opinion that the six- course system, with two years' seeds, is, on soils adapted for it, on the whole the most profitable. This is no new theory ; nor, as far as I am concerned, any new opinion. At a discussion of this Club, on a subject identical in principle, introduced by Mr. Thomas, of Lidlington, in December, 1856, I expressed the same views. Neither is there anything new in the system. I am simply recommending a recurrence to a practice much older than any of us. But I trust it has some- thing better than age to recommend it. I do not expect, however, that either this, or any other system, will be universally adopted. There will always be so many circumstances affecting different localities, and even different farms in the same locality, such as soil, climate, the present subdivision of farms, and the spe- cial requirements of special districts, that no general rule can be laid down for imiversal adoption. Take my 60 THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. own case. It may fairly be asked — Why have not you adopted the system you so strongly advocate ? For two reasons : First — On a farm of 400 acres, nearly the whole of which is arable, three-fourths of the old hedges have been grubbed up and new ones planted, and the latter are not yet of sufficient strength for the purpose. Secondly — Having another farm of nearly 500 acres, all old pasture ; it is of more importance to me to provide fodder and roots for the winter, in order to keep cattle that either have been or are intended to be summer-grazed on this pasture land, than to increase my summer stock, on my arable farm. But for these considerations, I would at once adopt it, and may pro- bably do so as soon as the first obstacle is removed, I have hitherto spoken of the system of cropping soils on which turnips can not only be grown, but consumed upon the land on which they grow. 1 will now make some observations on clay soils. Here, I am not quite so sanguine that the rotation can be so ad- vantageously extended. Cleaning, in adverse seasons, is a more difficult operation, and less can be done by forks and hand-picking. Besides, there is no occasion to sow clover more frequently than once in eight years ; beans being substituted alternately. It may be argued that peas may be used in the same way on light soils. They are, however, a most precarious crop, and more difficult to keep clean than any other. On heavy clay soils a summer fallow can scarcely be altogether dispensed with. These soils may, however, be made subservient to stock feeding to a considerable extent ; and that, too, at a time of year when keeping is of the greatest value — namely, the spring. I sow one-half of my strong-land fallow with tares and mangolds. For the latter I prepare the land as far as possible in the autumn, getting the dung on and ploughed in during the winter, and drill the seed on the stale furrow. The surface having been well pul- verized by the previous frosts, a fine seed-bed is ob- tained, and that, too, on a solid bottom, which is favourable to the growth of the plant. I use the tares for soiling my horses ; and when they are carted off, the land is broken up, and, if required, summer-fallowed ; or, if clean, it can be sown with coleseed for autumn sheep-feed. On the other half of the land intended for fallow, I drill in the wheat, the previous April, about six or seven pecks of Italian ryegrass per acre. At harvest, this is scarcely visible; but it grows rapidly when the wheat is removed, and by the following spring is a very good pasture. This, if assisted by mangold- wurtzel, will carry a considerable quantity of sheep stock till the end of May, or even later, when, if it contains any couch-grass, it should be broken up ; and the drier the weather at the time, the better. I grow either barley or oats after the fallow and mangolds ; then seeds or beans ; and then wheat. This finishes my course on clay land ; but, having only four fields, I have no choice of system. To those who think a more extended rotation desirable, I would recommend— Ist, fallow, after tares or Italian ryegrass, as stated above ; 2nd, oats or barley ; 3rd, clover ; 4th, wheat ; Sth, beans and mangold, well manured, also hand and horse-hoed ; and 6tb, wheat or oats. Broad clover should be sown in one course, and white clover and trefoil the next ; but if the land will not grow good clover thus often, I should not hesitate to sow ryegrass, white clover, and trefoil occasionally. Having now stated my views as to the most profitable course of cropping on both light and heavy soils, I will, if I am not trespassing too much upon your patience, conclude with some general obser- vations applicable to both. In the first place, I by no means advocate extravagantly high farming. Land should be manured according to its quality, some soils bearing, and indeed requiring, much more than others. In the next place, I particularly deprecate a very heavy dressing for any one crop, excepting, perhaps, mangold- wurtzel, which can scarcely be overdone. At all other times, it is much more advantageous to apply lighter dressings, and more frequently. T do not, however, think that a liberal use of cake and corn has that ten- dency to produce superabundance of straw, and laid crops, that many imagine. On the contrary, I think it strengthens rather than lengthens the straw, and, be- yond all doubt, greatly increases the yield of corn. I have seen the largest, and apparently the heaviest, crops of corn produced, after fallows, by heavy dressings of poor straw-yard dung ; but they proved to be little better than the substance which had sustained them. One is almost led to the conclusion that there may be some analogy between the animal and vegetable king- doms, and that, in both, like produces like. I am afraid that rather more err from under than over- dressing ; and, with rent, rates, taxes, horse and manual labour, and other expenses the same on a bad crop as on a good one, it is the greatest error that can be committed. This principle is now very generally recognized ; and really bad farming is now rarely met with. Whatever course of cropping has been proved most suitable to a district, that course should be pretty closely adhered to. I know of no greater folly than changing a system of cropping at every variation in the relative values of the different kinds of corn and other produce. I have generally seen that if one description of corn obtains a price higher than is its natural value in comparison with other kinds, that so many are tempted to sow it more largely than they otherwise would have done, that it becomes the cheapest instead of the dearest, and their object — that of ob- taining the most profitable crop — is thus defeated. Vary cropping as much as you can, whether corn or green crop — that is, do not sow any one kind of either corn or root too frequently on the same spot. Let swede turnips, common turnips, and mangolds be each sown alternately. Vary the corn, pulse, and clovers in the same way ; but do not vary the system of sowing white crops and green ones alternately, unless under special circumstances. Nothing is worse for a farm, and I believe for the occupier's pocket also, than what is termed the everlasting shift. Steady perseverance in a right course will, in the long run, be found the most profitable. In conclusion, I can only express my fears that I have not been able to throw any new light upon the subject ; and also to express my deep regret that our old and valued friend who proposed it, is not THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 61 present to give us the benefit of his larger knowledge and greater experience respecting it. In reply to a question from Mr, Skelton as to the nature of the land of which he had been speaking, Mr, Wallis said all except four fields was turnip soil. Mr. J. Pain (Felmersham, Bedford) said he quite agreed with Mr. Wallis, that the system of growing turnips once in four years, on light land, was not a good one. If not yet abandoned, he believed it soon would be, as the cultivation came round too frequently for the turnips and for the clovers. On his own farm he had carried out a different system for the last three or four years. He could hardly get any turnips at all ; and, therefore, he adopted a six-course shift, which he believed afforded a little better chance. What they called turnip land was quite sick of turnips ; and the best remedy was, in many cases, to sow mangold instead of turnips. Mr. Skelton enquired what was the general cha- racter of Mr. Pain's soil. Mr. Pain said it was generally of a dry character. On what was formerly called good turnip land he could not now grow turnips as he used to do ; and, therefore, he had substituted for them mangold, growing half of each, and that system had succeeded admirably. He could also grow good mangcdd on cold land. Though they did not use turnips in that case, they used tares or something else as a substitute on the fallows, then barley, beans, clover, and wheat; and wherever the land was in pretty good condition, he found no difficulty in getting two crops of wheat in six years. He was satisfied that the further they got the crops apart the better would be the result. Mr. L. A. CoussMAKER (Farnham) could corro- borate what Mr. Pain had said in reference to the general failure of the turnip crop. He farmed princi- pally heavy land ; and, therefore, it was to such land that the remarks he had to make would be applicable. Still it was land on which he could grow very good turnips and swedes, though he might have a difficulty in feeding them off. He had farmed that land now for 20 years, having proceeded on the five-course system. When he first occupied it, it certainly was not much subject to turnip crops, but he found that he could not now produce the same quantity of turnips that he used to do. [A voice: " What is your rotation.'"] Green crops, according to the nature of the land — turnips, or mangold, or tares, or whatever it might be ; then after the green crop, a white corn crop — wheat, barley, or oats, according to circumstances ; this was followed by a green crop, which was invariably put into beans, and the bean crop was put into wheat. He had, as he said before, gone on the five-course system ; but only a portion of his land being adapted for turnips, he had called upon it oftener than he otherwise would have done. This land now declined producing turnips, so much so that this year he did not grow a single turnip. He had substitu'.ed globe mangold wurzel for swedes, and rape for early turnips. A friend of his having re- commended him to manure his land with lime, he tried that a year or two ago, but he did not find it answer. The seed crop did not fail, but he only came upon that once in ten years. He could not grow a turnip crop once in five years. As regarded the trimming of hedges, which no doubt gave them a very neat appear- ance, he would observe that where quicks were grown there was no danger of deterioration ; but, on the other hand, where quicks were not grown the stuff would die away : the result depended, in fact, on what the hedges were composed of (Hear, hear). With regard to autumnal cultivation, he entirely concurred in what had fallen from Mr. Wallis. He found that he could not grow tares as ho used to do. In the course of his twenty years' farming, his farm had, he considered, been very much improved. He had manured it strongly; still he could not grow green crops, roots, or tares as he did formerly. Mangold wurzel was an exception ; that did not deteriorate : if he put on plenty of dressing, he never found it to fail. A Member : Do you use guano ? Mr. CoussMAKER replied in the affirmative. He did not, however, use much artificial manure, because it was so dependent on the weather for its effects. If, after a strong application of guano, there was wet weather, it answered ; on the other hand, if the weather were dry the land was rather deteriorated than improved. In high farming he did not find anything so reliable as farm-yard dung. Mr.GRAY(Courteen, Northampton)jobservedthatMr. Coussmaker had not clearly stated his five-course rota- tion ; he appeared to him to have given only four crops. Mr. Coussmaker said : First there was a green crop ; this was succeeded by a white corn crop ; then came another green crop — clover, or tares ; the clover or tare crop he always put into beans, and after beans he grew wheat. He put on the whole of the manure on his clover lay for beans, and he took his wheat after his beans; he always grew a better crop of wheat in that way than he could produce on the clover lay. Mr. G. Smithies (Marlow, Leintwardine) said : As regarded the clipping of fences, he quite agreed that it was possible to clip them every year, and keep them in good condition ; but they should be clipped in the form of a wedge, and cut at the top. It was not essy to get a good quick fence ; it took many years to do so. He felt personally very much obliged to Mr. Wallis for his able introduction, and he hoped it would induce landlords to allow good tenants to farm morein accordance with their own notions, instead of the notions of some lawyer in a small town, or, rather, of his great grandfather. ( Laugh- ter.) The time had certainly come when those who farmed high could not farm on the four-course system. He had himself been obliged to depart from that system on account of his barley having gone down, a loss of that kind being, in a stock country like his, a very serious matter indeed. He agreed with Mr. Wallis as to the necessity of removing as far as possible all the weeds and couch from the turnip crop in the autumn. In a wet climate, and with a light soil, there was sure to be a great deal of loss ; and in the autumn, when the leaves were dry, much could be done to diminish that evil. 62 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Marsh (Sandwich, Kent) remarked that in his county they did all they could to grub up hedges, consi- dering them a great source of deterioration to arable fields. They were almost turnip-sick, but were not so badly off in that respect as some gentlemen who had spoken appeared to be ; they could get very fair turnips once in eight years. It had been the practice of late by some farmers to substitute for clover giant sainfoin, which they found a very good change. The Chairman inquired what kind of land Mr. Marsh referred to. Mr. Marsh : Light chalk. Mr. J. Parkinson (Bournemouth, Dorset,) was happy to find the prognostications of some old friends of his fulfilled, with regard to the failure of the four- course system, in the paper which Mr. Wallis had read that evening. The late Mr. Rogers, of Ranby, Notts, and the late Mr. Milward, of Hexgrave, were, in their time, as good farmers, and made as much money by farm- ing, as almost any one in the country. Before the intro- duction of guano thoss gentlemen both said it was impos- sible to tell of what bulk or weight swede-turnips might be grown. Neither of them had grown a swede beyond its natural powers ; and, though he had seen swedes on their farms weighing 16 or 17 lbs., he never saw a hollow one amongst them. The failure of the turnip-crop was, in his opinion, attributable to the use of guano. They couldn't eat their cake and have it ; they couldn't force the crop at the first stage of growth, and have the same benefit at the end. So long as farmers were confined to the use of bones and farm-yard manure, the turnips never failed. He would appeal to old farmers present what was their recollection on this subject ? Up to the year 1841, or even later, he himself certainly never saw any- thing like a hollow swede-turnip ; and he had come to this conclusion, that the deterioration of this crop was owing to the introduction and application of guano, as well as by the four-course system which had very pro- perly been denounced by Mr. Wallis. He would here observe that in a paper which was prepared by himself, under the direction of the late Mr. Milward, for the Agricultural Society, in 1841, and which, owing to some mistake on the part of the officials, was not published, the extension was carried rather further with regard to seeds than even INIr. Wallis advocated. There the seeds were carried to three years — a system under which both Mr. Rogers and Mr. Milward made fortunes. Mr. J. Pain: How were the three crops consumed? Mr. Parkinson : By sheep and young stock. Mr. J. Pain: Were they mown or fed ofi"? Mr. Parkinson said they were always grazed. The system of which he was speaking was carried out on light land in Sherwood Forest. The rotation was as follows : — First, turnips ; second, barley ; third, red clover, mown; fourth, wheat; fifth, turnips; sixth, barley ; seventh, eighth, and ninth, seeds, pastured ; tenth, oats. The evil which Mr. Wallis mentioned in reference to wheat straw might be avoided in a great measuic by the use of salt. He had himself derived great benefit from that for the last twenty years. On one occasion a neighbour of his applied guano to his wheat crop on the same kind of soil on which he himself applied salt. The contrast in the results in his own favour was quite marvellous : his neighbour's wheat was laid down while his was standing at harvest time, and he got nearly a quarter an acre more wheat of a very superior sample. He had also applied salt very bene- ficially in a variety of other cases. In wheat after oats there was a difficulty in keeping the wheat free from oats ; at least that was his own experience. Ryegrass he had found on the strong red lands of Nottingham- shire anything but a failure : he had grown large crops of wheat after it. Mr. Wallis had spoken of good re- sults to his wheat after an application of cake manure, observing that his corn stood well. That was not sur- prising, as such manure contained saline properties. Mr. W. F. HoBBS (Boxsted, Essex) thought they were pretty well agreed that the usual mode of culti- vating mixed soils, namely, the four-course system, was not the most profitable. He could not lay down any particular mode of cultivation for his own farms, be- cause they consisted of very different soils, and had' been remodelled rather with a view to letting than to the adoption of any particular system. It was evident, however, that the four-course system ought now to be considered out of date for mixed soil land ; and he thought all wise landlords must be disposed to give in- creased facilities for cultivation when they saw intelli- gence and capital combined in their tenants, so as to enable the occupier to grow what the land was really capable of growing. It had often struck him that oleaginous crops might be produced to great advan- tage. He referred to rapeseed, and other crops pro- ducing oil. At the present day the inhabitants of this country who used moderator lamps were entirely de- pendent on foreign lands for Colza oil ; and if England were to go to war with France, they would no doubt be compelled to pay for it double or treble what they paid at present. In travelling through France, he had, at this period of the year, observed immense tracts of land employed in the cultivation of rapeseed ; and he believed that it was more profitable than wheat-crops. He thought that, occasionally — say once in eight or ten years — an oleaginous crop like rapeseed would be bene- ficial, both because it would destroy insects, and would in itself yield a good return. Another remark which he wished to make was, that he himself had frequently had three green crops in one season. That enabled him to keep a very large quantity of sheep ; and he had found the plan useful. As soon as the wheat-crop was off, he sowed the land with vetches and winter oats, mixed. In the spring— say in April — the sheep having fed-off the vetches, he ploughed the land, and drilled-in aboutS cwt. of superphosphate, with early dwarf rapeseed. This came off by about the end of June or the first week in July, when there was quite time enough to sow any of the common turnips, or even the hybrid turnips. If the land were at all tenacious, after the rapeseed had been fed-off the first time, he horsehoed mustardseed in with the rape, which then came a second time, and was a most valuable food for a flock of ewes during the autumn, especially at the period when the tups were THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 63 turned to them. That was, he knew, a considerable change in the rotation ; and he had no wish to go further than to say, without laying down any absolute rule, that the crops must be varied in a manner suitable to different soils and climates, which would be very bene- ficial to tenants as well as landlords. One or two words with regard to the management of hedges. In his county, which was one of the driest counties in Eng- land, the hedges were perhaps the worst, the main cause being that the bank, and not the hedge, was the fence. The hedges ought to be planted, as was the case in the midland counties and in Lincolnshire, as near the ground as possible. He had planted a considerable quantity of quick during the last few years, and preferred trimming them in the wedge form, which was recom- mended by Mr. Smithies. He had no doubt that the use of salt was in many cases very advantageous ; but he thought wide drilling had quite as much to do with the stiflFening of straw as the application of salt. When wheat was drilled 10 or 12 inches wide, he had found the straw much heavier and standing much better than when a dififerent mode of cultivation was pursued. He thought the application of salt, mixed with guano, tended very much to saifen the straw. Mr. Skeltox : What is your opinion of the relative value of artificial manures ? Mr. HoBBS said he was of opinion that, for the wheat crop, especially on heavy land, guano mixed with salt was the most beneficial manure that could be ap- plied, far surpassing any farmyard manure. He had used guano to the extent of from 2 to 4 cwt. per acre, during the last two years ; and wherever he applied it on mangold-wurtzel, the result had not been satisfactory. For a climate where the rain-fall did not exceed 16 inches, he should recommend superphosphate for root- crops, instead of guano ; but for wheat-crops, on heavy land, he had found nothing answer so well as guano mixed with salt. Mr. Maund (Ty-mawr, Abergavenny) said: He farmed in a part of Wales where labour was as expensive perhaps as it was in any part of England. The system in general use there was the four-course system; and afterwhat he had heard, he thought the adoption of the six-course system, which appeared to yield a much better return, would be especially advantageous in a district where labour was so dear. Mr. LvALL (Lincolnshire) said : The system advocated by Mr. Wallis was no doubt the most profitable in that gentleman's own district ; but in his district there was a great deal of light land, which his experience tended to show might be cultivated much more profitably on the four-course system than on any other. On the Lincolnshire Wolds he found that, instead of artificial manures being so injurious to the turnip as they ap- peared to be elsewhere, farmers could not produce tur- nips without them. Last year he manured a field of 46 acres heavily with good cake manure, the quantity being, in fact, seven or eight cart-loads per acre. In addition to that, he put three loads of compost through the drill, mixed with 4 cwt. of nitro-phosphate or Odam's blood manure. This was divided into ten heaps. After having ascertained how many bushels it took to work through the field, they left a division of two drill ridges between the heaps to see what would be the eS"ect without nitro- phosphate or Odam's blood manure ; and where that division occurred there was not so much produce by half the quantity per acre as where the nitrate was used. Having commenced growing mangold wur- zel only four years ago, he had found a gradual im- provement, and his crop this year was almost ready for horse-hoeing. He used 2 cwt. of guano per acre, 3 cwt. of salt, and 3 cwt. of nitro-phosphate, in addition to farm-yard manure. He applied guano broadcast. His experience had led him to the conclusion that if they made a proper selection of seeds they not fear the dete- rioration of the turnip crop ; and he was convinced that on the light wolJs and heath lands of Lincolnshire the four-course system was the least expensive and the most profitable. Mr. Parkinson enquired how long the four-course system had been in operation there ? Mr. Lyall said it began before his time. In reply to a question from Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Lyall said: The land of which he had been speaking was enclosed more than half a century ago. Mr. Parkinson would be glad to hear some old Lincolnshire farmer state what had been the eflfect of using artificial manures on the heath lands of that county. Mr. Hooker (of Horsley, Surrey) said the mode of farming adopted on stiff soils by some farmers in his county was this : They grew wheat alternately with green crops ; first wheat, then tares, which are fed oflf by sheep, or cut up for the cattle after the tares are oS"; the ground is immediately ploughed up, and rape is sown, which is also fed off by sheep, to whom oilcake is given ; the land is then ploughed for wheat ; and this mode of cultivating is found very advantageous on stifiF soils. Beans are sometimes sown instead of tares, and rape drilled in between the rows in the summer, and hoed in after the beans are harvested ; this is fed off by sheep as before stated. He (Mr. Hooker) had seen tur- nips fail on land which had never received any artificial manure, and, in his opinion, the use of these manures had nothing to do with the failure of the turnip crop. Mr. P. F. Pell (Scopwick, Sleaford, Lincolnshire) said for the last three or four years there had been great complaints in the part of the country with which he was connected of the failure of the turnip crop ; and he knew that the great bulk of the farmers in the wolds and heaths said that the turnip was much more liable to decay than it used to be (Hear, hear.) Mr. Lyall wished to know whether he was right in supposing that Mr. Wallis advocated the use of farm- yard dung and bones for turnips in preference to other manures. Mr. Wallis : Yes. Mr. Lyall said the reason why he had asked the question was, that in his own county an experiment was made last year which was a good deal talked about, and was attended with important results. Mr. Fowler, of Kirton-in-Lindsey, a gentleman who was a strong ad- 64 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. vocate for the use of bones, employed them ia opposi- tion to a dozen competitors who used other kinds of manure, and the result was that Mr. Fowler's crop was decidedly the worst of all. The Chairman, in closing the discussion said he was a great advocate for the use of salt on light soils, or soils of a mixed character. He himself had used 4 or 5 cwt. per acre mixed with guano as an application for mangel, and also 3 or 4 cwt. of salt mixed in the same way for turnips, besides farm-yard manure ; in fact he had used these dressings this season for both mangel and turnips. He should, however, have great hesitation in using so large a quantity of salt on strong or sticky land. He also agreed with much that had fallen from Mr. Wallis in reference to the annual cutting or trim- ming of hedges, for the reasons he has so well laid down; although he deprecated over-grown hedges. Mr. O. Wallis, in replying, said he could not admit that the failure of the turnip crop was attributable to the use of artificial manures. Some of the worst tubers he had ever seen were on land where no artificial manure at all had been used. He believed the faliing-ofF was ' owing to the abstraction of some important element from the soil by the too frequent growth of turnips ; and, far from thinking that artificial manures had con- tributed to it, he was of opinion that the introduction of them had tended very much to keep the turnip afloat (Hear, hear.) His remarks with regard to straw ap- plied not to wheat, but to barley. Every one was com- plaining of the failure of the barley crop, both in quan- tity and quality. Salt was very good for light land, but where it was applied to heavy clay soil he had seen the land become bo tenacious that the crop was a failure for two or three years afterwards. The Lincolnshire wolds were not to be compared with the old arable districts of the country as regarded the turnip crop, having been broken up only within a period compara- tively recent (Hear, hear.) On the motion of Mr. Skelton, seconded by Mr. Pain, a vote of thanks was given to Mr. Wallis for the manner in which he had introduced the subject ; and the proceedings terminated with the customary acknow- ledgment to the Chairman. THE FUTURE COURSE OF THE TRADE OF THE WATERCOURSE. NORTH AMERICAN British Columbia, and that portion of the British possessions to the east of the Rocky Mountains, and to the north of the Missouri river acd Lake Superior, have not been adverted to in the previous articles. The omission was suggested by the circumstance of that district being non-producing, and likely to continue non-producing during the present century. That portion of Columbia watered by the Fraser river will no doubt become the permanent abode of an enterprising people, and agriculture will periapn ultimately receive more attention than the arduous and uncertain occupation of washing and digging gold. Be that as it may, the Rocky Mountains impose an in- superable barrier to the transportation of cereal products either to the sources of the BuUpond river or the Missouri, and, therefore, the district of Columbia proper cannot possibly ever become triblltary to the watercourse of the Mississippi and St. Lawrence rivers. Then the contiguous territory, that stretching to the Canadian borders, is too distant from a mar- ket ; and, although its population, without much trouble, could grow twice or thrice the quantity of wheat and corn that they could consume, and in one year graze as many sheep and cattle 83 would supply their wants in raw material for a century at least, still their secluded pastoral life would have few attractions to the world without. It is nothing that within the territory numerous groups of Englishmen — or Scotchmen, as some would prefer to say— have been settled with their families for years, and are contented and happy, in the midst of plenty. These» after years of miserable isolation, in the miserable service of the Hudson Bay Company, trucking small articles to painted savages in exchange for skins, and subsisting occasionally on fleah which has been only thawed over a spirit lamp, in the dreary snow-house, have lost all recollection of the amenities of English life, and probably would feel uneasy if again placed within their reach. But to the English operative of the present day something more than mere bread and butter, and hodden gray and seal skin, are necessary to make his state com- fortable and his home happy, and a region offering nothing more, aud that little, for more than half the year, with the accompaniments of arctic storms and frosts and snow, will be religiously eschewed. Even to the agriculturist, settlement in such a district would be accompanied with discouragements and privations of the most trying kind ; and these have only to be pointed out to keep the present race of needy EngUsh farmers and rural la- bourers from putting foot either on the grassy plains and valleys of Lake Winnipeg or the Saskatchewan. In the first place, the great and peculiar scourge of that district — interested state- ments to the contrary notwithstanding — is the occasional descent of clouds of grasshoppers upon grain-bearing fields, and the consequent destruction of every vestige of the crop. Then again on the breaking of new soil, the unacclimated are subject to severe attacks of ague and intermittent fever, and the luxury of good drinking water is very rarely to be enjoyed. To be sure, these last can scarcely be said to be peculiar to the region, as the immigrant settler in Ilhnois is hable to contract ague in the neighbourhood even of a new-dug well, and Illinois prairie water is the poorest beverage in the water way that probably a man can take ; but with respect to ague aud inter- mittent fever, in the interior of the United States, observation seems to show, that inversely as the distance from the ocean is the liability to become infected with such disease. These are weighty reasons against the settlement of that portion of the British possessions, at the present time, bat not the most weighty that may be urged. In speaking of the border lands of the Saskatchewan and the Red River of the north, as promising at no distant period to yield large supplies of wheat and corn, it is scarcely necessary to remark, that the popular idea is, that these supplies would find their way to Europe. The fact is, such an anticipation recommends the new territory to the British public, and forms the groundwork of the condemnation of the Hudson Bay Com- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 65 pauy, aud their obstructive aud too frequently oppressive rule ■ But that anticipation is not likely to be ever realized. Even were the district or territory to become settled, it would only be when European prices were at an extreme famine range that grain could be moved so far with the chance of profit ; and it is not likely, in our day at least, that anything worth the name of settlement will be made. The reason is very obvious. In the first place, no special advantage is to be derived from penetrating so far into the country, as it is quite possible to obtain land, or business of any kind, on as good terms as can be offered there, at a less remote distance from the sea- board ; and with every other thing equal, the nearer the American farmer is, we shall say, to New York the better, as, in proportion to his nearness to that market, will his trans- portation charge be reduced, and his returns increased. If, for example, the New York market price of western wheat were one dollar a bushel, and that wheat could be produced on the same terms on Staten Island, iu the immediate vicinity of New York, as on the Saskatchewan, then the Staten Island farmer would derive the full difference between the mere production cost and the market price, while the farmer on the Saskatche- wan would probably find the market price insufScieut to pay the mere cost of transport. Such being the case it is vain to speculate, at the present day, ou the probability of immigrants passing Missouri, and Illinois, and Iowa, resolved to immolate themselves in the dark dreary north, where each man produces wheat and corn for his own domestic wants, patronises the home-spun manufactures of his wife and daughters, and is his own tailor and barber, aud the maker of his own boots aud shoes. The importance of the principle here involved renders it necessary to be circumstantial, and, as near as can be, accurate iu detail. The British possessions, east of the Rocky Mountains, and west of Lake Superior, measure rather more than twelve degrees of longitude"; say a thousand miles. Then the dis- tance from the Red River to the Upper Mississippi, and from the Upper Mississippi to Chicago, must he taken into account. Altogether it would be within the mark to place the whole distance from'the new territory to Chicago at about the same distance as Chicago, by lake and canal, is at present from New Y'ork ; and, assuming that the new territory were provided with the necessary canals to the Mississippi, the cost of trans- portation from the new territory to Chicago might be assumed to be about the maximum transportation charge from Chicago, by lake aud canal, to New Y'ork. Taking these estimates as the closest approximation that can be formed, the disadvantage of the new territory, iu a merely commercial view, as compared with Illinois, in the New York market, appears to be as follows :— I. s. d. Western wheat in New Y'ork market per 601b3 4 0 Cost of wheat in Chicago per bush Is. 3d. Cost of transportation to New York, and charges Is. Od. ~ 2 3 Advantages per bush, to the Illinois farmer iu New York 1 9 II. 8. d. Western wheat in New York market per GOlbs 4 0 Cost of wheat per eOibs. at Lake Winnepejj .. Is. 3d. Cost of transportation to Chicasro Is. Od. Cost of trf,n?portation to New York Is. OJ. 3 3 Advantages per bushel to the Lake Winnepeg farmer inNewYork 0 9 m. s, d. Advantage to the Illinois farmer iu New York 1 9 Advantage to the Winnepeg farmer iu New York , , . . 0 9 Difference in favour of Illinois 1 0 But western wheat may be only worth sixty cents, a bushel iu New York, at which price let us ascertain the different results — I. B. d. Western wheat in New Y'ork market per GOlbs 2 6 Cost of wheat in Chicago per 601bs Is. 3d. Cost of transportation to New York, and charges Is. Od. 2 3 Advantage to the Illinois ftirmer in New York 0 3 II. 8. d. Western wheat in New York market per 601bs 2 6 Cost of wheat at Lake Winnepeg per GOIbs Is. 3d. Cost of transportation to Chicago Is. Od. Cost of transportation to New York Is. Od. 3 3 Loss to the Winnepeg farmer per bushel in New York 0 9 If the communication were by the head of Lake Superior, and down the lakes without touching at Chicago, the figures would not be much varied, in consequence of the extra charges of one more canal, and that new canal would be the most costly of the whole. But is it likely, in the absence of settle- ment, that either of these great undertakings, the forming of a continuous watercourse from the Mississippi, and from the head of Lake Superior, to the base of the Rocky Mountains, will be eutertained by the monied men of New York and Europe ? and without the liberal support of these, nothing can be done. When settlement, in the course of ages, has been made, and capitalists have seen the expediency of so large outlays to facilitate the development of internal trade, it is more than probable the channels of the Mississippi will have received such extensions and improvements as they imperatively require ; and with these perfected, there will be no chance whatever of Lake Superior ever becoming afterwards the great thoroughfare of western trade. The claims of the cold granite shores of Lake Superior, with their hungry soils, may therefore be set aside, both for the present and the future. After these incontrovertible remarks, the absurdity of a Pacific railroad is at once manifest. There would be no people to profit by its use; and if people were ever tempted by grants of lands, and otherwise, it is not easy to understand what good they could accomplish. Even with wheat at famine rates in England, railroad transportation could be used only iu a limited way ; while in times of low prices, none but a local market could be found ; and if all were producers, who would purchase ? Dismissing, therefore, the Columbia and Lake Superior districts, we turn to the proper subject of the present article— the future course of western trade. As observed before, it is taken for granted throughout the United States and Canada, and Europe, that Chicago is the great outlet and mart of western trade. Railroads and canals have been formed on the faith of that assumption, and canals of enormous magnitude, as we shall see pre- sently, are still projected, with the view of facilitating trans- portation in what is not only regarded as the right, but as the only channel. Strange to say, no voice has yet been raised to call in question that opinion ; and St. Louis and New Orleans do not yet seem to think of the advantages of the Mississippi outlet. The conditions of the growth of Chicago trade have been adverted to before, but there is no accounting for the easy way in which the claims of the St. Lawrence outlet have received so general acceptation. Probably the prominent interest taken by the British F 66 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, Government in the opening up of the trade of Canada, and the subsequent action of the New York State Legislature, in authorising the construction of the Erie canal as the complement of what the British Government had done, impressed the public of the United States and England with the belief that no other means existed of opening communication between the west and east. But supposing that Canada had been included in the national domain of the United States, and Louisiana had been the dependency of the British crown, and that the British Government had done as much for the development of Louisiana trade as it has done for the trade of Canada, is it not likely that the Mississippi outlet would have occu- pied the same place precisely in the estimation of the public at the present time as the St. Lawrence outlet does ? Then Canada, but for its climate, would have been cursed with slavery, and the attention of the United States and of the world would have been diverted from it, and the merchant flags of Europe would, of course, have floated on the Llis- sissippi as they now do on the St. Lawrence, and St. Louis would have been in the position of Montreal. Is there, then, any peculiar fitness in the St. Lawrence channel, when the circumstances under which it has been opened are brought to light, and any soundness in the popular schemes and theories which have in view the per- manence of the present course of western trade ? Above all, in an economical and progressive age, is it likely, if a really better channel exists ready made, that it will con- tinue overlooked ? Let its advantages but be known, and let the strategic origin and purpose of the St. Lawrence outlet be freely canvassed, and by \-irtue of a well-known law, the Mississippi will become the great western ocean highwaj-. It is not surprising, when so little attention has been given to the St. Lawrence outlet, that the diff'erent schemes of shortening distance between Chicago and New York and Montreal should be judged in a superficial and unsatisfac- tory way. The universal test employed is the mere dis- tance to be saved ; and, strange to saj', there is no agreement in the different distance computations of difterent parties. Each party compute distances in their own way, and gene- rally do not seem to hesitate to place the favoured scheme as far a-liead as possible, and all opposing schemes well behind. Strange to say, the imposition appears to be un- noticed, and the scheme, no doubt, about which most untruth is told receives the greatest share of public favour The following are ofiicial contradictions of the distance between Chicago and New York and Montreal : — Colonel Mason's Report. I. Chicago to New York by Erie Canal . . ],425 miles. McAlpine's Report. II. Chicago to New York by Erie Canal.. 1,418 „ Horace Grbelv. III. Chicago to New York by Erie Canal.. 1,596 „ McAlpine's Report. IV. Chicago to Montreal by Lake 1,278 „ Horace Greelv. V. Chicago to Montreal by Lake 1,450 „ These figures form the basis of calculations as to what the transportation of a ton of produce will be from one point to another, and the least expensive route, or what necessarily is the same thing, the shortest distance from one point to another— say, from Chicago to Montreal— is held to be the best, and the one which the public should sustain. For example, McAlpine takes the distance between Chi- cago and Montreal at 1,278 miles, and rating transportation and charges at so much a mile, arrives at the conclusion that a ton of merchandise can be transported at nineteen shillings and sevenpence. Horace Greely, of the N'ew York Tribune, takes the distance between the same places at 1,450 miles, and rating transportation and charges at so much a mile, arrives at the conclusion that a ton of merchandise can be transported at one pound three shillings and three pence. Obviously Mr. McAlpine is in the interest of Montreal— at the time of that report he was, in fact, in the pay of Montreal — while Horace Greely is as obviously on the other side. So much for the trustworthiness of American reports, and for the principle on which they are made. But supposing that exception could not be taken to the figures, and agreement as to distances were established between conflicting interests, it must be obvious that a glaring fallacy underlies all applications of the distance test. Obviously the public are concerned only with the actual coat of transport, and are indifferent whether their goods are carried on a bee-line or on the circle ; and as obviously the mere circumstance of one railroad, or canal, or water-course being at a shorter distance than another from a given point practicallj' amounts to nothing, as the transportation charge must necessarily be the same. But further, perhaps the shorter distance of a new competing route, whether railroad, or canal, or water-course, would be attained at a greater outlay than if a less direct course were taken, and in such a case the shorter distance would do as little good to the proprietors of the stock as to the public. With the exposure of this popular error, it becomes necessary to recur to the geography of the region of the lakes, Chicago stands at the head of the navigation of Lake Michigan. Glancing on the map from Chicago to New York and Montreal, and then tracing the line of water- course, scarcely a more tedious channel can be conceived. First of all, the peninsula of the State of Michigan has to be rounded, then Lake Erie entered, then Lake Ontario and then the St. Lawrence river ; and if the destination is New York, the Erie Canal ia entered either at Buffalo on Lake Erie, or at Oswego on Lake Ontario. There is thus water communication between Chicago and New York on the one hand, and between Chicago and Montreal on the other ; and the produce of Chicago may be shipped to either of these ports, and the imported or manufactured articles of these ports sent to Chicago. Chicago also, by virtue of its water communication with Montreal, may carry on an independent import and export trade with the world without; and when the Erie Canal has been enlarged, as is proposed, to the extent necessary to admit of the passage of sea-going vessels, cargoes of cereal products may then be shipped at Chicago, and con- veyed direct to Liverpool by that route also. Two years ago, the Chicago schooner, " Dean Richmond,'' made the voyage of the lakes and the St. Lawrence, and reached Liverpool in sixty-two days. Last year the channel schooner, " Madeira Pet," made the voyage to Montreal in thirtj'-five days, and the voj'age from Montreal to Chi- cago in fort3'-five days— eighty days in all; and the return voyage to Liverpool in sixty-five days. The registered tonnage of the first-named vessel is 3S7 tons, and of the other 123 tons. Since then, numerous vessels have made the passage to and from the lower lakes, but witliout mate- rially shortening the time of either the " Dean Richmond" or the " Madeira Pet." From Cliicago to the lower end of Lake Erie, at Buffalo, there are no canals nor locks, and therefore no limitation to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, er the tonnage of sailiog or steam vessels, but the depth of water on the east shore of the State of Michigan, known as the flats of the Detroit river, and Lake St. Clair : on these flats there is seldom more than ten feet of water, and some- times barely that; but, notwithstanding, a large proportion of the carrying trade is done by vessels of from four to six hundred tons burthen, built long, with great breadth Of beam, and the least possible depth of hold. The models of these large Buffalo-going vessels is usually good ; but the building, in the absence of tree-nails and iron knees, is slim and not sufficient for the conveyance of dry cargoes, after the wear and tear of a few seasons. The practice is to lay these vessels up in harbours during the winter months — from November till May — as the peculiar construction of the keel for shallow water and general weakness render them unfit for outside coasting trade. In the summer sea- son, it may be observed, these United States vessels have the privilege of the coasting trade of Canada, while Canadian vessels have no such privilege accorded them on the coast of the United States, although, by the treaty of reciprocity, the Federal Government engaged to press upon the New York State Legislature the justice of opening its internal and coasting trade to Canada vessels. So far as principle is concerned, the province of Canada has no reason to com- plain if United States vessels compete in its coasting trade^ as it thereby i*eaps the benefit of lower freight; but the competition has hitherto pressed unduly on the Cana- dian lake shipowner, who, be it observed, is not in a posi- tion to trade outside of these inland waters, and can only employ his vessels during the six summer months. Practi- cally, then, the United States shipowner is in a position — the principle of free trade notwithstanding — to drive away every Canadian lake shipowner to the wall, and strong remonstrances should be made at Washington by the British Government, Perhaps, however, the Canadian Government itself would have more iiifluenee at Washing- ton ; but, unhappil}', the government of that province is in- variably in the hands of men too much occupied with the sordid aggrandizement of themselves or partizans to give attention to such a subject. Between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario the first canal — the Welland — is encountered, on the voyage downward from the upper lakes, and its capacity limits the size of ves- sels for the St. Lawrence river trade. The extreme length of lockage is one hundred and forty-five feet, the breadth twenty-six feet, and the average depth ten feet. The lock- age on the St. Lawrence canals lower down is much the same, and vessels passing the one canal pass the others, and vice versa. Below Buffalo there is, therefore, a smaller class of vessels than some of those exclusively employed in the Buffalo and Chicago trade. These vessels, generally, are built to the full dimensions of the locks, and have a crowded unfinished look about the head, with straight stems, and no cutwater, and their capacity varies from fourteen to twenty thousand bushels wheat; a few vessels carry beyond the twenty thousand bushels, and that large carrying capacitj' is owing to the absence of fixed keels, and the use of a move- able keel, or centre-board, which is drawn up in passing through canals, and let down in deep water. In making the downward voyage, below the Welland canal, vessels usurt'.ly avoid the canals by shooting the St. Lawrence rapids, and bringing np at Kingston, in the vicinity of Montreal. On the upward voyage, the river rapids have necessarily to be avoided in every case, and the canal towage becomes a tedious and expensive operation. The shallowness of the wa'er on the St, Clair flats has for some time occupied theattention of the United States Govern- ment, and considerable appropriations have been made. There is frequently, however, a considerable current setting down from Lake Huron, no doubt charged with sand and other residuum, which speedily replaces all that is dredged away. Still it is believed to be possible to deepen the chan- nel permanently, and to keep it open ; but in the present state of the Federal exchequer, no large outlays are likely for some time to be incurred. The deepening of the channel, it is scarcely necessary to remark, is calculated to promote the development of lake trade, as the employment of larger vessels would cheapen transportation. Western people insist that there should be sufficient depth of water for vessels of eight hundred or a thousand tons, and until that has been provided, the subject will no doubt be kept prominently before the public. So soon as the flats are in a fair way of being deepened to the extent named, it is proposed to enlarge the Erie canal sufficiently to admit of all vessels passing over the flats cor. tinning their V03'age to New York, or to Liverpool direct, if that should be desired; but it is questionable whether so stupendous an undertaking will ever be carried out, the dis- tance from Buffalo to Albany being stated at three hundred and fifty miles. Recently, a considerable enlargement of the Erie canal has been made, and small steam propellers will speedily take the place of horse tow boats. Several ' propellers are now employed, and, as is to be expected, the working expenses are curtailed, and the duration of the voyage shortened. The American purpose of deeping the St. Clair flats, and rendering the Erie canal available for sea-going vessels, naturally excites uneasiness in Canada, and has led to the agitation of numerous counter schemes. The most promi- nent of these is the enlargement and deepening of the Wel- land and St. Lawrence canals to the extent necessary to pass vessels of eight hundred or a thousand tons. With that done, western produce would contiime to have the choice of markets at New York or Montreal ; while, with nothing done, and the American schemes carried out, the whole carrying trade would pass to Buffalo. New York sympathises with the enlaraiement of the Welland canal, as that done at the expense of Canada would confer as much benefit on Oswego as the deepening of the St. Clair flats would confer on Buffalo, and transportation is cheaper by Oswego in consequence of the saving of somewhere in the neighbourhood of one hundred and fifty miles of canal. American sympathy v/ith Canada stops, of course, at the enlargement of the Welland canal ; but Canada would ex- tend the principle of making the lake and river distance as long as possible, and the canal distance the least that could be, and purposes that western produce, in making for New York, should proceed by the Welland canal to the imme- diate neighbourhood of Montreal, where a short canal, of the same capacity as the Welland, would open into Lake Champlain, and another short canal open out from Lake Champlain into the Hudson river. The distance from Chi- cago to New York by this, the Welland, St. Lawrence, Canghnawagna, Champlain, and Hudson river routes, accord- ing to McAlpine, is one thousand six hundred and thirtj'-two miles ; while the distance from Chicago to New York, by Oswego and the Erie canal, is one thousand four hundred and ten miles ; and the distance from Chicago to New York, by Buffalo and the Erie canal, is one thousand four hundred and eighteen miles. But on the Caughnawagna route there would only be one hundred and sixty-seven mile? of canal ; while on the Oswego route there would be r 2 68 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. three hundred milea ; and on the Buffalo route three hun- dred and fifty-three miles. The expense of transportation on the lakes and the St. Laurence River, as compared with transportation on canals, makes the Canadian scheme show well on paper ; but Canada is not strong enough to command the whole mastery of western trade, and to force the carrying into its own channel ; and it i3 certain that were the Caughnawagna route open, the charges on the Erie caual would be brought down to the same level, while Americans at all times would unquestionably — from mere national vanity, if from nothing else— give the preference to their own carrying channels. For these reasons the Caughuawagna project is not likely to be sustained by monied men. The present disadvantageous position of Canada in the car- rying trade is very striking. Taking Chicago as the present great port of supply, and Buffalo and Oswego as the present great ports of shipment to New York, Canada, by virtue of the absence of the American coasting privilege, is precluded from carrying from the great port of supply to the great ports of shipment; and Canadians embarking in the western produce trade are necessitated, in great measure, to send their pur- chases on American bottoms to American ports, while, it may be, vessels their own personal property are lying unemployed in Chicago river. These Canada vessels carry lumber to Chi- cago, and trust to get grain cargoes to the Canada ports of the Welland district, or to Montreal ; and it is scarcely necessary to remark that New York is much oftener the best market ; and besides, is the port to which, in the long run, every kiud of Western produce goes, he the market price what it may. Often, therefore, while American ships, are actively emplojed ia the Bnffalo and Oswego trade, and have besides the refusal of what is going to Canada, the Canada shipowner is at a loss what to do. As if to add insult to injury, there is no Court of Admiralty in Canada, and the maritime questions of the pro- vinces are determined by American courts of law. Some three years ago the Hon. John Young, of Montreal, in " Letters to the Hon. Francis Lemieux, Chief Commissioner of Public Works, and to the Citizens of Montreal," drew atten- tion to the declining state of the Moatreal and St. Lawrence river trade, and broached the subject of the Caughuawagna. The hon. member proceeds : " Let it be remembered that previous to 1849, before the United States Bonding Act came into operation, there was no exportation of cereals from Canada to the United States, or next to noue. But what has been the amount of wheat and flour so exported since that date? Re- ducing wheat into flour, the amount will be found to he as I'oUows : In 1849 24,936 barrels. 1852 466,912 „ 1854 762,575 „ Look now at the quantity of wheat and flour received by canal and river at Moutreil : la 1846 967.280 barrels. 1852 710,749 „ 1854 594,394 „ These facts conclusively establish the practical superiority of tlie present routes by the United States over the Canadian route. The total movement of property on the Erie Canal was, in 1 853 4,000,000 tons. Ou the St. Lawrence Canals, in 1853 5G1,000 „ Difference 3,43.0.000 "The average receipts of vegetable food at tide water in the Hudson River, reduced to barrels, was at near as possible, for the years 1851, 1 852, and 1853 8,000,000 barrels " The receipts by canal and river at Montreal for the same period was equal to 750,000 „ Difference 7,250,000 „ " The receipts of grain alone at Oswego and Buffalo during October and November of this year (1855) exceed 5,000,000 bushels, while the total receipts of all kinds of grain at M ontreal, by river and canal, since the opening of navigation up to the 30th May (for the whole season ! !), from both Canada West and the Western States, was only 1,300,000 bushels. " The average exports for the years 1851, 1852, and 18.53 of vegetable food at the port of New York was equal to 3,000,000 barrels. " The average export of food at Quebec and Montreal for the same period wasonly 652,000 „ 1847 . . 3 9 1848 . 8 1849 .. 7^ 1850 3h 1851 . H 1852 . ^ 1853 .. 2 6 1854 .. . 2 6 Difference 2,348,000 „ Mr. Young then proceeds to point out the disadvantages of Montreal as a port of shipment compared with New Y'ork. He states: "The freight of a barrel of flour in seven months— saj', from 1st May till 1st of December, from Montreal and New York respectively, was, in the years here quoted as follows : New Y'ork to Liverpool. s. d. s. d. s. d; In 1846, average 2 8 sterling ; range, from 1 9 to 5 0 " " ... 1 0 to 2 6 1 0 to 2 6 0 6 to 2 3 0 9 to 1 9 0 8 to 1 9 0 9 to 3 6 1 6 to 3 6 2 0to3 1 Montreal to Liverpool. s. d. s. d. s. d. In 1846, averages 2 sterling ; range, from 4 6 to 6 0 1847 ... 5 4 ... 3 6 to 7 0 1848 ... 4 2 ... 2 9 to 6 0 1849 ... 3 6 ... 3 0 to 4 3 1850 ... 3 Oi ... 2 6 to 3 9 1851 ... 2 111 ... 2 4 to 3 7i 1852 ... 2 Hi ... 2 7 to 4 0 1853 ... 4 3^ ... 3 9 to 5 9 1854 ... 3 2 ... 2 0 to 3 9 Showing an average liigher cost of 100 per cent, in these nine years in ocean freight by the Montreal route." It is needless to follow Mr. Young further. Canada is not the place represented, and not the place the British public so much desire it should be. Whether looked at in an agricultural or produce-carrying view, its future is alike dark and dubious. I'he settler merely wastes his time and substance in a hopeless struggle against natural obstacles, if not against Nature altogether ; while elsewhere — upon the prairie— he would reap benefits commensurate with the privations incidental to the life of the pioneer ; and there are many reasons why produce should take the route of the Krie Canal in preference to the St. Lawrence river. Besides those Canadians who follow the lead of Mr. Young in the advocacy of the enlargement of the canals and tlie opening of the Caughnawagna route, there are others who, with perhaps a better appreciation of the hopeless state into which Canada is fast drifting, strike an entirely new chord, and propose to divert Chicago trade past Buffalo and Oiwego altogether. A glance at the map of Canada will THE FARMER'S iMAGAZINE. 69 show what this other, the unquestionable Canadian party, have in view. At the head of the Georgian Bay, the inlet of French river leads to lake Nipissing, and lake Nipissing is not far distant from the Ottawa river, and the Ottawa river enters into the St. Lawrence in the vicinity of Montreal, Supposing, then, that the navigation of French river and the Ottawa were improved, and a canal constructed to con- nect the two together, a short cut would be provided to Montreal ; and to New York also, if the Caughnawagna route were open. The St. Clair flats and the Welland canal might then continue as they are, and the tedious navi- gation of the lower laltes be dispensed with altogether. But Mr. Young and his friends are not prepared to go so far ; and a half-and-half measure — half American and half Canadian — receives the largest share of public favour. It is proposed not to take the truly Canadian Ottawa route, as that would be ungracious to our American neighbours, and oblige them hereafter to compete for Western trade, through the long length of the Buffalo branch of the Erie Canal, and put them wholly in the back ground, of course— the Welland Canal not being adapted to the passage of ships of a thousand tons as the Ottawa river would be— and a new canal would be opened from the Georgian Bay to Toronto or Peterborough, or some other paltry place. This proposal meets the views alike of the sapient Toronto people and of the American Boards of Trade, as then it would still be easy to pass produce by way of Buffalo or Oswego, and the full benefit of the shorter distance and cheaper trans- portation be secured. So far has this last-named scheme progressed, that the route has been surveyed and the work estimated by a Toronto and Chicago engineer, and their report published, with the subscription funds of the members of the Chicago Board of Trade. But from five to ten millions sterling will be required to open up this bastard route ; and when the debentures arrive in London, it is more than likely London people will be on their guard. ESSEX AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT COLCHESTllR. This new Society has now tested its strength beyond the perhaps somewhat flattering experiment of "an opening day." There is no cause, either, to be at all disappointed with the result. It is true that the Col- chester Show tried on its general merits is by no means equal to that which inaugurated the Association's pro- ceedings at Chelmsford. The great element of success, however, has been clearly attained. The whole county goes heartily with the undertaking. We remember no occasion better supported by the gentry, the farmers, and the town's people of a district than this gathering at Colchester. Every one appeared to take a direct interest in what was going on ; and without any statistics at our elbow, we should say the attend- ance was far greater than that of the year preceding. The only unfavourable comparison was to be found amongst the exhibitors themselves. The entries were not BO numerous, and in some classes, more especially, the character of what was sent not so high. In fact, the Colchester meeting suffered materially from the default of a gentleman who was still one of its chief supporters. Mr. Fisher Hobbs gave all the weight of his experience and his ability to the conduct of the show, but he did not add to its attractions by the entry of a single animal. The Herefords, the Alderneys, and the black pigs that did so much for Chelmsford, did nothing for Colchester. Mr. Oxley Parker, as one of the stewards, very properly referred to this at the dinner, characterising the delicacy which caused the withdrawal of the Boxted stock, as " a too squeamish attention to what some people might say." It is very certain that Mr. Hobbs would have done far more for the meeting by taking all the prizes he could, than by not trying for any. In a county exhibition, more particularly, it is the duty of every one to make it as good as possible. The lesson, otherwise, is only half-taught. Fortunately some successful exhibitors were not so considerate, and Mr. Badbam, Mr. Bramston, Mr. Upson, and others, were again in the field. The first named of these gentlemen had clearly the honours of the day, for, like its next door neighbour in Suffolk, the Essex Association depends in a great degree upon its entry of agricultural horses. Mr. Badbam signalized himself much in the same way he did last season, and with very much the same materials. There is no pro- hibition to the same animal taking the first prize year after year, and consequently the famous Chester Em- peror was once more on the ground. He did, too, pre- cisely as heretofore, carrying away the first prize of the county class, and the all-England premium for the best draught-horse of any sort and from anywhere. The competition, however, was confined to the chesnuts, the most noted animal sent from "other parts" being Steam's Boxer, a prize horse at the Windsor and Lewes meetings of the Royal Agricultural Society, as well as the winner of "no end of things" in his own district. But Boxer is getting in years, and the judges did not even commend him. Emperor, on the other hand, is just in his prime. He has gone on improving and thickening even since last year, and is now about the most handsome cart-horse ever seen. His " quality," as they call it, is extraordinary, and his head and forehand as beautiful as a picture. There were some who would not " have" Emperor on his first coming out, but they must be convinced by this. Mr. Badham was propor- tionately strong with his mares, with which he took the first and second prizes of their class. He then coupled them together, and made " the best pair of plough horses" one might fancy the judges ever looked over. We should wonderfully like to see them again at War- wick, with one of the prize ploughs behind them. Of great size, roomy, and weighty, they had still that fine look that the Bulmer teams are peculiarly remarkable for. The pig eye and the heavy sour head of the Suffolls 70 THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. seem also to have gone from amongst them. Perhaps Ihe neatest specimen of what the Suffolk proper should be was Mr. Partridge's second prize stallion. Of a very compact frame, he had all the " roundness" and old Punch character, with the as proverbially plain frontis- piece. Mr. Biddell sent a useful three-year-old filly of great substance, that took the cream of a small class ; but her colour, a bad mealy chesnut, was all against her. As the prize list will tell, there were some other good names, such as those of Mr. Carter, Mr. Upson, and Mr. Sturgeon, in the catalogue ; but on the whole the show of SufFolks was rather a rough sample, and there were stories flying about as to the breed not being kept quite so pure as it might be. One of the prize chesnuts, for instance, was said to be got by a Shire horse ; and another, highly commended, was known to have a bay brother and a black mother ! It will scarcely do to be " squeamish," as Mr. Parker would say, about "red to the hoof," or grey hairs, after this ; and we were pleased to see the judges make the question of colour anything but a leading point. For some reason or other we cannot give, that national institution, the thorough-bred horse, does not appear to flourish in Esses. At Chelmsford the prize was withheld from the four or five entered, while at Col- chester in the county class there was only one shown, and the judges again returned the premium. An all- England offer was, however, made this year, for which Captain Barlow entered Footstool, and sent his well- known nag Revenge, or Young Recovery, as he is in- diflferently called. The judges, so far as they were concerned, passed this good-looking " gentleman," and the committee sanctioned the change. In the hunter class, Mr. Barker of Ingatestone sent three horses of much the same useful stamp, and that had each their several ad- mirers, while Mr. Hutley's gay galloway was again the beat hackney mare, although with stronger com- petition against her. Mr. Smith's chesnut gelding, however, in the next class was quite as neat as anything shown in this way, and too good apparently for the collar mark on his shoulder. With more competition amongst the stallions, this would have been a very creditable collection of riding-horses, although by no means wanting in the way of comparison between the good, bad, or indifferent. The awards over the cattle were in some degree also but an echo of the Chelmsford edicts. This was more decidedly the case with the shorthorns, where Mr. Jonas Webb had the best bull, and Mr. Bramston the pick of the cow classes. With the experience of last year still fresh on him, Mr. Webb had May Duke fairly built in, but there was no danger on this occasion. The speci- men here sent from Babraham is a good even beast, but not quite so kindly to handle, nor fully up to the style and character of the admirable animal that suffered from the sun-stroke at Chelmsford. W^e have no doubt they have something of a little higher form at home. The other first prize bvdi, Mr. Upson's Hastings, was the premier of his class last year, and the difference iu size between him and the second prize here, although with only u few months betpsreen them, was very remarkable. But neither is of extraordinary excellence. Mr. Bramston must have a good herd of cows, for those he exhibits have generally the essentials of use and shape. But the strong class of the Short- horns was the yearling heifers, five of which, out of the eleven exhibited, the judges honoured with more or less distinction. Mr. Clayden headed these with a young lady of high quality, called Luxury, and Mr. Pertwee followed with one noticeable not merely for her touch and symmetry, but yet more for her frightfully deformed feet. We never saw a beast more disfigured, and yet one would have thought a little proper care in paring might have kept the hoof to something like its sbape. It will soon be too late now. Although not a great show of them, there was sufficient evidence to prove that the Durhams are fast making their way in Essex. In ad- dition to those we have named, Mr. Christy of Roxwell, Mr. Sturgeon of Ockendon, Mr. Baker of Writ tie, and Mr. Chaplain of Ridgewell, are paying more and more attention to their cultivation. The other breeds mostly resulted in no entries, but we did catch sight of one Suflfblk bull, and one Alderney cow. It was now that Mr. Hobbs was found wanting. Denied the like support, the pigs made up a very scratch lot ; and Mr. Biddell and the Suffolks had in very way the best of the entry. The sheep, too, were a good deal "mixed;" and we came continually on such notifications as " No award" — " Prizes withheld," and " No competition." If not much talked of, we be- lieve there was repeated disqualification for unfair shear- ing; and some of the " All England" animals were thus rejected. Naturally the picked sheep of the show was here — a grand Cotswold ram of Mr. Sexton's, that, all things considered, bore his public life remarkably well. Within the two days he went through some rather smart work. He was exhibited at the Norfolk Meeting at Swaif ham, on W^ednesday ; started for the rail at four or five o'clock, or as soon as the stock left the ground- brought up to Colchester during the night — fairly and cleanly sheared at two o'clock in the morning, and in his place for the judges at half-past seven ! The Southdowns, although some of them highly bred enough, made no great sign. Mr. Bramston's shearling ram was certainly a very pretty symmetrical sheep, but of no size ; while of the eight others entered, all we learn is that the second prize was withheld. However, Mr. Burch Western, the President of the Society, kindly gave two special prizes for sheep clipped, sheared, or trimmed, just as their owners chose ; and for one of these Sir Barrett Lennard's was pronounced succcesful. It was a close thing between Messrs. Hine and Parson's long-woolled rams ; and the one judge officiating called in the aid of two of his compeers, but eventually went for his own first fancy. Mr. Hine's ram, however, told very well in the handling. An implement and a poultry show completed the encampment on the Barrack Field. The latter was re- markable for two points entirely corroborating the views we have always held on this subject, and a long way the first to advance. The Dorkings are still rising in repute— never was there a finer display of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 71. them— while the Cochins had at last a class refused to them. It is now admitted that they have done nothing but injury to our own native varieties, and that beyond their closeness as sitters they have no uses. Messrs. Caldwell and Hawkins, as the judges of implements, had fifty pounds to distribute at their discretion. It will be found that they appropriated this chiefly to " col- lections;" not a very demonstrative course of proceed- ing, after all. Would it not be better to signalize im- provements or inventions more especially adapted to the district they are shown in ? Ransomes and Sims, Garrett, Picksley and Sims, Coleman, Bentall, Smith and Ashby, Cambridge, Turner of Ipswich, Humphries, Smyth and Sons, Boby, and Wood and Sons, were asso- ciated with Messrs. Catchpool and Thompson, and other exhibitors more identified with the locality ; but we be- lieve that some of the upper houses evinced their usual disinclination to subject themselves to the scrutiny of the judges. The dinner was a great improvement on the scramble at Chelmsford. It was far better, too, in the way of agricultural talk, which we must leave for the present to speak for itself. PRIZES FOR STOCK. HORSES. Judges. — Professor Simonds, Royal Veterinary College, London, Owen Wallis, of Overstone Grange, Northampton. FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. The best Stallion, having served not less than Twenty Mares in the County. First prize of 15 sove., and AtL England Special Pkize df 25 80VS., to G. D. Badham, Bulmer (Emperor). Second of 8 sovs. to W. P. Partridge, Elmstead (Duke). Commended.— Charles Sturgeon, South Ockendon (SuUau) ; W. P. Partridge (Albert); Scragg, Clacton (Prince) ; and P. B. Smith, Great Clacton (Dragon). The best Entire Two-year-old Colt. First prize of 10 sovs. to James Brown (Executors of), Felsted. Second ol 5 sovs. to John Upson, Rivenhall (Victory). Highly commended. — Manfred Biddell, PlayforJ. The best Mare with Foal at foot. First prize of 10 sovs. to G. D. Badham (Duchess). Second of 5 sovs. to G. D. Badham (Dapper). Commended. — George Simpson, St. Osyth, and G. H. Cant, My land. The best Three-year-old Filly. First prize of 5 sovs. to Manfred Biddell. Second of 3 sovs. to George Carter, Danbury (Daisy). The best Two-year-old Filly. First prize of 5 sovs. to George Carter (Scott). Second of 3 sovs. to G. H. Cant, Myland. The best Yearling Colt or FilJy. First prize of 5 sovs. to G. D. Badham. Second of 3 sovf. to W. Partridge, sen., Horkcsley. Commended. — James Toplis, Boxted, for two colts, and W. Plummer, Castle Hedingham. 1 he best pair of Plough Horses or Mares. The Prize of 5 sovs. to G. D. Badham (Duchess and Dapper). Bighly commended. — George Simpson. EXTRA STOCK. Highli/ comynended.—A. Constable, Worm'ngford, for black Entire Stallion ; John Quilter, Fearing, for Norfolk gelding; and William Parson, Boxted, for working SuflTolk. Commended. — Thomas Ward, Elmstead, for two Suffolk Mares and Foals, and D. C. Alston, Little Bromley, fox chest- nut Cart Mare. RIDING AND COACHING HORSES. Judges. — W. Boulnois, Guestingthorpe, Sudbury, H. Corbet, Farmers' Club, Bridge-street, London, The best Thorough-bred Entire Horse. The prize of 15 sovs.— Withheld, not sufficient merit. The best Weight-carrying Mare, regularly Hunted in Esses. The prize of 5 sovs. to J. T. L. Hallum, Wormingford. The best Weight-carrying Hunting Gelding. The prixe of 5 bots. to Francis Barker, Ingatestone. The best Hackney Mare. The prize of 5 sovs. to J. F. Hutley, Braxted. Commended.— Geo. Matson, East Mersea, and J. T. L..Hallura. The best Gelding. The prize of 5 sovs. to Benjamin Smith, Boxted. The best Brood Mare, with Foal at foot. Tlie prize of 6 sovs. to Henry Parson, Langham, with foal by the Unfortunate Youth. The best Thorough-bred Entire Horse. (Open to all England.) The prize of 25 sovs. to Frederick Barlow, Hasketon (Recovery Junior.) EXTRA. STOCK. CommenrfetZ.— H.Ham blin, Colchester, for Entire two-year- old bay Colt, and J. R. Kirby, Hill-house, St. Osyth, for brown Hackney Mare. CATTLE. Judges.— T. Crisp, Butley Abbey, Woodhridge, W. Torr, Aylesby Manor, Grimsby. Best pure-bred Shorthorn Bull. First prize of 10 sovs. to James Upson, Rivenhall (Hastings). Second of 5 sovs. to Charles Sturgeon (Stentor). Best Bull of any other breed. The prize of 5 sovs. to J. Gurdon Rebow, Wivenhoe Park (Suffolk). Best Two-year-old pure-bred Shorthorn Bull. The prize of 5 sovs. to James Christy, jun,, Roxwell (Victor). Best Yearling pure-bred Shorthorn Bull. First prize of 5 sovs. to John Clayden, lattlebury (Duke Humphrey). Second of 3 sovs. to Charles Sturgeon (Sancho). Commended.— 33.TO.es Christy. Best pure-bred Shorthorn Cow. First prize of 5 sovs. to T. W. Bramston, M.P., Skreens, Rox- well (Crimea). Second of 3 sovs. to Richard R. Willis, Kelvedon. Best Cow of any other pure breed. The prize of 4 sovs. to Chas. Darling, Colchester (Alderney). Best pure -bred Shorihorn Heifer. First prize of 5 sovs. to T. W. Bramston, M.P. (Proserpine). Second of 3 sovs. to S. B. Rugglcs Brise, Finchingfield. Best pure-bred Shorthorn Yearling Heifer. First prize of 5 sovs. to John Clayden (Luxury). Second of 3 sovs. to James Pertwee. Commended.— izmes Upson, Rivenhall ; Robert Baker, Writ- e; and J. Richard Chaplin, Ridgewell. Best fat Ox or Steer, not exceeding Three Years old. The prize of five sovs. to T. W. Bramston, M.P. Be t fat Cow or Heifer. First prize of 8 sovs. to James Upson (Shorthorn). Second of 2 sovs. to James Barker, Ramsey. Best Cow or Heifer for Dairy Purposes. First prize of 3 sovs. to James Upson. Second of 9 sovs, to Edward Haiden, Halstead (Shorthorn). Best pure-bred Shorthorn Heifer, not exceeding Twelve Months, and not under Six Months. The prize of 2 sovs. to James Christy, jun. Best pure-bred Shorthorn Bull, not exceeding Twelve Months and not under Six Months. The prize of 2 sovs. to Joseph Root, Tollesbury. SPECIAL PRIZE OF 15 SOVS. (OPEN TO ALL ENGLAND). Best Bull of any age of a pure breed. The prize of 15 sovs. to Jonas Webb, Babi-aham (May Duke). SHEEP. Judge.— E. Pope, Maiden Newton, Great Toller, Dorset. Best Southdown Ram of any age. First prize of 5 sovs. to Onley Savill Onley, Stisted. Second of 2 sovs. to T. W. Bramston. Best Ram of any other Short-wool breed. First prize of 5 sovs. to Peter Portway, Great Sampford (Nor- folk and Down). Second of 2 sovs. to Peter Portway. Best Long-wool Ram, of any age. First prize of 5 sovs. to Wm. Parson, Boxted. Second of 2 sovs. to John Hine, Epping. Best Yearling Southdown Ram. First prize of 5 sovs. to T. W. Bramston, M.P. Second of 2 sovs.— Withheld. Best Shearling Short-wool Ram, of any other breed. No awards. Best Shearling Long-wool Ram. First prize of 5 sovs. to G. B, Ward, Great Bentley. Second of 2 sovs. — Withheld. Best pen of Five Shearling pure Down Ewes. First prize of 5 sovs. to G. B. Ward. Second of 2 sovs. to G. B. Ward. Best pen of Five Ewes, of any kind, with their Lamba, First prize of 5 sovs. to J. Guidon Rebow. Second of 2 sovs. to T. W. Bramston, M.P. Best pen of Fire Fat Shearling Long-wool Wethers. No competition. 72 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Best pen of Five fat Shearling Long-wool Wethers. First prize of 3 sovs. to S. Q. Viall, Baythorn Hall. Second of 2 sovs. to W. Tliompson, juii., Thorpe. SPECIAL PRIZE of 10 sovs. (open to all England) for the Best Ram of any age, of a pure breed, and the President's prize of 5 sovs., for the best Long-woolled Ram of any age, without re- strictions as to clipping, to Mumford Seifon, Coclifield (Cotswold). THE PRESIDENT'S PRIZE of 5 sovs. for the best Short- woolled Ram, of any age, without restrictions as to clip- ping, to Sir T. Barrett Lennard, Bart., Aveley (Southdown). E.XTRA STOCK. Commended. — J. Gurdon Rebow, for Five Shearling Down Ewes. PIGS, Judge. — E. Pope, Maiden Newton. The Best Boar. First prize of 5 sovs. to Manfred Biddell (Suflfolk). Second of 2 sovs. to Alfred Tuck, Ingatestone (Berkshire). Best Boar, not exceeding Twelve Months old. First prize of 4 sovs. to S. A. Bridge, Halstead. Second of 2 sovs. to John Claydon, Best Sow in Pig. First prize of 4 sovs. to Manfred Biddell (Suffolk). Second of 2 sovs. to G. D. Badham. Best Sow with her Pigs. First pr'ze of 4 sovs. to John Clayden (improved Essex), 7 pigs. Second of 2 sovs. to Alfred Tuck (Berkshire), 8 pigs. Beie part of the growers m reference to the future. The commencempnt of the war in Piedmont naturally led to cousiderahle exciteineat in the demand, aud large parcels of wheat changed hands on speculation. Since, however, it has been understood that ihe war is likely to he localzed iu Italy, Botuiih-tandiiig that Prussia is exhibiting a warlike feeling, the decline in value has been nearly as rapid as the late up- ward movement. At present, therefore, prices are nearly as low as they were prior to the commencement ot hostilities. Within the last tew days there has been more disposition shown to purchase wheat, and the quotations have slightly improved ; but we see no reason to assume that any further advance of moment will take place in them. Of course much will depend upon the reeiiltt of the war; in other words, any further complicatiou of events, iu which Prussia maybe in- volved, may lead to a portion of our imports being cut off. This, by the way— even admitting thai; matters on the conti- nent are in anyihiug but a favourable position — is a contin- gency hardly lo be expected ; consequently, we incline to the opinion, that the aggregate importations of produce during the present year will be fully adequate to our wants. From the United States, even thcngh prices there are declining, and even though harvest work has been commenced in the South, very little wheat or flour can be expected until quite the close of the year ; but we must hear in mind that the grain and flour trade of France has now assumed proportions of great magrdtiide; indeed, so large is it, that the almost entire stop- page of our usual fuiiplies from America has failed to have any influence upon price here, arising from the enormous quantities of produce shipped from the various ports in the north of Fiance. The flour now received into Loudon and Liverpool, being of a superior character, has readily found buyers, chiefly for mixiag purposes, and the quantity received since the addi- tional export duty was imposed, has considerab'y increased. Seeing that the expert trade in France is not likely to fall ofl', and that we shall, consequently, receive quite as much as can be readily consumed, the deficiency from the United States is a matter of no importance to the consumers. Again, as re- gards the future, we must hear in mind, that the stocks of English wheat now on hand are still very large— that the ware- housed supply of foreign ia heavy— and that supplies from the Baltic are pouring in upon us fully up to the average of most years. Whilst this state of things continues, we can hardly venture to predict permanently rising markets for wheat ; but. on the other hand, there ia no reason to look forward to what may be termed depreased currencies, notwithstanding that a portion of our usual imports from Italy and the United States «ill not come forward at the usual period. The spring corn trade is likely to rule steady for some time, aud, no doubt, the quotations, generally, will he well supported. Tne hay-harvest has been commenced in the near counties, and its result is likely to be a most satisfactory one. The growth of both meadow and clover is considera'jly ia excess of last year, aud nearly, or quite, equal to 1857, in which year was produced one of the largeat growths ou record, and the greater portion of it has been got up in excellent condition. For the time of year, a full average quantity of old hay — both meadow and clover — is in stock, and we conclude, therefore, that prices during the remainder of the season will rule some- what lower than at present. Straw, too, is very plentiful, and the highest qi'otatioa in London does not exceed 29a. per load. Meadow hay has changed hands at £2 ISs. to £4 8s., and clover do. £t to £5 8j. per load. Toe abundance of green food has tended materially to check any upward movement in the value of hay. Although accounts have come to hand from time to time to the effect that stock is very scarce in some parts both of Eng- land aud Scotland, large supplies continue on offer in neatly the whole ot our cattle markets. Prices have, consequently, had a downward tendency. For the most part, both beasts aud sheep ha*e appeared in good saleable condition, and, in many instances, beasts of a most superior class have been ex- hibited both from Norfolk and Scotland. Unfavourable reports have been spread in reference to the potato crop ; but our impression is, that they are too highly coloured to command much attention. So far as we can learn from the best sources of information, the crop is in no danger whatever, as a whole. It is true, that a few instances may be met with, in which partial failures are observable ; but, taking the crop as a whole, we believe that there is every reason to anticipate a most ahundant growth, not only in Eng'aud, but likewise in Scotland. Rather large supplies of old potatoes have come forward for the time of year, and the receipts of new have steadily increased. From France, Holland, Spain, and some other quarters, the imports have been liberal, aud iu fair condition, whilst they have changed hands at from 63. to lis. per cwt. A few very fine old potatoes have found buyers as high as 200*. per ton. The clip of English wool this year has turned out a very large one. In the early part of th^; mouth the trade was in a depressed state, owing to the sudden falling off in the export demand ; but it has since become more active, from foreign buyers having again made their appearance in the market, aud a portion of the decline has been recovered. In the mauuiac- turing districts rather increased quantities of wool have been worked up, chiefly in articles suited to the American markets, aud the next series of public sales in London are expected to go off steadily, even though about 90,000 bales of colonial will be brought forward. Iu Ireland and Scotland the grain trade has continued in a very inactive state on easier terms. Both the imports and exports of produce have been on a very moderate scale, and dealers generally have acted with more than usual caution in effecting purchases. Most of our correspondents agree in THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 83 stating that the available stocks of grain, especially of wheat are good for the time of year. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRA.DE DURING THE PAST MONTH. Compared with the corresponding period in several previous years, the total supplies of sheep and lambs exhibited in the Metropolitau Catlle Market have been very large, viz., 159,650 head, against 144,280, in June, 1858; 108,480 in 1857; 112,110 in 1856; and 125,5/0 in 1855. The receipts of beasts, calves, aad pigs have been seasonably good ; whilst there has, perhaps, been a much greater weight of meat dis- posed of than usual. The excess in the arrivals has produced the usual result, viz., heaviness in the trade, and depression in prices ; nevertheless, the latter still continue high, and, on the whole, remunerative to the breeders and feeders. But the decline in the value of fat stock has not been followed by any change of moment in the price of store animals, which, in most counties, are now held for what may be considered dangerously high currencies, so far as the future interests of the feeders are concerned. Tae high rates, however, are, we imagine, chiefly the result of a great abundance of pasture food, more particu- larly iu the neighbourhood of London, and the somewhat active inquiry for half-fat beasts and sheep. The Norfolk "season" for beasts is now drawing to a close, and it has certamly turned out a brilliant one, both as respects the number aud weight of the animals brought forward. And hee we may remark, that nearly two-thirds of the beasts received from that county during the past six months have been composed of crosses of a most superior character; iu point of fact, not a few of them have been too good for the time of year. From Scotland, numerous beasts of heavy weights, and extremely fdt— -certainly fit for Christmas con- sumption— have been received ; whilst it is stated, that a much finer race of animals than usual will be forwarded to the metro- polis from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire, between this and the end of the year. We have hart but trifl ug imports of beasts from the conti- nent, and the arrivals from Spain and Portugal have not iu- ctCHsed. The deficiency in the importations must be chiefly attributed to the stringency in the Custom House rules in the examination of the stock received from time to time. This stringency has bfen much declaimed against ; but, from what we have frequently seen, it has become an imperative duty on the part of the authorities to prevent the introduction of disease into this country. The few sheep received from Hol- land have been iu good condition ; but the bulk of the imports of tbat stock has been derived from Germany in the shape of Meiiuoes, but which have sold at very low prices, viz,, from 2l8. to 27s. each. The supplies of both beasts and sheep in Holland are now increasing to some extent, and, eventually, they will find their way to this country, unless, indeed, they should continue in a state unfit for shipping purposes. Most of the sheep now imported from that country bear strong signs of crossing with some of our Hampshire Downs. The stock of winter food is not yet exhausted, and, for the most part, both beasts and sheep have continued to fare remarkably well, the great abundance of grass having been of the highest importance to the grazing community. The imports of foreign stock into London during the mouth have been as follows : — Beasts 1,058 head. Sheep 12,848 „ Lambs 2,728 „ , Calves 2,155 „ Pigs 86 „ Total 18,875 „ Same time in 1858 17,720 head. „ 1857 13,551 ., „ 1856 10,136 „ The total supplies from all sources, exhibited iu the great Metropolitan Market, have been as under : — Beasts 18,598 head. Cows ,.,. 505 „ Sheep and lambs 159,650 „ Calves 2,967 „ Pigs 2,152 „ Comparison op Supplies. June. Beasts. Sheep & Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 1858.... 18,492 144,280 2,972 3,115 1857.... 20,063- 108,480 2,404 2,125 1856.... 17,896 112,110 1,839 2 740 1855.... 19,173 125,570 2,209 3,180 Beef has sold at from Ss. to 4s. 81. ; mutton, Ss. 4d. to 5s, 2d, ; lamb, Ss. to 63. 4d. ; veal, 4s. to Ss. 2d. ; pork, 3s. to 43. 2d. per Slbs. to sink the oflfal, with the exception of lamb, these prices corresponding to June, 1858. From Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire, 11,850 Scots, shorthorns, acd crosses have come to hand ; from other parts of England, 3,400 of various breeds ; from Scotland, 1,070 Scots and crosses; and from Ireland, 323 oxen aud heifers. The receipts of sheep from Ireland were 1,200, and of lambs 2,0OU head. Very limited supplies of meat have been on offer in New- gate and Leadenhall markets, arising from the hot weather. The trade, however, has been heavy, at a general reduction in prices of fully 2d. per 81ba. CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. The sowing of turnips is finished by the middle of this month, which is preferred in the Eastern Counties to avoid the fly and mildew. Drilled crops are constantly scuffled and hoed ; and all weeds destroyed. Clay lands in fallow are prepared, and lime and dung provided. Stones and tiles are brought forward for draining, which is well performed during dry weather. Hay harvest will be finished during this month. Convey the herbage as dried, and thatch the ricks when consolidated. Have thatch ready, and pro- tect the ricks from rain with tarpaulin cloths. A light cloth may be suspended over ricks by pulleys, and save from violent rains. Continue to fold the store sheep, both on pas- ture and arable lands. The improvement is cheap and effective. Vetches and clovers will now be abundant Cut and carry the herbage in a fresh state for horses and cattle in the yards, and for milch cows at night in the yard and shed. Provide ample littering in the cattle-yards — the dung made will repay any attentions. The sheep must be protected from the fly by the dredging box ; and make cots in the fields from the searching heats. Put mares to the stallion regularly. Provide water in the pasture-fields, and keep fences in good repair, with gates and wickets. In early seasons and climates, corn-harvesting will begin in the end of the month, with peas, barley, and rye. The barns and rick-stands must be ready to receive the crops, which may soon be carried. S4 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CALENDAR OF GARDENING. Transplant brocoli at various times for an early and sprinpf supply, and in moist state of the ground. In dry weather, fill holes with water beneath the plant. May-sown cauliflower are treated in the same way. Sow endive twice in the month. Sow evenly the last crop of scarlet- runners and of French beans. A row or two of cos-lettuce, radish, white and red turnip varieties, some carrots, onions, and salading as required. Earth celery very carefully, with one hand holding the plant, and the other applies the soil close around the lower parts, but not so high as the gi owing kernel . In dry weather water the trenches very copiously, in order to promote full growth. Sow a full crop of turnips — early Dutch, white, and yellow — for the use of late autumn and during winter. After the second week sow cabbage seeds for colewerts, called greens, one of the sweetest of spring vegetables. Transplant leeks on plots richly manured with guano and sulphate of ammonia. In case-like balls place a leek over some water to fix the roots. Transplant cucumbers and vegetable- marrow plants from the hot-beds. Dig a hole on warm ground, put in rich leafy manure, and cover lightly with earth ; plant, water, and cover with hand- glasses till the growth is established, and then gradually train out the runners. Stop the points occasionally to obtain later cuts. Take up and dry flower bulbs, and larger pinks and carnations. Propagate geraniums by cuttings in sand and leafy mould. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. The last week in jNIay, which could not be included in our review of that month, closed fine, but with a further reduction in the price of wheat of 2s. to os. per quarter. The mouth of June has, on the whole, been favourable to the crops. The first week had an abundance of rain, with a very growing temperature; the middle of the month being very stormy, with fine but variable weather to the close. The heavy storms laid a good deal of corn ; but this occurring before the earing, most of it has recovered, and the worst pieces have improved beyond expectation. The early equal growth, followed finally with abun- dant moisture, ensures a great bulk of straw ; and as the blooming time has hitherto been propitious, a full average gathering may be expected. The hay crop has been fair, the growth tliough late being very rapid, and, with the exception of some for- ward pieces, the ricks are being got up in fine con- dition ; but a scarcity of hands, from the absence of the Irish this season, makes the operation slow and expensive. The increased fall of rain has replenished the ponds and wells ; and though an average supply is not yet secured, there is now a fair provision. The month, till the last week, shows a continued decline in prices, making the rates about 4s. per qr. lower, and very little above the low quotations which so long ruled, though the averages, which are generally a fortnight or three weeks behind the markets, do not show the entire reduction. This decline may be traced to several causes. The sudden outbreak of the war, with the notion that Russia was allied to France, made an unusual advance in the beginning of May, which produced as sudden a reaction when this alleged treaty was disclaimed, leading to the impression that the war would be restricted to Northern Italy. The French and other European markets not partaking of the excitement here, and our own course being that of neutrals, the large advance here produced corresponding orders and heavy foreign supplies; and these arriving during favourable weather, both speculators and growers lost heart, and eventually nearly the whole improve- ment was lost. But with the onward progress of the French arms and machinations, the movement of Prussian troops towards the Rhine, the gather- ings of Russian armies on the frontiers of Germany, and the revolutionary outbreaks in Southern Italy, who can say that the political sky is clear ? while the critical time of harvest is nearing, with the wea- ther somewhat broken. There has, too, been a lavish use of wheat for cattle feed. The price was so low in autumn that we hear less has this year been grown. The tide of population still swells ; foreign stocks have every- where much diminished ; storms have done some damage in France; and though prospects in America are good, but little there is left on hand. Immigra- tion, too, keeps going on in that country ; and prices are almost one-third more than our own, there being now no port in the world to meet English rates ; supplies therefore must diminish ; and should a firm tone be taken by the country markets, Loudon must follow. There are reports, again, of the disease in potatoes ; and should there be much wet, and a free develop- ment of electricity in the atmosphere, the crop, though looking well, will not be safe. Spring corn is progressing favourably, but, excepting beans, have very few pods in some places. Harvest has commenced iu Algeria, Italy, and some parts of the southern states of America — the crops being well reported. The following rates show the prices at present ruUng in foreign ports : — At Dantzic first quality wheat is still worth 55s. per qr., wliich is about the same that it brings here. At lierlin and Konigsburg the price was about 48s. per qr. At Hambro' fine 621bs. was worth 50s. per qr. At Stettin fine Pomeranian 47s. per qr. The quotation at Paris is about 41s. per qr. ; at Nantes, lis. to 4i4s. 6d. per qr. ; at Bordeaux, Us. 6d, to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 8S 46s. per qr. The price of native wheat at Antwerp was 45s. per qr. ; Guelders at Amsterdam, -iSs. per qr. Sardinian wheat, at Genoa, notwithstanding large arrivals, was quoted 5Cs. per qr. ; and Bcr- diauski, 49s. per qr. At Odessa the range of quo- tations was from 29s. to 42s. per qr. At New York the common sort, called Milwaukie Club, was 43s. 4d. per 4801bs. ; Southern red, 61s. 8d per 4801bs. ; white, 63s. 4d. per 4801bs. ; and white Kentucky, 6fis. 8d. per 4801bs. The best Genessee flour being equal to 55s. 8d. per English sack, against our own top price of 46s. Prices of best red winter at Chicago, 1 dollar 50 cents per bush.=50s. per qr. ; white, 1 dollar 60 cents per bush.=53s. 4d. per qr. of 4801bs. The first Monday commenced on a small English and liberal foreign wheat supply. The samples sent up from Kent and Essex during the morning were less in number than usual; millers, however, appear- ing to expect a further reduction, were indisposed to give former rates except in a few instances, and as holders were disinclined to yield, the bulk, small as it was, was mostly left over for sale. In foreign scarcely anything was passing. No advantage, how- ever, resulted from holding over, as Wednesday was not a more favourable day, and on Friday sales could only be made by yielding Is. to 2s. per qr. The country markets were either supported with diifi- culty, or accepted lower rates. Newcastle, Spaldiug, and Hull were nominally unaltered ; Leeds, Man- chester, Birmingham, Boston, and Wakefield only made a decline of Is. ; but Sleaford, Bristol, and Gloucester were Is. to 2s. cheaper, and some few places 2s. to 3s. lower. Liverpool, on Tuesday, was 4d. to 6d. per cental down, and Friday made prices 3d. per cental worse. The second Monday opened with a small English supply ; but from the continent there was no less than 61,500 qrs. : it therefore mattered little that the near counties sent up but few samples in the morning, the market being quite taken aback by the foreign arrival. Still, there were buyers of English at 3s. to 4s. per qr. lower in quantity, and as this heavy reduction was declined, very little was done, and that at about 3s. to 3s. less money than could be procured on the previous Monday, the prin- cipal part of the samples being again left over, from which no benefit was eventually derived. To sell foreign a large sacrifice would have been necessary, and therefore the cargoes arrived were ordered to granary at once, in expectation of better markets. The country markets were staggered by the London advices, and all sales made were on lower terms. Melton ^lowbray did not reduce rates beyond Is. to 2s. perqr; but generally the reduction was more. Newbury, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Gloucester, and Newark were 2s. to 3s. per qr. cheaper; Bir- mingham was fully 3s. perqr. down; Leeds, Boston, Market Rasen, and some other places were 3s. to 4s. per qr. cheaper ; and at Gainsborough there was a perfect stagnation in trade. Liverpool, on Tuesday, was 4d. to 6d. per cental cheaper ; but on Friday there was a better sale at previous rates. The Scotch markets, though the weather was too dry, were all affected by the advices from the South ; Glasgow, with large arrivals, finding but a retail trade at 25. per qr. decline, and sales at Edinburgh being only practicable on lower terms. Li L'eland the same state of things obtained, there being large arrivals there from Nantes and other parts of France, especially at Waterford, where wheat consequently fell Is. to Is. 6d. per brl. The third Monday had a large foreign supply, but scarcely more than one-third of that noted on the second. The English supply was somewhat im- proved, and with moderate contributions from Essex and Kent for the morning, made a finer show. The best picked lots went off at Is. less money, but ordi- nary runs were 2s. per qr. cheaper: still, the pre- dominant feeling being that about the lowest point was reached, there was more disposition to do business than for some time. Foreign factors not being disposed to make lower offers, there was very little done except for mixing. Country advices were none of them so depressed as London, many places quoting no decline on previous rates ; as Hull, Shef- field, Louth, and Lynn. Bristol, Leeds, and New- bury were Is. per qr. higher; Manchester, Birming- ham, Spalding, and Boston were up Is. to 2s. ; and Stockton-on-Tees, with a small supply, advanced 2s. to 3s. per qr. Liverpool, on Tuesday, was better attended, and found a fair trade for wheat at 2d. per cental improvement, flour having a better sale. Friday's report noted an improved attendance, with better sale at former prices. The Scotch and some Irish markets were slightly dearer. The fourth Monday was again well supplied from abroad, though there was less of home growth. Kent and Essex sent up but very few samples, for which at the commencement 2s. to 3s. per qr. more money was demanded, in consequence of the contract out, but eventually sales were only slow at Is. per qr. improvement, there not being the least stir in the foreign trade. The four weeks' supply into London has been 16,192 qrs. English, 125,835 qrs. foreign, ^against 17,128 qrs. English, 94,391 qrs. foreign in June last year. The imports into the United Kingdom in May were 507,546 qrs. wheat, 585,505 cwt. Flour. The exports for the four weeks in June were nil. The flour trade for the three weeks in June has been in a continuous decline, with much difficulty in sales. On the third Monday town millers reduced their top price from 50s. to 46s. per sack, but coun- try sorts have been cheaper every Monday for three weeks, about 2s. per sack, and French qualities, of which there have been heavy imports, have been ir- regular in price, and have been equally depressed. On the fourth Monday Norfolks were 2s. per sack higher, and French also improved Is. per sack. The four weeks' imports into London have been as follows, viz. : — Of country sorts 52,845 sacks, of foreign 43,732 sacks, chiefly French, with 736 bar- rels. The exports in the same time were 187 cwts. only. The barley trade for the four weeks in June has been very steady, the heavy exports to France having relieved the markets from the pressure of a quantity of the lower qualities, malting sorts having been of nominal value, and the shortness of the English arrivals show the crop to be about used up ; but from abroad plenty has continued to ariive, notwith- standing the reported deficiency of the crops. Good sweet parcels for distillation and grinding have s 86 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. about kept their value, and closed firm ; but stale Odessa, and such like sorts, have declined in value since the falling off of the Trench demand. The imports into London during the four weeks were 687 qrs. English, 29,697 qrs. foreign, against 1,036 qrs. English, 22,753 qrs. foreign in June, 1858. The exports in four weeks have reached to 41,111 qrs., making the amount, since the beginning of May, 67,111 qrs., a quantity unprecedented, and wholly traceable to the war in Italy, where it is wanted for the French and Sardinian cavalry. The imports into the United Kingdom, in May last, were 105,321 qrs. The malt trade has been dull, and the article has fallen in value 2s. to 3s. per qr. The oat trade has been unusually heavy for three- fourths of the month, and gradually declining, the early appearance of Riga sorts, in quantity ,_ having ratlier put back the market ; this description has, therefore, more especially given way, say, in all, from Is. to Is. Gd. per qr., the decline in other sorts being 6d. to Is. ; but a firmer feeling lias been evinced at the month's close, and should the arrivals be less, and the weather at all unfavourable, we may expect some rally in this grain. On the last Monday prices rose 6d. per qr. The London imports for four weeks have been 340 qrs. English, 5,058 qrs. Scotch, 6,372 qrs. Irish, 104,437 qrs, foreign; or a total of 116,207 qrs.; against 1,154 qrs. English 2,102 qrs. Scotch, 1,297 qrs. Irish, 129,874 qrs. foreign in June, 1858. The imports into the United Kingdom for May last were 125,208 qrs. ; the exports in June 6,915 qrs. Of beans the foreign arrivals have been very small, and the English supplies but moderate. Business, as usual at this time of the year, has been duU, more especially since the decline in Oats and Indian Corn; but prices have been about the same, the quantity being too small to weigh on markets. As this pulse is still relatively dear, there seems little room for improvement as the demand falls of, though there is likely to be but a short supply from Egypt, this season, from the partial failure of the crop there. The imports into London, for four weeks, have been as follows : — 1,390 qrs. English, 527 qrs. foreign, against 1,217 qrs. English, and 3,106 qrs. foreign in June, 1858. The total imports into the United Kingdom, in May last, were 19,716 qrs. Yery few English peas have come to market, and only a moderate quantity of boilers from abroad. The scarcity of duns and maples have kept up prices ; but business has been retail, and navy contracts have maintained the value of white boilers, which lately were being used for horses, as cheaper than beans. The imports for the four weeks into London have been 259 qrs. English, 1,978 qrs. foreign, against 302 qrs. English, 595 qrs. foreign, io June, 1858. Tlie imports into the whole kingdom for May last were 9,254 qrs. The arrivals of linseed have been moderate during the month, viz., 17,706 qrs., and the exports 2,444 qrs. The trade has lost something of its firmness, though there does not seem much probability of a heavy decline for some time, the only fall being about Is. per qr. ; cakes have not been so readily placed, but the rates have not given way, fat stock liaving realized good prices for some time. As respects the seed trade, it has generally been in perfect calm, the little stock of cloverseed, both in red qualities and white, being below a large specula- tive trade. The plants look very promising as yet for hay, but the seed crop is too distant to form any opinion as to the probable yield. Canaryseed has been unusually steady, so has hempseed. In mustardsced scarcely anything has passed. Rape- seed is fa^t approaching to maturity, cutting having commenced generally in France ; fine weather, there- fore, is important. In carraway, coriander, and other seeds, prices have remained almost stationary, with but a retail consumption. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE- SliiUingsper Quarter. "WHEAT,Essex and Kent .White ..»», 41to5l ,. red ,...^, « 39 47 Norfolk, Line. , and Yorks., red 39 47 Barley, malting ...... — to 33 ....Chevalier .... 33 37 Grinding 28 29 .... Distilling 30 31 Malt, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk .... 5tto59 fine 60 €6 Kingston. Ware, and town made ..61 69 ,, 60 66 Brown 50 61 — — Rte new— — 30 31 Oats, English, feed ....21 25...... Potato., .... 2fi 2S Scotch, feed 22 26 Potato 25 29 Irish, feed, white 21 23 fine 2S Ui Ditto, black 21 21 ,, — 25 Beans, Mazagan, 39 41 Ticks ...... 39 41 Harrow 40 44 Pigeon 45 48 PEAs.new, white, boilers 44 4* Maple 44 46.. Grey 40 44 FLO0K, per sack of 280 lbs.. Town, Households 409 . , fine 41 46 Country.. nominal .. 32 34 Households.. 35 39 Norfolk and SuflTolk.es-ship 32 33 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. FoK THE LAST Six Wheat. Barley. Weeks May 14, 1859 .... May 21, 1859 .... May 28, 1859 .... June 4, 1859 s. d. 52 5 64 63 53 June 11, 1859 ....[ 51 June 18. 1859 ....I 49 11 Aggregate average 52 6 Same time last year 44 7 s. d. 32 10 33 33 33 8 31 8 31 32 34 Oats. Rye. Beans s. d. s. d. s. d. 25 4 33 4 45 1 26 3 35 3 47 2 ?5 9 33 8 46 6 26 1 37 7 47 0 25 11 41 9 45 0 24 11 36 9 46 7 25 9 36 5 46 3 26 0 32 9 41 8 Peas, s. d 12 t 15 5 12 10 40 5 11 5 40 3 12 1 42 10 PRICES OF SEEDS. BRITISH SEEDS. Tkefoil, new — s. to — a. Tares, Winter, new, per bushel ..— s. to — s. MnsTABDSEED, per bush., new 128. to 178, brown 10s. to 12s. CoBiANDER, percwt........................ 14s. to 16s. Canary, per qr 64s. to 6*!$. Linseed, per qr., sowing — s.to 648. .crushing 54s. to S8s. Linseed Cakeb, per ton .£9 10s. to .£10 10s. RAFESEED.per qr.'.., 768. to 783. Rape Cake, per ton £5 10(i.to£6 08. HOP MARKET. LONDON, Monday, June 27. — Our market during the past week has presented a very languid character, but few sales being effected, aud thoae at prices much below the nominal vahie. The biue, on the whole, has made favourable progress ; but this morning, reports speak of fresh fly ia several districts, and of considerable increase of blight in AVorceater, Farnham and the country parishes. The duty has been backed at £180,000. Mease & Wild'. POTATO MARKETS. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS, June 27.— For the time of year a fair average supply of old potatoes is on sale in these markets. The demand is inactive, and prices may be quoted at from GOs. to 2008. per ton. New potatoes are com- ing more freely to hand, and sales progress steadily, m follows : Eiiglisl), 7a. to lis.; Jersey, 7s. to 10s. ; Scilly, 63. to lOs. ; Spanish, 63. to Ss. ; Freuch, 8s. to lOs per cwt. I-ast week's imports were 9,458 basket* fiom Rotterdam, 168 from Ant- werp, 507 from Dunkirk, 29 from Boulogne, 50 sacks from Bouen, and 861 boxes 363 baskets from Lisbon. Printed by Rogerson and Tuxford, 246, Strand, London. IMPORTANT TO FLOCEMASTERS. THOMAS BIGG, AQRICULTTTRAL AND VETERINARY CHEMIST, BY APPOINTMENT, TO H. R.H. THE PRINCE CONSORT, E.G., &C. LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT DOVER-STREET, BOROUGH, LONDON, 3 to call the attention of Farmers and Graziers to his valuable -EEP-and LAMB DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires J Boiling, and may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for iTectually destroying the Tick Lice, and all other insects jurious to the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of .y and Shab, and cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby really improving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and 'ghly contributing to the general health of the animal. Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manufac- y as above, and sold as follows, although any other quantity y be had, if required : — 4 lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 61b. 80 8 1b. 40 10 1b. 50 20 1b. 100 80 1b. 150 40 1b. 200 601b. 250 60 1b. 300 80 1b. 400 )00 lb. 500 (cask and measure included) 1 17 2 5 ould any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it will iually effective. He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC, or LOTION, for the SCAB, or SHAB, which will be found a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions of sheep, even ewes ■"1 lamb. Price 5s. per gallon — sufficient on an average for ty Sheep (according to the virulence of the disease); also in ne quart bottles, Is. 3d. each. IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL. "Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855. Dear Sir, — In answer to yours of the 4th inst, which would e been replied to before this had I been at home, I have ch pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of your in- valuable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The flOO Sheaf were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of the ' Non- Poisonous Specific,' that was so highly recommended at th« Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, the best attention being paid to the flock by my shepherd after dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding the Scab continues getting worse. In December I informed the ' Agent for the above Specific,' that the flock was not cured, and that it requires their immediate attention. The Agent informed me they should be at once seen to, but did not do so until^ve weeks afterward*, and in the mean time the Scab spread over the whole flock, that I never saw such a disgraceful sight in my life ; and when the Dresser was sent over to inspect the Flock, he decided on not dressing them again, as one-third of the Sheep had lost half their wool. I then agreed with an experienced dresser in Norfolk to dress the flock, and when he saw the sheep he declined doing them, as they were so very bad, and the time of lambing so near. Being determined to have the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of your Specific, which I received the following day ; and although the weather was most severein February during the dressing, your Specific proved itself an in- valuable remedy, for in three weeks the Sheep were quite cured ; and I am happy to say the young lambs are doing remarkably well at present. In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy now in use. " I remain, dear Sir, your obedient servant, " For JOHN TINGEY, Esq., " To Mr. Thomas Bigg." " R. RENNY. In addition to the foregoing, he has very materially improved, as well as considerably reduced the price of his Dipping Ap- paratus ; and he would venture to suggest that no Flockmasterf ought now to be without one. Price in London, New and Improved Dipping Apparatus, on Wheels £14 0 0 Ditto ditto with Iron-bar Drainer 5 0 0 Ditto ditto 4 0 0 Ditto, plain, with Wooden Drainer 3 0 0 N.B. — Catalogues, containing List of Patrons, Testimonials, &c., to be had of all agents, or sent direct per post free. CURTIS ON MANHOOD.— SHILLING EDITION. A MEDICAL ESSAY ON NERVOUS AND GENERATIVE DISEASES, t Published, the New Edition, 120th Thousand, with numerous Plates, in a sealed envelope, price Is., or sent, post-paid, bv the Author, for 14 stamps. VTANHOOD : the CAUSE and CURE of PREMATURE DECLINE, with plain -L directions for perfect restoration to health and vigour ; being a Medical Review of the various forms I modern treatment of Nervous Debility, Impotency, Loss of Mental and Physical Capacity, whether re- iting from youthful abuse, the follies of maturity, the effects of climate, or infection; with Observations on new and successful mode of detecting Spermatorrhoea, and other Urethral Discharges, by Microscopic ^mination ; to which are added, curiousandinterestingcases, with the Author's recipe of a Preventive Lotion. By J. L. CURTIS, 15, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, London, whose practice, extending over a period of years, affords a complete guarantee to patients that the utmost skill and experience will be made available .he treatment of their cases. it home for consultation daily, from 10 till 3, and 6 till 8. Sundays from 10 till 1. REVIEWS OP THE WORK. " CoRTis ON Manhood. — This is a truly valuable work, and should be in the hands of young and old." Sunday Times, 23rd March, 1856. *' Curtis on Manhood.— The author has conferred a great boon by publishing this little work, in which described the source of those diseases which produce decline in youth, or more frequently premature old 1,6."— Daily Telegraph, March 27. 1856. " Cdrtis on Manhood. — The book under review is one calculated to warn and instruct the erring with- t imparting one idea that can vitiate the mind not already tutored by the vices of which it treats." — Naval d Military Gazette, Feb. 1, 1851. •' We feel no hesitation in saying, that there is no member of society by whom the book will not be found ^ful — whether such person hold the relation of a parent, preceptor, or a clergyman." — Sun, Evening Paper. Published by the Author: sold also in sealed envelopes by Gilbert, 49, Paternoster-row ; Hannay, 63, ford-street; Mann, 39, Cornhill, London; "Herald" Office, Taunton; Lockyer, Lincoln; Hey wood, Iham-street, Manchester ; Howell, 6, Church-street, Liverpool ; Ashley, Post-office, Newbury; Ferris and )re. Union-street, Bristol ; Pierson, Shrewsbury ; Jull, Braintree ; Thew, Lynn ; Peat, Chichester ; Lur- ck, Maidstone ; Cook, Ipswich; Huscroft, Bury St. Edmunds; Dove, Swindon ; Jearey, Bridewell Alley, jrwich; Smith, Rose Crescent, Cambridge; Slatter, Oxford ; and by all Booksellers and Chemists in tb« >U«d Kin^doiQ) FOR THE HAIR, THE SKIN, AND THE TEETH, are universally held in high estimation j and the fact of the distinguished patronage they enjoy, their general use in all countries, and the numerous testimonials constantly received of their efficacy, sufficiently prove the value of their " Macassar Oil," " Kalydor," and " Odonto." THE FIRST PRODUCTION IN THE WORLD For the GROWTH and IMPROVEMENT of the HUMAN HAIR is ROWLAND! ACASSAB OIL proved beyond question by its successful results for MORE than HALF A CENTURY past, and when other specifics have failed. It prevents Hair falling from falling off or turning grey, strengthens weak HAIR, cleanses it from Scurf and Dandriff, and makes it BEAUTIFULLY SOFT, PLIABLE, and GLOSSY. In the growth of THE liEAItl>, fmS^ItEMg, A.WM MU^TACIIl®© it is unfailing in its stimulative operation. For CHILDREN it is especially recommended as forming the basis of A BEAUTIFUL HEAD OF HAIR. Its invaluable properties have obtained the Patronage of Royalty, the Nobility, and the Aristocracy throughout Europe; while its introduction into the Nursery of Royalty, and the high esteem in which it is universally held, with numerous Testimonials constantly received of its efficacy, afford the b6st and surest proofs of its merits. — Price 3s. 6d. and 7s.; Family Bottles (equal to four small) 10s. Od.; and double that size, 2l9. CAUTIOW.— On the Wrapper of each Bottle are the words, " ROWLANDS' MACASSAR OIL,"&c., in white letters, and their Signature, " A. ROWLAND & SONS," in Red Ink. A BUikUTIFUI. COS^PXiBXIOn, AND SOFT AND FAIR HANDS AND ARMS Are realized by the use of BOW^LANBS' KALYDOR, This Royally-patronized and universally-esteemed Specific exerts the most soothing, cooling, and purifying action on the Skin, eradicates Freckles, Tan, Piviples, Spots, Discoloration, and other Cutaneous VisitO' tions, and renders THE ^MIM CliEAM, l?AIIl, Al^l> ]Bi:-OOMi:P^€^. CA.UTIOH'.— The words " ROWLANDS' KALYDOR," &c., are on the Wrapper, and their Signa- ture, " A. ROWLAND & SONS," in Red Ink, at foot.— Price 4s. 6d. and 8s. 6d. per bottle. WHITE ANB SOUND TEETH Are indispensable to PERSONAL ATTRACTION, and to hei\lth and longevity by the proper mastication of food. ROWLANDS' ODONTO, ©Kg ^EIh\^L ^W-MYWrnQ^M.^ Compounded of ORIENTAL INGREDIENTS, is of inestimable value in IMPROVING AND BEAUTIFYING THE TEETH, STRENCrTHENZNCr THE C^UMS, And in rendering THE BMEATH S'^VEETT A]V» PUME. It eradicates Tartar from the Teeth, removes spots of incipient decay, and polishes and preserves the enamel, to which it imparts a As the most efficient and fragrant aromatic purifier of the Breath, Teeth, and Gums ever known, ROW- LANDS' ODONTO has, for a long series of years, occupied a distinguished place at the Toilets of the Sove- reigns and the Nobility throughout Europe ; while the general demand for it at once announces the favour in which it is universally held. — Price 2s. 9d. per box. CAUTIOW.— Thewords " ROWLANDS' ODONTO" are on the Label, and"A, ROWLAND & SONS, 20, Hatton Garden," engraved on the Government Stamp affixed on each box. " ■ ' ' ~ Sold by the Proprietors and by Chemists and Perfumers, *** BEWARE OF SPURIOUS IMITATIONS ! No. 2, Vol. XVI. I AUGUST, 1859. * [Third Series. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE AND MONTHLY JOURNAL OF THE AGEICULTUEAL INTEEEST. JBeliiratelr TO THE FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAND. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. t- - '"■ "■'-'-^' — ^T. ..■.,--, . w_~-^ . -^ /■ r^..— ^ ^.■- ■.^- '-■ DR. HASSALL ON THORIiEY'S FOOD FOR CATTLE. FROM THE "MAUK LANE EXPRESS," lOth JAN., 1859. 74, WiMPOLE Street, Cavendish Square, 2lst December, 1858. Having, on more than one occasion, been requested to make an analysis of Thorley's Well-known Food for Cattle, and to express my opinion respecting it, I placed myself a short time since in communica- tion with Mr. Thorley, desiring to be furnished with certain particulars relating to his Food. Mr. Thorley, who was previously a stranger to me, at once conducted me over his Manufactory, showed me all the ingredi- ents employed, and also the process of manufacture of the article. I took away with me samples of the food as well as of every ingredient entering into its composition. I have since carefully examined and tested these, and I have also compared the samples procured at the Manufactory with others obtained by myself from other sources. I am, therefore, now in a position to express an authoritative opinion respecting the composition and properties of Thorley's Food for Cattle. I would remark of it — First. That the ingredients used are all of excellent quality, and are purchased without regard to expense. Second. That the receipt or formula, according to which the Food is prepared, is an admirable one, no ingredient being selected on account of its cheapness, but those only being chosen which are best adapted to fulfil the objects intended. Having regard, thus, to the composition of Thorley's Food for Cattle, 1 find that it possesses the following properties in an eminent degree — it is highly nutritious and fattening — it is a tonic and gentle stimulant, aiding, when mixed with other descriptions of food, materially the digestive powers of an animal — a point of great consequence, since it is an undoubted fact that much of the nourishment contained in the ordi- nary food given to cattle is lost in consequence of the impaired or defective action of the digestive organs. Comparing Thorley's Food for Cattle with other Cattle Foods, with the compositionof which I am ac- quainted, I unhesitatingly assert that it is infinitely superior toany others, at present known to me. In all those of the composition of which I have a knowledge, I have found ingredients to be present which have been added solely on account of their cheapness, that is for the purpose of adulteration, and to the exclusion of other more valuable, but more expensive, articles. In some of the Foods I have detected ingredients which are positively hurtful. Comparing, also, the samples taken by me from the Manufactoi'y with others procured from difierent sources, I found a perfect accordance in the composition of both series of samples. Before bringing this Report to a conclusion, I would notice an objection sometimes urged against the use of Cattle Foods generally, namely, that the price at which they are sold exceeds considerably that of the materials from which they are prepared; this can be readily shown to be a very unreasonable objection. Thorley's Food for Cattle is a compounded and manufactured article, upon the composition and preparation of which much care, labour, and expense have been and are bestowed. Moreover, the refuse materials resulting from the cleansing, grinding, &c., and which are an entire loss, amount to twenty per cent. To estimate, therefore, the value of such an article merely at the cost of the raw materials is both absurd and unjust. Neither must the value of this, or any other Cattle Food, be determined by the exact amount of nourishment contained in them; although in the case of Thorley's Food this is very considerable, but the indirect effects resulting from its employment must be taken into consideration ; that is, the effects of the article in improving the appetite, digestive powers, and general vigour of the Cattle fed upon it. By the improved condition of the di"estivo organs animals may be fed upon coarser and cheaper articles of food, and from which, without the aid of Thorley's Food, they would be unable to extract all the nourishment which such articles actually contain. I consider, then, that the use of Thorley's Food is attended, not with an additional, but with a considerable saving of expense. I am glad, therefore, to be enabled to recommend — which I do strongly and conscientiously — Thorley's Food for Cattle as a highly important and valuable compound for the feeding of all descriptions of Cattle, cigned, ARTHUR HILL HASSALL, M.D., Analyst of the Lancet Sanitary Co7nmission ; Author of the Reports of that Commission ; of " Food and its Adulteration ; " " Adulterations Detected; " S^c, ^c. From Alfred Brown, Esq., Wandsworth, Surrey, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England ; Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Company, London ; Fellow of the Medical Society of London ; late Demonstrator of Anatomy at the St. George's School of Medicine. Wandsworth, Surrey, Dec. 11, 1858. Sir, — I shall feel obliged by your sending me another cask of Thorley's Cattle Food. I have been making experiments with it upon one of my milch cows, and think it only fair that I should let you know the results. My cow, before 1 used the Food, was fed upon hay, wortzel, and water ad libitum, and upon this diet she yielded one gallon of milk per day, making two pounds of butter per week. She was five months gone with her second calf; when she had the Food I discontinued giving her the wortzel, and gave her a measure-full (about half-a-pint) of the Food with a peck of damp chaff night and morning; besides, she had as much good liay as she would eat. Upon this diet, in less than a week she doubled the quantity of milk and butter; and in order that I might be sure that this excellent result depended upon the Thorley's Food, I discontinued it, and returned to her former diet, and she speedily went back to the gallon of milk per day. After waiting about a fortnight, I again returned to the Thorley's Food, and in a few days she increased to two gallons of milk per day. This experiment I repeated several times, and with the same results. I have tried the Food upon other animals — horses, sheep, &c. — and with the most satisfactory results. I have also analysed the Food, and find that it contains nothing that would in any way injure the system or constitution of cattle. You are at liberty to make any use you please of this communication, and I am, Sir, yours, &c., To Mr. J. Thorley. ALFRED BROWN. fil THE PARMEE'S MA(1AZI.¥B. AUGUST, 1859. CONTENTS. Plate I.— PORTRAIT OF MR. JOHN ROGERSON. Plate II.— THE GREAT MOGUL: a Shorthorn Bull, the Property of Stewart Marjoribanks, Esa., of Bushey Grove, Watford, Herts. Description of the First Plate Description of the Second Plate The Herds of Great Britain : The Athelstaneford Herd Fish Manure — By Cuthbert W. Johnson, Esq., F.R.S. Royal Agricultural Society op England : Meeting at Warwick Report on the Live Stock " No Politics" ..... The Best and Cheapest Method of Manuring the Farm Agriculture of Canada — its Future Development On the Utilization op the Waste Products of the Fisheries Summer Grazing of Stock .... Suffolk Agricultural Association — Meeting at Ipswich Agricultural Gathering at Boreham . The Malt-Tax and the Labourer Alexandre de Humboldt Reviews Duties the North American Watercourss England : Exhibitors' Errors and Judges' Summering Horses Mr. Jonas Webb's Ram-Letting Future Course of the Trade of Royal Agricultural Society of Proceedings in Council Meeting at Warwick The Exhibition and Trial of Implements A Catalogue of the Implements Exhibited The Old Norfolk Farmer at Warwick Mr. Sanday's Annual Letting of Leicester Sheep at Holme Pibrrbpont Weights and Measures . . . • • Calendar of Agriculture . . . • • Calendar of Gardening . . . • • Agricultural Reports — General Agricultural Report for July Review of the Caitle Trade during the past Month Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c. Review of the Corn Trade during the past Month Corn Averages and Market Currencies . • • PAGC . 87 . 88 . 89 . 93 . 96 . 101 . 102 . 103 . 104 . 107 . 110 . 116 • 117 . 118 . 120 . 122 . 124 . 125 . 129 . 133 . 135 . 147 . 155 . 165 . 167 . 16a . 169 . 169 . 170 . 171 . 172 . 174 176-8 NEW VETERINARY WORK. Just published, price 105. 6d., THE GENTLEMAN'S STABLE MANUAL. A complete Treatise on the Construction of the Stable— on the Grooming and Feeding of Horses— on the Management of the Hunter— and on the Diseases, Accidents, and Lamenesses incidental to the Horse; with plain and ample directions as to the Medical and Surgical treatment of the same. The whole illustrated by numerous Wood Engravings, by W. Haycock, V.S., and M.R.C.V.S. London: Routledgb, Wakne, & Routledge, Farnngdon-street. KEATING'S PERSIAN INSEiCT DESTROYING POWDER. ELEAS IN DOGS, POULTRY, &c., are instantly destroyed, as also bugs, beetles, and every other insect, by this powder, which is quite harmless to animals ; sportsmen particularly will, therefore, find it invaluable. In Packets, Is., 2s. (id., and 4s. 6d. each, or post free, for 14, or treble size, for 36 postage stamps, by THOMAS KEATING, Chemist, 79, St. Paul's Churchyard, London. E.C. Take notice each genuine packet bears the above name and address. See " The Field," Oct, 2nd and 9tb, pp. 263, 283, & 294. PHILLIP'S AND COMPANY, TEA-MERCHANTS, 8, King William Street, XT City, London, E.G., invariably sell the BEST aud CHEAPEST TEAS and COFFEES in England. Good strong useful Congou Tea,2s.4d.,2s.6d.,2s. 8d., 2s. lOd., and 3s.; Rich Souchong Tea, 3s. 8d., 3s. 10d=, and 48. A Price-Current free. Sugars at market prices. PHILLIPS & CO., send all goods Carriage Free, by their own Vans, within 8 miles of No. 8, King William SIreet, City, E.G., and send Teas, Coffees, and Spices Carriage Free to any Railway Station or Market Town in England, if to the value of 40s. or upwards. TO THE FLOCKMASTERS of the UNITED KINGDOM.— Gentlemen,— Many of you having publicly admitted that the dipping of Flocks is indispensable to their well-doing, and that frightful losses have taken place through the use of some preparations, amounting in one dreadful instance to nearly 900 sheep, I am induced to hope that you will in future select a safe preparation, and one which has now obtained a world-wide celebrity. To the few of you who have not already used my " Sheep Dipping Powder," allow me to state, that within the last 13 years I have manufactured more of it than would suffice to dip the present aggregate number of sheep in England, Scotland, and Wales; and I can bripg ample proof that the demand for it of late years, both at home and abroad, has been such as to require the constant em- ployment of powerful machinery, turning off never less than five tons at each batch, and insuring uniformity of strength to the whole. I may further explain, that the very low price of ray " Dipping Powder" and " Wheat Dressing" is sinply owing to the scale upon which they are produced. The Chemicals of which they are composed are made on my own premises, where I also constantly employ printers to exercise their art in making my Preparations known, not only in our own language, but also in that of different foreign nations. Thanking you for the past, and soliciting further favours, through my Agents, or any Chemist, I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, William Cooper. CHEMICAL WORKS, GREAT BERKHAMSTEAD, HERTS. NEW WORK ON STRICTURE. Just published, 8vo, in cloth, price 5s., by post-free, 53. 6d., THE TREATMENT of STRICTURES of the URETHRA. With the Reasons why they so often appear incurable. By F. B. COURTENAY, M.R.C.S.E., And formerly Surgeon to the Metropolitan Infirmary for the Cure of Strictures of the Urethra. " This work is the production of a surgeon whose special attention has beea dire'^ted, through a long pro- fessional life, to the treatment of strictures of the urethra. The cases which Mr. Courtenay has given supply ample evidence of his great discriminative power in the diagnosis of the various kinds of stricture, and of the scientific principles upon which their management is founded, demonstrating his success and explaining the cause of it. By his systematic management and immense mitigation of pain to the unhappy sufferers is attained, and future mischief prevented. The work we can most unreservedly and Confidently recommend as a valuable contribution, both to the general and professional reader, and ought to be found in the private study of all who are subject to stricture." — Medical Circular, Dec. 1st, 1858. London : H. Eailliere, 219, Regent-street. [advertisement.] THE IMPLEMENT HOUSES OF ENGLAND. MESSRS. RICHMOND AND CHANDLER, AT BARNSTAPLE. [with a special illustration.] In reviewing the actual novelties, few in number, of the Barn- staple exhibition, where the prize system was for the first time abandoned, and the practical demand became the true test of merit in an implement, we pointed out two or three improve- meuis in which the firm of Messrs. Richmond and Chandler, of LiTerpool and Manchester, had succeeded in serving the agricul- tural public in the most remarkable way possible, inasmuch as a celebrated implement of theirs was thus offered in an improved condition at a reduced cost ! The improvements in question were effected upon their chaff-cutter by the case-hardening of the working parts under an American patent held by them, so as to prevent the ordinary tear and wear— by inclosing the small toothed wheels in a close-fitting case or cover, which protects them from obstruction and injury, whilst it affords a new bearing for the fly-wheel shaft— and, finally, by introducing other equally practical improvements, the machine is sustained in a state of efficiency. Imagine the price of a machine so maniffslly im- proved in its whole action reduced so low as £2 10s., and then Inquire " who would be without it?" We are so much struck with the improved implement, its usefulness, and the fact of sucli a mearis of chopping and preparing cattle- feed being brought within every one's reach, that, contrary to our custom, we have obtained the favour of an engraving of it (hitherto unpublished) from tlie makers. In this illustration will be observed the various improvements and their details to which we have adverted. The engraving represents the No. 58. The No. 4 or New Patent Chaff-Cutter is of great size and power ; and it is fitted with the new patent steel mouth-piece, to wliich too much attention can- not be paid, it being one (if not the most important of all) of the improvements recently introduced in chaff-cutters. The bear- ings and working parts of this machine are less in number than any other. Ueing intended eitlisr for horse, steam, or water- power. It 18 constructed with great solidity, and firmly bolted and stayid together. The accuracy of the fitting ensures great durability, while its strength, simplicity, and lightness of power have gained it the character of being one of tlie best chafi-i utters ot llie day. The price i^ £10. The illustration, applies, liowever, to the smaller cutters : No. 58, at £8 lOs., with its toothed rollers and working parts covered to pretect them from dirt and accidents— No. 57, at £Z 153., with its roller adjustments similar to larger machines. The new patent, No. 3, which has received se many prizes at home and abroad, is fitted not only with the toothed rollers, but tJie steel mouth-piece, the superiority of which cannot be overrated, since, being harder than the knives, it is not, as in other machines, worn away by friction, but offers always a straight and sharp edge for the knives to cut against. At £1 cost, it is constructed all of iron, has brass bearings, works by bevel-wheels instead of a worm, and is encased to prevent accidents or injury from dust. The courtesy of the firm has not stopped here, but in addition to (he foregoing engraving we have also had placed in our hands a \i&MiOiaQ J'asciculus of large drawings (to scale) delineating all!(Iie chief articles of Messrs. Richmond and Chandler's manu- facture, and all their parts in mechanical detail. To us this is a singularly interesting work ; our only regret is that we cannot convey its contents bodily to our readers, but we have no doubt that the customers of the firm will be able to obtain it on appli- cation to the house itself. It is generously issued by them to supply a want, felt in the trade at large, of correct geometrical drawings of implements, illustrating their sizes and proportions, and presents along with letter-press details of prices, descriptions, and advantages of their machines, front and side elevations, on the scale of IJ inch to 1 foot (in short, working drawings) of the different orders of chaff-cutters in great varieties and corn- crushers, improved turnip-cutters, and steaming apparatus on the scale of 1 inch to 1 foot; and finally, improved horse-works with intermediate motion, both plan and elevation, on the scale of I inch to 1 foot. No. 7 Chaff-cutter (new macliine.)— It remains only to add, that one of the chief points of difference between this and other machines is the employment of two pair of feed rollers, each acting independently of the other; the back pair rises higher than the front, and the tooth or hook is of a different form. By these means choking or irregularity of feed is placed beyond possibility. The before-mentioned steel mouth-piece is fitted in this machine; In the mode of setting or adjusting the knives there is also a great improvement, whereby it may be readily ac- complished by an inexperienced person. It is possessed of im- mense strength, fitted wiih the stop motion for arresting the rollers, and is capable of cutting IJ tons of short chaff per hour at a price of £20. Qorse-cutting machines may be made of the chaff-cutters Nos. 3, 4, and 7, and many prizes testify to Messrs. Richmond and Chandler's success in this adaptation, so valuable on many of the wilds of Dorset. These machines by one operation reduce the gorse to a fit state for consumption by either horses or cows, the prickle being effectually destroyed, and a pulp of easy mastica- tion produced. As a hay-cutter its properties are in no way interfered with, a simple alteration in the gearing being all that is required to effect the change either way. I'he prices are llie same as for chaff-cutters. Throughout tlie manufacture of the whole of these machines the greatest care has been taken to avoid all useless or cumbersome movements, every end being attained in the most direct and mechanical manner ; the result is that the friction being reduced to a minimum, the wear and tear and the power required in working the machine are greatly relieved. The corn-crushing mill, again, is constructed on a principle which partakes of cutting and bruising, accomplished by means of spirally fluted rollers revolving at different speeds. A screw on the feed plate at the back regulates the supply of grain deli- vered to the rollers, conformable in quantity to the power em- ployed. A screw in front regulates the parallel adjustment for the rollers, and thus the grain may be crushed to any degree. The size of the roller is 7 inches by 3J, and the price of the mills £5 5s., £S 10s., and (specially adapted for power, mounted on a strong iron frame, the counter-shaft noteworthy for an improve- ment by means of which its rollers are relieved from all strain and kept perfectly parallel, the fly-wheel having a velocity double that of the rollers, and a guard in front preventing the escape of uacrushed grain), size of rollers 11 inches by 6^, ±'10. No. 4, of the same construction, but of greater capacity, and may without danger to the working parts be driven 200 revolutions per minute — rollers 14 inches by 8, £14. The rollers in these instances are spirally fluted and casehardened according to the American pro- cess, for which Messrs. Richmond and Chandler hold the patent; and this peculiar metliod of hardening rollers whilst rendering the surface as hard and durable as the best steel, yet admits of their being at any future period softened and refluted equal to new. Their malt mills, although of the same construction as the corn- crushsrs, are fitted with plain metal rollers, as required by the recent Excise Act. But No. a malt mill, prepared expressly for large breweries or maltsters where large quantities require to be crushed in a short time, is I he most efficient mill ever manufactured. The linseed and oit mills have the fluted rollers and scrapers to prevent clogging. The turnip-cutters consist of a heavy fly-wheel, on which is fitted a turned wrought-iron shaft, and work in bored bearings on a wooden frame. Capable of cutting a barrowful a minute, ihey cost £3 and £4 10s. No. 3, however, is of new and im- proved construction, made entirely of iron to match the chaff- cutters. By means of a wing in the centre of the hopper the roots are turned to either side, and as the handle may be turned either way, it thus becomes a double action slicer. No. 4, more- over, cuts both slices for cattle and strips for sheep. Hinges on the frmt of the hopper yield access for grinding or renewing tlie knives. In the steaming apparatus there is a steam boiler fitted with supply cistern, water gauge, safety valve, connected with pipe and tap to wrought-iron pans, swung on brackets so as to be turned over to empty without removal. It will steam every kind of root, hay, corn, chaff, &c., and also boil linseed or oatmeal. The construction of the new and improved horse gears for driving chaff-cutters, corn-crushers, or other small machines, is peculiarly strong, compact, and simple. There are in the frame only two castings, insuring perfect stability and freedom from strain ; a spur in place of a bevel wheel imparts along with un- usual solidity lightness of draught. The drawing shafts are trussed with adjustable iron rods, and the wheels of the interme- diate motion encased. The price of one-horse £12 10s,, of two- horse £14 10s. Messrs. Richmond and Chandler having been largely instru- mental in the introduction of Nicholson's Haymaker, it may be interesting to our readers to know that recent improvements have been efl'ected upon this valuable implement ; but that these will not, for at least the present year, he applied to haymakers other than those supplied by Messrs. Richmond and Chandler, in recognition on the part of IMr. Nicholson of a practical suggestion made by the firm, which has induce! him to gire them for the present season the exclusive benefit. This machine is quite suited to every district. It may be recollected t\at it obtained the first prize at Salisbury. It scattered the heavy lumps oi grass with perfect ease. The judges could not clog it. Its teetli are good in form, and it clears itself without difficulty by a rapid and good backward motion. Mr. Nicholson has since eft'tjcted his improvements by dispensing with the extra pinions for ihe reverse action, the principal cause of breakage and undue wear. This is accomplished by having in each axle box two distinct cogwheels, a spur wheel for the forward motion, and an annular or internal wheel for the reverse, diminishing friction and draught. A quite new instrument is Carr's patent, for disintegrating and mixing conglomerated phosphates, &c., and for pulverising various substances, frangible by percussion. This machine, cost- ing £40, will break up, pulverise, and per.''ectly mix, 20 or 3 > tons daily, whether of hard or soft, damp and conglomerated phosphates, guano, &c., without inconvenience or choking. It consists of four strong cylindrical iron cages of various sizes, concentrically arranged one within another on a horizontal axle, on which they revolve with great velocity in contrary directions by means of straight and crossed straps. The centrifugal action drives the material shovelled through a central opening to the outermost peripliery, wliere it is delivered granulated as finely as gunpowder. We shall now only notice the Patent Bread Making Machine for kneading dough by mechanical means, more thoroughly mix- ing the ingredients, and tlius improving the bread, besides shortening the labour. — Warwick Advertiser, July ith, 1 859. T OHX SHUTTLEWUilTli, the Proprietor of ll the celebrated Bole Hill Mill Stone Quarry, at Halliersage, Derbv shire, formerly in the occupation of David Cooper, dc ceased, begs to inform Millers and others that he has a large stock of Derbyshire GREY STONES, of the best quality and work- manship, for Grinding Oats, Beans, Barley, Indian Corn, Rice, Paint, Cement, and Crushing Rape and Linseed. N.B. Any applications addressed to John Shuttleworth.Hather- sage. near Sheflield, will meet with prompt attention. , -{OUR pULLETON'S HERALDIC OFFICE, and \J Genealogical Studio, for tracing Family Arms, Pedigrees, and Histories, of nearly every Family in the United Kingdom, America, &c. No Fee for search of Arms. Plain sketch, 2s. 6d. ; in heraldic colours, 5s. Tracing pedigree, with original grant of Arms, 10s. T. Culleton, Genealogist, 20, Cranbournc- slreet, W.C. — The Studio and Library open daily. riULLETON'S BOOK PLATES, with Arms, V^ IO3.; or crest plate, .'is. Crests engraved on seal or riii^', 7s.; arms on do., 24s.; crest on steel die, for stamping no"»' paper, 6s.— 25, Cranbourne-street, W.C. — N.B. .Seal Engraver and Die Sinker to Her Majesty and tlie Board of Trade. pULLETON'S EMBOSSING PRESSES (Pa- \J tent Lever) for stamping note paper with initials, crest, or name and address, 15s. At 25, Cranbourne-street, W C. MARK YOUR LINEN WITH CULLETON'S PATENT ELECTRO-SILVER PLATES. The most easy; prevents the ink spreading; and never washes out. Any person can use them. Initial i)late. Is.; name plate, 2s. 6d. set of moveable numbers, 2s. 6d. ; crest, 5s., with directions. Post-free for stamps. Observe, 26, Cranbourne-street, Leicester'- square, W.C. raiLLETON'S CARDS,— WedtJing, Visiting, yj and Trade. A copper plate engraved in any style, and .SO superfine cards printed for 25. Post free,— 25, Cranbourne- street, W.C. EAMSOMES AMD SIMS, IPSWICH, THJS F0]I^Ii01!«^II¥Ci- IMPIiXlMElVTS OBTAi:WE]> TH£ T PRIZE AT THE CHESTER MEETING OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND, JULY, 1858. Root-Cutter for Power. Hand-power Chaff-Cutter, Bruisine-Mill. Price £5 6s. to £7 7s. Price £6 6s. Price £10. IIlBssta'satesS Ca44"al©g"Bae§, in EM§-lisli, Ij^u'eaaela, s^bisI CJeriasaM sent free &m sipplscs&tiosB. London Agent : SHEPPARD RANSOME, 31, ESSEX STREET, STRAND. anti (§x^im in ^'^^1 |^ritiri)iiil f^mtxB CUFF^S FARMER^S FRIEND. One dose of this invaluable medicine will cure the SCOUR or LOOSENESS in Lambs, Calves, Sheep, Colts, Heifers, Steers, and all Cattle, without leaving costiveness; and given occasionally to Beasts whilst futtening will promote a healthy and thriving condition, It will also perfectly cure the FRET, COLIC or GRIPES in Horses, Price Is. 8d. or 3s, per Bottle, CUFF^S FOOT-ROT POWDER Is a cheap and effectual remedy for the FOOT-ROT or HALT, a single Packet of which will cure One Hundred Sheep, and large Flocks may be soon freed from the Disease by its use. It has been extensively used and highly approved of for nearly thirty years by large Sheep Breeders throughout the Kingdom, P.ice Is. per Packet. CUFF^S FEY, SCAB & MANGE OIL Will very quickly destroy MAGGOTS in Sheep, and LICE or VERMIN in all animals. It will also cure the MANGE, and SKIN DISEASES in Horses or Cattle, and effectually cleanse a Flock of Sheep from the SCAB or SHAB. Price Is. 8d. and 3s. per Bottle. SHERWOOD'S ORIGINAL DRIFFIELD OILS Are strongly and confideutlv recommended I'or preventing GANGRENE or MORTIFICATION after Lambing or Calving, and lor Healing* CUTS, STABS, WOUNDS, BRUISES, STRAINS, SWELLINGS, &c., &c.. As these Oils are in constant use by some of the most celebrated Breeders in the world, and have maintained a re- putation about fifty years, it would be superfluous to enlarge upon their value and importance. Pints, 2s. Gd., Quarts, 5s. Prepared by J. H. Cuff, No. 10, Smithfield Market, London, and sold by Druggists and Medi- cine Vendors. None is Genuine unless signed by J. H. CUFF in writing. J, j jj,. *!liii !.■■ II : I \7iijra.v^J. bj XB Sti-'U, frcTK ;i.Fhai:?:mij^f:. iz ^' ~ B^ Londcii ■' apffcrscn ^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AUGUST, 1859 PLATE I. PORTRAIT OF MR. JOHN R0GKR80N, PLATE IL THE GREAT MOGUL; A Shorthorn Bull. THE PROPEKTV OF STEWART M AHJOHIBANKS, ESQ., OK BUSHKY CROVR, WATFORD, HERTS. MU. JOHN R O G E R S O N . Mr. John Rogerson was born at Sotby, in the county of Lincoln, on the 11th of November, 1 782. Sotby Hes right in the heart of the Wolds, and is almost central between Horncastle and Louth. The Rogersons had for generations held a farm of some five hundred acres here under the Vyners of (iautly, and Mr. Rogerson's house was long the acknowledged rendezvous for the famous coursing parties at one period held upon the estate. The father of the subject of this notice, and him- self a John Rogerson, in connection with Mr. Codd, of Ranbj', first introduced the improved Leicesters into Lincolnshire ; and the celebrated liakewell, of Dishley, was for many years in the habit of inspecting their flocks. The Sotby bul- locks, too, are yet well remembered, as even then fed upon oilcake, and showing to great advan- tage at the Lincoln April fair. The son John was educated at Scamelsby, where he evinced a decided talent for landscape drawing and land-surveying. In fact, so great was his proficiency in this way, that immediately OLD SERIE3.J after leaving school he had the ofler of a very lucrative engagement, by an eminent engineer and surveyor, at Lincoln. The father, how- ever, had died when his sons were yet boys, but it was still determined that John and his brother, the late lamented Joseph Rogerson, should carry on the farm, and they entered upon it accordingly in 1803, just when the elder brother had attained his majority. They continued their occupation for over thirteen years, the younger attending more to the home business of the farm, and the other to the markets, for the sale of their stock and produce. Still Mr. John Rogerson had been thoroughly instructed as a practical farmer, and some of his successful experiments in the drilling of wheat, made no little sensation at that comparatively early period in the history of im- proved agriculture. He was also considered a capital judge of stock, and remarkable for telling the weight and quality of both beasts and sheep before they were slaughtered. In truth he had some ex- perience in this way, and Iparnt many a useful hint H [VOL. LI.— No. 2. 88 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, from the butcher himself. Then he sowed his own turnip and clover seed, as well as a portion of his corn crop, and was one of the best ploughmen in the district —his head waggoner, Edward Scholey, who once took the prize at Horncastle, being al- most his only superior. But in the course of a few years Mr. Rogerson got rather beyond the mere proficiency of practical farming, and transacted other businessto a consider- able extent. He attended three markets a week re- gularly—Boston on Wednesday, Lincoln on Friday, and Horncastle on Saturday. Lincoln is a good sixteen miles from Sotbj^ and the usual ride there before breakfast is still spoken of as a fine thing for creating an appetite, despite " the other glass," the jolly good fellows of those days might have had the night before. One great feature sprung from Mr. Rogerson's connection with com- merce. On giving up the farm at Sotby, the younger brother, Joseph, proceeded to London^ where, after a time, he entered on the business of a printer, and whither John followed him in the course of a few years. The Mercantile Journal was amongst other papers then issued from the office in Norfolk Street, Strand, and the price list in this struck a home chord in the heart of Mr. Rogerson. He reflected how imperfectly the price of corn was given in the newspapers ; how the corn article was written before the markets closed, and often consequently without any notice of an important turn that might take place towards the finish. He knew how the dealers and Trade endeavoured to make up for this deficiency by their own private letters and advices, and he so came to the conclusion that an acknowledged authority for the Mark-lane market was required. In a word, Mr. John Rogerson originated the Mark Lane Express. His brother Joseph heartily supported the proposition, and thus, under the editorship of the late Mr. William Shaw, the first number of that paper was published— with what ultimate success it is hardly necessary here to say. Mr. Rogerson, however, did more than merely offer an idea for others to work out. He himself travelled England, Ireland, and Scotland for the best correspondents and agents, and materially contributed to the en- couraging support under which the Mark Lane Express was founded. He was also greatly instru- mental to the establishment of the Farmers' In- surance Office, of which he is still solicitor, having duly quaUfied and passed for that profession after some years' residence in London. He is as well identified with the other institutions of agriculture, and has long been a Governor of the Royal Agri- cultural Society, in the formation of which he took a deep interest. He is also a member of the London Farmers' Club, although his advanced age has not latterly permitted his attendance at any of these or similar gatherings. In fact, first impres- sions have had their full weight and influence over Mr. Rogerson's useful career. The son of a farmer, and himself thoroughly educated for the same path in life, all his great hopes and aspira- tions have still been centred in the cause. No matter v/hether the scene of his labours be town or country, he has still been thinking of what he might do for agriculture. His endeavours have not been without their reward. He can count upon many friends in all parts of the United Kingdom, made mainly in the prosecution of those "points" he has succeeded so well in developing. And in association with that of his brother, his name will long be known, to use a somewhat forensic phrase, by " the paper he holds in his hand." THE GREAT MOGUL; A shorthorn Bull. THE PROPERTY OF STEWART MARJORIBANKS, ESQ., OF BUSHEY GROVE, WATFORD, HERTS. The Great Mogul, bred by Mr. Marjoribanks, gr. g. d. (No. 1, Mason's) by Cato (119), gr. gr and calved October 26th, 1856, was got by Grand , gr. gr. g. d. (Pope Cow) by Pope (514), gr. gr. gr, Turk (12969), dam (Victoria 8th) by Sir John Sin- clair (5165), g. d. (Victoria 4th) by Prince Albert gr. gr. g. d. by Favourite (252), gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. g. d. by White Bull (421), gr. gr. gr.gr.gr. gr. (H933), gr. g. d. (Victoria 2nd) by Belzoni (783), j gr. g. d. by Favourite (252), gr. gr. gr. gr. gr. gi gr. gr. g. d. (Victoria) by Satellite (1420), gr. gr. | gr, gr. g. d, by Dalton Puke (188), gr, ^r. gr. gr THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 89 {ose8 ; I\Ir. Elman's, again, would be a very long catalogue; Mr. Grantham's would equal it ; IMr. Rigden is coming on apace. Then take, again, Lord Walsingham, a comparatively recent exhibitor. The late Mr. H. Overman was also a successful exhi- bitor, as also was Mr. Lugar. Mr. Sainsbury, Mr. Hay- ward, Mr. Pope, and many others, are now contending moit laudably for this enviable pre-eminence. SHROPSHIRE DOWNS. Mr. Adney, a famous breeder of Shropshire Downs, has generally a first-class letting ; his flock was founded upwards of 40 years ago, upon the old black or grey- faced sheep of the county, taking care to keep to the dark-faced character and flne and good wools. His first regular sales and lettiugs commenced in 1851, at good prices ; and for the past four years his sale and letting have averaged about ,£'18 each, many of his best varying from '2o guineas to 81 guineas each. Mr. E. Holland's flock, we understand, quite equals this in his sales and lettings. These instances speak highly for the Shrop- shire Down breed. We should have been pleased to have given an example of one or two Leicester-breed sales and lettings of rams, but we have been disap- pointed in the receipt. Mr. Sanday's last year's letting is before us ; the average of the .^34 sheep let are as fol- lows : — 2.'> shearlings, £22 8s.; 1^ two-shear, £?>!j 17s. Gd, each ; 10 three-shears, £23 2s. each ; four and five shears, £lo 1.3s. each; or, about £26 each, a very high price, and showing the favour in which the breed is held by its promoters. These few instances show how each breed upholds its favour and character in the different districts of our little country. Wc continue our tabular form of the entries of pens of sheep at the different meetings, commencing with the Lewes meeting in 1852, and in accordance with the prize sheet, with the view of showing the state and progress of our sheep classes from year to year : Pxace of Meeting. ^^^^^ jj„^^,^^_ Lewes 1^53 Glourester.. 185.') Lincoln .... 1854 Carlisle 18.')5 Chelmsford. 1850 .■Salisbury. .. 18.J7 Chester 18.58 Warwick. .. 1$59 55 61 102 119 60 C6 70 U2 88 95 67 51 K.'5 \U r,i 58 Long Short Olhei' Wools, Wools. Breeds 15 iS 80 • . 53 96 « • 88 6 J ,, 87 5i a . a SI Vi8 37 77 110 4G 72 Ui 77 Total i 18G i 292 ! 3 a ! 330 210 443 856 431 ion THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. LEICESTERS, It will be seen from our table that this class was well supported, and we have to report that many excellent sheep were exhibited, Mr. Sanday and Mr. Pawlett, as usual, taking the principal prizes, Lieut. -Colonel Inge stepping in with some good ewes for that prize. Mr. Sanday takes all the prizes in the Shearling Ram class — one prize, one high commendation, and a commendation in the Aged Ram class, and the first and second prizes in the Shearling Ewe class. His shearling rams denote a little stronger fleece and larger frame, without detracting from their quality and symmetry, certainly in our estimaj tion a valuable acquisition, Mr. Pawlett sticks close by his original form and beauty. Mr. Sanday 's older sheep, No. 519, is a first-class animal ; he has a pleasant counte- nance, good head, capital neck, chine full, plaits good and heavy, level fat back, with good rump, thighs, and fleece, and all in good form. Mr. Pawlett's No. 507 is a capital specimen of the breed. He is all right, except in his " legs of mutton;'' but his fat back, good rump, and superb plaits are fully redeeming ; No. 508 has the same defect in thighs, and his rump is rather narrow, but his back and plaits first-rate. How is this? Mr. Pawlett often takes precedenceof Mr. Sanday in the older sheep class, while Mr. Sanday invariably takes the lead in the shearling and ewe classes. Mr. Banford shows specimens of his pure breed — we think, more creditable than usual, but we don't commend their general frames. Mr. Borton, Mr. Creswell, Mr. Wiley, Mr. Umbers, and other breeders show some superior sheep, but none received commendations except as above. SOUTHDOWNS. We have already noticed this popular breed. We shall at once go to the classes. We always like to criticise them ; but such was their number, and the crowding of company to view them, that we were almost compelled to relinquish the pleasing task. All we could do was to take a note or two of a few leading sheep. The Duke of Richmond's prize shearling demanded an examination, as having discomfited Mr. Jonas Webb's flock. No. 569 is a good sheep, having a pleasing con- tour, but not altogether free from faults. His rump and thighs are good ; his back level, broad, and well covered ; his sides and plaits good. He possesses good looks and a fair fleece ; frame rather long. Wc com- pared him with Mr. Webb's No. 590, although a sheep that did not carry a commendation. He has a beautiful countenance ; a rather short thick neck, nicely formed to chine ; and shoulder giving out a fine full plait ; ca- pital girth and out shoulder. He has a level fat back, and is a fine outline of a Southdown, having character and nobility of appearance ; stands high, and in capital form, with good looks and plenty of wool. No. 592 is a good shearling, compact in form, and of much sub- stance ; better chine and girth ; rump and back good. No. 593 has a deep, well-made frame of excellent pro- portions, and much wool. We have never seen Mr. Webb's lots in better character. Indeed, we have always complained of the tendency of the Southdown breed to undue corpulency, owing to the first rib and hip being two wide apart, and therefore letting down the body. Mr. Webb has this year corrected this. Mr. Rigden's lot shows well. He receives three prizes and three commendations with eight pens of sheep. The Duke of Richmond's show in high character and con- dition. He deservedly receives three first prizes, one second prize, and two high commendations, with eight pens of sheep. Lord Walsingham's lot are good, but do not take with the judges. The Duke of Beaufort's ewes are in good character, as are also Sir G. Throg- morton s. These classes were well sustained. LONG-WOOLLED SHEEP. These classes showed in good character and number : their tremendous frames and well -washed wool attract- ing much attention. Some surprising animals were ex- hibited ; but the extent of the show forbade cur indivi- dual criticism. Mr. Robert Game takes precedence this year, having taken three prizes, one high commen» dation, and one commendation, with nine sheep. Messrs. W. Lane, George Fletcher, T. B. Browne, Handy, Porter, Gillett Cother, and others showed some exceed- ingly good sheep. We longed for time and oppor- tunity to examine them closely. We can say no more than that it was a splendid show of Cotswolds. SHORT-WOOLLED SHEEP NOT SOUTH- DOWNS. In this class was included almost every breed of short-wooUed sheep. We found Oxfordshire Downs, West Country Down, pure Shropshire down, Sussex and Cotswold, improved Hampshii'e Downs, Exmoors, Bre- tonne, Merino, brown-faced Shropshires. The whole of these classes formed a show sufficient to interest the whole company. It comprised 226 animals of great merit. Mr. W. Humphrey takes precedence in these classes ; he has first, second, and third prizes, and a high commendation iu the Shearling class, with six West Country Downs; the second prize in the Aged Ram class, and a high commendation ; and he takes the first prize in the Shearling Ewe class, and a high commenda- tion. Mr. Druce, of Eynsham, takes first prize in the Aged Ram class vei'y creditably ; we name this, because we have long witnessed his attempts to secure a new breed of good character. Messrs. Adney, C.Howard, J. Druce, John Bryan, the Duke of Marlborough, Mr. Gillett, Byrd, Stephen King, W. B. Canning, F. E. Miller, J. and E. Crane, J. W. Brown, M. F. Bennett, and John Jloore, all received honours in this very ex- tensive class, which was, very properly, generally com- mended. SPECIAL PRIZES. SHROPSHIRE SHEEP. This is again a very extensive and superior class, com- prising 126 specimens of this exceedingly profitable breed. The honours here are admirably distributed over the district, proving its general applicability, and that good animals are found everywhere throughout its boundaries. We took more extended notes of these classes, and we pronounce them admirable specimens of a profitable breed ; but we cannot stay to particularize. Messrs. Coxon, Sheldon, Horley, Mrs. Baker, Messrs. J. and E.Crane, Mr. Adney, and Mr. Holland, divide the prizes pretty equally; and Messrs. Crane, Coxon, Man- sell, Bowen, Morley, Thacker, the Earl of Dartmouth, and Mr. Horley, receive the other honours; the class being generally commended. PIGS, BOTH IN THE GENERAL AND SPECIAL CLASSES. We also continue our tabular form of the number of entries of pigs, as shown at every meeting, commcucing with Lewes in 1852, under the two respective deuominations, as the Large breed and the Small breed. Place of Meeting. Large Breed. Small Breed. Total. Lewes, 1852 48 96 144 Gloucester, 1853 .... 38 108 146 Lincolu 1854 .. .. 45 92 137 Carlisle 1855 .... 29 55 84 Chelmsford 1856 .... 35 69 104 Salisbury 1857 .... 65 121 186 Chester 1858 .... 53 77 142 Warwick * 1859 .... 47 59 106 ♦ Special prizes for Berkshireg, 36 pens ; other brecd-^ 10 pens: total. 46 pens. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 101 These presented a large and interesting show. About 216 fine specimens of the porcine race were exhibited in all their varieties, totally eclipsing the two acknowledged classes of the Large and the Small breed. His Royal Highness the Prince Consort wins a first prize in the small breed class of boars, and also with a pen of sows. Sir George Throgmorton, and Messrs. Harrison, Wood- cock, Gavins, Holdway, Wainman, Crisp, Turner, Mor- land. Saddler, and Watson, are winners of prizes in the general classes, and in the Berkshire classes Messrs. Hewer, Bowly, Sadler, Smith, Wainman, Col. Pennant, and Mr. Watson are the winners. The classes are ex- ceedingly good, and receive the commendations of th e judges. 'NO POLITICS." Only a few years back an agricultural meeting was rather a hazardous thing to get up. It was so difficult to keep out of a row. It was such a nice matter to say something that should give offence to nobody, and ) it was still by no means easy to determine what this something should bo. In the very height of an agita- tion that must affect the farmer more than any other, the farmers when they met generally amongst them- selves were assumed to have no feeling or voice in the matter. There was a standing rule as to " no politics," and it is extraordinary to observe the extent to which this was insisted on. If a man ventured to claim some kind of recognition for the rights of home industry he was certain to beinterrupted with a cry of" No politics." If, on the other hand, he dared to think that commerce and trade could not be too unfettered in their action, he was at once roared down with " No politics." The maintenance of the poor, the pressure of certain taxes, the relative duties of certain classes, all came to be more or less tabooed by the same arbiti'ury enactment, until at length, when a country gentleman did get up to speak, his inward colloquy with himself was, " AYhat ever am I to talk about ?" The teteri'ima caasa of all this caution has now for some time been removed, and with it much of that strin- gency which, perhaps necessarily, marked the period of our transition. Farmers now speak almost as freely as other people of any subject that may promise to affect their interests. Not that they discuss less ear- nestly their own immediate business. On the con- trary, the points of agriculture were never spoken to so readily, so fully, or so jiractically as they are just at I present. At the same time, if there be anything indi- ^ rectly bearing upon the cause, they arc almost sure to '• out with it." Whether it be the war, the malt-tax, or the Board of Trade, we have the agriculturists' opi- nion upon what they are doing. The chairman has a little more licence to give and take, and this is rarely abused. Now, for many years past, in our constant attendance at such meetings, we really remember nothing like a disturbance over any of these once for- bidden topics. If there is a "sensation," it is, as at Towcester last autumn, from one man telling his fellows that they are not farming their land so well as they should do, rather than from any party encounter betwixt the Blues and the Yellows. And in this wise our agricultural associations prosper exceedingly. Landlords and tenants of all shades and sides alike support them, willing and anxious to bear and forbear with each other. In fact, we repeat that it is seldom we witness anything like ill-feeling on such occasions. It is, then, with some surprise that we have learnt how a very influential loial institution has been in hot-water of late. At the recent meeting of the Norfolk Society, at Swaffham, it appears that the company at the dinner got altogether out of order. They talked politics of the most virulent and party character. Indeed, so offensive did this become, tijat one of the vice-presidents has, upon mature considera- tion, determined to withdraw bis name and support. The Earl of Albemarle ^has addressed the following letter to the Secretary : " Sir, — Some years ago, I consented to become Vice-President of the Norfolk Agricultui'al Association. I did so in the hope that the rule relating to the exclusion of politics from the proceedings of that body would be always strictly ad- hered to. But, inasmuch as this rule was violated at the late annual meeting, by several of the leading members of the association, I feel compelled to with- draw my name from the list of subscribers. I have the honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant, Albemarle." It is with very sincere regret that we find the neces- sity for any such step of this kind. It might almost have been better if so judicious and careful a man as Lord Albemarle had for once consented to overlook the transgression. There are too many touchy curious people ready to follow such an example, the more es- pecially when it is set them in high places. However, as it is, we have only to turn and see how far his lordship's fellow-mem1)ers offended, and what excuse can be made for them. We are sorry to say a glance over the report shows us that, as Lord Albemarle writes, "the rule was violated" very early in the pro- ceedings. Of course, one of the first toasts on the list was " The Army and Navy," and the gallant gentle- man who responded was indiscreet enough to make it a means for attacking the political character of the no- bleman, the IMarquis of Lothian, who occupied the chair. Only listen to such language as this, introduced into an Army and Navy "thanks" at an agricultural dinner : — "While he was anxious to see the noble Marquis oftener in this county, and to hear his voice, as they had just had an opportunity of hearing it — he should also like to hear it in another place ; because, althodgh he knew not what side of politics the noble marquis had taken, although he saw him very properly sitting upon the cross benches in another place ; and weighing the nearly-balanced parties to see which side was likely to do the best for his country, he was sure that when- ever the noble Marquis did take an active part iu public business, whichever party had the honour of owning him would be greatly advantaged by having a man of his commanding talent, of his deep research, and of his thorough independence of character." This is pretty fair — nearly tantamount to asking the chairman, a new man in the county, to de- clare, tlie next time he rose, whether he was Whig, Radical, or Tory. The gallant repres- entative, however, of the Army and Navy had not done yet. " This preface had taken him almost away from the toast to which he was called on to respond, lie had left London only a few hours, and had found everybody making anxious inquiries as to loho the new ministers were to be ; but all that they at this meet- ing had to do was, to know that their premier was found, and that on him (the noble earl) for the moment devolved the office of Secretary for War (a laugh). But being Secretary for War, he was bound to say that he differed from the noble marquis upon those alarms 103 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. he appeared to have as to the future of this country. It there ever was a time in which, in his opinion, there was the greatest security for the maintenance of that neutrality which every class of politician was agreed tipon, the present was the time. He could not for the life ofhimsee one conceivable cause for bring- ing this country into collision with any of the con- tinental Powers. He could not sec what business the j)resent struggle was of ours." Suiely this is all very dangerous ground. Here is a speaker going out of his way to declare himself a party man, and to open a discussion that every other man in the room might take up. Fortunately, they only " laughed." But we can picture the Committee, when the meeting was over, passing a tacit resolution amongst themselves not to give this Army and Navy orator another such a chance of making things unpleasant. He has happily spared them any further trouble on the subject, for he has withdrawn from the Society. In a word, the gentleman who tried to draw the Marquis of Lothian into an avowal of his political opinions — who owned himself to be a party man, and was ready there and then to difler with those wlio did not side with his party — is the Marquis of Albemarle ! The nobleman who secedes from the Norfolk Agricultural Society for the distinct reason that " the rule relating to the ex- clusion of politics was not strictly adhered to." Will anybody be surprised to hear ai'ter this that the most political speech of the whole evening was that of the Earl of Albemarle, and that he was the first to touch upon topics that were subsequently followed up by other speakers? I^ord Leicester, for one, was "im- prudent" enough to argue in favour a rifle corps, a matter that has been referred to at almost every agri- cultural meeting of the year, and that we trust to see spoken to in every other such a gathering yet to come. Mr. Bentinck, one of the county membeis, also ad- vocated such a system of national defence ; while others touched on the prospects of the war and our chances of any share in it — text words introduced to the meet- ing by Lord Albemarle, and that it was distinctly a compliment to his lordship to make any further refer- ence to. If they had allowed his remarks to pass, as perhaps they sliould altogether, without notice, the Norfolk Agricultural Society might have still enjoyed the honour of having the Earl of Albemarle as one of its Vice-Presidents. It is impossible to suffer so curious a story as this to pass without the telling. The more, indeed, it is known, the more good it must do. AVhat are the poli- tics now that an agriculturist must not touch on .' Is the formation of a rifle corps amongst them ? We really hope not. Are not personalities quite as indis- creet as such kinds of politics as were here introduced ? Wc really hope they arc. And has not the Norfolk Society quite as much cause to withdraw from Lord Albemarle, as his lordship has to withdraw from the Society ? "Sir!" hiccups out the drunken butler in Gold- smith's comedy of " The Good-natured Man" — " sir, I say, I sha'nt stop here if Thomas does." "And why not?" asks his master. "Well, sir," is the reason given in answer, " Thomas, you see — Sir — Thomas is given to drink ; and as I can't abear a drunken man — I slia'nt keep his company" (staggers out of the room). THE BEST AND CHEAPEST METHOD OF MANURING THE FARM. Sir,— I am often amused at the various unfounded charges laid at iny door, seeing that they originate in the brain of erroneous convi-ition and untoiinaed belief. I should think that your correspondent, "Kent," had convinced hnn' self by his own experiment that making meat is the cheap- est way of obtaining manure ; but as he gtill seems doubt- ful, I would recommend him to read Mr. Lawes' paper on the subject in the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, whicli ought to convince him scientifically. A farmer will seldom fail to have an abundant crop of corn on one-half his farm if he makes, as I do, ten score of meat per acre on every acre of his farm. The labourer makes tliirty-two score per acre. How that meat is to be made is dependent on circumstances. Nothing pays me better than giving sheep lib. of rape- cake per day ; as they get fat, they will eat nearly 1 ^Ib . per day. Rapecake costs £6 per ton, as manure it is worth £?> 3s. per ton ; and we believe that 71bs. of rapecake will malte lib. of mutton. FatteniDg hogs entails a loss of about 10 per cent., as an average ; but still it is much cheaper than guano. 56lbs. of barley-meal is generally considered sufficient to produce 8lbs. of pork. Fattening bullocks on the principle laid down by Mr. Horsfall is also a cheap way of obtaining manure. When j'ou have made your manure, take care not to waste an ounce of it. This has been my custom for the last fifteen years, and as a consequence my farm teems with fer- tility. The slops and excreta from the house should all go on the farm. Guano pays very well on a distant field, or when you are too busy to cart manure ; it is also a good addition to the farm manure for a greedy root crop. Nine-tenths of the land in this kingdom are neither well manured or suffi- ciently cultivated. If I know how many score pounds of meat a farmer pro- duces per acre, I can generallj' make a shrewd guess what his crops are. Yours truly, Tiplree, June 8. J J. Mechi. P.S. — A labourer usually fats one pig, using 4 sacks of barley -meal, and adding about six score to the weight of his pig. This, on his garden of one-eighth of an acre, would be 48 score per acre, or the consumption of 15 to 16 quarters of barley per acre. ANCIENT BABYLON v. LONDON. MODERN Sir, — We read, in ancient history, of Babylon being 60 miles in circumference, surrounded by a wall 350 feet high by 87 feet thick ; therefore Babylon within the walls stood up- on 144,000 acres. What became of the sewage 3,000 years ago is not mentioned. Let us consider that Babjlon shone in the dark age of witchcraft and giant Gogs and Magogs ; mockery animals, great in size, but small in mind. AV'e read of Assyrian monarchs paying great attention to agricul- ture, and Persian kings awarding premiums with their own hands to the best cultivators. But so long as the above fab- ricated monsters were allowed to pass as existing, agricul- ture must be at a very low ebb. What were the puritans of that age about ? as they did not enlighten the people. Or did they want to keep them in ignorance, so that they could more easily impose upon them f The steam, gas, and telegraph are too powerful to be obstructed by witches or witchcraft ; and the Mark Lane Express and The Farmer s Magazine are too strong and useful to be checked or clogged in their progress by giants or bad legislation. If the sewage of Babylon, in the days of Alexander the Great, of Macedon, ran into the sea, it is no reason why the sewage of London should manure the sea now. We are told that London and its environs cover 20 square miles, which is 76,800 acres, with a population of over ^jAOO.OOO souls, which is about 3"2 per acre. I believe the population of Babylon is unknown. Our agricultural im- plements in husbandry would astonish the Babylonians much more than witches. Saimi'ei Arnsbv, Bhi« Bell Tun, Peterboroiii/h, Jul;/ C. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 103 THE AGRICULTURE OF CANADA — ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. So many small farmers and others, tempted by the free grants of land offered and the cheap facilities o^ passage, have emigrated to Canada within the last year or two, and the steam communication is now so regular with that province, that its agricultural prospects and social condition are watched with considerable interest by thousands who have relations there, or are interested in business connections with that colony. The agriculture of Canada is its mainstay, and agri- ^ cultural products constitute the great bulk of the ex- ports. Out of a total of about £8,000,000, to which the annual exports approximate, the whole, with the exception of half a million yielded by the fisheries, the mines, and manufactures, are iurnished by the forests, the fields, and the farms. Its wheat produce has gone on increasing by millions of bushels, although subject to the usual fluctuations of deficient crops and dimin- ished foreign demand. Still, as an enlarged quantity of land is yearly cleared and brought under culture, the agricultural width of the proviace increases, and though there are checks to prosperity there as else- where, the advance is progressive and the accounts not unsatisfactory. The general depression of trade in Canada during the past two years may in some measure be attributed to the short crops of the two last harvests, the failure of which, in an agricultural country like Canada, must vitally affect its commerce, especially so when the cultivators of the soil become imbued, as many of the farmers have been, with a restless spirit of speculation, involving them in obligations altogether beyond their usual means of liquidation. The enhanced value of produce naturally communicated itself to land, the basis of production, which was eagerly sought after as an investment by farmers and others, until, in their de- sire for speedy wealth, they overstepped the bounds of prudence, and made large investments in wild lands and other unproductive property. Notwithstanding the disturbing causes, prices all over Canada ruled higher than in periods when there existed an active European demand. The Canadian farmers realized rates which, had the crop been at aU near an average, would have been highly remunerative' and when taken in connection with the decrease in the value of property, the scarcity of money, and the de- pression of almost every other interest, are gratifying in the extreme. The demand was not for local con- sumption, but was taken by the Americans, and it is certainly creditable for Canada that she can compete in supply with the Western States. There is a, constant and increasing demand in the New England States for Canadian wheat, which bears a very high character among the millers. Flour of a high grade for family use is the principal requirement of the New England markets. A practice, too, is pre- valent, of mixing fine Canadian with ordinary Western grain, which produces a description of flour much superior to that made from the Western wheat alone. But not only in regard to the superiority of samples is Canada favoured, but a great advantage also accrues to the Western districts,and especially Toronto, from geo- graphical position. The proximity of that port to the American markets is greatly in its favour. It will not pay American shippers to bring grain from Chicago, Milwaukie, or even Detroit in small lots : large cargoes of from twelve to eighteen thousand bushels, are alone remunerative; and this is often much more than is im- mediately required by a miller, who has not only to run the risk of loss in the value by a long voyage, and take the chance of a decline in the market, but he must have large means at his disposal, which is not always the case. By purchasing at Toronto or neigh- bouring ports, he avoids all these troubles. Small car- goes of three to ten thousand bushels are available within a few days' notice ; the risk of loss on the voyage and the chance of a decline are much lessened. Again, Toronto enjoys an advantage in the comparative length of the season of navigation. Tiiey ship from that point a month earlier and later than from Western ports ; and this, at a time when stocks are light, is of great imjiortance. The shipments from Toronto of flour and wheat are made to Oswego, Ogdcnsburgh, Cape Vmcent, Rochester, and Portland in the States, and Montreal, Quebec, and other ports of the pro- vince. The shipments of flour and wheat from Toronto last year to the ports named amounted to 114,266 barreJg of flour, and 579,333 bushels of wheat. This shows a falling off, as compared with the previous year, to the extent of 48,212 barrels of flour, and an increase in the exporf of wheat amounting to 73,711 bushels. There is much less difference than might be expected in view of the acknowledged failure of last year's crop. Although labouring under the deficiency of short crops the last two years, and with the British market less open to them, the Canadians seem to have done exceedingly well last year with their agricultural pro- duce. The harvest in this country last year having been excellent, there was a lighter demand here for the products of the western world than usual. Hence American and Canadian produce was almost a drug on the London and Liverpool markets, drooping pricfg prevailed, and there was almost a continuous decline throughout the year. The imports of wheat from British America were not lowered very much below the average of the two preceding years. We received in 1858, 100,821 bushels, against 114,795 in 1857, and 111,819 in 1856. Tiie average monthly price of fall wheat in the Toronto mar&et steadily rose from 83 cents in January, 104 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to 1 dollar 14 cents the bushel hi December. From a tabular statement before us, it appears that the highest price realized for -wheat in the Toronto market in the last 13 years, was in June, 1855, when lis. 9d. cur- rency per bushel was paid in several instances, and that the lowest was in the months of October and Novem- ber, 1851, when 3s. Id. was the highest price realized. There is a branch of trade closely identified with agricultural progress in Canada, and that is the lumber trade. Besides its large individual pecuniary returns? there is to be taken into the calculation the clearing and settlement of the lands from which the timber has been cut, the villages which spring up wherever a saw mill is erected, the large number of persons employed in getting out, squaring, and manufacturing the timber, the shipping engaged in its transport, and all the various departments of trade dependent upon this large branch of business. It is in Eastern Canada rather than in Western Canada that "lumbering" is most ex- tensively carried on. But even in the upper province there is a large amount of land cleared from time to time of timber. Thus the saw-mill operations on the northern line of railroad saw, on the lowest calculation, 30,000,000 feet per annum, and the resources of that section are sufficient to afford a supply at this rate for seventy-five years. This estimate does not include the country beyond Collingwood or on the Georgian Bay ; but merely embrace a tract within five miles of either side the line of the road, aud within ten miles of the shores of Lake Simcoe. In dairy produce and animal products generally, Canada makes less advances than she might do. Take the trade of Toronto as an instance for the last year. The provision trade, it is true, is improving. Thus, in- stead of depending solely upon the Americans for pork, the Canadians now breed their own hogs, and the homo supply and demand are nearly equal. Thus nearly 1,000 tons of pork were purchased in Toronto for home consumption and export in 1858. The transactions in butter were light, and generally for local consumption. The exports from Toronto were 13,000 cwt. Its value might be much improved if more care were taken in packing. The butter gene- rally is good; but the mixture of different varieties and colours makes it present an unfavourable appear- ance, and of course less saleable. There is no reason why a large business should not be done in Canada in butter, as there is every facility in making, and a con-' stant demand. The same with cheese. There was a large importa- tion from the United States, and but little of the local consumption is supplied by the Canadian farmers. Not less than ^"4,000 was paid in Toronto alone for cheeses, which might have gone to the farmers of the province if they had but energy enough to lay themselves out for it. There is too generally a neglect of these sub- sidiary articles of commerce, which are always in de- mand at remunerative prices. With the increasing facilities of railroad and canal communication in Canada , eggs, poultry, butter, cheese, cured provisions, and market garden produce will always find a ready sale in the large towns whose population increases so rapidly. Prof. Johnston, Dr. Mackay, and every intelligent ob- server who has recently visited Canada speaks highly of its industrial resources and agricultural capabilities ; aud if the difficulties of a short labour supply can be got over, and the winter be forward, there is fair pros- pect of success for industry and application. ON THE UTILIZATION OF THE WASTE PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES. OSLER'S PATENT FISH MANURE. The enormous conBumptioa of guauo, its high price, and extensive adulteration (not in England only, for large quanti- ties of ground coproUtes are exported for mixing), have led to the reasonable desire to obtain an auxiliary, or substitute, which shall yield, like guano, a large proportion of azote and phosphate. The most obvious source of such an auxiliary is the fishery, by vphich it may be hoped that we shall find au equivalent for the Cliincha islands, on the 3,000 miles of our own coasts ; any substitute that could be found would confer a substautial benefit on the country, and give employment to a branch of induBtry deserving of encouragement. It may be asked, why the manure from sea birds, which is to be found on some of our northern rocky islands, should not equal foreign guano ? This is fully accounted for by the humidity of our climate, the frequent rain washing away its most valuable properties ; whereas, in Peru it never rains, and the manure is deposited stratum on stratum, when it consolidates, dries, and returns all those powerful ammoniacal elements which are especially required for the luxuriant growth of agricultural crops. We have around our seaboard an unfailing supply ; and if, instead of trusting to the chemical agency of birds, we were to convert the fish, which swarm our coasts, into as profitable manure as they will produce, it would materially assist our fisheries, and be a valusble boon to agriculture. Owing to the facility of its decomposition, and consequent difficulty of transport, it has heretofore been unemployed for this purpose, except on the coast lauds where found ; but, by means of this patent process, fish is converted into a dry, inodorous, and easily-transported article of commerce, and carefully prepared, without the loss of its elementary constituents, will produce greater results than Peruvian guauo, at a much less cost. It has been ascertained, by multiplied and satisfactory ex- periments, aud confirmed by actual working, that the waste and refuse fish may be thus converted, and the gelatine and oil collected. The machinery aud the process are most simplet inexpensive, and effectual. The resulting manure is a dry fibrous powder, which retains all the fertilizing powers of the fish, in a form most convenient for use, its appearance and sensible properties will make adulteration almost impossible ■ since every one could judge for himself, by the mere inspection and smell, of its genuine character. The demand would cer- tainly far exceed the utmost attainable supply, and at a price cheap as compared with any other manure, it would give g THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 105 very large profit to the manufacturer. The waste and refuse of a great fishing port would supply the materials cheaply^ and without risk ; and as it will be a great additional gain to a fishing adventure to obtain a certain and constant demand for all their waste and otherwise unsaleable fish, the establish, ment of manufactories of fish manure will lead to new fishe- ries where without such aid they could not be prudently com- menced. None but a fisherman can tell the take of a trawler ; the quantity of fish in the sea is illimitable, and there are no bounds to the supply. It only depends on energy and the exer- cise of skill to afford any quantity that may be required. All the inhabitants of the ocean may be converted into guano. Nearly all except the best fish have hitherto been thrown away^ the farmers declining to take trouble to procure them, although quite ready to admit their good qualities. Skate, dog-fish, five-fingers, prawns, and small Crustacea, may all be converted into valuable manure ; and a certain market for refuse and broken ^fish will tend to the more perfect development of the fisheries. It is said a cod produces more than three millions of eggs, a ling nine millions, and other fish several hundred thousands ; and the question of supply would be set at rest for ever, were common industry, patience, and perseverance employed in securing this vast wealth that exists on our coasts. A manufacture of fish manure, by a patented process, was carried on by a French company at Lowestoff. The fish were exposed to the action of high-pressure steam, then sub- jected to hydraulic power, and finally dried and ground. The process was necessarily troublesome and expensive, and the oil and gelatine removed by pressure, would be so contaminated as to be very greatly reduced in value. Moreover, the state of inodorous powder, to which the manure was reduced, offered great facility for adulteration. Hence the manufacture proved a commercial failure, and has been abandoned. It has been attempted to utilize refuse fish by treating them with sulphuric acid for superphosphate. This has failed, as was inevitable from the small proportion of phosphate of lime in fish. Its only use is to convert insoluble into soluble phos- phates ; but the quantity of insoluble phosphates is not great and the acid, unless so greatly in excess as to injure the manure, would not touch it. The analysis of the Patent Manure shows that the solids left by the process contains only from 6 to 7 percent.; and as the manure is the solid part of from two- and-a-half to three times the quantity of fresh fish, it follows that the entire fish contains only from 2J to 3 per cent, of phosphates. Fish contain muscular fibre, as the chief part of the solid mass ; phosphate, and a small proportion of carbonate of lime, in the bones and scales ; gelatine, chiefly in the skin and air- bladder; oil, either under the skin and among the intestines, as in the pilchard ; diffused through the fish, especially in the thin part, as in the salmon, mullet, and mackerel — or in the liver, as in the cod, shark, skate, and dog-fish; and water,- which enters very largely into the composition of every part. Fish scales may be procured wherever there is a smoking house, and be a valuable addition to the manufacture, on ac- count of the ammonia and phosphates which they contain : these are similar to hair, horn, wool, and other appendages of the skin. The action of ammonia on such solids promotes their decomposition. Their advantage is, that nothing is wasted : their defect, that they are slow. This they have in common with bone-dust. Scales ground and mixed with fish manure will be quite as good as Peruvian guano : the fish powder would act quickly, the scales more slowly ; but all would be good, and no waste. The Patent Fish Guano will have the animal fibre, of which the aiiote will be converted to ammonia when the manure decomposes in the ground ; and this is its great excellence. It is not like guano, which evolvea ammonia with such intensity that it will kill vegetation unless diluted. This manure will not give any, for it has none, till it decomposes by moisture by being put into the ground, and then the clay will absorb it as fast as it is evolved. Common care to keep it in a dry store will sufiSce; and if accident should wet it, as on shipboard, it will take no harm for a few days, but may be dried, and will be then as good and safe as ever. The proportion of azote and phosphate will vary with different fish, at different seasons. It is enough to fix all the manuring principles, and remove all that is worthless for the purpose. The body of the fish is excellent : it contains much phosphorus, as we see by the shining of stale fish, and abounds with ammonia ; and, prepared in a form available for preserva- tion, carriage, and distribution on the land, no manure can be better. What we require is a cheap, simple, and effectual mode of separating the principles which are needless for manure— the water, the gelatine, and the oil — the two latter sufficiently pure to be commercially valuable; and of leaving all the azctized principles and phosphates — the fibre, the bones, and the scales — in a state for keeping and for use. I believe this object to be fully attained by a process which I have disco- vered, and of which the specimens sent herewith are results. All that is useless for manure is completely removed by an easy end safe process, which leaves the solids as a fibrous pow- der, while the oil and fish-glue are obtained in a merchantable state. The machinery is not expensive, and may be put up by any intelligent workman ; and no particular skill is required to conduct the process. The oil and fish-glue will generally cover the cost of manufacture, and even afford a satisfactory profit. The manure retains in a concentrated form all the azote and phosphorus of the fish, and its fibrous appearance will enable the agriculturist to judge of its genuine character without analysis. The manufacture, carried out on an extensive scale, would have a great value independent of agriculture. The power of converting all inferior and superabundant fish into an excellent manure will allow a fishery to be established wherever a boat can find shelter ; and it is needless to observe how great a blessing to the labouring population is an abundant and cheap supply of fish at their own doors. As a substitute for guano we can only look to that which is its original source, uamelyj the fishery. The main difference between guano and fish, as prepared by my process, is, that a large proportion of the ani- mal fibre has in guano been destroyed by digestion ; so that the phosphates remain united with a smaller proportion of ammoniacal principles, and that the ammonia, instead of being fixed, as in my manure, flies off by heat and exposure. Both manures would be ineffective applied to a dry soil ; but the guano under such circumstances would lose its ammonia : the fish manure would only be preserved till moisture should de- compose it. Fish manure retains its azotized matter with the phosphates in their proportions as they exist in the fish. Analyses by the first agricultural chemists show an average product of fiO per ceut. animal fibre, 6 phosphates, 8 to 12 water, and 2 to 6 earths and earthy salts derived from the bones of the fish and the sand in the contents of their stomach. A manure containing so large an amount of azote must be very valuable ; and for crops where a larger proportion of phosphates is required, it is easy to add superphosphate as needed. The manure would thus afford the fertilizing elements of guano, in the same degree, and at half the cost. Ten tons of inedible firm fresh fish will produce nearly three tons of guano, and a similar quantity of salted about four tons, in I 2 TOG THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ■which the salt will remain in the fihre, but lessening its value by affecting the analysis, and the water holding the gelatine in solution, when it is not boiled down for fish glue, or isinglass, would be a valuable liquid manure, though available, of course, only for the immediate neighbourhood. Fish refuse will be more or leas decayed ; hence the dark colour of the water. We cannot prepare gelatine from it, and would separate the oil with difficullv, while the fibre would be broken down- The beautiful clear fibrous result is from sound fish, and from these alone we can get gelatine. The following is condensed from a report by Professor Way (of the Koyal Agricultural Society of England), on fish manure : " It is perfectly practicable to produce from fish a portable manure of great value, not subject to alteration by keeping, under ordinary circumstances. There cannot be a doubt of the value of this manure, especially for corn crops ; and the manufacture of manure from fish, offers the only available means for supplying the demand for additional ammoniacal manure, and will, if carried out on an adequate scale, be of essential benefit to the agriculture of this country." The fish manure produced by my patent, is rich in the best fertilizers— ammonia and phosphates. It has been tested by the following analytical chemists : Professor Way, of 15, Wel- beck-street ; Professor Anderson, on account of the Highland Agricultural Society; Dr. Stockhardt, of College, Tharand^ Dresden ; Dr. Voelcker, Royjil Agricultural College, Cirences- ter ; Dr. Medlock, Great Marlborough-street ; Mr. J. C. Nesbit, College of agriculture and chemistry, Kennington ; and by Messrs. Sicherer and Hausmann, of 17, Eastcheap, London. Analyses from various descriptions of Fresh AND Salted Fish. Hy Professor Way, 1.5, Welbeck stres-t, Cavendish-squaie. By Dr. Stockhardt, ofCoIlege.Tharand, Dresden. By Dr, Medlock, Great Marlborough- street. By Dr. Voelcker, Agricultural Col- lege, Cirencester. By Messrs. Sicherer and Hausmann, 17, East Cheap. to c . o s 11-2J 78-48 0-72 7-55 'a-'o3 11-09 77-35 1-21 6-73 0-77 *ii-85 14-28 76-6!1 0-53 6-24 'a-Vs 18-11 64-59 1-56 6-86 -40 13-48 8-21 £0-73 1-51 5-94 3-61 8-00 Organic matter Silica 81-03 1-85 Phospliate of Lime.... Sul|)liale of Lime Alkaline Salts Chloride of Sodium... 8-95 3-96 Containing too- 100- ICO- 100- too- 100- 12-76 15-50 10-59 13-06 lt-07 12-02 9-11 11-56 8-09 10-58 7-68 Equal to Ammonia , 9-32 Average:— Nitrogen 9-72, Ammonia 12-01. Fish are used for manure, whenever they can be obtaiued in sufficient abundance, that is to say, in a few situations and at distant intervals. My process makes it available for every place and at all times, and the cost of the manure will seldom exceed that of the fish from which it is made. The national importance of findino a satisfactory substitute for guano is increased by the waste of vast quantities of the richest manure carried to the sea in sewage, through sanitary arrange, raents, thus robbing the land to manure the sea. It must give increased luxuriance to sea-weed round the coast, and consequently increased food for fish. The land can recover that of which it has been thua robbed, only by a systematic application of fish for manure. The sea is therefore the only source of an adequate supply, by the conversion of fish unfit for food, of fish when taken in excessive quantities, and for a manure not quite so good from fish refuse. The principle of the manufacture is founded upon the fact, that when fish or flesh is subjected to a long-continued and moderate heat, the fluids separate, dissolve the gelatine, and leave the fibrous and bony solids. The principle may be shown most easily by putting meat or fiah into a Florence flask, and setting this in boiling water, corking the flask when its contents are fully heated. The fluid will gradually separate, while the flesh after a time will be left a dry and insipid residuum. The process is available for obtaining the richest and purest meat gravy in cooking for the sick, and it embodies the principle of my patented plan. In the manu- facture the direct application of fire heat is inadmissible ; but hot water, steam, or hot air is equally available, aud each has its own advantage. Hot water limits the heat to 212; but hot air gives the command of higher temperatures without the risk of burning : therefore assuming the skill and attention of a reasonably competent and careful foreman, it will enable to dry the manure more quickly and thoroughly, and to evaporate the liquor for gelatine. It will be necessary to manufacture from fresh fish, when gelatine is intended to be made, such as dogs, and other sorts not used for food, and the super- abundance of good fish for which there is no market. At great fishing stations, the fishermen will immediately deliver all duch, when they find there is a sure market and prompt pay. The external character and appearance of this manure are so distinct that adulteration would be detected by the eye, and the farmer would have in hia own observation almost a sufficient security against fraud. Flies may attack it as an animal substance, and if damp it will mildew. When a more rapid action is desired, it should be mixed with soil or compost and wetted with urine to promote decomposition which other- wise might be delayed, as fish-guano must be in a state of de- composition before it can act, and if it would decompose with- out damp, it would not keep. By mixing fish-guano, which abounds in nitrogen, with the required proportion of super- phosphate, the farmer will have a manure fully equal to Peru- vian guano, at little more than half its cost. The power to make all kinds of fish available, and to waste none, will allow fisheries to be established in every place, thereby providing, on all parts of the coast, employment for the labourer, food for the poor, reliable manure for the farmer, an extensive nursery for the navy, an effective coast-guard, and help always at hand for vessels in distress. To which it may be added that the ex- citing pursuits of the fishery may afford the very best means of rendering harmless the juvenile outcasts of society, reclaim- ing them effectually, by furnishing employment suited to ad- venturous and unsteady characters, such as juvenile outcasts will generally be found, and introducing them (o pursuits which they will have no inclination to abandon for disorderly courses. The chief scats of fishery where supply is in excess of local consumption, are — Yarmouth, Ireland, Scotland, and its islets; the south-east coast of Cornwall, where there are upwards of 300 fishing-boats of 10 tons and upwards iu a coast about sixteen miles long; the regular price of dogs 2 id. a score, equal to less than Ss. per ton ; the re- fuse fish from the hundreds of trawlers for the London and other great markets; in Torbay and Pljmouth Sound, France, Newfoundland, &c. " A Memoir on the Cod Fishery," by M. Perrie, cf St. Malo. presented to the French Government, iu 1782, during the negociations for peace with England, describes the French share of the Newfoundland fishery at that time to be 340 ships, of 36,600 tons, employing THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 107 15,000 men, aud providing 1,500,000 green cod, 320,000 quintals of dry fish, aud 3,310 barrels of oil. John Kent, Esq., Colonial Secretary, St. John's, Newfoundland, tells us " The resources of this country are as yet undeveloped, aud were the herring aud other fishing prosecuted as a distinct branch of in- dustry, in addition to cod, very large returns would be made." Star-fish abound on our coasts, and may be found in immense layers, whose gelatinous entrails, very rich in phos- phorus, form conjointly with the brittle skin or shell a most powerful manure. It is said the beds around Ostend will yield 30,000 hectolitres annually, and many of our coast lines possess the same amount of this hitherto neglected source of industry. Thus, from a variety of sources, we can produce a quantity of genuine manure, without waste, and which consists of the azote aud phosphate principles of fish, in their most concen- trated and available form; the large amount of nitrogen pre- sent, affording the most ready and simple test of great value ; but the blessing to the country will be in its leading to the establishment of fisheries in every cove, and retaining at home the large sums hitherto sent abroad. Samuel Osler. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, June 10th, 1859. THE SUMMER GRAZING OF STOCK. The summer grazing of horses is a subject which is very seldom treated upon by any writers upon the manage- ment of horses. la fact it is not one upon which much of importance can be said, still there are various points of management connected with summer grazing which are well worthy of consideration, to which in this short paper it is my intention to allude, and chiefly as connected with ordinary grazing and its benefits. Youatt says, " The spring grass is the best physic that can possibly be administered to the horse. To a degree, which no artificial aperient or diuretic can reach, it carries off every humour that may be lurking about the animal. It fines down the roundness of the legs ; and, except there is some bony enlargement, restores them to their original form aud strength. There is no- thing so refreshing to their feet as the damp coolness of the grass into which they are turned iu April or May ; and nothing so calculated to remove every enlargement and sprain, as the gentle exercise which the animal voluntarily takes while his legs are exposed to the cool- ing process of evaporation that is taking place from the herbage on which he treads. The experience of ages has shown that it is superior to all the embrocations and bandages of the most skilful veterinarian. It is the renovating process of nature, where the art of man fails." This is a clever and concise summary of general bene- fits derived from the summer grazing of horses, and applies alike to all breeds, from the high-bred Arabian to the common cart-colt. I am well aware that the summer grazing of racing horses and hunting horses is confined, in far too many cases, to the loose box, and a moderate supply of green food. This may be quite right practice with a few superb horses, to whom accidents are more to be feared than failing health or groggy legs ; but to the whole of these classes of horses it would greatly tend to promote their permanent utility ; their powers of endurance, strength, and action, if they were permitted to graze at pleasure during the months of May, June, and July, or so long as they are not injuriously annoyed by the in- sect tribe, or that their feet suffer from galloping over hard pasture grounds. The state and condition in which these horses are kept for work, are by no means a bad preparation for summer grazing. It is, however, still more desirable that the little remaining flesh these animals carry should be further reduced, so that the change of flesh they obtain from the grazing should be as far as possi- ble a renewal, and with it I apprehend a renovation of the vital powers, or constitution as it is generally called. For this purpose it is simply requisite to reduce their allowance of food, and not to do it by physic or medi- cinal treatment : " Doctor Green" will do all that more satisfactorily. There may be good reasons for a resort to blistering the legs prior to being turned out ; but too much caution cannot be exercised upon this point, as old swellings and enlargements of the leg often give way to milder means. Blistering is acted upon as a counter-irritant, upon the principle that no two intense inflammations can exist in neighbouring parts at the same time. " Hence" says Youatt, " we blister the sides in inflammatio.1 of the lungs ; the abdomen in that of the bowels ; the legs in that of the cellular substance sur- rounding the sheaths of the tendons, or the sheaths themselves, and the coronet or the peel in inflammation of the navicular joint." One point of importance to be borne in mind relative to blistering legs, is that it is apt to degenerate into grease ; another point to be observed in reference to these peculiarly high-fed animals is, that if they are found to be laying on flesh too fast, they must be bled ; but it is seldom requisite, and is often attended with unfavourable results. The removal to a less nutritious pasture would generally suffice. It is never desirable to graze several of these animals together ; but they must have company, and a quiet old horse or a donkey is often introduced to the pasture with good effect. Their habit is to play and gallop about ; and if not provided with a companion of their own species, they will generally greatly annoy the other stock of the field in their playfulness. The Nag House or Roadstek. — These horses are for the most part (in the country, at least) turned to grass early in the spring, and are continually grazing ia the night, and at work by day. When off" their journey or their daily work, they receive a feed of corn, and are then "turned afield" at night. In this way they do their work well, and keep in admirable condition. Should they, however, be required for a journey at a quick rate, they are usually taken up for a day pre- 108 THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. vious, and are supplied with dry food exclusively. They will thus perform it without inconvenience or in- jury. The Dray or Cart-Horse. — The farm-horse throughout the country is generally managed as the nag or roadster, and as named above ; but when fatted for purposes of sale, he is turned to the best pasture the farm will produce. He is usually worked up to five or BIX years old, and disposed of according to the class to which he is best adapted. If he makes up a large and powerful animal, he is sold to the dealer for a dray- horse ; but if he fails to make himself fat, or his dimen- sions and nobility of character is below the recognized standard, he has to fill the more humble, but not less useful station of a cart or farm horse ; and it is the pride and glory of many farmers to work this higher class of horses, although horses of much less value are quite as well suited to their purpose, and are worked at far less risk of loss. This is a matter of taste, and I had almost said luxury. I am far from withholding this splendid gratification to the spirited farmer who can afford it ; but it is only such men who should be thus encouraged ; the man with moderate means should forego it. Young Horses— Yearlings. — These, like young cattle, if well wintered, are almost rendered safe for a summer's grazing ; but to turn out to luxuriant grass a yearling in poor condition, is a very doubtful course, rendering him liable to all the ills that young animals are heirs to, i.e., catarrhs, swellingof glands, bronchitis, pneumonia, followed by roaring, wheezing, &c., &c. Then again, scouring, colic, inflammation of bowels, &c., ensues ; and unless subjected to the most careful treat- ment, death or permanent bodily weakness is the con- comitant result. Two-year-olds are by no means so much to be cared for. Give them a good pasture and plenty of room, and they are sure, if in a healthy state, to make themselves fat. The usual course with young horses is to turn them into fields, with the general stock of the farm, in the proportion of one to about five acres ; they will in this way not do much to diminish the quality of grass, for they love to graze those precise spots not well relished by other stock, such as footways, roadways, furrows, grip, bottoms, and the like. If grazed for sale, they should be put into the fatting pas- tures, and, if necessary, pushed forward with a feed of corn daily, as dealers much prefer a truly well-fed colt, and will give a much higher relative price for him, than if below the proper standard. Mares and Foals. — Too little attention is paid to mares as breeders. They are generally kept on the farm for service as workers, and if they breed a foal all well and good. This is not quite right. A mare should be rested, and in season should be turned to graze some little time before foaling, a few days at least. After foaling she should have a sheltered pasture or a hovel to run into at pleasure ; and if grass is scanty, she will require a feed of corn daily. I wish more par- ticularly to call attention to the proper grazing of mares and foals. " It is the most important period in the life of the horse ; and if from false economy his growt't is arrested, his puny form and want of endurance will ever afterwards testify the error that has been com- mitted." Thus again, says Youatt ; and it is perfectly true. It is only in this early siage of the foal's growth that most attention is required. After a time, or some five or six weeks, the mare may be put to slight work ; but then it is not without injury to the foal, even if never so well fed. To bring up a good foal, the mare ought to have the summer's grazing in the ordinary pastures, and a short time previous to weaning she should have a feed of corn daily, so as to induce the foal to partake of it, in order that it may be continued to him when weaned, as it is then essential to his full progress, and to com- pensate for the loss of his dam's milk. He should also be turned to the eddish or aftermath, till taken up for the winter. THE SUMMER GRAZING OF SHEEP. First, the pastures. It is impossible to graze sheep advantageously unless the pastures are prepared and pre- served in a fruitful and profitable state throughout the summer. The preparation of the pasturage will depend much upon the nature and kind of pasturage, /. e., mea- dow-grass, clovers, seeds, saintfoin, tares, or other artificial grasses : be they of whatever kind, it will be requisite to lay them in early in the spring, or during the winter, so as to be in readiness as early as possible to take the sheep stock immediately after they have finished their winter food. The ordinary pasture grasses may be winter grazed up to the 1st of February, but all other kinds should be rested during the whole winter, and not to be stocked till they have commenced their spring growth, and the stronger that growth the better. The Eive Flock. — The commencement of ordinary spring grazing will be with the ewe flock. In almost every district throughout the United Kingdom the ewes pass through the lambing season on the turnip crop, or they are fed on pastures from the turnip or mangold crop — generally the latter in the present improved order of things. As soon as the lamb is of sufficient strength and growth, the ewe is drafted on to a field of reserved grass or seeds, clovers, &c., there also to be sparingly supplied with mangolds or turnips. She is thus fairly launched into the summer's grazing, and, generally, as the respective grasses become sufficiently fruitful and well-grown, the mangolds or turnip supply ceases. This, however, should be cautiously done. It is best to keep up a supply, however scanty, so long as the farm can afford it, and then to be followed by limited rations of cake, which should be continued to the lambs during the whole summer. The supply of cake should be con- tinued to the time of shearing, when that to the ewes might cease ; but provision should be made so that it might be continued to the lambs throughout the sum- mer. This every breeder can contrive as best suits his convenience. At the time of weaning the ewes should be taken to the most inferior pasturage of the farm for a few days, to moderate and rectify their milk : the lambs to remain, and a slight increase of cake to be given them. It is now proved beyond doubt that a moderate allow- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 109 ance of linseedcake to ewes while suckling is of incalcu- lable advantage both to ewe and lamb : it keeps both in admirable condition, and prepares them for their winter keeping ; so that but little loss ensues by death, and the extra produce of wool alone nearly suffices to cover the cost of cake. In the common course of summer grazing it is usual and advantageous to intermix the sheep stock of various ages, but generally the ewes and hoggets of the flock take the inferior pastures of the farm, and the fatting sheep take the stronger and most fattening pas- turage. Young cattle, also, and one or two horses in a field, is a good and profitable commingling of the farm stock — the cattle to consume the bents and rougher grasses, the horses to eat up the grass of the coarse fur- rows, paths, roadways, and the like. As the lambs grow and thrive they eat more, and a change or easing of the pasture must take place. This should be done by selecting all such sheep as appear to have thriven the least, and promote them to a better pasture, or to an eddish or clover aftermath. The summer grazing of Iambs ought to finish by about Michaelmas at the furthest, when they should be put to their winter keep- ing. The ewes will by this time require drafting : those not intended for further breeding purposes to be placed to winter keeping for fatting ; the remaining, or breed- ing ewes, might remain on the pastures, or be run or placed thinly over the stubble fields ; in any case taking care that they be kept in a satisfactory and improving state ; if otherwise when put to tup, a scanty fall of lambs may be expected in the spring, and those not of the strongest character. These are minor points, but well worth every grazier's atention, as the prosperity of his breeding flock mainly depends thereon. The Grazing of Fatting Sheep. — Every breeder and grazier is now turning his careful attention to promote the early maturity of his flock. It is now becoming the almost universal custom to accomplish the fatting and the preparation for market of all the sheep stock not re- quired for breeding purposes at an early age. Fattened sheep now seldom exceed twenty-one months, and are only shorn once. If, however, they are kept longer, it is the breeds of larger growth, producing more valuable fleeces of wool, and which are therefore shorn a second time. The Downs of every shade and character are all fattened early. The modern and very valuable breeds of " half-breds" are all got off early. The Leicesters are also generally fed off at an early age. The Cotswolds and Long wools are perhaps the longest on land, but their immense increase in weight, and the extra quantity of wool they produce, fully compensate for any delay in their final fattening and transmission to market. There are various modes of fatting this sheep stock, ac- cording to the precise character of the pastures upon which they are grazed. The best mode on the common grass fattening pastures is this : Let the pasture be laid in for the most part during the winter, or certainly not later than the 1st of February. It will then have time for the soil to lighten, the roots to expand, and the blades of grass to put forth. When it is well greened over, i. e., the grass itself is fairly seen, it is ready for a partial stocking, and a few of the best sheep may be drafted into it, so that they may be getting forward ready to be sent to market as the pasture requires easing in the summer. As the pasture improves, more may be added, according to the requirements of the pasture ; for it must be borne in mind that these fatting pastures must be kept in a true fatting state, or the sheep will not thrive fast enough. They must be kept short, thick, and of one uniform growth of from \\ to 2 inches in length. No tufts or hassocks must on any account be permitted to accumulate or stand. For this purpose a horse or two in a field, as already noticed, or a few young cattle, as " benters," are desirable adjuncts to good sheep grazing ; and, if my readers won't smile, I would say a small flock of geese would be an additional help to the well-doing of the sheep. They crop the long coarse blades of grass, the buttercups, the sorrel, many weeds, and other not very desirable heibage. Failing all this, the scythe must be used. If the pas- tures can be kept thus right and nutritious, the sheep will merely require the shepherd's attention, and to be left as undisturbed as possible. They will each, almost to a sheep, soon know his own peculiar place of lairage, and will in equable weather generally resort to it, or near it, and they very seldom require removal to another pasture. Our best sheep-grazing lands will thus admi- rably fatten the stock put upon them ; but should the land and herbage not be of this first class order, then resort must be had to corn or cake to bring them equally forward. It is exceedingly good practice, too, on almost any land, as it not only helps the best lands to fatten thetn faster, but it enables all lands to carry more stock, and adds greatly to their grazing powers. Grass lands are amazingly improved by this mode of grazing. The writer has about seventy acres of grass land upon which this course has been practised with great success ; and if the prices of wool and mutton retain their present rates, he will adopt it upon the grass of his whole occupation. Inferior grass lands have thus been converted into very useful fatting pastures, carrying a large amount of heavy sheep. The number of sheep fatted per acre upon these and similar lands would average about seven light- woolled, and six to seven heavy-woolled sheep j and what is remarkable this year is, that the light wool is not worth so much per lb. as the heavy wool. We are speaking of fatting pastures, not of the general pastures devoted to grazing the breeding flock and store stock : these may be depastured in greater numbers. It is superfluous to remark that these grazing lands must be kept clear of weeds, i. e., thistles, nettles, ragwort, and every other pest. Not long ago our old facetious friend, " Punch," in the exuberance of his talents for wit and satire, treated his admirers to a familiar portrait of an old-fashioned farmer, in long coat, capacious waistcoat, immense brogues, top-boots to match, and the old broad-brimmed yeoman hat, with hands in his enormous pockets, sadly musing whilst pacing his fields, and at length giving ut- terance to his thoughts, something like this, " Well, here's a pretty go ! I've got so much com I don't know 110 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. what to do with it." Now, if our old friend's hypothe- tical case is taken to apply to grass, it is really correct ; for we, in truth have, in this present unexampled season BO much grass, that we " don't know what to do with it" — i. e., we don't know in what way to turnit to the best account. I am afraid my few remarks thereon may be of little avail ; for I am in the same happy predicament — " I don't know what to with it." I will, however, offer a few suggestions with the view of calling a little attention to it, and. if possible, aid some of my brother graziers in this most unusual diflSculty . In the first place, put on all the stock the lands usually carry ; but be cautious how you put on more. It may be more advantageous to permit the grass to " run away," rather than to crowd upon it stock bought in at a dear rate at the great hazard of doing well. I say bought in at a dear rate, because it is a matter of course, that when such a great and sudden flush of grass occurs in any season, the price of grazing stock invariably rises. It has done so very considerably this season. The grazier has therefore to use his judgment as to the prospects of profit. He must bear in mind that stock seldom thrive satisfactorily upon a superabundance of. highly luxuriant grass. The chances are that he had best adopt a middle course, and which I believe is the general one, to buy in a few extra cattle and a few more sheep, but still care- fully avoiding the error of overstocking. Let him sup- pose this extraordinary flush of grass to pass away ; this exceedingly growing weather to cease, and to be succeeded by hot, arid, sunny weather, his pastures gone, and his stock on hand, he will then most feelingly exclaim, " I've got so much slock, I don't know what to do with it." I would again say, be cautious not to overstock. Generally, or on the average of seasons, the customary amount of stock will ere the grazing season closes con- sume most of the pasturage ; and breeding flocks are daily requiring more food. It is always desirable to have plenty ; but profusion is certainly an evil in grazing. The stock leave the coarser herbage for the finer spots : consequently these get overeaten and bare ; the coarser grows still coarser, and in the end has to be cut with the scythe. This of course will readily account for the unsatisfactory grazing of an unusual number of stock. My next remark or suggestion is, that in preference to buying in stock, an additional portion of grass land should be cleared and laid in for meadow to be mown for hay. This I think the best course : as it is a case of emergency, the mowing must be made to depend upon the requirements of the stock. It may not be con- venientto allow thefieldto lay long enough to growagood crop for hay ; it must be mown when requisite, so that the stock does not suff'er from too long overcrowding in other pastures. The eddish will be found highly con- ducive to promote the progress of the poorer or more backward stock, while at the same time it forms an ad- mirable relief to the old grazing land, in taking off the superabundant stock. In this way all are kept pro- gressing; for it is more towards the middle of the grazing season when the stock begin to retrograde, either from heat, fly, bad water, bad herbage, restless- ness, or other similar causes ; so that the change of the inferior or more backward stock to new pasturage tends to resettle them ; and by giving more room and scope to those remaining, they will also graze more quietly, and, of course, improve proportionably. I repeat, then, try for a larger hay-crop : it's very useful in winter. Another suggestion I would make is, that the rough- est plots of grass should be mown in small portions daily. This will keep those places from growing so extremely coarse that no stock will either eat the herb- age as grass, or when made into hay ; but it being thus gradually mown, the stock delight to pick it up as it decays. Another suggestion is that, if the field of grass gets very full — " runs away" — then take out all the cattle, and mow the grass, "hob it" over, make it into hay, lead it, and get the field again in readiness for the cattle as soon as possible. Sheep would be best out for a few days ; but they don't injure the hay like cattle. Another suggestion I would make is, to permit a field or two of grass to " run away." These will be found, in the autumn, a highly useful aid, on many farms, to take in the store stock required for consuming the straw in the winter, or in " manufacturing the straw" of the farm into manure for the turnips, &c. Another suggestion would be, to do the same on farms used solely for grazing, and consume the grass in the winter by a herd of hardy cattle— Scotch, Welsh, Irish, or strong shorthorns. Another is, that this runaway grass should be stocked with sheep in the winter, to be supplied with mangolds, turnips, &.C., ad lib., together with a plentiful addition of cut chaS', hay, and straw. Another is, that a portion of this rough grass, on a solely-grazing farm, should be left till spring, to take in the grazier's early purchases ; so that they may be rested, restored from all the prevalent diseases, and be thus settled and prepared for a more satisfactory summer grazing. But these minor suggestions will recur to every thinking mind habituated to contrive as best he can for the progress of his business ; and he will vary his plans as appears to him most suitable. All I desire, in this short paper, is to call attention to the making of some satisfactory disposition of the abundance with which it has pleased God to supply us. SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT IPSWICH. I'his Association, which, on the whole, seems fairly entitled to take the first place among the agricultural societies of tlie Eastern district, celebrated its twenty- ninth anniversary on 1st July, at Ipswich. The weather was fine, but not sultry — a fortunate circumstance, as the most devo'.ed admirers of agricultural meetings find THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Ill attendance on them when summer is at its height rather hard work, while those concerned in conducting the various arrangements, penning the stock, and getting them to the place of meeting, undergo an amount of labour far beyond the belief of those who have not troubled themselves much about the matter. Ipswich put on her holiday attire for the occasion, and the principal streets were spanned at one or two points with what were meant for triumphal arches, while banners beaming the erst famous words, " Speed the plough," Success to agriculture." and other appropriate in- scriptions, were hung from some of the houses. The inhabitants, as theday wore on, seemed to turn out en masse ; the streets were filled with well-dressed crowds ; and where business was closely pursued as usual, it was because its votaries had no other alternative. The proceedings of the meeting commenced with an exhibition of Fowler's steam-plough and Smith's cul- tivator, in a field near the Fonnereau Park, which, as on former occasions, was reserved for the customary entries of stock and implements. The trial of the steam- plough and cultivator, as also of the reapers and mowers, was not conducted with a view to the award of any prize, but in order to interest the district in the problem of steam cultivation ; and if one might judge from the steady stream of farmers and others who poured into the field, the idea was an eminently successful one. The trial certainly considerably enhanced the interest of the exhibition. The engine which communicated motion to the plough of Mr. Fowler was of 10-horse-power, and worked at a pressure of about 401bs. to the square inch; but it was capable of working up to 701bs. It was quite a new engine, having only been turned out on the preceding day from the extensive establishment of Messrs. Ransomes and Sims, which is one of the main props of Ipswich industry. We understood that the engine and entire apparatus weie exhibited as they will be shown in a few days at the great Warwick meeting, and if it works there as well as it did on Friday, it will probably receive an official commendation. The soil was cut to the extent of about six inches, but this depth can be increased to 9^ inches. Three ploughs were comprised in the ploughing apparatus ; th» pro- gress made over ihe field was rapid and well sustained, and the amount of work done was estimated at about an acre per hour. Several improvements in matters of detail have been effected in the engine, the arrangements with respect to the windlass having been much sim- plified ; and the entire cost of the whole apparatus, com- prising engine, tackle, anchor, 800 yards of steel rope, &c., was stated to be ^'670. The number of indivi- duals employed were an engine-driver, a ploughman, and three boys to attend to the rope " porters," which support it at intervals, in order to save it as much as possible from being worn unduly by excessive tritura- tion with the ground. The cultivator of Mr. Smith was put in action by an ordinary 7-horse-power agri- cultural engine, by Messrs. Turner, of Ipswich, the windlass and the remainder of the apparatus being from the establishment of Messrs. Howard, of Bedford. The great object of this apparatus is the getting land clean in a short time to receive seed, and the soil is broken up, or, to use an expression employed by the lookers-on, " grubbed" in both directions, laterally and longitudinally. The depth to which the cultivator worked was between seven and eight inches, and it was urged that the velocity with which the implement moved disturbed a greater depth of soil than was ac~ tually cut. The cost of the cultivator, rope, Sec, ex- clusive of the engine or motive power, was stated to be £206, and the human force employed was five men and a boy, including the engine-driver. There were four reapers and mowers at work, two by Messrs. Burgess and Key, oneby Messrs. Samuelson, of Banbury, and one by Mr. Harwood, of Mendlesham. The latter united the functions of a reaper and mower. The apparatus was constructed by Mr. "Woods, of Stow- market, and it was virtually its first appearance. It attracted some notice, and it was stated that while ex- ceedingly simple and taking up little room, it made a comparatively wide cut. The other machines did their work exceedingly well, and a considerable extent of clover was quickly laid low, the cut being very close and clean, while the seeds were but little scattered. Messrs. Bur- gess and Key's implements were also set to work on some green wheat, and knocked it down in a most sum- mary and effective fashion. A crowd of farmers fol- lowed the machine, but from the speed at which it tra- versed the ground behind the two powerful horses, they had hard work to keep up. The cut was sharp and clean, and the only regret we heard expressed was, that it was unripe corn which was " operated" upon. The trial of these implements agreeably occupied the morning, and at noon the general exhibition in Fon- nereau Park was thrown open to the public. There was quite a rush at first to obtain admission, and the living stream continued to pour on steadily for some two hours, when the tide began to set in a contrary direction. The park, with its graceful undulating ex- panse and grand old trees, looked exceedingly beau- tiful, and as it is at the same time only a few steps from the principal line of street, it would be impossible to find a more suitable place for the meetings of the Society. The first objects which met the eye of the visitor were the pigs, and he then proceeded by easy stages through the sheep to the stock, and from thence to the horses. The show of swine was about an average, there being 34 entries. As usual, Mr. T. Crisp and Mr. G. M. Sexton figure prominently in this class, but they did not have matters all to themselves, a tolerable amount of competition appearing. A circle gathered round Mr. Crisp's monster sow, which was universally pronounced an astounding porcine " development.' Leaving the companions of this extraordinary animal to their peaceful slumbers— the pig appears to adapt him- self readily to any circumstances in which he may find himself — the majority of the company soon passed on to the sheep. These were not in very extraordinary force' although 54 entries were made. Mr. Hugh Aylmer was' as usual, victorious with his beautiful Leicesters, whicht t need scarcely be said, looked as well both in respec 112 THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. to size and wool as at the recent meeting in Norfolk. The Suffolk black-faced breed were also, as was to be expected, represented, but only four gentlemen ex- hibited them. Mr. G. Dobito took the lion's share of the prizes as regards this class of sheep, of which Sir Edward Kerrison did not speak very highly, as a re- cent comparison with the Cotswolds led him to infer that while they were more expensive they were less pro- fitable. Mr. Crisp, and Mr. G. Sexton (Wherstead) were successful exhibitors of Southdowns ; and the lat- ter gentleman seemed to have called in to advantage one of the Babraham rams. The stock department com- prised about 80 entries, and it will be seen that the names of Mr. Crisp — either in connection with Chilles- ford or Butley Abbey — and Lady Pigot appear fre- quently in the prize list. The Suffolk bulls and cows were creditable, although one or two of the latter seemed out of condition, and the bones and general anatomy were brought out in rather too distinct relief to please the eye. The heifers of Lady Pigot were very good, and took first prizes in each class. Their names, which it may be interesting to give, were, " Cherry Empress," 3 years old, bred by Mr. Douglas ; " Baroness War- lake," two years old, bred by Mr. Outhwaite ; and Em- press of Hindostan," calved November, 1857, and bred by Mr. Jolly. The red Suffolk heifers and bulls also well sustained the reputation of the county. The fine roan Durham bull, successfully shown by Major Parker, was exhibited at the last meeting of the society at Bury St. Edmund's — at least so said report; but fortune was not then so propitious. The great feature of the society's exhibitions — and it is a circumstance of which the members are justly proud — is the horse stock, more especially that in- tended for agricultural purposes. The present meeting was fully up to the mark in this respect, more than half the entries being derived from this department of the show, while the space of ground covered by the animals was very considerable. Of the 307 entries, 134 were of the " agricultural" class. The stallions above three years old were a tolerably good lot, but by no means equal to former years. Neither of the winning horses at Bury were sent, which was to be regretted, as a se- cond comparison would have been interesting. Nor were Barthropp's Hero nor Crisp's Marquis in the ring. In fact, the only " great " horse was Emperor, the win- ner once more of a special prize of £30, open to all Eng- land. He was here pronounced by a high authority to be "almost perfect," and certainly held his own famously; but " all England" did not take up the gauntlet so spiritedly thrown down by the subscribers to the prize. A portrait of Emperor, after an acknowledged good like- ness by Corbet, appears in the Farmer's Magazine for July. His pedigree and a complete history of the horse accompany the print, from which we take the following description : —"The Emperor is a red chesnut horse, with a few grey hairs shot here and there through his coat. He stands something over sixteen hands high. He has the most beautiful blood-like head perhaps ever seen on a horse intended for 'agricultural purposes.' He has a strong neck and fine crest, good oblique muscular shoulders, deep girth, and first-rate loins and quarters. His hocks and arms are also excellent ; and he has a small but good foot. He stands short on the leg ; and this, with his fine quarter, makes him a very lengthy- looking horse, but still with a short powerful back. Emperor is, altogether, one of the most handsome and symmetrical cart-horses ever seen, possessing in per- fection those three leading ' points' — great strength, fine quality, and capital action. " The second prize was ably competed for, and was carried off by Mr. Baylham's chesnut horse Duke, while commendations were awarded to four other ani- mals. The three-year-old colts were as a class very good, perhaps the best lot on the grouud, and un- doubtedly for uniform excellence superior to the aged horses, . The two-year-olds were also good, although », somewhat few in number. As regards the other classes, the one-year-olds comprised several nice animals ; the mares with foals were very good, and the foals fair ; and the gast mares and fillies also elicited considerable appro- val. The cart geldings made up rather a scanty show, but there were one or two good animals. In thorough- bred stallions Capt. Barlow maintained the lead, which he has taken in former years, with Recovery Junior, the winner at this meeting two years since. It would be tedious amid so much excellence to reiterate the adjective " good" in regard to the various other classes ; but pedi- grees of a few of the prize animals are appended :• Mr. Joseph Hare's dark-bay stallion for coaching purposes (Young Sebastopol) was bred by himself, sire Sebasto- pol, dam's sire Arcos ; Mr. Sebborn Conner's chesnut colt, which received the prize of £'a offered by the Duke of Hamilton, for the best entire cob for riding purposes, was bred by Mr. H. Steam, sire Man Friday, dam' sire Gainsborough ; Mr. J. Gobbitt's dark-brown mare, which obtained the premium offered by the same nobleman for the best cob mare with foal at foot, was twenty years old, bred by the exhibitor, sire Plowman's Phenomenon ; Mr. T, Waller's prize brown foal was bred by the exhibitor, sire the Lion, dam's sire Crusa- der ; INIr. W. J. Burch's prize chesnut roan foal was bred by the exhibitor, sire Revenge ; Mr, N. Welton's przie 'chesnut riding gelding, was bred by Mr. T. W. Medcalf, sire Jockey Scott ; Captain Barlow's prize brown carriage gelding was bred by Mr. B. Green, sire Castor ; Mr. J. Matthews's prize grey gelding Baron, was bred by the exhibitor, sire Castor, dam's sire Old Phenomenon ; Mr. Schreiber's prize chesnut riding gelding, two years old, was bred by the exhibitor, sire Oakley, dam's sire Mus; Mr. J. Matthews's chesnut mare Pet was bred by the exhibitor, sire Prickwillow. The scene presented in this section of the exhibition was extremely animated and interesting, worthy in fact the pencil of Landseer or Rosa Bonheur. The implements occupied the other side of the park, and made a brave show, as no inconsiderable portion of the apparatus and machines which are yearly scattered over the length and breadth of the kingdom, and even find their way to foreign shores, are turned out in Suf- folk. Messrs. Ransomes and Sims had a neat little 3- horse-power engine at work, and a more solid affair of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 113 8-hoise-power ; Messrs. E. R. and F. Turner, another Ipswich firm, sent four engines, ranging in power from two to six horses ; and Mr. C. Burrell, of Thetford, and Messrs. Garrett, of Leiston, were also represented in the same direction. All these makers exhibited in their engines an excellence of workmanship justifying the re- mark attributed to an eminent engineer, who observed that it was as good, as far as it went, as that to be found in railway locomotives. These various engines commu- nicated motion to a number of machines and other im- plements, and the air was filled with the whirring jargon of sounds generally to be detected at agricultural meet- ings. Of the other exhibitors, it will be sufficient to give the names : — J. Hurwood, Ipswich ; Smyth, Swefling, near Saxmundham ; Syer, of Hadleigh (agent for Messsrs. Picksley and Sims, Bentall, Hunter, Eaton, and Hill and Smith) ; Cambridge, Bristol ; Woods, Stowmarket ; Samuelson, Banbury ; Burgess and Key ; J, Cooper, Ipswich ; Smyth and Sons, Peasenhall ; F. Mason, Ipswich; Smith and Ashby, Stamford ; Hughes and Son (millstones) ; Prentice and Co. (asphalte floors and cereal manures) ; E. Rands, Ipswich (sacks, &c.) ; R. Coleman, Chelms- ford ; G. C. Ferinan (sacks, &c.); Webb and Son, Coombstannery, Stowmarket, &c. On the whole we may pronounce the exhibition a de- cidedly successful one. That it was popular and at- tractive is proved by the fact that it v/as attended by between 4,500 and 5,000 persons, a very large number for a county gathering. The judges must have had some difficulty in making their awards, amidst so much excel- lence and such a comparatively numerous body of exhi- biters. Their decisions are embodied in the following list— AGRICULTURAL HORSES. Judges. — J. Claydou, Littlebury, Saffron Wolden. — King, JPreston. W. C. Spooner, Eling, Southampton. — Spurling, Shotley, Ipswich. Special Ipswich prize of £30 for the best entire horse for agricultural purposes, of any age (open to all England), G. D. Badham, Bulmer, Essex (Chester Emperor), First prize of £10 for the beat stallion, having served not less than twenty mares in the county, G. J). Badham (Chester Emperor). Premium of £5 to the breeder of first prize, G. D. Badham. Second prize of £5, W. Wilson, Baylham Hall (Duke). Highly Commended. — Joseph Smith, Hasketon (Raglan). Commended. — W. Clark, Iken (Briton) ; W. H. Mumford, Bramford (Captain); and W. Steam, Elmsett (Prince). First prize of £6 for the best three-year-old entire colt, James Everitt, Brightwell (Premier); second of £5, T.Crisp, Butley Abbey (Emperor). Highly Commended. — C. Barnes, Kettleburgh (Champion). Prize of £5 for the best two-year-old entire colt, Maurice Mumford, Greeting ; second of £4, R. II. Wriach, Harkstead (Comet) ; third of £3, T. Crisp. First prize of £4 for the best one-year-old entire colt, Sir E. C. Kerrison, M.P. (Red Eagle); second of £3, Samuel Plowman, Earl Stonham. First prize of £6 for the best mare with foal at foot, G. D. Badham ; second of £4, Charles Frost, of Wherstead. Highly commended. — Isaac Rial's chesnut (Scott); and Mr. S. Wolton's chesnut (Diamond). Commended. — R. Tricker (Poppet); N. G. Barthropp (Gyp) Saml. Plowman ; and Joseph Smith, Hasketon (Diamond). First prize of £6 for the best foal, Francis Keer, Raydon ; second of £4, T. Crisp. Highly cowwewrferf.— JoBeph Smith. Commended.— GtQXga Sexton, Wheratead; Rev. J. Y. Cooke, Semer. First prize of £6 for the best gaat mare, E. G. Hodgson, Charsfield; second of £4, Henry Laws, Kirton Sluice. Commended. — Sir E. C. Kerrison, M.P. First prize of £6 for the best three-year-old filly, T. L. Tiffen, Siamhall, Newton ; second of £4, N. G. Barthropp, Cretingham (Remnant). First prize of £5 for the best two-year-old filly, L. Wrinch, Arwarton (Diamond); second of £3, Charles Frost, Wher- stead. Commended.— CaTpt. Barlow, Hasketon ; Rev. J. Y. Cooke, Semer ; H. Frost, Witnesham ; E. L. Gleed, Hoo ; H. Laws, Kirton Sluice ; and J. Rist, Tattiugstone. First prize of £4 for the best oue-jear-old filly, S. Walton, sen., Newbourne Hall ; second of £3, Charles Frost, Wher- stead. Highly commended. — Charles Frost, Wherstead. Prize of £4 for the best three-year-old cart gelding, E. L. Gleed, Hoo. Highly commended. — C. Cordy, Trimley. Prize of £4 for the best four-year-old cart gelding, Charles Frost, Wherstead. Prize of £4 for the best cart gelding of any age, J. Gentry, Washbrook. Highly commended (clasa not stated in official list),— J. Gobbett, Sudbourn. RIDING AND COACHING HORSES. Judges. — C. Bamet, Stratton Park, Biggleswade. E. Green, Bury St. Edmund's. Rev. C. T. James, Farmers' Club. London. J. Tyler, Leyton, Esses. Prize of £6 for the best thorough-bred entire horse, having served not less than 10 mares in the county, Capt. F. Barlow, Hasketon (Recovery Junior). Prize of £6 for the best entire horse for coaching purposes, having served not less than ten marts in the county, J. Garrod, Craneford. Prize of £5 for the best entire cob for riding purposes, having served not less than ten mares in the county, Sebborn Gonner, Hoo. Prize of £5 for the best cob mare with foal at foot, the foal to be by a cob horse not thorough bred, J Gobbitt, Sudbourne. Prize of £6 for the best brood mare with foal at foot, W. J. Burcb, Campsey Ash. Commended. — G. Gayfard (Fireaway), and J. Joaselyo, Jun. Prize of £6 for the best foal for riding purposes, foaled in 1859, W. J. Burch. Prize of £6 for the best foal for carriage purposes, foaled in 1859, J. Waller, Sutton. Silver Cup, presented by Captain Barlow, for the best f»al by either of the Hasketon stallions, W. J. Burcb. Prize of £6 for the best three-year-old riding gelding or filly, foaled in 1856, N. Welton, Bredfield, Highly Commended. — G. K. Cooper, Prize of £6 for the best three-year-old carriage gelding or filly, foaled in 1856, Capt. F. Barlow. Prize of ^6 for the best three-year-old weight-carrying hunter, geldiug or filly, by a thorough-bred horse, foaled in 1856, James Matthew, Wickham Skeith (Baron). Highly Commended. — W. J. Burch. Prize of £5 for the best two-year-old riding gelding or filly, foaled in 1857, C. A. Schreiber, Rouudwood, Ipswich. Highly Commended. — H. Frost, Witnesham. Commended. — W. J. Burch. First prize of £5 for the best hackney mare or gelding under seven years old, J. Matthew, Wickham Skeith (Pet) ; second of £3, F. Laws, Foxhall. First prize of £4 for the best pony, not exceeding 13^ hands high, and not under 12, T. Crisp ; second of £2, G. Bond, Earl Soham. CATTLE. Judges. — W. Beauford, Bedford. H. W. Bennet, Cambridge. W. Carpenter, Stratford-on-Avon. W. Dodds, Keelby, Lincolnshire. Prize of £6 for the best Suffolk bull not under two years lU THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. old, Samuel Wolton, sen., Newbourne-hall (Robinson); se- cond, of £3, A. Crisp, Chillesford. Prize of £4 for the best Suffolk bull under two years old, Jas, Kead, Laxfield (Young Suffolk) ; second, of £2, Arthur Crisp. Prize of £6 for the best bull of any other breed (not Suffolk) not under two yeais old, Major Parker, M.P., Clopton-hall, Rattlesden ; second, of £3, T. Crisp. Prize of £4 for the best bull of any other breed (not Suffolk) under two years old, T. Crisp ; second, of £2, T. Crisp, Prize of £5 for the best Suffolk cow in-milk or in-calf, Samuel Wolton, jun„ Kesgrave (Beauty) ; second, of £3, Samuel Plowman, Earl Stonham ; commended, James Read, Laxfield (Jeuny Lind) ; W. R. Walker, Marlesford. Prize of £1 for the best three-year-old Suffolk heifer in-milk or in-calf, A. W. Crisp, Chillesford; second, of £2, A. W. Crisp. Prize of £4 for the best two-year-old Suffolk heifer in-milk or in-calf, A. Crisp; second, of £2, A. Crisp. Prize of £2 for the best one-year-old Suffolk heifer, J. Garrould, Cookley ; second, of £1, B. Collins, Huuston. Prize of £5 for the best cow of any other breed (uot Suffolk) in-milk or in-calf, Sir E. C. Kerrison, Bart., M.P., Oakley- park (Violet) ; second, of £3, Lady Pigot, Chippeubam-park (Lady Sarah); commended, Walter Strutt, Boxford. Prize of £4 for the best three-year-old heifer of auy other breed (not Suffolk) in-milk or in-calf. Lady Pigot (Cherry Em- press) ; second, of £2, T. Crisp (Gaiety IL) Prize of £4 for the best two year old hei.'er of any other breed (not Suffolk) in-milk or in-calf, Lady Pigot (Baroness Wariake); second, of £2, T. Crisp, Prize of £2 for the best one-year-old heifer of auy other breed (not Suffolk), Lady Pigot (Empress of Hindostan) : se- cond, of £1, T. Crisp (Nelly II.) Prize of £4 for the best fat ox or heifer, A. W. Crisp ; se- cond, of £2, George Hate, Holbrook-cottage. SHEEP. Judges.— W. Beauford, Bedford. H. W. Bennet, Cambridge. W. Carpenter, Stratford-on-Avon. W. Uodds, Keelby, Lincolnshire. Prize of £6 for the best Southdown tup of any age, T. Crisp. Prize of £6 for the best shearling Down tup, George Sex- ton, Wherstead ; second, of £2, G. Sexton. Prize of £6 for the best tup of any age of the black-faced breed, now named " The Suffolk," G. Dobito, Lidgate. Prize of £6 for the best shearling tup of the Suffolk breed, G. Dobito; second, of £2, J. M. Green, Stradiehall Old House. Prize of £6 for the best long-wooUed tup of any age, T. Brown, Harham. Prize of £6 for the best shearling long-woolled tup, H. Aylmer, West Dereham ; second, of £2, H. Aylmer. Prize of £6 for the best pen of five Southdown shearling ewes, no entry ; second, of £2, no entry. Prize of £6 for the best pen of five shearling ewes of the black-faced breed, now named " The Suffolk," G. Dobito ; se- cond, of £2, J. M. Green; commended, H. Wilson, Stowlansr- toft-hall. Prize of £6 for the best pen of five long-woolled shearling ewes, H. Aylmer; second, of £2, H. Aylmer. Prize of £6 for the best pen of 20 lambs of any breed, G. Sexton ; second, of £2, not awarded. PIGS. Judges.— W. Beauford, Bedford. H. W. Bennet, Cambridge. W. Carpenter, Stratford-on-Avon. W. Dodds, Keelby, Lincolnshire. Prize of £5 for the best boar, T. Crisp ; second, of £3, G. M. Sexton. Prize of £4 for the best sow and pigs, the pigs not exceed- ing 12 weeks old, Herman Biddell, PI ay for d ; second, of £3, Spencer Freeman, Stowmarket. Prize of £3 for the best breeding sow, T. Crisp; second, of £2,^ James Luff, Tuddenham. Prize of £3 for the best pen of three young sows, pigged since Ist of November, G. M, Sexton ; second, of £2, H. Wil- son, Stowlangtoft-hall ; commended, G. D. Badham, and M Biddell, Playford (for two pens). At the annual meeting of the members held in the course of the afternoon it was agreed to hold the next meeting at Framlingham. THE DINNER took place in the evening, in the Corn Exchange, where tables were laid out for 300 guests. Only about 200, however, took places. The Earl of Stradbrooke, as president of the society, presided, and was supported right and left by Sir Charles Rowley, the Mayor of Ipswich (Mr. J. Head), Sir Fitzroy Kelly M.P., Lord Henniker, M.P., Eari Jermvn, M.P., Major Wind- sor Parker, M.P., Mr. J.Cobbold, M.P.j'Mr.T.Burch Western, Col. Shafto Adair, Mr. Barthropp, Mr. Badham, Mr. Barnett, Mr. A. Ransome, and other gentlemen. The vice-chair was occupied by Sir E. C. Kerrison, M.P., by whom were seated Capt. Barlow, Capt. Bennett, Mr. Josselin, &c. The dinner arrangements left no cause for complaint; but the subse- quent proceedingj, although they extended over three hours, were, with the exception of two or three f peeches, of which a report is appended, tame and unprofitable as regarded from an agricultural point of view. The Vice-Chaikman proposed the health of the noble president, Lord Stradbrooke. Sir Edward observed that upon no occasion had the association shown more effectively what local societies were capable of doing. The merits of the stock were conspicuous, and many of the members had for the first time had an opportunity of witnessing the progress made in steam-ploaghing. The President, in expressing his acknowledgments, said^ the popularity of the Society was patent to all, and he believed the smaller farmers of the county had benefited greatly by the example s?t them by the members in their various districts. Distinguished foreigners in every part of the world had ap- proved and imitated British agricultural enterprize ; and the result had been that the food of the poorer classes in Europe had been improved, and that they received more constant emplojment than they obtained before agriculture became a fashionable pursuit. With reference to the show held during the day, it appeared to have received universal approbation ; and he had observed with pleasure a thrashing machine by Messrs. Garrett, in which considerableprogress had been made in the waj' of simplification of the machinery, and reduction of size. This was important, because many specimens of agricultural ma- chinery were too bulky and intricate in their performance. In conclusion his Lordship proposed what we suppose may be regarded as the toast of the evening, " Success to the Suffolk Agricultural Society." The healths of the " High Sheriff" and the " County Mem- bers," followed. Earl Jermyn, M.P., responded, as did Lord Hennikek, M.P., who remarked, that sithough the men of Suffolk were most excellent farmers, he had heard complaints made with reference to the cultivation of pastures. Dean Swift had, he believed, observed that he was the most useful man who made two blades of grass to grow where one grew before. It was a trite observation, but one which ought not to be forgotten ; and when the fact was remembered that every foot of ground comprised from 500 to 1,000 roots of grass, while there were 4,000 sorts of grass, scarcely one poisonous in its nature, he thought it behoved agriculturists to make experiments on the subject, and to devote greater attention than had hitherto been given to their grats lands. With this view he should be happy to give a small piemium for a short essay on the improvement and the cultivation of the grass lauds of the county. Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., who was warmly cheered, called attention to the efforts which he had been making, with other distinguished members of the bar, to carry a bill for fa- cilitating the transfer of land, a measure which would, he be- lieved, have the effect of raising the value of landed property at least 25 per cent. The bill had met with great opposition from members of the legal profession ; but in view of the bene- fits which it promised, and having regard also to the beneficial operation of the Encumbered Estates Court in Ireland, he ap- pealed to the public to express their approval of the measure, and to bring their isfluence to bear upon the members of the legislature so as to secure its enactment. Mnjor Paukek, M.P., also returned thanks, and, advertiug THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 11^ to the rewards which had been distributed during the day to deserving labourers, said that he regretted to find that not one woman had come forward for the increased premiums of- fered for dairy servants. Many farmers regretted that this class of servants was not filhng the position which it ought to do, and that many good dairies and good pasture grounds had been let down from the difficulty experienced in finding dairy assistants. He hoped that labourers with large families would have their daughters instructed in the industrious pursuits of the dairy. Adverting to the operations of the society, the gallant major added that the man who could produce 80 stone of beef in tweuly-four mouths, and a sheep with six or seven stone ot mutton and 17 cr ISlbs. of wool on his back in 16 months, deserved as well of his country as another who per- formed prodigies of valour. He saw many men around him who had effected what he had hinted at, and when he found these societies lead to such results, he could not but feel proud of them. The " Members for the Borough." Mr. J. C. Cohbold, M.P., in reply, adverted to the honour- able position occupied by Ipswich and Suffolk with regard to the manufacture of implements, and called attention to the recent establishment in the town of a flax factory. He hoped the farmers of the county would grow more flax, aud keep the machinery of this factory in motion. He believed they might do so prolitablj'. The "Royal Agricultural Society of England." Mr. N. G. Barthropp responded, and observed that there was every prospect of the approaching Warwick Meeting being a most satisfactory one, the entries of all kinds of ma- chinery, as well as stock, being very large. Sir E. C. Kerrison, M.P., in replying to the toast of the " Vice President," said he rejoiced to find that an addition had recently been made at Ipswich to the number of farmers' clubs established in the county to discusj the breeding of stock and the management of land. The paper recently read by Mr. Bond before the Ipswich Club was deserving of the careful attention of all interested in the management of laud. This paper did away with the notion that people who had heavy lands should deal with no other species of stock, whether they were dear or cheap, than heavy stock like bullocks. He (Sir E, Kerrisou) thought the first thing to be done with these soils was to drain them well. Although there was a system of drainage in existence, yet, looking at the loans obtained from public companies, and Government, he believed there was less money expended in this respect iu Suffolk thau almost any other county in England. A great deal of land might be made available for sheep purposes which were now not eo made available ; and he proposed to give a special prize himself for drainers, that the many good labourers of the county might have an opportunity of exhibiting their skill in pipe-drainage as well as in ploughing. Mr. Bond, in his paper, spoke par- ticularly of sheep having fatted very well; and he (Sir E. Kerrison) believed at a late meeting of the committee of the association the question arose as to whether a certain breed of sheep should assume the name of "Suffolk" or not. It was decided that they should do so. Now in the matter of horses Suffolk was first-rate, for last year the horse which did not win the first prize at Bury St. Edmund's obtained the all-England prize at Chester. Iu the matter of cows, too, Suffolk had some excellent stock, which were very suitable for those pas- tures to which Lord Henniker had referred. With regard to the class of sheep which were to be called Suffolk sheep, he did not wish to eay a word against them ; he saw some excellent specimens exhibited during the day by Mr. Dobito, but he did not wish the breed to be employed merely because they had a black face and black legs. He wanted to see a Suffolk breed which had not only a black head and face, but which would increase in weight in proportion with other breeds. In sup- port of thj.3 view of the subject, Sir Edward stated that he re- cently put up eight Cotswold sheep and eight of the Suffolk breed, as good as he could get them and cf the same age. At the end of three or four months he found that the gain of the Cotswolds wa8 7901b3., and the gain of the others only 6701bs.; and he also found that the black-legged sheep — the sheep they cherished and wanted to call the Suffolk breed — had consumed nearly fifteen tons, while the others had consumed only thir- teen tons. The Suffolk cost Ss., while the Cotswold cost only Ss. 3d.; and he had sold the latter while the former were still running about. He wanted the farmers of Suffolk, before they took a breed and called it a Suffolk breed — before they invested their money in sheep merely because they had black legs and black heads, to take care and ascertain their fattening powers ; then they might call them a Suffolk breed if tbey liked. Sir Edward, whose voice unfortunately prevented his being very distinctly heard, proceeded to refer to the rifle corps topic, in regard to which he endorsed the views cf preceding speakers. " The judges, and thanks to them for their services." Mr. Barnett, in reply, said the show reflected very great credit upon the county, particularly as regards the horse stock, of which those who had been in the habit of attending the society's meetings had never seen so fine an exhibition. Allud- ing to the Royal Agricultural Society, for which Mr. Bar- thropp bad iccideutally expressed a hope that be should have responded, Mr. Barnttt added that that body might at the present moment have some little occasion to find fault, but he would only say that possibly any little error which might have occurred might be a stimulus to its future prosperity. " The successful exhibitors." Mr. G. D. Badham briefly expressed the p'easurc which be said he bad always felt in exhibiting animals of bis own breeding at the society's meeting. Major Parker, M.P., proposed the " exhibitors of imple- ments," associating with the toast the name of Mr. Allen Ran- scme. Mr. A. Ransome eaid, he had very great pleasure in ex- pressing the gratification and satisfaction which he himself aud those with whom he was associated felt, in knowing that their labours, and the direction in which they had been carried, had met with the kind approval of the members of the society. On the present occasiou they had felt it their bounden and para- mount duty to bring before the members as full and perfect an exhibition of implements as they possibly could, as the society had so kindly and willingly assisted them in carrying out the views which they had expressed in reference to showing im- plements at local shows ; and he trusted that after looking round the show yard that day, and seeing the very best speci- mens which could be procured not only from the county of Suffolk, but also from implement makers in all parts of the kingdom, the membera of the society would bear their testi- mony to the desire which he and his friends felt to promote the interest of the meeting in this respect. He believed that the course which had been adopted by the society in meeting the views of the implement makers (in regard to the absence of competitive trials for prizes) would stimulate other gentle- men who, considering the show as a purely local one, had hitherto held aloof, to make entries ; and as time advanced and the interest in agricultural exhibitions increased, the mem- bers of the association would no doubt see at their meetings the best implements the country could produce. He could not but refer to one implement which had been exhibited dur- ing the day, viz., the steam-plough. Through very much dis- couragement, through a large amount of expenditure, through evil report and good report, the endeavour to effect the tillage of the soil by steam had at length, be was proud to say, been successfully carried through. At lait such a state of perfection had been attained that be could unhesitatingly declare that every farmer who had a sufficient breadth of land to cultivate would make the use of the steam-plough advantageous Accustomed as he had been frcm his very childhood to the mechanics of agriculture — his father and grandfather having devoted themselves to the subject before him — he could say with perfect confidence, well advised, and with care- ful deliberation, that great as had been the advantages which science had already afforded to the farmer, they were light iu comparison with those which had been attained in the appli- cation of steam to the cultivatiou of the soil. They had had a specimen of what might be done ; and although he did not desire to arrogate to his firm anything but a small portion of the merit of having been the means of carrying to a successful consummation the ideas of others, he heartily congratulated his agricultural friends throughout the world on the prospect which was before them. He would speak not merely of the reduced cost of tilling so many acres of laud, but of the ex- traordinary advantage which steam- ploughing would afford them at a season of the year when their horses were otherwise employed, and when it was difficult to get this first great operation of agriculture performed, and of its adaptation to the heavy clay lauds of the kingdom, Every one who had 116 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, farmed such lands was aware that the difficulty of cultivating easily secured, and he thought he was not too sanguine in such soil to a sufficient depth was increased by the fact that while their implements required something more than four horses to do what they wanted effectually, these four horses did more harm by their treading than the tillage did good. By means of steam a deeper culture might be readily and saying, that in the cultivation of wet clay lands the accom- plishment of a deeper and more perfect tillage would be found a very great advantage. A few other toasts having been given, The President vacated the chair, after a very longsitting. AGRICULTURAL GATHERINGAT BOREHAM. A large number of agriculturists assembled on Wednes- day, at Boreham-park, the seat of Sir John T. Tyrell, Bart., for the purpose of witnessing the operation of mowing- machines and other implements, intended to economize time and labour on the harvest field. Among those whe re- sponded to the kind invitations of Sir John Tyrell on the occasion were the Lord Rayleigh, Lord Kinnaird, Right Hon. W.Nesbit Hamilton, Hon. Mr. Justice Bennett (New York), Sir Robert Pigot, Bart , Sir Claude de Crespigny> Bart., Admiral Meynell, Admiral Mc Hardy, W. Ormsby Gore, Esq., Major Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P., VVm. Becket, Esq., Colonel Boldero, H. Gataker, J. Hodgson, Philip Bennet, Henry Wigram, Benjamin Fitch (New York), Edgar Disney, J. Joliffe Tufnell, jun., J. Bramstone Stane, Charles Halesfoot, Francis Palmer, Thomas Kemble, W. Fisher Hobbs, W.M. Tuffnell, J. O. Parker, J. H. Blood, T. M. Gepp, H. Leigh, G. Hilton, G. Hilliard, Esqrs.; the Rev. C. J. Way ; Captain Johnson, R.N. ; Messrs. J. Wood, G. Hart, T. Crooks, T. Abrey, I. Perr}-, W. Tipley, T. Mee, Kemp, Maiden, F. Chancellor, Pertwee, Clarke, Christy, Reeve, &c. The mowing machines at work were two manufactured by Woods, and two by Burgess and Key, and half-an-acre of grass was allotted to each. There was on the lawn near the house the model of a new implement from America : " The Butfalo Mower and Reaper," exhibited by the engineer of the Hon. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Fitch. Mr. Cole- man had in operation on the ground an improved steam- power chaff-cutter, with new knives, which take nearly a perpendicular cut, making the power to draw it very light, and with a new roller, by which it is impossible to clog. He had likewise an improvement on his cultivator, in which tines are placed behind the wheels, and there is also a new side lever, by which the depth of the side wheels is more easily regulated. The guests were entertained by Sir John at luncheon, in a marquee on the lawn. At the close of the repast. Lord Rayleigh proposed " The health of Sir John Tyrell," with thanks to him for his hospitality and entertainment. Sir John Tvrell, in returning thanks, expressed his great attachment to agriculture — to the scientific branch of it, he hoped, as well as to the practical ; and it was most gratifying to him to see so many of his friends and neigh, hours, of all political views and shades of opinion in this countj', meet on the occasion without any of those bickerings that sometimes took place elsewhere. (Cheers). They had a tremendous failure with the mowing machine last year ; he was therefore anxious to see whether they could not mend the matter and do better this year; and having appointed three gentlemen, Mr. Seabrook, Mr. Pertwee, and Mr. William Clarke, to see what could be clone in re- ference to practical agriculture, he should be glad to hear what their report was as to the working of the machines to- day. No doubt it was a subject of interest to be in a posi- tion to see the implement that claimed the advantage amongst those which had been at work to-day. There waa also a model of another, which they had no doubt seen, exhibited by gentlemen from the United States, and it appeared of a very scientific nature ; but still it would have been more satisfactory to them if they could have seen the implement itself at work. This was a purely business meet- ing. He had no canvassing to do — he had nothing to ask of anybody ; he had no more unmixed gratification than on seeing his friends met there as they were on that occasion ; and if it was their pleasure to see any further experiments the cocker and the rakers should be set to work. (Hear, hear). He was told the labourers disliked mowing, which they called " shoulder work," and he hoped the time might come when they would not be called upon to go through so painful an operation. (Cheers and laughter). There were two gentlemen present, one of whom had the handle of " Honourable" to his name, and was a judge in his own country — a good judge, he should also say, of agriculture, or he would not have sent that first-rate model for their in- spection, which he hoped was aa earnest of what they should do next year. (Cheers). He begged to give the healths of the two American gentlemen to whom he referred — the Hon. Mr. Bennett and Mr. Fitch. (Drunk with three-times-thres). Mr. Bennett and Mr. Fitch duly acknowledged the compliment. " The Judges" having been toasted, Mr. Seabrook, in returning thanks, said he and his colleagues on the occasion had had little to do in making their decision, as there was no doubt as to which machine had done its work best. They were thankful to the Americans for introducing a mower that had done its work admirably, but every one must see that Burgess & Kej-'s mower had done its work best, though with what they con- sidered great labour, for it had two very powerful horses, and they had as much as they could carry. Still it did its work well. The little machine left an "outing;" but they thought, in proportion to the power used, it did its work the best of the three. They had also been shown the model of the American machine referred to, but Englishmen were jealous of giving an opinion on a model, and did not like to say a m.achine would do its work unless it was actually seen doing it. Had the machine been here, they might have tested it with the others. Of the three that were at work he should prefer the little one, with some slight alterations at the side, to make it cut its " outings." It should, how- ever, be added, that the time was very much in favour of Wood's two-horse machine, which cut its half-acre in twenty minutes — that was an acre in forty minutes, or fifteen acres a day — while the one-horse, and Burgess & Key's, did the half-acre in thirty-three minutes. Several other healths were drunk (including that of" The Lsdiea," by Sir Claupe de Crkspignv), and the company THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 117 adjourned to the park, where the horse-rakers were at work gathering up the crop that had been cut. Sir John having gathered a circle around him, called at- tention to a matter in practical haymaking. Alluding to the different haj--rakers, and the improvements that had been made in them, he said none of them would clear more than 2J feet in height. Therefore, he came in with a wooden rake, partially invented by himself, for it was the old Huntingdon implement, and he attached to it a twitch rake, which was now a matter of history — (laughter)— for not being now an arable farmer he did not want it any longer — (renewed laughter)— and with this he could clear ^ve or si? feet into the air, while, as he had said, the other rakes would not clear more than 2^ feet. Thus, with this implement, if there came rain, he could clear four acres while the other rakes would only clear about half that space. The cocker, mention of which was made at luncheon, was then set to work, and its advantage was seen in the rapid manner in which it laid hold of the scattered crop and drove it into high heaps, so that a man following with a fork could at once complete the cock; and thus a large breadth, in case of storms threatening, could be speedily secured. The proceedings, we need hardly say, afforded unmixed gratification to all who had the opportunity of witnessing them. THE MALT-TAX AND THE LABOURER. Sir,— The letter of your correspondent, who signs himself Thos. Rose, jun., which appeared in your last week's impres- sion, although decidedly clever and satirical, appears to me ingeniously to have put things in a wrong light, and to have taken too oae-sided a view of the question at issue. Mr. Rose finds fault with the following sentence, taken from a lecture " On the Profession of Agriculture, &c.," lately delivered by Mr. Bond, of Kentwell :^ " To me it is perfectly clear, that the poor man— with his difficult practical problem to solve, with his wife, children, and himself to be maintained upon his 83. or lOs. a week — beer is a necessary comfort rather than a superfluous luxury." Mr. Rose in this simple sentence appears to find problems greater and more difficult to solve than are to be found in that useful book, " The Elements of Euclid." Well, it is an aston- ishing fact, that a great philosopher may often be perplexed by a difficulty which would not puzzle a child ; however, if Mr. R. will allow me, I will try to answer his questions by endea- vonring to explain what I understand to be the meaning of this very obscure and enigmatical passage which he finds so great a stumbling-block. Mr. Rose asks, 1st, " How beer can be proved to be a necessary comfort?" 2ud, " What necessary comfort has to do with 83. to IO3. aweek?" 3rd, "Is beer more nutritious and less expensive than solid food ?" And 4th, " What is the nourishing property of beer?" He then endea- vours to prove, by various little arithmetical sums, that beer is not so nourishing as wheaten flour ; goes on to say, that as Mr. Bond calls beer " the poor man's especial beverage," so he (Mr. R.), from the large amount of gin consumed in town, would call this spirit " the drink of the people," and says that, reasoning from analogy, if we abolish the malt-tax for the benefit of the labourer, we ought also to banish the excise officer for the benefit of the town population ; and concludes his letter by ironically supposing, that if beer and spirits were cheaper, drunkenness and crime would decrease. Now, Sir, I cannot pretend to write such a clever letter as your correspondent, but feeling strongly as I do that I am writing on the side of truth, I will endeavour to answer him. I think that beer may be proved to be " a necessary comfort rather than a superfluous luxury." Let any man who doubts this live as an English labourer has to live when his family is large, and wages are low ; i. e., let him take a large amount of physical exertion, and abstain from meat and all other stimu- lant. No one but he who has tried it knows what a craving there is in this case for stimulant of some kind. No one but he who has tried it can properly understand how it is that au English labourer has such a strong liking for beer ; and no one but he who has lived long in an agricultural district can sufficiently understand and admire how it is that so many cf our labourers feehng this violent craving a strong temptation to enter the beer-shop (the only place where many of them can obtain their favourite luxury), yet so nobly and manfully resist it. When we consider the natural effects of the drugged beer of the publican we need not wonder at the extent of drunken- ness and crime (the seeds of which have been sown at the beer- shop), but rather wonder that it is not five times larger in our country districts than it is. I believe the result is entirely owing to the forbearance and self government of the agricul- tural labourer, which ia not nearly 30 much recognized as it should be. To the man who has it in his power to eat meat daily, beer may be a luxury. I do not deny it ; but O ye who would deprive the poor man of a great comfort in your mistaken benevolence. Try physical labour yourselves on graniverous diet, and then, and not till then, can you fairly pronounce what is a necessary comfort to the poor man, and what a superfluous luxury. To Mr. Rose's next question — " What necessary comfort has to do with 83. to 10s. a week ?" I would simply remark, that low wages will not allow a labourer with a large family to indulge in a sufficient quantity of meat ; he consequently feels a stronger craving after other stimulus. To the other questions—" Is beer more nutritious and less expensive than solid food?" and "Wherein does its real nourishing property consist ?" I would reply, that, strictly speaking, beer is not so nutritious as food, for we know that a man can live without beer, but not without food. Beer is a stimulant, and like other stimulants, as tea, coffee, &c., it does not entirely usurp the place of food, but it enables us to do with a less amount, and to enjoy that less amount with greater zest. If there is no use in stimulants, why then do doctors prescribe port wine, pale ale, fee. as tonics ? From ignorance, or is it that they know from experience that such treatment generally has a happy effect ? But to take a practical illustration, let us take two sets of labourers, four or five men in each, engaged at the same sort of work. Set No. 1 shall be allowed homebrewed beer, in moderation ; set No. 2 shall have no beer ; in other respects their diet shall be the same. How will they work ? Nearly every farmer can testify from his own experience that the for- mer will do a larger share of work with greater good humour and less fatigue, and on the next morning will be more fresh and ready for work than the others. But chemists tell us that meat itself is a stimulant. Prof. Johnston (Lectures on Ag, 118 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Chemistry and Geology) states that leaa meat contains 77 per cent, of its weight in water, while wheateu flour contains only 15 to 17 per cent, of water— a great difference; and several eminent French chemists assure us that meat is not so nutri- tious as bread, and that the utility of meat consists in its stimulating properties. In another place I have quoted the " Chemistry of Common Life" to prove that, in all parts of the inhabited earth, the uni- versal feeling of mankind demands some kind of stimulant. Then why should the English labourer be required to live without any ? Or, why should a legislative enactment drive him to the beer-shop, instead of allowing him this " necessary comfort" at his fireside ? If by law we can so regulate matters that every labourer can have meat daily, they will not com- plain ; if we cannot, let them have cheap malt. To Mr. Rose's concluding remarks I would say, that there is little analogy between gin and beer ; true they both contain alcohol, and if a man imbibes a sufficient quantity of either it will make him drunk ; but, as Fluellen says of the rivers, in his amusing comparisou of Macedon and Monmouth, " There is salmons in both," so one likeness does not prove that the analogy is the same in other cases. A man ought to take beer for " strength, and not for drunkenness;" it might form part of his temperate and healthy meal, and it would do so more often were the malt-tax abolished. But what are the good effects of gin ? Few indeed in comparison with the evil. We know too well its general effect on the London poor ; we know too well the squalor, the unhappiness, the misery, the ruin it bringa. The Arabs of our streets — the miserable, the thief, the prostitute, and the murderei- — carry the proceeds of vice to the gaudy gin-palace, and forget their misery for the moment in the ensnaring glass, only to feel the more wretched and miserable when they wake from their drunken stupor. I cannot see any benefit in cheaper gin ; but give the agricul- tural labourer the means of brewing his national beverage at his own cottage, and I repeat it, in rural districts drunkenness and crime will decrease. Apologizing for the length of my letter, and enclosing my card for your private satisfaction, I am, Sir, yours obediently, I. R. ALEXANDRE DE HUMBOLDT. [translated froai the frknch of the "journal d'agriculture pratique."] The life of Alexandre de Humboldt is written in every book consecrated to science, letters, and the arts. Posses- sing an enlarged mind, an indefatigable worker, endowed ■with extraordinary erudition, versed in botany, geology, astronomy, physics, chemistry, geography, the ancient and modern languages, political economy, the philosophy of all human knowledge, this for ever illustrious man has left in- delible traces in the scientific revolutions of the eighteenth century, which he saw completed, and of the nineteenth, which he has accompanied beyond the half. But in order to delineate so learned a man, and give a complete appreciation of his labours, we must, in following his works line by line, give ourselves up to deep meditations, and consecrate long days to a study which will certainly be fertile in instruc- tion. At this moment, in which his coffin has scarcely passed through the crowd, who run to cast laurels upon it — a crowd of peasants, citizens, learned men, warriors, princes, and royal personages — it may not be proper, as the selection which these lines will contain might otherwise require, to search out and tell the general influence exercised by M. de Humboldt over the progress of science, and particularly that cf agriculture. Perhaps it is this that may entitle us to a pardon for our rashness in improvising a notice of euch a man. We are not accustomed to consider agriculture as capable of receiving even a reflection of the movements pro- duced in civilization by great intelligences. And certainl}' few persons are disposed to admit that M. de Humboldt has contributed to the progress of agriculture which distin- guishes our age. It is so, nevertheless ; and it is not one of the least of the glories of that great man. In fact, all things meet in .agriculture, because all proceed from it. If a strong impulse is given to the progress of human know- ledge, the science of production must feel it ; and besides, there are perhaps no men who can be more useful to agri- culture than travellers who observe, study, and discover the laws of life on the surface of our planet. Now, M. de Hum- boldt has been the greatest of observers amongst travellers of modern times. Frederick-Henry. Alexander baron de Humboldt vfts born at Berlin the 14th September, 1769, and died in that city the 7th May, 1859. He was the son of an officer who served in the seven years' war as Adjutant of Duke Ferdi- nand of Brunswick, and cf a mother descending from a French family who quitted Burgundy upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He thus inherited from his cradle the force and fulness of the German character, and the generosity of the French heart. Having completed the most brilliant literary and scientific course of studies, under distinguished masters, he composed, in 1789, an erudite me- moir on the manner in which the Greeks wove their stuffs, and a work on the geology of the countries bordering the Rhine. It was the epoch in which chemistry under Scheele, Priestley, Lavoisier, Berthollet, &c., achieved a great revolu- tion, and passed definitively from empiricism to the exact observation of facts susceptible of serving as a basis to fruit- ful doctrines. It was the period also in which botany was all at once enriched with numerous families, by the compara- tive study of plants of various countries, and in which sprung the fossil flora. Geology was founded under Wer- ner, Leopold de Buch, and others. Listly, the experiments of Galvani opened a new world to the researches of the phy- sici.an and the physiologist. The intelligence of M. de Plumboldt was powerfully excited by these discoveries, and he published, ona soon after the other, a subterranean flora.and a work on the irritability of the muscular fibres ; and at the same time becoming the fellow-labourer of the great poet Schiller, he developed under a mythical form his first per- ceptions upon the vital forces, or what he calls " the Rho- dian Spirit" (Genie Rhodien). But iu order to demonstrate the truth of his ideas, it was necessary that the bold young man should dive into the secrets of Nature iu iiU parts of the world ; and he pre- pared himself, by diligent study, for undertaking the travels which were likely to afford him his illustrations. He accus- tomed himself to the practice of astronomical observations, physics, and chemistry. He understood the use of the telescope, the compass, the barometer, the crucible, and the microscope ; and it was necessary for him to take with him THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. il9 the instruments of investigation of all the scieuces. It was only after this laborious apprenticeship that he considered himself qualified to set out. We cannot follow him in all his travels, and shall only say that he -went with M. Bonp- land into Spain in the winter of 1798-9, that in the middle of the summer of 1799 he made the ascension of the Peak of Teneriffe, and that he was found a few days later at Cumana on the American soil. This was the theatre he desired for his researches. His principal object was to discover the junction of the Orinoco with the river of the Amazons, respec- ting which eminent geographers had expressed doubts. M. de Humboldt did not hesitate to clear the most abrupt cataracts, and to navigate waters never before seen by Eu- ropeans. Having established the correctness of his views on this important geographical question, he set out for the island of Cuba, and from thence transported himself to Peru, studied with intrepid attention the Cordilleras of the Andes, the volcanoes of Quito, the Plateau of Bogota, made in June 1802 the ascent of Chimborazo, and reached the elevation of nearly 6,000 metres (19,685 feet), the highest point to which any person has yet ascended. He then went through Mexico, returned to the Havana, and finally to Eu- rope, after an absence of five years. The results of this memorable scientific expedition were enormous, and are recorded in a monumental work com- prising 26 volumes — an encyclopaedia rich in materials, which will form, for a long period, a mine for the working of all the learned. It was on this voyage that M. de Hum- boldt collected and brought home the first specimen of guano that had been seen in Europe, and which was analyzed by Fourcroy and Vauquelin. M. de Humboldt described accvi- rately, in 1804, the Chincha Islands, from whence come almost all the guano now employed in agriculture in Europe, He pointed out the immemorial use of this substance, as manure, by the Indians, and imitated by the Spanish con- querors of the new world. It was also this journey which enabled the illustrious savant to compose his splendid work on the geography of plants, and to enrich botany with valuable memoirs of a great number of vegetable families, amongst which are the leguminous and gramineous. We find, therefore, that Agriculture ought to place the name of Hum- boldt amongst those of its benefactors. Let the cultivators read an admirable little work entitled '■ Tableaux de la Nature" (Sketches of Nature), and they will learn to love this man, who has described so well the phenomena of the life of the plants and animals which people our planet, in the moat beautiful of its manifestations. Those who daily contemplate the lands they cultivate, will find a peculiar charm in nice and intricate comparisons between the various aspects of the earth under its different latitudes. There we meet unexpectedly — as in the " Cosmos," the last great work of M. de Humboldt — with the most ingenious views relating to the reflex action of the exterior upon the interior world, on the end of man, on the laws by which Nature is governed here below, and on the planetary and stellary spaces. We owe also to M. de Humboldt other works having a direct relation to agriculture. It Avas he who, in conjunc- tion with Gay-Lussac, by a new method, still employed in the analyzation of the gases, established the constancy of the composition of atmospheric air — certainly the most im- portant discovery yet made upon the constitution of the atmosphere. It led to the discovery of the part or use of oxygen in the respiration of animals, and that of carbonic acid in the existence of plants. M. de Humboldt has also ascertained the laws of the distribution of heat on the sur- face of our globe. He has constructed imaginary belts of equal temperature, termed isothermal lines, which serve to define the climates, and has thus determined the limits of the cultivation of plants, the necessity of hot or temperate houses, and the precautions to be taken in the acclimatiza- tion of vegetables. On his return from the New World, M. de Humboldt allied himself in the most intimate friendship with all the great men of our country (France), and he adopted it for his second native land. He lived more than twenty years at Paris, quitting it only for scientific expeditions ; or to bring to a bearing, difficult diplomatic negociations, which kings were in- duced to trust to him, because he had the art of uniting men, of appeasing their discords, and rendering them favourable. Was it possible for two friends of Humboldt to remain enemies to each other ? In the meanwhile, in 1827, Prussia deprived us of the great scholar, a member of the Institute of France from 1810. But he stayed at Berlin in the first instance only two years, and then set out on a journey across the unknown countries of Central Asia ; which, we may say, he discovered, as he had made the scientific discovery of the New World. He dissi- pated the numerous errors accumulated in the old systems of geography, respecting the cradle of the world ; and established the general nature of the laws which he had found in America, upon the meteorological constitution of our globe. On his re- turn from Asia he continued his valuable publications ; and henceforth occupied among the learned the position of the re- vered patriarch. He was then already sixty years old and upwards, and we have bad the happiness of posssessing him still thirty years in the world, which has enabled him to leave us such vast works that M. Hoefer has, with the unanimous approval of tha whole learned world, called him " the modern Aristotle," in a splendid memoir in the BiograpMe Generate, published by Messrs. Didot. The day after the decease of M. de Humboldt, before that his mortal remains were removed to repose in the Park of Tegel, near those of his brother WUliam, the French Govern- ment honoured itself by decreeing that a statue should be raised to him in the Galleries of Versailles, in the midst of the greatest glories of France. The heart of M. de Humboldt was of equal expanse with his intelligence ; he was always good and generous. How many young students owe their advancement to him ! He helped them with his influence and his purse, and displayed even an extreme anxiety to oblige them. When M. Boussin- gault was about to start, in 1820, for the New World, whence he also has returned with honours, M. de Humboldt made himself the fellow-student of hia young competitor, in order to teach him the use of those same instruments which he himself had used in the interests of science with so much eclat twenty years earlier. Whenever a young man addressed himself to him, he expressed an eagerness to do all in his power to be useful to him. We shall allow ourselves to relate a personal fact. In 1844 we presented to him, at Berlin, a letter from hia illustrious friend, M. Arago ; in the evening, this aged man of seventy-five sought us out, to give us ten letters of recommendation, which he had hastened to write in order to facilitate our introduction to the savants, and other great per- sonages of Germany. He was thus with everybody, affable, conversable, witty, and cheerful ; benevolent, complaisant, generous. At all times he advocated the cause of liberty and freedom, and he loved the people as men. Three weeks before hia death— before that death whose approach he had foreseen, and had foretold for 1859 (in a letter written in 18W)— he wrote to M. Boussingault : " I do not love war; but if it must break out, I cannot help expressing the most ardent wishes for the independence of Italy." J. A. Bakkai. K 120 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. REVIEWS. JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE OF UPPER CANADA, Vol. U. Toronto: Thompson and Co., 1858. CANADIAN AGRICULTURIST AND JOURNAL, AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE BOARD OF AGRICUL- TURE OF UPPER CANADA, March, 1859. Toronto : Thompson and Co. The prosperity of a new country like Canada is best as- certained through the progress it makes in agriculture. The first duty of a colony is to occupy and cultivate the land for a sub- sistence ; and when that object is attained, to endeavour to secure markets for the disposal of a surplus of produce. The one is the dictate of self-preservation ; the other, the desire of accumulation. It is not until a new nation feels itself strong enough by the attainment of the latter object, that a portion of its resources can safely be devoted to other objects ; and it then becomes a question of policy, determined by the relative price or value of labour, whethei it is advisable to establish manufactures of articles that can be obtained of older states much cheaper, and in exchange for the products of agriculture. In a new country where land is abundant and cheap, the legitimate employment of the people is agriculture, and every portion of labour employed in manufacture retards, to that extent, the progress of the cultivation of the soil and the occupation of the land. We have a notable example of this in the case of the United States. It has been thought advisable to establish manu- factures at an expense to the people of not less than from twenty-five to thirty millions sterling per annum ; whilst at the same time labour is so dear, that the proper cultivation of the land is neglected, and the produce is consequently yearly falling off. Hear what the Hon. Horace Greely stated at an agricultural fair recently held in Fayette County, Indiana, on the subject. " It is a melancholy truth that while the acreable produce of Great Britain has increased at least fifty per cent, within the last century, that of the United States has actually fallen off ! With all our boasted progress, our fairs and premiums, our books and periodicals treating wholly or mainly of agriculture, our subsoil ploughs and vastly improved implements, our self-glorifying orations and addresses at gatherings like this, and our constant presumptions and assumptions that no people were ever so enlightened and free from antiquated prejudices as ours — this is the net result. Even I can remember when the New England farmers grew wheat as an ordinary crop ; now you shall not find a patch of wheat grown this year or to be grown next, on one New England farm in five hundred. Thirty-five years ago, when I was a boy employed at land-clearing in Western Vermont, I used to see thirty or forty wheat-laden waggons pass daily in October and November, on their way to market at Troy or Albany ; now, Vermont does not export a bushel of wheat, but imports at least two-thirds of the flour consumed by her people. In those days, western New York produced larger crops of wheat than any other section of our union; and ' Genessee flour' was about the best that could be bought anywhere. To-day, New England not only does not, but could not, by her ordinary processes, produce eight bushels of wheat to each arable acre ; while the product of my own State does not exceed ten bushels from each acre sown. " We are quite likely, before the close of this century, not to be able to grow enough for our use. Our longest cultivated aoil IS, on the average, far poorer this day than it was when t^olumbus first set his foot on the shore of the New World and the larger part of it is steadily growing worse. Old Jamestown, the site of the first attempt of Englishmen to colonize North America, could be bought to-day for less than it was worth in John Smith's time; and Plymouth Rock, though not quite so badly ran down, cannot prudently take on ail 3 at the expense of her rival. There are hundreds of square miles together of Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas that yield absolutely nothing, and are scarcely worth taking at a gift ; that is to say, it would be cheaper to buy good lands at 50 dol. per acre, than to take those at a present and make them worth as much as the former. In whole sections they know no other way of renovating worn-out fields than to throw them into commons, and let them grow up to bushes, and ul- timately to wood, then clear and start afresh — which is a little * behind the agricultural wisdom of the days of Moses." The above is a valuable lesson for Canadian farmers, of which those of the Upper Province do not fail to avail them- selves. The agricultural reports will be read with interest by those who have the welfare of our Canadian brethren at heart. The agricultural associations are sustained with great spirit, and the best proof of their efficacy in promoting an improved cultivation of the land, is found in the increasing quantity of produce exported and the large acreage yield of the land. The opening up of roads and water-ways for getting the produce to market has involved heavy expense to the young colony, but the money could not have been expended on a better object, and will soon be repaid by the great facility it affords for reaching the Atlantic coast, which is now within a few hours' journey of any part of Canada, by the Great Trunk Railway. The " Canada Company " is the subject of some severe animadversions in the first of these Journals. Their operations appear to have been conducted on a system, profitable enough to the company, but inimical alike to the interests of the country, and fatally so to those who have been unfortunate enough to take leases of their lands — for they refuse to sell, because as the country becomes more densely inhabited the land becomes more valuable. Eleven hundred thousand acres of the finest land in Canada (the Huron district) in one block was sold by Government to this Company at 23. lO^d. per acre. This land is now valued at 128. 6d. per acre to the lessee, who is charged a rent of six per cent, upon that sum. Thus, if a man rents two hundred acres of uncleared land, he has to pay £7 lOs. interest, and in ten years to pay the whole purchase money, £125, or be further saddled with 25 per cent, upon the purchase money, or in default, the land reverts to the Com- pany. Most of the lessees being poor, and having to clear the land, were unable to pay even the interest or rent, much less the purchase money, until four or five years ago the ad- vance in the price of corn turned the scale in their favour and enabled them to fulfil their engagements. It ought to be ad- ded that although hundreds of lessees have become defaulters, the Company has not availed itself generally of its power to dispossess them ; but, that the system they pursue is narrow, selfish, and inimical to the welfare of the Colony, is admitted on all hands. Canada we have always considered the most important and valuable colony under the British Crown ; certainly the most of a home to the English emigrant. He there meets with familiar faces, and familiar names of towns and counties. There is something attractive and soothing to the feelings of the wanderer from his native laud thus to find a second England, two or three thousand miles away, with all the advantages of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 121 exemption from the burdens of the " Old Country ; " whilst in the agricultural institutions he finds an exact counterpart of what he has left. England has a peculiar interest in the prosperity of Canada, and we cannot but rejoice to find these institutions so vigorously and efficiently sustained. " THE WAY TO BE WELL." By Horatio Goodday, M.R.C.S. (London : Hatchard and Co., Piccadilly.) This is a clever and important compendium of the means of promoting health and longevity, compiisiug iu about one hun- dred pages 12 mo. all that is valuable in the wire-drawn work of Sir John Sinclair on the same subject, which fills two or three thick octavos. ^ Dr. Goodday, in his introduction, justly states that although the efforts of the Government may do much to promote the physical welfare of the community at large, it is only by indi- vidual attention to the means of preserving health, that the benefit of the more public arrangements for that purpose can be available. The requirements he enumerates are : " Intel- lectual, moral, and religious culture in relation to God, our- selves, and fellow-creatures ; a pure atmosphere ; protection by dress and habitation against extremes of heat, cold, and damp; alternate exercise and rest; clean linen and diet." These are the principles inculcated in the little work, and enlarged upon under the following heads, viz. — The Sabbath Day— The A.traosphere— Ventilation— Tem- perature and Humidity — Dress — Cleanliness — Exercise and Rest — Food — Tobacco-smoking — Excretion — Medical Aid. In placing the Sabbath day and its due observance as a day of rest and of moral and religious culture, the writer has struck at the root of nearly all the evils destructive of the well-being of soriety. Assuredly, as a rule, it is amongst the habitual Sabbath-breakers that we may look for the drunkard, the uncleanly — the neglecter, in short, of all those laws by which the physical endurance of man is promoted. Dr. Good- day justly observes that, " As a weekly rest, the Sabbath day is necessary to restore what the previous six days' toil has exhausted of the physical and mental energies. This rule applies to all who live by labour of mind or body." " On the ( other hand," he says again, " it is because God's Sabbath is dishonoured, and the Christian virtues are not cultivated, that life becomes so often a tesselated stage of strife, anger, malice, revenge, jealousy, mortified pride, remorse, despair, selfishness, drunkenness, debauchery, and other vices." We have no hesitation in adding our firm belief that if the Sab- bath day was universally observed, as it was originally designed to be, there would be more people live to the age of a hundred years than now die at seventy. We strongly recommend this little book to the attention of our readers. FARM INSECTS ; being the Natural History and Economy of the Insects injurious to the Field Crops of Great Britain and Ireland; and also of those which infest Barn3 and Granaries, with suggestions for their destruction. Illustrated with many hundred figures on steel and wood. By John Curtis, F.L.8., Honorary Secretary of the Ashmoleau Society of Oxford, and of the Entomological Society of France, &c., &c. (Blackie and Son, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London.) Whilst chemical and mechanical science have justly obtained a permanent footing with the agricultural classes, and even botany— abstruae and intricate as are the nomenclature of families, tribes, and species— has received considerable atten- tion from them, the science of entomology, which is of equal or rather superior importance with this latter, is almost an un- known language. The extent to which agriculture annually suffers from the devastation of the insect tribes, is incalculable » and it might be supposed that the special attention of the practical farmer would have been directed to the subject, in order to acquire a knowledge of the habits, mode of propaga" tion, and means for destroying, these pests of the farm. Yet, we go on year after year snflfering from these ravages, and looking on with a sort of sullen despair, as to the utility of any method for their prevention or destruction, or any investi- gation into their natural history and economy. Mr. Curtis, who stands at the head of British entomologists, is therefore performing an act of grace to agriculturists in bringing his extensive knowledge and intelligence to bear upon this subject, so replete as it is with interest and importance to them. This work will be comprised in eight parts, each of which will contain two engraved plates of insects, and numerous other illustrations. It commences with the "Turnip crop," and the numerous enemies with which that plant has to contend, from the development of its first leaf to its approach to maturity. It is, however, in the former stage of its existence that it most generally and fatally suffers from the ravages of the " fly," which is a small black or brown beetle, sometimes striped, of the Coleoptera order. It bears the various names of fly, beetle, flea, black jack, and the classical or scientific one of Altica nemorum, alluding to its jumping, and its inhabiting woods and groves, previous to the turnip culture in this country. A complete history of this little destructive is given iu the work, with the various expedients employed for its destruction. We are glad to see that, amongst these, Mr. Curtis has revived the " Paul-net," which we believe to have been a complete cure when perseveriugly used as soon as the " fly" made its appear- ance.* It was exhibited at Holkham about the year 1808, and was patronized by Mr. Coke ; but it was not generally adopted, on account chiefly, we believe, of its occasioning some addi- tional trouble to the farmer. It is only by perseverance that any gooA can arise from the use of this or any other means of cure. The importance, however, of the turnip crop and the extensive loss of that crop of late years, would, we should suppose, induce a farmer to try every expedient to pre- vent it in future. Mr. Curtis states that in Devonshire alone, in 1786, 100,000 acres were destroyed by it ; and we know that last year many farmers had to sow the land three times, on account of its ravages. Various methods are recommended for its destruction, in the work before us, amongst which we do not see that of drilling rape or even charlock seed midway between the rows of tur- nips, taking care to steep the rape or charlock some hours before sowing, in order that they may come up first ; and when they are up, and the fly at work upon them, use the Paul-net, by which the field may be cleared of them before the turnips appear. Some farmers sow these seeds with the turnip-seed, because the fly is more fond of them than of the turnips; so that while they are devouruig them, the latter grow out of their way ; but this is a dangerous expedient. Perhaps, after all, the most effectual mode of preventing the destructive ravages of the turnip-fly is to ensure as rapid a growth as possible, and to put in plenty of seed. The latter * Mr. Paul ('of Sturston, in Norfolk), the inventor, never lost a crop of turnips by the fly after he employed tlie net, or rather bag. He also invented a not for taking aphides, or green lice, off the beans, and has taken as many as twelve bushels off a small field of about six or eiglit acres. The writer knew this gentleman well, he being a relative of the family. K 2 / 122 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. plan will give trouble to the hocrs ; but of course the more plants there are, the more likely is it that some will escape. Tne turnip saw-fly, the parent of the black caterpillar, is another of the most destructive enemies of the turnip, but its appearance is eudemic and at few-and-far-between periods. Although this fly has become naturalized in Great Britain, vre believe that it is a native of the continent, from whence innu- merable swarms arrive at times on our coasts, eapecially those of Norfolk, on which they have been seen on arrival Ijing two inches deep on the cliffs, quite exhausted alter their flight from Norway, Holland, or France. Marshall, in his " Rural Economy of Norfolk," has given a long aud interesting ac- count of this insect, to which Mr. Curtis refers. This vora- cious intruder upon the farm makes as quick work with a field of plants after they are hoed out, as the fly does with it in its first stage of growth. In 1835, which Mr. Curtis denomi- nates the "canker year," it appears to have been more general than was ever known before, and to have committed greater ravages ; its visit lastiug from the middle of August to the latter end of October. Well may the farmers dread the ap- pearance of this pest. The moat effectual remedy proposed is the employment of ducks aud chickens in large numbers. Where this remedy has been applied the turnip crop has been saved ; and the only j difficulty is in collecting a sufficient number of those birds to produce the effect. OLher remedies hive been resorted to, but none have proved so effectual, and attended with so Hltle trouble or expense. The present remarks apply to the first number of Mr. Ciirtis's work, in which the subject is amply discussed, and I cannot fail of proving both interesting and useful to the farmer, being a practical as well as a scientific history of all those enemies to agriculture, whose legions baflle his efforts and neutralize his most skilful arrangements. The remedial mea- sures proposed are suggestive rather than dogmatic, and em- brace the practice of some of our most eminent agriculturists. We shall notice the succeeding numbers of the work as they appear. EXHIBITORS' ERRORS AND JUDGES' DUTIES, The season lias now fairly set in, and the agricultuval "public" have been very busy of late. In fact they have been almost too much so. Gentlemen in authorily and stock of repute have been hurried here one day and there the next, with rather more haste than was altogether convenient or desirable. We have only to trust that the newly-established Society in Essex and its elder brother in Norfolk will not get to loggerheads, but for the future so arrange their meet- ings as to accommodrite rather than to embarrass each other. Nothing could be possibly easier than to deter- mine on a few days' grace between the two. Both Associations would of course be all tiie better for such an understanding, while just a line early in the year from one Secretary to the other would put everything straight. There was no valid reason that we know of why the meeting at Swafi'ham should be held on the Wednesday, and that at Colchester on the Thursday in the same week. No doubt both sulTercd something I'rom so untoward an opposition, and the Essex, Nor- folk, and Suffolk Societies must henceforth settle their several show days so as to aid aud not to impede each other. It is simply the difference between " feeding" and starving; and there arc few such Inslitutionsstron"- enough to fight it out to the last after the admirable example of the Highland and Yorkshire administra- tions, who have succeeded this year again in con;in"- into collision. A word on this wc should hope would bo su/Rcient. True, that the indefatigable Mr. Torr can arrive from SwafFham in Colchester at two in the morning, and be on the show ground at seven. Admitted, that Mr. Sexton's Cotswold per- formed yet more wonderful ibats in the way of casting his coat and changing his quarters. Tlie common run ofuM, however, are scarcely equal to this, and many a man who otherwise might have visited l)oth meetings seldom cared to do so when ho found ho had to be abroad half the night to accomplish it. Even railway travel- ling may be a little overdone. It would, indeed, have been far easier to have struck out for the Land's End, and have witnessed the very successful meeting ot the Cornwall Agricul- tural Society at St. Austell. We notice this as remark- able not merely for the good breeds of stock that arc now developing themselves in those remote regions ; Devons, Shorthorns, and Hercfords all apparently flourish there. 'J he show, liowever, was yet more noticeable for the home-truths which it gave rise to. Neighbour-exhibiter and stranger-visitor met one and tlie other with the famous Cornish hug. Either went in at once for the throw. Said the natives, when they saw how the awards were placed—" The sooner the=c fellows are packed off again to Devonshire, < or wherever else they came from, the better." Tlio judges, in replj', defended themselves in this wise : — Captain Tanner Davy, on behalf of the judges of the Devon cattle, said : " I bog to thank you for the honour you have done us. I hope our decisions have given you satisfaction ; they have satisfied us, and I hope they have satisfied you. I don't much care whether they have satisfied you or not. You put the matter into our hands to decide. I knew no person in the county; I knew no person's stock. We decided according to the best of curability. No doubt theio must be dissatisfaction, because every cxhibiter going into a show-yard is prepared to look with a very power- ful magnilying-glass at the good qualities of his animal, and he does not see any defect. We (the Judges) must apply powerful glasses to see the defects, and must award the prizes to those animals that possess the greatest number of good points— the greatest quantity of beef on the most valuable parts. As soon as my decisions were over, I took olf my badge and walked about the yard to hear the leniarks. One liot-he:ided THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 123 old geutleiiian said we ought to be put in the train and sent oft' to Devonshire. I asked him to be kind enougli to tell me what it was all about; he pointed to a second-rate bull in the old class, and said it was better than the first-prize bull. I said, ' Why it is a year and four months older, and yet it girtlis only one inch more; and that is very little for an animal to grow in a year and four months.' That he admitted; ' but' he said ' 'tis a better bull altogether.' I told him the first-prize bull was of very much better quality, from head to tail. He said he had nothing to say to tliat, but tlio other was a better bull. On that I said ' 1 have nothing more to say to you,' and we parted company. — Some of our friends have remarked that Cornishraen have been found fault with, for not knowing how to farm. «* But they know how to make young bulls very fat at a very early age. There's no doubt of that. My friends and I have often before been called on for this sort of work ; and thci"efoi"e Cornish fat could not entice us from certain animals which had tendency to fatten. I contend it was our duty as Judges, not to be led away by fat ani- mals, but to see if there were not other animals, in fair condition, with a tendency to fatten, and of much more even shape. I would draw attention to the first-prize bull and the thii-d-prize bull in the second-class. They would be called by some persons two small, poor little things. But why ? Only because so many cwt. of oil- cake had not passed through them. Put as much oil- cake or other nutritive matter into them, and put them side by sid« with others, and then see how they would look. But, you know, fat will often cover deficiencies. These little animals that we have awarded the prizes to were not fat, but they have tendency to fatten, and it would require more powerful eyes than I possess to point out any deficiencies in their present state. I should not be afraid to meet any gentleman dissatisfied with our awards, and if he would walk about the yard with me, I would fight him, from head to tail, as to any animal that has won a prize. There was among the cows an animal that you may wonder did not get a prize. We did not notice her at all. One gentleman informed me we did not know any thing about it. I re- plied, ' Very likely not,' but I said, ' The prize is offered for Devon Cows, as milking cows. This cow is owned by a gentleman I have known many years. She is a very beautiful animal — of beautiful quality, and the best shaped cow in the class, in my opinion. But she gave milk only at one teat ; and I did not consider that a cow so injured was a iit animal to receive a prize as a milking cow. In agriculture, milk is a rather important element of produce, and butter sells at a good price. We know that it is an all-prevailing law in the animal kingdom, that like produces like; and I believe that the oflspring of that cow would be diseased — not to the same extent, but in the same way that she herself is. For that reason we did not award her a prize.' I have mentioned these reasons to you, and let all who are dissatisfied go home and ruminate upon them. I would appeal to any practical man of unbiassed mind, whether they are not reasons that ought to weigh with those who have the duties of judges in a show-yard." This is ratlicr a long extract; but it is a good, straight-forward, practical speech, full of truths and facts that have been too often shirked, and we should be sorry that our readers should miss it. Captain Davy, however, might have been a little irate at the compliments ho received as to " knowing nothing about it," and " going off home." But he was fol- lowed by Mr. Pliillips, of Totncs, who spoke for the judges of Shorthorns, and who spoke for the Shorthorns much after the fashion Captain Davy did for the DevoDS : — " I am now going to advert to a subject which has already been introduced. It is a growing evil, and one that ought to be put a stop to, tlie exhibiting on these occasions stock that have been artificially brought to an unnatural size, only for the purpose of getting prizes. It is an injury both to the public and the breeder; because such animals seldom breed; and if they do, they rarely produce good stock. I believe the remedy is in the hands of the committees who ap- point the judges. You know fall well that on many occasions there is placed in the hands of judges a rule that they should not award prizes to stock in an unfit state for breeding. The question is, do they adhere to that ? I say not. Invariably this question is entirely overlooked, because those who have the management of these societies consider that if they were to carry out this rule they would injure the show, as such and such fat stock from certain breeders would not be exhibited. But I contend it would not bo so. Carry out that rule, and J oa would find that these societies would have much more beneficial effect than they have now. You would find those gentlemen who declined to exhibit would soon return, and would exhibit tlieir cattle iu a natural state. Further than that, there are many who now refuse to exhibit very good stock, because they know that on these occasions the prizes are awarded, not to the most skilful breeders, but, very often, to the most extravagant feeders." Our readers know how long this has been our own argument, and how thoroughly it is justified. It is this over-feeding that brings prize stock into such dis- repute—that lands them in America and the colonies dear bargains and barren butcher's beasts. It is this that tends to all the humbug and secrets in the man- agement of a herd, where one set of animals are kept for use, and another for show. It is this that deters so many good men from ever exhibiting at all. The remedy, however, rests clearly with the judges. No matter iiow ready the Stewards or the Council may be to pass over the abuse, let them only act up to, and speak out, like Captain Davy and Mr. Phillips, and they may soon do a deal of good. Never mind what interested people may say who have dairy cows too fat to give milk, or bulls too pampered to get stock. If thoy are fit to be judges at all, they can estimate fairly-fed animals quite as correctly as they can the over- fed. And a man who prizes a beast at a breeding show chiefly because it is made up for a Christmas one, is simply sanctioning an absurdity, a contradiction, and a delusion— if not a dishonesty. 124- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SUMMERING HORSES. Sir, — There are few subjects of greater importance to agriculturists, therefore deserving of elucidation, than judicious treatment of our best friend in the animal creation — the horse : at the same time the interest and convenience of the community are included, and very materially concerned. The difference between a young horse, purchased from a breeder who has reared him in conformity with the most approved usages, and one brought up, as is too frequently the case, doomed to emaciating, comparative starvation in the winter, and the enervating effects of an abundance of rank grass in the summer, is so well known to all who require the active ser- vices of the animal, as to render the former infinitely more valuable ; thus both parties participate in the advantages — the breeder by the enhanced price, and the purchaser by the far great intrinsic value of the steed. As an article appeared in your columns of the 20th of June, containing advice not precisely in conformity with modern practice, a few comments may serve to guide the uninitiated, for whose especial benefit such communications are intended. The writer quotes from Youatt, in commendation of spring grass, and has selected a work written some thirty years ago, since which time the march of improvement in the manage- ment of horses has made vast progress, as it has also in most other branches connected with agriculture ; though, as concerns the equine family, at the instigation of that talented gentleman who imparted the results of his experience under the signature of " Nimrod," and to whom all owners of horses owe a lasting debt of gratitude. From the date when his articles were published, between the years 1822 and 1828, the " Nimrodian" system, as it is appropriately designated, has progressed to very general adoption. Much of the value of the horse depends upon his early treatment, especially as regards the nourishment he requires. I will, therefore, introduce from an edition of Youatt, published by Messrs. Routledge, in 1855, the re-editing and revising of which were entrusted to me, a few remarks concerning food and its effects : "It is generally known that the embryo offspring partakes of the health or condition of the dam, therefore the food with which the mother is supplied must affect the foal. This is a subject too commonly disregarded by breeders, although it is constantly demonstrated after the foal comes into life. If a mare be supplied with food which produces relaxation, her foal will be in the same state ; and constipation is recognized in a similar manner. The propriety of supplying a brood mare with the best and most suitable kinds of food during pregnancy cannot be too strongly impressed. In the management of young stock every effort should be made, by giving them food which is adapted to the purpose, to bring them to maturity as early as possible ; by these means the texture and development of the bones, the sinews, and the muscles is greatly accelerated. The constitution of each animal must be consulted, and it is highly important, if the acme of condition is to be attained by animals when they arrive at an age of maturity, that the growth and gradual de- velopment of their frames should be composed of those healthy and invigorating materials upon which the structure of condition can be raised. To accomplish this, hay, oats, and occasionally beans must form the principal items of equine dietary, and grass should be pro- vided only in limited supplies during the summer months. It is to giving growing stock unrestricted quantities of green food that breeders must ascribe a very general cause for their disappointment, and it is by this practice that the kingdom is supplied with such vast numbers of worth, less animals. Grass, it may be observed, loses two- thirds of its weight, and a greater portion of bulk, when converted into hay : but that extraneous mat- ter consists of moisture, possessing no portion of fibrine ; consequently it contains none of those elements which increase muscular development. If a horse be supported on grass alone, he must eat a vast quantity- equal to more than three times the proportion of hay — to derive an equivalent amount of nourishment. Being very full of sap and moisture, it is quickly digested ; consequently the animal must be continually devouring it. This distends the stomach and bowels, and impairs the faculty of digestion ; for the digestive powers re- quire rest as well as the other organs of the body, if they are to be preserved in a healthy state. The mus- cular system is debilitated, and fat accumulates ; flatu- lent colic, or gripes, is produced, which not unfre- quently becomes constitutional. Nothing can be more erroneous than the antiquated impression that the pur- gative properties of young grass in the spring are con- ^ ducive to the healthy state of the equine family. When the modus operandi of that description of food is ex- plained, the supposition of its being calculated to pro- duce beneficial effects must vanish. The young green herbage is extensively overcharged with sap and mois- ture, of a crude, acrimonious nature ; and it exists so abundantly, that a considerable portion of it cannot be taken up by the organs destined for the secretion of urine, or by the absorbent vessels of the body, A great quantityof this superfluous fluid, therefore, passes into the intestines, and is thus discharged in a watery state. But the mischief does not terminate immediately on the subsiding of the purgative action : the absorbent vessels having been overloaded, become distended and relaxed, and some time intervenes before they resume their healthy tone, under the most judicious treatment. This is clearly exemplified by the habitual tendency which many horses exhibit of having swelled legs. Where this evil exists, any persons who entertain a doubt as to the primary cause, may readily convince themselves by iavestigating the course of treatment to which the animal THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 125 has been subjected. Horses which are reared on wet, marshy land, are invariably afflicted with this relaxed condition of the absorbent vessels of the legs. Constant supplies of green succulent food render these defects constitutional, and the most scientific stable manage- ment is often frustrated when such animals are required to perform ordinary labour. Their legs fail, not from anatomical defects, but from the cause explained, which operates injuriously upon a structure which is naturally perfect." The actions of aperient medicines are different from the effects produced by spring grass. Those in com- mon use act specifically upon the liver or the bowels, and their operations, when judiciously dispensed, are under control. There are persons who contend that the purgative action of spring grass is an order of Nature — an argument against which I am strenuously opposed. According to the wise provision of Na- ture, a horse does not change his pasturage. Thus as the young grass springs up he culls it, together with the withered remains of the last year's supply ; under which circumstances no purgative effect is produced. It is quite different when the animal is consigned from the artificial diet of hay and corn to the succulent herbage of the spring, which occasions the condition just de- scribed. I am quite prepared to endorse the caution of the correspondent of this journal, to use discrimination in the application of blisters to the legs of hunters, as cooling remedies are much more efiicacious ; but that blistering, per se, is the occasion of grease, is an ar- gument to which I cannot subscribe. Grease is the off- spring of a vitiated condition of the blood, which pro- duces an undue secretion of the fluid circulating in the legs, where it eventually accumulates, the absorbent vessels being inactive ; but that vitiated condition of the blood proceeds from an overabundance of grass, the effects of which have been already described. It is a common complaint among cart-horses, in consequence of the quantities of grass or other green food with which they are supplied. In hunting- stables, where horses are properly summered, it is a disease unknown. As to bleeding horses when they become too fat, it is a prac- tice quite obsolete, and never ought to be resorted to, except in cases of inflammation. Whenever a person advocates turning out a hunter for a summer's run, as the custom in olden times was designated, in order to restore the legs and feet by the agency of the damp coolness of the grass, and the gentle exercise the animal voluntarily takes, it inculcates the idea more of some pastoral poetical effusion than the result of experience, or even ordinary reflection. Pasture grounds during the dry weather of summer are hard and uneven, and the voluntary exercise a horse takes consists, when ex- cited by any accidental cause, of a dangerous gallop ; after which he very commonly cools himself in a pond or stream, where he contracts catarrhal affections, roaring, and half the " ills that /horseflesh is heir to." The most intelligent and able agriculturists have de- cided that the best system of keeping cattle is in yards or enclosures well sheltered with suitable buildmgs, where food is supplied to them throughout the year. If this practice be good with cattle, of which there is no doubt, it is of greater importance with horses, provided they have sufficient range for exercise, which is imperatively necessary. I am, dear sir, yours truly, Cecil. MR. JONAS WEBB'S RAM-LETTING. There is a tradition of an author whose fertile brain poured forth such a lengthy list of works, that the chief difficulty which he experienced was to write new prefaces. The story smacks somewhat of a paradox ; but whether it is true or not, it suits our purpose just now. Mr. Jonas Webb offered his far-famed rams for " competitive examination," — to use one of the phrases of the day — for the thirty-third time on Thurs- day ; and when his pleasant meetings have been reported in these columns 33 times, it is difficult, so far as description is concerned, to invest them with any very special novelty. True the rams are continually changing, but they are more or less distinguished by the same points of excellence, and attract the same notice from a large number of the same people. Then there is the locus in quo : that at least is the same. Theu there is Mr. Webb himself; and although he is unfortunately suffering just now from gouty feet, he was on Thursday the same hospitable host and successful exhibitor as ever. Then there is tie same auctioneer, the same conditions of sale, the same arrangements and pens, and the same white-haired farm- servant leading round much the same rams in much the same fashion. The same trains disgorge at the same station about the same number of passengers, who make the same critical ex- amination of the rams, indulge in the same orthodox pokes into their wool, and form the same good-humoured ring round the same place. Finally, to make the parallel complete, very nearly the same readers will peruse these lines, and will expect much the same report. This, however, is some consolation, as theur views can be readily and fairly met : so to proceed with our narrative. The company began to arrive at Church Farm about 10 a.m.; but the attendance at first was small, and it was two in the after- noon before the usual muster was made. The morning was whiled away by the early comers with luncheon, followed by a stroll about the homestead, where some fine shorthorn bulls and cows (of some of which particulars appeared recently in the Mark Lane EccpressJ, were inspected. Some ewes and Iambs were also visited, and elicited a good deal of approval. But in truth the weather was too hot for much active exertion, and not a few were fain to seek shelter from the fierce rays of the sun. It might be desiiable to commence the actual busi- ness of the day a little earlier ; but ai Mr. Rigden, with truth observed, after dinner — although not exactly in the sense here meant — farmers are as a class slow to move, and at all agricultural gatherings a good deal of delay will probably always take place. Perhaps, after all, anything like precipita- tion would be regarded with disfavour, as it would check a preUminary examination of the rams penned. As usual, particulars were posted of each class, indicating the numbers 126 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. with which they were branded, the prices at which they were put up— that ia to say, the terms on which any one desiring to hire auy of them was at liberty to call them into the auctioneer's ring — and the weight of their last clip. The highest number branded was 175; but, as informer years private arrangements for letting and other circumstances reduced the actual number of rams penned to 124, Of theee. particulars of the nature just indicated are now appended : FIVE YEARS OLD. TWO YEAKS OLD (continued). No. Put Weight up of wool. at lbs. oz. . .. 6 guineas.. 10 0 POUR YEARS OLD. . .. 15 guineas. 10 11 ... 12 ... 14 .. 15 ... 8 15 5 9 50 37 18 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 31 32 33 35 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 53 5 5 6 5 18 6 10 11 54 .... 11 10 10 55 56 ... 57 ... 58 ... 59 ... 61 ... 63 ... 64 .., 65 ... 67 ... 68 ... 69 .., 73 .. 74 ... 75 .., 76 ... 80 ... 81 .. 82 .. 83 .. 84 .. 85 .. 11 11 13 10 8 18 6 13 7 10 9 11 18 35 14 12 12 9 13 14 8 0 7 12 10 0 8 0 THREE YEARS OLD. 17 .. .. 11 guineas. 9 4 9 6 0 8 12 8 8 9 0 8 0 10 4 ... 9 10 8 ... 20 9 0 ... 7 7 12 ... 7 8 0 ... 15 8 4 ... 15 7 4 ... 11 9 12 ... 20 8 12 ... 40 8 12 ... 25 9 0 ... 30 6 12 ...40 8 12 ... 30 8 8 ... 16 8 4 .... 13 9 4 ... 30 9 0 ... 20 9 12 ... 35 8 0 TWO YEARS OLD. .. .. 14 guineas. 8 12 8 0 7 0 7 12 7 12 8 12 7 8 7 12 8 0 9 0 8 0 7 12 9 8 9 0 9 0 9 4 9 0 n 0 No. 86 .. 87 .. 89 .. 90 .. 91 .. 92 .. 94 .. 95 .. 96 .. 97 .. 98 .. 103 .. 104 .. 106 .. 107 .. 110 .. 111 .. 113 .. Ill .. 116 .. 118 .. 119 .. 120 .. 121 .. 123 .. 124 .. 126 .. 128 .. 130 .. 131 .. 132 .. 134 .. 135 .. 136 .. 137 .. 138 ,. 139 .. 140 ,. 141 .. 143 .. 146 ., 147 .. 148 .. 149 ., 150 .. 151 .. 152 .. 154 ,. 156 .. 157 .. 158 .. 159 ,. 160 .. 161 .. 162 .. 163 .. 164 .. 168 .. 169 .. 170 .. 171 .. 174 .. 175 Put Weight up of wool, at lbs. oz. 12 guineas . 8 8 25 7 8 30 7 8 12 10 8 14 . 15 . 11 . 40 . 40 , .20 . 45 . 20 , . 30 . 30 YEARLINGS. . 13 guineas . 7 8 7 9 9 15 6 6 9 13 17 11 20 13 9 17 7 10 9 7 15 10 9 15 24 30 16 27 30 35 35 35 30 22 50 25 18 25 23 40 40 35 40 35 55 9 4 11 10 8 .... 7 8 .... 9 4 .... 7 0 8 8 8 8 11 0 7 8 8 4 9 0 7 7 6 12 6 8 7 8 7 12 8 0 7 8 7 0 8 0 9 0 S 8 8 0 8 0 7 0 7 4 8 4 8 8 8 4 8 0 11 10 8 7 12 7 0 7 0 8 8 8 12 7 8 8 12 9 4 7 12 7 12 7 8 8 0 8 0 8 12 15 10 0 7 12 8 0 8 12 7 8 S 4 7 4 7 8 in a chaise. Many friends pressed round to make inquiries as to his health ; and the reply given, in cheery tones, was, " All right except my feet." Mr. Jonas, in commencing the busiuesf, read the conditions of sale, which reserved to Mr. Webb the right of varyinsj the prices set upon the rams after the day oi letting. Mr. Jonas also observed that it must be a matter of congratulation to the company to see bo fine a show ; as the rams on offer not only supported the fame of the Babrabam flock, but also tended in the direction of that further progress which, under present circumstances, must also be aimed at by the agriculturists of England, through the utmost possible development of their flocks and crops. In con- clusion, Mr. Jonas invited an immediate prosecution of the b'.isiness of the daj', and expressed his confidence that the bid- dings wciild far exceed the low reserve prices which had been fixed upon the sheep. The competition was tolerably brisk at first, and, as usual, languished towards the close. The first ram called in was No. 12, whii h was put up at 50 gs. The biddings lay principally between Mr. Rigdcn and Mr. Waters, of Eastbourne, and they went ou in a rapid crescendo movement till 70 gs. were reached. This proved the maximum, and Mr. Rigden desisting from the contest at this point, Mr. Waters was declared the purchaser, at, as afterwards appeared, the highest bidding realized during the day. For No. 103 there was also a sharp competition. The hidliijgs commenced at 45 gs., and went on to 54 gs,, when Mr. Kigden — to save, as he said, nodding heads — advanced at one stride to 60 gs. A further bid was made, but Mr. Rigden carried off the ram at 62 gs. The next case in which there was a s'.ruggle was for No. 154, which came into the ring at 35 gs., and advanced step by step to 56 gs., at which price it was hired by Mr. Clarke for the Dnke of Richmond. Another Sussex man, Mr. Hensman, from the neighbourhood of Arundel, took oft No. 175 at 58 gs., so that it will bo seen that Sussex was, as usual, well represented. For No. 147, whose sire ob- tained the first prize at Salisbury, there were some spirited bid- dings, commencing with 24 gs ,and ending with 38 gs., at whica price the animal was secured for Lord Dacre. Mr. T. EUman, another Sussex breeder, took one of the lots ; and among the other hirers were stated to be agents of Lord Sondes, the Earl of Leicester, the Duke of Beaufort, the Earl of Yarborough, Mr. Bramstou, M.P., and Mr. Adeane, M.P. Biddings were also successfully made by Mr. Eve, of Sileoe, Bedfordshire ; Mr. T. Crisp, Butley Abbey, Suffolk ; Mr. S. Webb ; Mr. Winton, Kent; Mr. Revans; Mr. J. Smith; and other geutlemeu, whose names did not transpire. Two rams were hired, and subsequently bought outright by Mr. Crisp for Baron Nathu- sias, a Prussian Noble. The following table exhibits the result of the letting, which closed at 4 o'clock, and also shows the order in which the rams let were called into the riuK At half-past two the auctioneer, Mr. J. Carter Jonas, made his arpwanro, with Mr. Webb, who was drawn on the ground No. Put up at , Let at. No. Put up af , Let at 12 50 gs. 70 gs. 32 15 gs. 20 gs 174 35 85 123 9 9 103 45 62 146 15 15 85 14 14 35 20 20 159 50 51 156 35 37 17 11 13 134 17 20 130 20 20 104 20 20 154 35 56 18 9 9 14 37 41 138 11 11 53 11 14 24 18 22 106* 30 42 4 15 17 40 40 40 86 12 15 45 20 21 113 8 8 140 15 16 22 6 8 91 14 18 21 5 7 175 55 58 161 18 18 160 25 30 114 7 7 136 10 10 143 30 33 31 15 20 151 30 33 92 11 11 76 35 39 41 30 30 75 18 18 26 20 27 158 22 22 162 25 25 89 30 30 147 24 38 84 13 13 74 11 11 98 20 20 33 11 20 164 23 23 126 17 17 28 7 7 ♦ The sire of this ram was kt a few yeara since for 197 gs. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 127 This gives a total receipt of £1,376 lis., or an average o^ £25 93, lOd. per head oa the 54 rams let ; and the compara- tive rean't of the day's proceediugs will be seen from the fol- lo\rin^ table: Year. 13?2... No. Publicly Let. 69 Average price £22 3 1 1S53... 71 22 6 3 ]35i... 75 25 4 3 1855... 77 25 15 2 1856 ... 77 ...... 33 1 4 1857 ... 65 27 17 7 1858.. . 61 20 19 3 1859... 54 25 9 10 The letting concluded, Mr. Webb gave the word for dinner, which wa3 served in an adjoining marquee. In the unavoidable absence of [the Earl of Hardwick, and also of his brother, the Hon. Eliot Yorke, M.P., who has acted as a kind of chairman in ordiur-ry for some years past. Major Pemberton, late High Sheriff o/ Cambridgeshire, presided ; and the hou. and gallant geotleraau was supported by Mr. H. J. Adeane, M.P., Lord G. Osborne, Mr. C. Alderson (son of the late Mr. Baron Alder- son), Mr. A. Pyne, Captain Goodwin, Captain Walton, Cap- tain Davis, R.N., Mr. W. F. M. Copeland, Mr. R. Honblon, Captain Walton, the Rev. J. Graham, the Rev. Mr. Singletoni Mr. t.uther H. Tucker (junior editor of the United Stales Countiy Gentleman and Cultivator), Mr. A. Dight, of Liver, pool I'laius, New South Wales (who is about to take out to that country some of Mr. Webb's shorthorn stock and rams, at an expenditure of from £400 to £500), Mr. G. D. Badham> Mr. S. Jouas, the gentlemen whose names have already been mentioned as hirers of rams, and nearly 200 other visitors. The usual loyal and complimentary toasts were duly given, with copious allusions to the necessity of keeping up an effec- tive navy, one speaker (Mr. Alderson) remarking, amid loud laughter and cheers, that if the French attempted an invasion of England, they would, like Mr. Webb's rams, be "jolly well sold." The toast of the "Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese'' called up the Rev. Mr. Singleton, who referred at grecat length to the question of church rates, and imputed failure to the voluntary principle. As there was evidently a dissenting ele- raeut in the assembly, and the meeting had not been convened to discuss ecclesiastical politics, the rev. gentleman's observa- tions weie considered in bad taste. An amusing scene ac- cordingly followed. The orator's well-turned periods at last elcited ominous scrapings of feet, and finally undisguised con- versation. The speaker kept on ; but as he eventually be- came completely inaudible, he was fain at last to desist, and his resumption of his seat was received with a loud ironical cheer. The Chairman next gave, in complimentary terms, the " Health of the Landlord of the Soil, Mr. Adeane." Mr. Adeane, in reply, expressed a hope that nothing would ever occur in the course of his political and social life which would ever deprive him of the confidence of his friends ani neighbours. He had been entrusted with the task of propo- sing what might be called the toast of the evening, the health of the worthy host, Mr. Webb ; whom he was glad to see before hira, as large as life. Mr. Webb had attained the highest position in the sphere in which he had walked. He (Mr. Adeane) was most proud of having the honour of being his landlord ; and he intended always to keep his career before him, as from youth to age he had followed the path of honesty, integrity, and good fellowship with all men. Mr. Webb, he was sorry to say, had not attained that high figure for any of his sheep which he had reached on former occasions, when one of his illustrious friends was more engaged in domestic duties than at present *, but the company would be glad to hear that the average price per head was about 4i, lOs. in advance of last year. He congratulated Mr. AVebb on his success, and he was delighted to hear that he was going to exhibit next week at Warwick. If a man hid his light under a bushel, he did not do so well; and in looking through the papers he (Mr. Adeane) had observed with regret that Mr. Webb's name did not appear so prominently as formerly. He was glad, how- ever, to find that Mr. Webb was about to return to the Royal Society's exhibitions, and he was sure that the same success would attend him. He proposed the health of Mr. Jonas Webb, the best tenant landlord ever had, and also one of the best ol husbands and fathers. Mr. Webb stated that he had only that morning been re- leased from his bed-room, and of course he had experienced much disappointment in not being able to receive his friends as on previous occasions. His landlord had been kind enough to make some remarks respecting bim ; but if such kind ex- pressions could be applied to him, he did not know so good a plan to make a good tenant as to have a succession of good landlords. The result of the last year's letting was not quite so satisfactory as the present; but this year the result hid been an advance of 41. on 1858. This was most satisfactory ; and he was much indebted to those who had attended, not only now, but in previous years, and taken sheep from him. One great inducement which had led him again to exhibit w'as that in going to Chester he found that all the breeders of South- down sheep exhibited only 23 Southdown shearling rams. The quality was very good, but the number was too small to satisfy the public ; and, acting oa the advice of his friends, he in- tended to becoa-.e an exhibitor again this j'ear of a lot of ani- mals which would, he believed, show great weight, inde- pendent of mutton and character. He read in a newspaper, the other day, the expediency of adhering to — " The good old rule, the simple plan. That those should keep who have the power. And those should get who can." At all events he should endeavour to do so. In conclusion, Mr. Webb proposed the health of the Chairman, to whom, he observed, he was much indebted for consenting to preside, at almost a moment's notice, and for the able manner iu which he had performed his duties. The Chairman responded. The Rev. J. Grauam proposed the next toast, " Prosperity to the Royal Agricultural Society of England," and observed that the sentiment spoke for itself, as there could be no doubt that the farmers of Great Britain were greatly indebted to the society. The agricultural interest had gone through the mighty ordeal of free trade : he remembered the time when he was much alarmed on the subject, and he confessed that he was not altogether free from alarm now. At the critical period to which he referred he wrote to his late lamented friend Mr Goulburn, and pointed out what appeared to be the great dif- ficulties of contending with Europe in regard to the produce of the land. Mr. Goulburn replied that he thought all his ( Mr. Graham's) prophecies were mere chimeras; that there was no chance of any evil happening to this country from free trade, more especially from free trade in cattle ; and that only a limited quantity of cattle could be brought into this country from abroad. When legislators acted upon principles so wide of the mark as they did in these days, could any one be sur- prised at the depression which had taken place, and which would have continued to this day but for the Crimean war ? Could it be a matter of astonishment that agriculturists should feel themselves a little aggrieved at persona legislating upon principles which had proved so utterly untrue ? He was the 128 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. other day with a friend in Norfolk, who had a relative on the Elbe, and he learnt that the Kinj; of Pruasia (who knew what he was about, and who was moat warmly interested in the agriculture of that country) had selected a gentleman who could carry over to Prussia English breeds of sheep and cattle, and thereby form the nucleus of a grand agricultural system in Prussia. The gentleman who was selected was a great bull breeder of his day, Mr. Bates ; and he took over Leicesters, some of Mr. Webb's, and other descriptions of sheep and cattle. He was granted a large extent of laud on the borders of the Elbe, of which he bad a lease of 37 years, and great and various advantages were held out to him by the King of Prussia. In the first instance he laboured under great difficulties ; the peasantry looked with discontent upon the stock he had in- troduced, and positively until he sent for a herdsman from Dur- ham he never could raise an English calf in Prussia. He had now, however, established himself, and had put a little of Mr. Webb's blood into the stock ; but he had never dared to send an animal for the London market until about a month or six weeks since, when he forwarded 125 sheep. In the accounts which he had sent home he stated that he was perfectly satis- fied with the result of his experiment, and that he found from the best possible calculations, that it cost only Id. per lb. to send the sheep to London. If, therefore, the King of Prussia had begun in this way, and if immense numbers of animals could be sent at so cheap a rate — by rail to Ham- burg, and from Hamburgh to London by ship — the farmers of England stood in need of every possible improvement in agriculture (Hear, bear, and some interruption from a rather disorderly section at the lower end of the tent). In giving the toast Mr. Graham observed, in conclusion, that he was requested to couple with it the name of a gentleman who had doHe much for the agriculture of the country ; he re- ferred to Mr. Rigden, of Sussex, Mr. Rigden, in reply, said he thought all present would agree with him that farmers had no right to complain of their present position. It was true that wheat was not paying so good a price, but he thought this was in some degree owing to the large crop, and it was proverbial that farmers never grumbled (loud laughter). Perhaps, now that he was on his legs, he might be allowed to refer to the position which Mr. Jonas Webb held as a breeder of sheep. Mr, Adeane had expressed his regret that Mr. Webb had Sethis candle under a bushel; and whenever Mr. Webb hid his candle, he (Mr. Rigden) would show his light. Whenever Mr. Webb was not an exhibitor, he (Mr. Rigden) was a successful candidate, and con- sequently he had a great interest in keeping him out of the field (laughter) ; but if Mr. Webb exhibited this year the best sheep, which he believed he would, he hoped he would win. It had been said that farmers were slow to move, but it would be diflScult to produce such a pen of sheep as Mr. Webb had shown during the day. If the richest man in the world — if the Rothschilds were to buy up Mr. Webb's stock, they would not be able that time twelvemonth to show what had been witnessed during the day. The management of the Babraham flock was the work of a master-mind ; Mr. Webb had no equal in Eng- land, and he did not believe he was likely to have one in his day and generation, , Mr. Webb gave, " The healths of our friends across the Atlantic," coupling with the toast the name of Mr. L. H. Tucker, on the staff of one of the agricultural journals of the United States. Mr. Webb added that he had received an order to send a ram to the United States at 150 guineas. Mr, Tucker jaid, in two respects Old England— for they were still fond of calling her Old England across the water- was so famous, viz., for her hospitality and for her agriculture ; that while he was sure that neither could excel the other, he was equally sure that it would be difficult to find elsewhere an example of both similar to that which had been witnessed during the day. And when he saw so many gentlemen con- nected with the pursuit of agriculture, not as a recreation or as a means of spending money, but with something of that energy which had placed British commerce and British manu- factures in their present proud pre-eminence, he could not but appreciate the solid basis on which English institutions stood, and the services which had been performed for agriculture by such gentlemen as Mr. Webb. American traders and mer- chants, when they wished to secure the best, had recourse to the achievements of British genius and the excellence of British products ; and American farmers acted on the same principle. The prodigies which had been performed in the improvement of the sheep and swine, and the creation of such a breed as shorthorns in cattle, were no less triumphs of genius; ani for whatever excellence Americans could boast in their show yards, for that kind of animals capable of producing the most beef, mutton, and pork at the least expense of time and food, he most willingly and cordially acknowledged their in- debtedness to English breeders, among whom he was most happy to find himself that day, and many of whose names were known all the way from France to Australia, as well as on the banks of the Hudson river where he lived, and the still more distant and almost boundless prairies of the Western States. He might conclude by expressing the pleasure with which he had observed that Mr. Cobden — who had just returned firom a journey in America, and whom he had the pleasure of meeting there last spring — in his first speech after landing at Liverpool gave the fullest assurances derived from his own personal ob- servation and knowledge, that the people of America still looked back to England — although perhaps as a grown-up and some- what wayward boy might look back to the home of his fathers — with the deepest sympathy in all the progress she could make, with the utmost confidence in the good will of her inhabitants, and with the proudest anticipations for her future no less than for their own. Mr. Markby, jun., of Duxford, proposed the healths of Mrs. Webb and family (Applause). Mr, Webb responded, and proposed the health Mr. John Waters, the hirer of the highest priced tup. Mr. Waters, in responding, said the county of Sussex was indebted to Mr. Webb for bringing Southdown sheep first away from their home, and then carrying them to such per- fection, that Sussex men found it desirable to hire them and take them back. Although there might not be much credit due to him for hiring the highest priced ram — perhaps there might be many better sheep at a lower price — he was glad to find that Sussex men had obtained six of the best lots to go back to that county. The Chairman gave the last toast on the list, " Our next merry meeting," and the meeting shortly afterwards broke up, some of the company betaking themselves to tea and coffee, others to cigars and meerschaums, and some at once seeking their homes. THE ENGLISH RACE HORSE.— In Great Britain, from the highly cultivated knowledge of the mechanical structure of living bodies, with the junction of best shapes —although, but for racing, this knowledge would have been comparatively in its infancy — the horse has arrived at the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 129 highest state of perfection of which his nature is capable ; and in whatever country, and in whatever climate, his racinff powers are put to the test, he has scarcely found a rival, excepting under very disadvantageous circumstances. It is true his lasting qualities were doubted, and he was challenged to rebut the charge, and the following was the result : — On the 4th of August, 1825, two second-rate Eng- lish racers. Sharper and Mina, contended against the most celebrated Cossack horses from the Don, the Black Sea, and the Ural, in a race of the cruel length of 47 miles. At starting. Sharper and Mina ran away with their riders more than a mile, and up a steep hill, when the latter horse broke down, and pulled up. Half the distance was run in an hour and forty minutes. In the last half, only one o* the Cossack horses was able to contend with Sharper, who, notwithstanding that every foul advantage was taken by changing the weight, and dragging along his opponent by a rope, won his race in gallant style, performing the distance in two hours and forty-eight minutes. At starting, the English horses carried three stone more weight than the Cossacks ; and, during the latter half of the race, the one Cossack who remained in it was ridden by a mere child. Every trial over the desert, no matter what the distance, during 1826-55, between English and eastern horses, has been attended with precisely the same results. — From the Encyclopedia Britannica {New Edition). THE FUTURE COURSE OF THE TRADE OF WATERCOURSE. THE NORTH AMERICAN No. VI. Such are the proposals for improving the water communica- tions between Chicago and the east. The Americans support the building of a canal from the Georgian Bay to a Canadian port, convenient for the continued prosecution of the Buffalo and Oswego trade ; and discourage the building of a canal between Lake Nippissing and the Ottawa river, as then Buffalo and Oswego interests would probably be destroyed. Toronto, Peterborough, and some other workhouse cities, on the shore of Lake Ontario, support the interested American scheme, that local purposes may be served. Every swindler in the sale of public or private lands is aware that the canal would increase the market value of his miserable wooden lots and farms a thousand-fold, and he backs the project, although feeling that in so doing he sells his country's rights for a mess of pottage. But for years to come, the best concocted water transport scheme, whether pure American or pure Canadian, or a com- bination of the two, is not likely to be received with favour on the English Stock Exchange, and as a consequence will be re- ceived with coldness in New York. Even the bait of grants of lands is old and worn out, and will no longer influence a single sale of stock; but every project will be judged upon its merits only, and what in future will recommend a new railroad or canal to facilitate transportation from west to east, when the tendency of the course of western trade lies another way. Before leaving this part of the subject, it may be well to advert to direct western trans-atlautic trade more in detail than has yet been done. The Dean Richmond, from Chicago to Liverpool, made the voyage on the joint account of several leading Chicago mer- chants, and the nominal freight was equal to 15d. a bushel for wheat. When the cargo was landed at Liverpool, the quantity damaged on the voyage was considerable, but, notwithstand- ing, the net profit, at the nominal freight named, was £400. The vessel was then sold at a price which it was more profit- able to take than to perform the outward Chicago voyage, but it was considerably under the lake valuation. Seeing that the parties, who were the chief sharers in the venture, have not re- pealed the operation, nor interested themselves further in the trade, although perfectly able to do so, both in point of in- fluence and means, the Dean Richmond's voyage may be re- garded in the light of a commercial failure. This may appear incredible in England, as it was understood that a high price was paid for the vessel ; but when it is considered that car- penters' wages, high as they are in England, are still higher in the interior of America— expressed in money they are always twice and sometimes even thrice the English rate — the case shows itself in its proper light. Not only is the mere labour of bnilding higher, but every article of outfit, in Chicago, is at least four times the regular English market price. It would therefore be within the mark to say that the lake value of the Dean Richmond was twice the amount realized on the sale. The season following that of the voyage of the Dean Rich- mond gave early promise of the establishment of direct trade on a firm basis. Other parties entered the field, and a ship belonging to Hamilton, Canada West, was chartered for a round voyage, to Queenstowu, for orders, and back to Chicago. Other vessels were also wanted, to be taken up for the trade, and before the opening of the navigation, orders were on hand for over fifteen general cargoes of wheat, flour, and corn, and beef, bacon, tallow, lard, and hides. Some of these orders were from Glasgow, some from Hull, and some from London, and all in the usual way. Unfortunately, when the navigation opened, an nnexpected speculative advance took place in the Chicago market, and the English limits were exceeded in every case. To keep faith with all parties, a cargo of hides was pur. chased at a cost price of £25.000 ; and delay taking place in the selling of so much exchange, the shippers of the hides be. gan to unload the vessel, and in a moment the Chicago trans- atlantic trade fell to the ground. It is worthy of remark that every obstacle was thrown in the way of the Hamilton vessel being sent to sea. Every one was abstractly interested in her being sent away ; but practically, every one was determined to make as much money of her as he could. When the vessel came to Chi- cago, no loading-berth could be had at the usual price ; and one party asked the modest sum of five hundred dollars, or one hundred pounds, for the privilege of one week's loading up ; and ultimately, forty pounds was agreed to be paid. In the other arrangements, of a minor kind, the same obstruc- tive selfishness was encountered at every step ; and as we shall see presently, those interested in the subsequent ves- sel, the Madeira Pet, were treated in the same way. The experience of the Hamilton vessel, however, brought out the real difficulties, in the way of operating interior trade ; and now that these are fully known, provision can be made in future: but the consideration of them comes with- in the subject of the following article. The venture of the Medeira Pet was undertaken by par- ties in New Brunswick, and controlled by a New York firm 130 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The vessel reached Chicago after a somewhat tedious voyage of eighty days ; and the members of the Board of Trade cheered lustily from the pier as she was being moored. The cargo was ill assorted for the market, consisting of rough iron, rougher hardware, and the roughest crockery, instead of London porter, Scotch ales, and Scotch and Irish whisky. Still, it was a cargo of staple articles, and would have made no sensible addition to existing wholesale etocks ; but after every effort on the part of the city trade to cheapen everything below even English producing cost, the bulk of the little schooner's cargo has been sutl'ered to remain unsold nearly two years after the time of import. Chicago and the West are therefore evidently not yet in a state to appreciate the benefits of direct transatlantic trade. Bad luck urifortunately attended the Madeira Pet also on the homeward voyage, with a cargo of hides and staves. The parties to whom she was consigned became insolvent, and, so far, the loss on the round voyage exceeds £3,000 ; and unless the Chicago people pa}' a fair price for the re- maining outward cargo, the loss will be all but doubled. Since these unavailing efforts, the Quebec and Liverpool ocean steamers have offered tj carry Chicago produce on easy terms ; and the opinion has gained ground every daj', that, if direct trade between the West and Europe is to be carried on by the St. Lawrence river, it must, in view of the tedious voyage up and down the lakes by sailing vessels, be done in the first instance by propellers on the lakes, with transhipment at iMontreal. The following is the combined freight tariff of the Grand Trunk Railroad and the ocean steamers, season ]85o : — Through freights from Chicago to Liverpool. 1. Flour per barrel, by propeller to Col- s. d. lingwood, thence per rail to Montreal, and ocean steamer to Liverpool, time, twenty to twenty-five days ... ... 6 8 2. Flour per barrel, by rail to IMontreal, thence per ocean steamer to Liverpool, time, fifteen to twenty daj's ... ... 7 6 3. Grain, in bags, per 601bs., by propeller to Collingwood, thence per rail to IMon- treal, and ocean steamer to Liverpool, time, twenty to twenty-five days ... 1 ]0\ 4. Grain, in bags, per COlbs., by rail to Montreal, thence per ocean steamer to Liverpool, time, fifteen to twenty days The following were the average rates of wheat freight per bushel from Chicago to Buffalo and Oswego, season 1857:— To Buffalo. To Oswego. Average, 2id. per GOlbs 4d. per GOlbs. Range from C^d. to 1-^d. per GOlbs.. ..G^^d. to 3d. per GOlbs. The rate to Montreal is usually '2hi. per bushel in excess of the Oswego freight. The following was the average rate of wheat freight per bushel from Buffalo to New York, season 1857 : — To New York. Average G^i. per GOlbs. Range from 75d. to Sjd.per GOlbs The following was the general railroad tariff from Chicago to New York, season 1858 : — 1. Grain, in bags, per GOlbs., time, ten to s. d. twenty days ... ... ... ... 2 0 2. Hides, kc, per lOOlbs, time, ten to twenty days ... ... ... ... 2 11 3. Flour per barrel, time, ten to twenty days 6 5 J Sometimes the railroad rates are much higher ; and the railroads carrying to New York from Chicago are the Pittsburgh aud Fort Wayne, the Michigan Central, and the Michigan Southern, With these figures drawn from official sources, it is not necessary to say a single word further as to the chances of eastern railroads coming seriously into competition with steam or sailing vessels, in grain transportation to the sea- board. The following is the closest approximation to aver- age rates, season 1858 : — Bv Water. By Rail. To Montreal : — Wheat, per GOlbs., . Id Is. 3d. Flour, per barrel, 28. Od 3s. 4d. To New York :— Wheat, per GOlbs., f)d 2s. Od. Flour,per barrel, 1 3.1 Od Gs. 5d. From Chicago to Montreal wheat transportation, by rail- road, is on an average ninety-four per cent, higher than by water, and flour eighty four per cent. From Chicago to New York wheat transportation, by railroad, is on an aver- age one hundred and fifty per cent, higher than by water, and flour one hundred and sevent^'-five per cent. The only difference in the cost of transportation between Chicago and New York, and between Chicago and Montreal, is in flour, which is carried to New Y'ork at a rate equal to eight per cent, less; but according to Mr. Young's show- ing, the ocean freight from Montreal is one hundred per cent, higher than from New York. That one hundred per cent, may be said, therefore, to form the disadvantage of the St. Lawrence route ; and it must be plain that, with much less disadvantage than that represented by one hun- dred per cent, more ocean freight, as it does at present, trade, in future, will give a decided preference to the Erie canal, either by the Buffalo or Oswego branch. Thus much for the St. Lawrence water-course, and the prospects of western trade taking the route of the Erie Canal, or of Montreal and the Caughnawagua. At the moment trade naturally takes the former, and avoids the latter ; aud while Canadians, year after yaar, are discussing projects, the Americans steadily carry forward the enlargement of the Erie Canal, and improve the means of transport. A little more persistence in these different courses, and the Canadians will at least be ten years behind their neighbours ; aud the St. Lawrence Canals, which cost so much, will cease prac- tically to possess utility and a market value. Should Canada, theo, by some superhuman effort, open the Ottawa Channel from the Georgian Bay, aud the Caughnawagna, from Montreal, it is within the limiti of possibility that improve- ments in steam navigation, on the Erie Canal, will still secure to the Americans an equal measure of advantage to that now enjoyed ; and, if steam fails to do so, the interest of the canal debt will assuredly be paid by a tax on the people of New York; aud Erie Canal tolls cease for ever. To this alternative the public men of New York State are prepared to go ; and it is not too much to say, that the financial state of Canada would not warrant such a course, in reference to pub- lic works; and such being the case, Canada would still continue to wage an unequal contest. The Erie Canal, in a commercial point of view, has done more towards the growth of New York city, than any other undertaking that can be named ; and will not, therefore, be given up without a struggle; and a struggle between New York and Canada would end in- evitably in the discomfiture of the latter. But it is quite possible, as has been shown already, to divert the bulk of western trade into another channel than that of either the Erie Canal, or the Montreal aud Caughnawagna ; and against that competition the whole power of New York State aud City would not prevail. That competing channel would be open at the close of harveat, when an inclement sea- son binds, with an iron grasp, the waters of New York aud THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 131 Canada ; aad the produce upon which the Erie Canal depends would be moved, in anticipation, to the markets of New York and Europe. Against such a competition, not even the enlargemeni of the Erie Canal, nor the abrogation of its tolls, nor the wealth of New York City, would succeed ; and that competition. New York and Canada, in the nature of things, have to face at an early day. Recurring to the previous figures of distance between Chicago and New York and Montreal by water, and averaging the statements of the different authorities, we have the foUowiug on the one hand, as the navigable distance from Chicago to New York aud Montreal; and on the other hand, the navi- gable distance from St. Louis and Cairo to New Orleans. I. Chicago to New York, 1487 miles. (Erie Ca- nal distance 353 miles.) II. Chicago to Montreal, 1361 miles. (Canal distance 75 miles.) The railroad distance from Chicago to Montreal may also be stated, to make complete : III. St. Louis to New Orleans, 1212 miles. (No canal.) IV. CiirotoNewOrleana, 1010 miles. (No canal.) New York and the comparison I. From Chicago to New York, by the Mich- 1 igan Central, the Great Western of Canada, the New York Central, and the Hudson River Railroads II. From Chicago to New York, by the Mich- igan Southern, the Buffalo, Cleveland, and Toledo, the New York Central, and the Hudson River Railroads III. From Chicago to New York, by the' Michigan Central, the Great Western of Canada, and the New York and Erie Railroadd IV. From Chicago to New York, by the' Michagan Southern, the Buft'alo, Cleve- land, aud Toledo, and the New York and Erie Railroads V. From Chicago to New York, by the ^itts-' burgh aud Forlhiyne, the Pennsylvannia Central, aud the Camden and Amboy Railroads Miles. • 950 • 963 > 960 ;■ 960 !. 920 Average.. .. 951 Aa near as can be, the cost of steam transportation on the lakes, on an average of years, is £2 3s. 4d. per ton from Chicago to New York, if the whole distance were open water navigation, without canals, the average distance being 1487 miles. As near as can be, the cost of canal navigation on the Erie c.inal on an average of years is £4 19s. '2d. per ton from Chicago to New York, if the navigation were all canal, the avei-age distance being 1,437 miles. And the average cost of transportation on the New York Central Railroad, for the past three years, has been 1 jd. per ton per mile ; saj' £4 193 Id. per ton from Chicago to New York, the average distance being 951 miles. Per ton. 1. AUopen water steam navigation . .. £2 3 4 2. All canal navigation 4 19 2 3. All railroad transit 4 19 1 But the distance between Chicago and New York is part canal and psrt steamboat navigation ; ao that the ac- tual computation, leaving out thedilfcrenceof transportation on the Hudson, would be — £ s. d. 353 miles canal at 4-.5th3 of a penny.. 1 3 C^ l,147milcslake&c at7-20thsofapenny 1 13 .5i- Actual average cost per ton by water £2 17 0 The comparison then is the following : Average cost of transportation by rail- road from Chicaffo to New York, per ton 4 19 1 Average cost of water transportation by canal and lakes, fee, from Chicigo to New York, per ton 2 17 0 Difference against railroad, per ton, ... £2 2 1 Adopting these official calculations, which are the actual average charge, and therefore admitting of no dispute, we have the following as the comparison between the transpor- tation from St. Louis to New Orleans on the one hand, and between Chicago and New York on the other: £ St. Louis to New Orleans, 1,212 miles at 7-20ths of a penny 11.^ Chicago to New York o 2 17 s. d. Difference against the Erie Canal route £118 This difference of£l Is. 8d. against the Erie Canal route to the seaboard, and in favour of the Mississippi route to the seaboard, leaves a flour freight from New Orleans to Liver- pool of 2s. 2d. per barrel ; and thereby establishes theatate- ment previously made, that produce sent by the Mississippi route could be landed in Liverpool or London on precisely the same transportation charges as are incurred in the pre- sent movement of produce from Chicago to New York. But it may be alleged that the cost of transportation to St. Louis should be included in the calculation ; but when that allegation is made, it is obviously forgotten that every bushel of grain received at the Chicago elevators has borne a less or greater transportation charge, and so long aa that transportation charge is not included in the calcolation from Chicago to New York, it would be unequal to include the cor- responding charge in the calculation from St. Louis to New Orleans. And further, it has been shown that Chicago grain is not grown on the shores of Lake Michigan, but on the Mississippi river bottoms ; and therefore, the bulk of that grain is carried by railroads across the whole territory of Illinois ; while if the movement were made down the river to St. Louis, all the advantages of water communication would be secured. But not only is grain transported from the extremity of Illinois to Chicago, but a large proportion of the crop of Iowa finds its way also ; and the magnitude of the preliminary railroad charge, antecedent to the warehousing in the Chicago eleva- tors, will be realized when it is stated that the cost from Iowa City to Chicago, a distance of 242 miles, is lOd. per bushel of sixty pounds ; while the summer freight, per bushel, from St. Louis to New Orleans is sometimes as low as 0|d., aud lOd. per barrel of flour. Such being the case ,not only msy western produce be removed cheaper to Liverpool by the Mississippi to New Orleans, than to New York by the Erie Canal, but some- times, at least, the charges paid for the movement of produce from parts of Iowa to Chicago would suffice to defray every charge from the same parts of Iowa to Liverpool. The general Illinois railroad tariff for wheat transportation i3 45d. per bushel per 100 miles; and the general trans- portation charge on the Illinois and Michigan Canal is 3jd. per bushel per 100 miles; while the general transportation charge on the Illinois River is only 7-lOths of a halfpenny per bushel per hundred miles. Illinois wheat transportation charge per bushel of 601bs. : By Railroad, per 100 miles 4^d. By Canal, „ 3id. By Steamer, ,, 7-lOthsof apenny. It is impossible to look at these figures without being assured of the futility of attempting in the future to continue the course of western trade in the channel of the lakes and New York canals, or the channel of the St. Lawrence river. It cannot be done ; aud the sooner trade takes the new and better channel, the sooner will the Government of the United States undertake those improvements in the navigation which are imperatively required. Aud it is important to observe that the required improvements in the navigation of the Mis- sissippi and Ohio rivers come within the proper province of the Federal Government; and whatever the amount of outlay, no tolls nor imposts, under the circumstances, can ever be im- posed. As the river is at present, it is avaiUble for an indefinite extension of the transport trade ; but a trifling outlay would not only remove peculiar hazards, but render it av.aila- ble for the inward and outward passage of sailing vessels ; and these could penetrate as high as St. Louis, or much higher if required. But in addition to the advantages of cheaper transportation prejeuted by the Mississippi route, there is, likewise, the im- portsnt advautage of open water throughout the year. In open 133 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. winter weather there is no ice, and therefore no obstruction, as high up as St. Louis ; while in the severest weather there is always open water as high up as Cairo. At that period, there- fore, when New York and Canadian buyers avoid western markets, the European buyers could step in, and buy ou the most advantageous terms ; and be wholly independent of the season. Every barrel of flour or bag of wheat purchased could be moved without delay to New Orleans, and from that port to Europe. The following are the advertised rates of the Illinois Central Railroad, for the transportation of produce from Chicago to New Orleans: I. Grain, per GOlbs., from Chicago to"! Cairo, by rail, thence per steam on > the Mississippi river to New Orleans J II. Bacon, hard beef, &c., per lOOlbs, from Chicago to Cairo by rail, thence per steam on the Mississipp to New Orleans J d. 3 il 0 2 1 Time on this route, from five to ten days between Chicago and New Orleans. The publication of such a tariff admits of this one inference : that it is eveu practicable, or — what is the same thing — pro- fitable, to move produce from Chicago to New Orleans ; and if produce, after having borne transportation charges to Chicago, can bear a repetition of those charges from Chicago to Cairo, how much more profitable a/or^jort direct trade from the upper Mississippi to New Orleans would be ! But probably the Illinois Central Railroad Company, in publishing that tariff, thought only of competing with eastern railroads in the transportation of eastern-going produce during the winter season. Be that as it may, it is not the less a striking corroboration of the soundness of the foregoing views, now for the first time advanced, either in the United States or Europe. In the foregoing, the following are the main points which have been established : British Columbia, the territory of the Saskatchewan, and Lake Superior are, in a grain-producing view, entirely worthless ; and it will be impossible to induce settlement so long as lauds are open for entry in Illlinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. During periods of high prices — extremely high prices — produce could be moved from Lake Winnipeg with a bare profit ; but with wheat in England at 40s., and under, per imperial quarter, the whole price realized for Saskatchewan and Red River wheat would fall short of the producing cost, and the transportation charge. Such being the case, settlement would only end in the impoverishment and unhappiness of the people ; and it is questiouable whether, even in periods of high prices, the long interval which would invariably intervene before the pro- duce could be brought to market would act as a prohibition altogether. But this other important principle will be brought out fully in the following article ; and it will there be perceived that the produce trade, from the Saskatchewan to the seaboard, would generally be nothing more nor leas than gambling— a pursuit at variance with all ideas of successful farming. Closely connected with the subject of the asttlement of the Saskatchewan, is the question of the Pacific Railroad ; and in view of the present worthlessness of the whole district, such a railroad would necessarily be worthless also. The fallacy involved in putting forward new schemes of connecting Chicago with the seaboard, on the principle of distance, and not on the principles of necessity and cost, has been adverted to; and the peculiar fitness of the St. Lawrence channel questioned. On this last point, it is asked whether, if Canada had been included in the national domain of the United States, and Louisiana had been the pur- chase of Great Britain, and the British Government had done for the Mississippi what it did for the St. Lawrence River, whether, under these circumstances, the Mississippi would not now occupy that place in the favour of the public which the St. Lawrence channel does. With respect to the distance test, it is obvious that the public are indifferent whether their property is carried on a bee line or on the circle, so long as it is carried expeditiously and cheap ; and it is not less obvious, that if a new channel, by virtue, we shall say, of less construc- tion cost, reduces the transportation charge from one point to another, the other existing channels adopt the same tariflf, and, as before, divide the trade. The discrepanciei pointed out in the official statements, of the mere distance from one point to another, will induce public distrust in all interested American reports that may be made hereafter. The characteristics of the St. Lawrence channel are then adverted to at length, and the various projects pointed out, and made the subject of remark. The reasons of American sympathy to the Georgian Bay Canal, and of American hostility to the opening of the Ottawa River into Georgian Bay, then follow, and place the whole question to the English capitalist in a new and striking point of view. The case of the lake shipowner follows incidentally, and is shown to be strong enough to justify the strongest possible remonstrances from the British Government. The question of transportation by railroads, and canals, and steam water-courses, is finally exhausted in placing the whole question of the future course of western trade before the pub- lic; and, as the figures are reliable, the results have an important bearing on the present and future opening up of India. The result of the inquiry is substantially this : that, sooner or later, the whole western carrying trade will pass into the Mississippi channel ; that Montreal stands in an immensely inferior position to New York ; and that New York stands in a still more inferior position to New Orleans. The building of railroads and canals to connect Chicago with New York and Montreal is, therefore, a profound mistake; and all hope of such securities improving with the times is delusive in the extreme. THE NEW-MOWN HAY. BY PARK BENJAMIN. Talk not to me of southern bowers, Of odours breathed from tropic tlowers, Or spice trees after rain ; But of those sweets that freely flow When .Tune's fond breezes stir the low Grass, heaped along the plain. This morning stood the verdant spears. All wet with diamond dew — the tears By night serenely shed ; This evening like an array slain. They number the pacific plain With their fast-fading dead. And where they fell, and all around. Such perfumes in the air abound As if long-hidden hives Of sudden richness were unsealed, When on the freshly trodden field They yielded up their lives. In idle mood I love to pass These ruins of the crowded grass j Or listlessly to lie, Inhaling these delicious scents Crushed from those downcast, verdurous tents, Beneath a sunset sky. It is a pure delight, which they Who dwell in cities, far away From rural scenes so fair. Can never know in lighted rooms, Pervaded by exotic blooms — This taste of natural air. This air, so softened by the breath Exhaled and wafted from the death Of herbs that simply bloom. And, scarcely noted, like the best Dear friends with whom this world is blest, Await the common doom — And leave behind such sweet regret As in our hearts is living yet. Though heroes pass away — Talk not to me of southern bowers. Or odours breathed from tropic flowers, But of the new-mown h.iy. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 133 ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. At a weekly Council held Wednesday, June 29, present Col. Challoner, Trustee, in the chair, the names of candidates for election were read. Lord Feversham, the Hon. Col. Hood, the Hon. W. G. Cavendish, M.P., Sir J. V, B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P., Sir E. Kerrison, Bart., M.P,, Mr. J. Raymond Barker, Mr. Thomas Raymond Barker, Mr. Beale Browne, Mr. Caird, M.P., Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Mr. Humber- stone, M.P., Professor Simonds, Mr. S. Thompson, ]>Ir. T. Burch Western, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. H. Wilson, of Stowlangtoft Hall, and Mr. Wood, of Hanger Hill.— Dr. Voelcker submitted to the Council the following analysis of a Mangel Wurzel which was grown in 1857, and has been kept for nearly two years in an apparently sound condition : — Detailed Composition. In natural Calculated state. dry. Water 92.25 .. ♦Soluble proteine compounds .97 . . 12.51 Sugar, gum, and pectin 4.08 .. 52.67 Soluble inorganic salts 1.23 .. 15.87 tlnsoluble proteine compounds .... .16 .. 2.06 Woody fibre (cellulose) 1.18 .. 15.22 Insoluble mineral matter 13 . . 1.67 100.00 100.00 ^Containing nitrogen 155 ,. 2.00 tContaiuing nitrogen . , 025 , , .32 Total nitrogen 180 ., 2.32 The amount of water in this root it will be noticed is as large as in common White Turnips. It is much more considerable than in good Mangels, in which there is an average of 88 to 89 per cent, of water. The proportion of mineral matter in this root is larger than in good roots. Nearly the whole of the mineral matter consists of soluble salts, and more than one-half of these was found to be chloride of sodium or common salt. It appears, therefore, that salt was largely employed in growing the Mangels of which a specimen was analyzed. The proportion of nitrogen in the root is also larger than the average. The legitimate conclusion which may be deduced from the preceding results and observations is that this Mangel, although apparently sound, has un- dergone some changes which have deteriorated its feeding qualities. Dr. Voelcker's report explained in what manner this deterioration may have taken place, and remarked that it must be a matter of considerable interest to practical men to know how long Mangels can be stored without suffering inj ary, and what time of the year stored roots had acquired their maximum feeding properties. He also suggested that the large quantity of salt in the Mangel Wurzel which kept apparently sound for two years may have had its share in pre- serving it for so long a time, and expressed the opinion that the character of the manures used for growing Mangnls had a material influence on their composition, a circumstance which naturally must affect their keeping qualities. Dr. Voelcker stated in conclusion — " In the absence of precise information and experiments, I abstain from further speculating on this subject, and allude to it mainly for the purpose of showing how desirable it is that the whole question should be thoroughly investigated. This can alone be done pro- perly by a systematic series of practical and analytical experiments." Mr. Fisher Hobbs suggested that in publishing Dr. Voelcker's report in a condensed form it should be stated that the analysis was of one small root only, which had been preserved two years, and that it could hardly be taken as a fair average example of the keeping pro- perties of a whole crop. A communication was read by Mr. Charles Fulbrook, of Dallington, Hurst Green, giving the result of his investigations of the laws governing the wet and dry seasons occasionally experienced in this country. On the motion of Lord Feversham, seconded by the Hon. Wm. Cavendish, this communication was referred to the Journal Committee, and the thanks of the Council were ordered to be conveyed to Mr. Fulbrook. M. Tisserand, Inspector of the Imperial Farms in France, transmitted to the Council programmes of the special international competition of reaping machines, to take place at the Imperial Farm of Fouilleuse, near St. Cloud, between July 20th and 25th next. The cer- tificates of entry to be sent by exhibitors to his Excel- lency the Minister of Agriculture, 78 Ms, Rue de Varennes, Paris, on or before July lOth. The following communications were also received from Mr. Chas. W. Hamilton : A Schedule of Queries issued by the Royal Dublin Society respecting the Con- dition of Farm Labourers ; the Journal of the Agricul- tural Society of Alger, and the Journal of the Central Agricultural Society of Belgium, for all of which the thanks of the Council were ordered. Mr. H. Tucker, from the New York States Agricul- tural Society, presented a letter deputing him to attend on behalf of that Society at the Warwick Show. The Chairman assured Mr. Tucker that the officers of the Society would afford him every facility in their power to enable him to inspect the trials and general exhibition. The Council then adjourned to the Monthly Council on July 6th. At a Monthly Council, held Wednesday, July 6, 1859— present, his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, President, in the chair ; Lord Camoys ; Lord Walsing- ham ; Lord Powis ; Lord Feversham ; Lord Leigh ; Lord Portman ; Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P. ; Sir E. Kerrison, Bart., M.P. ; Sir J. V. Shelley, Bart., M.P. ; the Hon. Colonel Hood; the Hon. W. G. Ca- vendish, M.P. ; Mr. Amos ; Mr. Raymond Barker ; 134 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Hodgson Barrow, M.P. ; Mr. Barthropp ; Mr. Bramston, M.P. ; Mr. Brandreth ; Colonel Challoner; Mr. Exall ; Mr. Foley, M.P. ; Mr. Brandreth Gibbs ; Mr. Fisher Hobbs ; Mr. Kinders; Mr. Knight, M.P. ; Mr. Milward ; Mr. Pain ; Mr. Shuttleworth ; Mr. Banks Stanhope, M.P. ; Mr. H. S. Thompson; Mr. Torr; Mr. T. Burch Western ; and Mr. Wilson, of Stowlang- toft — the following new members were elected : Ashton, George F., Wheelock House, Sandbach. Bacon, Rev. Hui?li, Baxterley Rectory, Atherstoue. Bourne, James, Basford Hall, Nantwich. Browne, Thomas Browne, Privy Council Office, Whitehall. Butt, Henry, Keraerton, Tewkesbury. Carter, James, Don Farm, Botley, Staffs. Coomer, Thomas, Basford, Nantwich. Cooper, Edmund, Henley-in-Arden. De Vitre, Henry D.. Purchase Manor, Sussex. Duckworth, Russell, Dirleton, Drem, N.B. Greene, Harry Arthur. Bythorne, Thrapstone. Hammerton, Charles, Princethorp, Warwick. Huut, Thomas, Thornington, Coldstream. Higginbotham, Samuel, Castle-Milk, Glasgow. Home, James R., Church Stretton, Salop. Lea, Joseph, Grove Mount, North wich. Lilly, W. Mence, Money Hill Hall, King's Norton. Marsh, Thomas, The Heamies, Stone, Staflfs. Preston, W. Scott, Leigh-Chulmleigh, Devon. Simpson, Alexander, Bridgnorth. Smitii, Apsley, Buxerby Hall, Atherstone. West, James Roberts, Alycot Park, Stratford-on-Avon. Yorke, T. E., Hilton Place, Hellifield, Leeds. The usual monthly report of the Finance Committee was received, with the following addition: — "The members of the Finance Committee also beg to state to the Council that they desire to set the Committee appointed to entertain and report upon the rearrange- ment of the system of keeping the accounts of the Society perfectly free, by the tender of their resigna- tion." On the motion of Lord Portman, seconded by Mr. Torr, the above resignation was accepted. On the motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Lord Feversham, the thanks of the Council were voted to the Finance Committee for their past services. On the mo- tion of Mr. Torr, seconded by Mr. Shuttleworth, the Finance Committee were requested to continue to hold office until the new committee be appointed. Mr. Thompson, chairman of the Journal Committee, reported :— 1. That ia Class HI., Essay on Steam Cultivation, the prize of £25 is awarded to the Essay bearing the motto " Faint, but pursuing ;" and ou the seal being broken, Mr. J. Algernon Clarke, of Long Sutton, was declared the author. 2. That in Class VII. none of the Essays are considered worthy of the prize. 3. The following list of subjects for Prize Essays for 1860 is recommended to the Council : — £ 8. d. I. Agriculture of Berkshire 50 0 0 11. On the beist period of the rotation, and the best time for applying the ma- nure of the farm 20 0 0 111. Alterations advisable in farm manage- ment, inland of different qualities, by low price of grain and high price of meat 10 0 0 IV. Late improvements in dairy practice . . 10 0 0 V. Proper ofhce of straw in a farm 10 0 0 VL Amount of capital required for the pro- fitable occupation of a farm 10 0 0 VII. On the condition of seed-bed best suited to the various agricultural crops. . . . £10 0 0 VIII, Ou the adulteration of agricultural seeds 10 0 0 IX. Any other agricultural subject 10 0 0 4. The reprint of Dr. Lang's Prize Essay on Potatoes is now laid on the table, and recommended to be sold at the following prices : — Id. each, or 63. per 100 to Members of the Society. l|d. each, or 9s. per 100 to Nou-Members. Lord Leigh, chairman of the General Warwick Committee, presented the report of the Committee in reference to details connected with the Warwick meet- ing. Mr. Pain was elected one of the Stewards of Show- yard receipts in place of Lord Portman, who will be un- able to attend. The report of the special Committee on the past ac- counts of the Society was received and adopted, and the Honorary Acting Secretary was authorized to take steps relative to a deed of assignment executed by the late Mr. Hudson previous to his death. The Report of the Committee on the duties of Secre- tary and mode of his appointment having been read, it was resolved, on the motion of Sir John Shelley, Bart., M.P., and seconded by Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., M.P., " That the office of Secretary and Editor shall not be combined." It was resolved, on the motion of Lord Feversham, "That the Secretary's salary be 400/. per annum ; the Secretary to reside in the Society's house, and have coals and lighting." It was ordered that advertisements be inserted stating that all applications from candidates for the office of Secretary be sent to the Honorary Acting Secretary on or before the 30th of October next. The following recommendations of the Committee were confirmed, viz. : That the Secretary shall devote his whole time to the affairs of the Society. That he shall find approved security to the amount of l,0OCZ. That it shall be considered an additional recommenda- tion to a candidate if he possesses a competent know- ledge of French and German. Other recommendations of the Committee on minor details were also confirmed. On the motion of Lord Portman, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs was requested to continue to undertake the duties of Honorary Acting Secretary, until a new Secretary be elected. Mr. Raymond Barker expressed his determination to resign the office of Vice-president. On the motion of Col. Challoner, Mr. Manning's offer to undertake on the usual terms such works as the Council may hereafter determine upon to require next year at Canterbury, was accepted. On the motion of Mr. Fisher Hobbs permission was given to 'the Stewards and Judges of the Show to make arrangements for the trial of Grass-mowing Machines at Warwick, and to report thereon. Various communications were laid before the Coun- cil, and it was decided what replies should be given thereto by the Hon, Secretary. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 135 ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. MEETING A T WARWICK. Like the moth dazzled by the light of a candle, the bee poising himself over a sun-flower, or a bird terribly tempted to peck at the best fruit, the Royal Society of Agriculture seems to be more and more attracted to- wards the metropolis. Now it nearly singes its wings at Chelmsford. Anon, still hovering around, it settles again almost as handy at Salisbury. Then, it is true, taking a stronger flight, we see the bird of passage striking out for North Wales, though only to return with a greater longing towards its own haven. War- wick brings it once more within range, and Canterbury will mark it down in good easy shot. Until at length, in 'sixty-one, the bird is fairly caught, the queen bee housed, or the foolish fly self-sacrificed. No doubt this gradual approximation to head-quarters is more or less accidental. The different districts remaining to select from have given the Direction but little alternative, and we have thus been forced as it were to hang about home. There are some who perhaps would have us keep here, if it were only on the excellent showing of a gentleman who, a year or two since, bodily proposed as much — because it was so difficult to get beds in country places. • Fortunately there have been few ready to go with such a proposition, and in a year or two's time the Society will be longing again for fresh air and change of scene. Indeed, however successful these neighbouring calls may have been or will be, they naturally fail somewhat in drawing out many new men or introducing much novelty. Some former and more locally remote meetings are still remembered for especial features of their own. Recently, however, we have been losing these landmarks. Essex and Wilts or Hampshire were pretty well acquainted with the Society, as was the latter with the merits of these districts, ere their more formal introduction to each other. In fact, such occa- sions have passed off" without any grand impression either one way or the other, and it could hardly have been otherwise. Both the visitor and the visited were already familiar, and any extraordinary sensation was scarcely to have been expected. The Warwick Show will be thus written on the record. It was a good average meeting, without anything of special importance to mark its history. The Society, to be sure, still continues to increase in influence, and in some departments the entries were, as usual, "greater than was ever known before." This was more particularly the case with the imple- ments, which were never previously seen in such numbers, and had never been of such general excellence. But even here there was little or no novelty. The steam plough has long been a standing dish at these en- tertainments; although, perhaps, to people who do not go much from home it is yet the great treat of the day. Certainly in the trial fields. Fowler's plough and Burgess and Key's new mower had clearly the call. We do not speak here so much of the judges as the common body of spectators, and it is seldom we remember any machinery in work that has recommended itself so strongly to the public. The proprietors or inventors of the new mower should be especially thankful for the official exposition allowed them ; while the Society will have to bear in mind even the more from this-, how ad- vantageous it may be to travel occasionally a little out of the mere line and rule, of once in three or four years, and take up a point when such authority is really useful and requisite. In some other divisions of both the stock and the implement departments, the interest and excitement were not so much over what was exhibited as what was done with it. Seldom have precedent and established repu- tation been so thoroughly upset. It was impossible to turn any way, but you met with some great man discomfited. Jonas Webb had been beaten for South- downs ; the Booths had got the worst of the Short- horns; and the Howards not as hitherto all the best of the ploughs. The office of a judge, we can answer for, is not always the most agreeable of duties ; but never did we hear men in authority so fiercely canvassed as some of those at Warwick. Still, it must not be supposed that this discussion would apply equally to the three instances we have given. On the contrary, the Babraham flock was fairly beaten by the best Southdown sheep — the Duke of Richmond's shearling — ever seen in a show-yard. Then, again, the performance of Hornsby's new plough — and finding such a plough in their name was a novelty — was extraordinary for its ex- cellence, and he would have been a bold man who could have stood by the work and disputed the award. But the decrees over the high-bred cattle were by no means so quietly submitted to. One exhibitor, indeed — Mr. Booth, of Warlaby — has gone so far as to lodge a protest over the placing of the shorthorn heifers in-calf. He does this, we believe, on the ground that his Queen of the Isles is not even noticed, and as he maintains she is clearly the best of the class, he demands to know why the Judges have disqualified her. Of course, any such objection as this can never hold water, or every other exhibitor would bo making one. It is, however, only fair to say that the majority of the public also regarded this as a mistake, almost everyone preferring the Queen to tho second prize, and some went so far as to draw a comparison in her favour against the first. But we hardly go to this. Colonel Towneley's is a beautiful heifer, with a lovely head, a wonderfully good line along the back, and unquestionably much the better behind. It is just here that the Queen of the Isles fails; but she is truly magnificent in many other of her points; and it will always be a curious query L 136 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. how she was entirely passed over ? Those learned in the lore will remember that Mr. Booth's was the first prize yearling heifer at Chester. There is no denying that the Shorthorn Judges at Warwick went on something of a new principle. They would not have mere pedigree or quality answer for everything, but stood out a little more for meat, size, and substance, witli symmetry. There were, too, many sound practical men ready to uphold them in what they did. In plain truth, the fashion of thing was manifestly threatening to carry itself a little too far. We were getting to delicate narrow animals, that promised soon to neither milk, breed, nor feed. There was many such an illustration, on the Warwick Show ground; and the courage of the Judges here must lead to a little wholesome correction. Admitting the two-year-old heifer case to have been an error, there was a vast deal of wild talk on other decisions, that could have been attributable to nothing but prejudice. There were some, for example, who would have denied Mr. Stratton his honours with Matchless the Fourth, the second at Chester, the first here, and now grown into as fine a cow as ever entered a show-yard. She is a capital roan in colour, has a good head, wonderiul chest and brisket, and altogether an extraordinary forehand ; while she is beautifully fleshed, and almost as commendable for her general symmetry. In a word, we think no animal was ever more fairly placed, al- though she did beat, in addition to those named in the prized and commended list, Mr. Douglas's renowned Einglet, and one or two more equally well-bred ones. But the strength of the Shorthorns, and we might perhaps go on to say of the whole Show, was in the two-year-old and yearling heifers. It is significant of their uniform goodness to note the award of the judges, who commended everything they saw here. And all the bestmenwereheretoo — Booth, ColonelTowneley, Doug- las of Athelstaneford, Stratton, Grundy, Captain Gunter, Marjoribanks, Noel Hill, Sir Charles Tempest, and Jonas Webb, with comparatively new men, like Mr. Robinson of Clifton, and Mr. Fowler of Henlow. It has been already intimated that the selection from such stock was made by no means altogether upon previous precedent. This was not only remarkable amongst the two-year-olds, but quite as strikingly with the yearlings, some of which had already come together. At Northal- lerton, for example, the second-prize heifer of Warwick, The Maid of Athelstane, was first, and the first of the Royal Show, Mr. Grundy's Faith, third — Booth's Queen of the Vale, exhibited but not specially noticed here, dividing them. Faith is an animal of great length and fine form, with every promise of further development, although with a little " touching" Mr. Douglas would have not only the best of her entry, but one of the most valuable cows of her sort. She is extraordinary for her touch and quality, has a rare back and quarter, but is rather spoilt by a steer horn and a queerish shoulder. There is little doubt but the two will come together again, and these awards be further adjusted. But it was impossible for a man to go through such a range of animals without making a fancy for himself; and there is plenty of " proof " still to be had out of them. It has been a common observation of ours for some time past that the Durham cows show far better than the male animals, and this was essentially so at Warwick. Seldom has there been such a mixed lot of bulls at a national meeting. If a visitor had stopped here he would have gone back with no very high opinion of the continued improvement of the improved Shorthorn. The best aged bull, to begin with, and a long way the best of his class, was thought to be nothing beyond a useful animal, although a far better- looking beast than Lord Feversham's first prize at Chester. His symmetry is much more perfect : he has a good head, with a kindly expression about it, stands very well before, and has a rare back and capital thighs. Still there is a manifest want of style about "Radford," and he is about the worst-coloured animal we ever saw : a kind of creamy trout-spotted one, by courtesy called "a roan." The second to him is the Cobham bull Marma- duke, who has plainly seen his best day. He stands well before, but is anything but level, and threatens altogether to get worse instead of better. The second prize bull at Chester, Marc An- tony, and the first prize two-year-old of that meeting. Lord Hill's Hetman, were both of them commendedhere; but neither is of quite first-class character. In fact, as is commonly the case with them, the pride of the Short- horns here again was with the younger aninals, and two of these commanded a great deal of earnest attention. They were Colonel Towneley's Royal Butterfly, an own bro- ther to Master Butterfly, and Royal Turk, a yearling, the property of Mr. Ambler. It might be a question with some which was the better of the two, although the market evinced no doubt about it. The present repre- sentative of the family name and honours has already reached his brother's repute. An off"er of twelve hun- dred guineas on the part of some Australian gentlemen for Royal Butterfly was refused, while Royal Turk was sold to Mr. Langstone for three hundred and fifty. The latter, it must be observed, was not shown amongst the Shorthorns, but in the " cattle best adapted for dairy purposes." This is something of a distinction without a difference, as nearly all the animals entered were well-bred Shorthorns, some of the pairs of cows being amongst the grandest, and certainly at the same time most useful-looking stock on the ground. It was curious to see how soon Royal Turk was found out here, even in such disguise, while Butterfly's more prominent position amongst his own order commanded for him one continual crowd of admirers. He is certainly a most taking animal, with as true and handsome a bull's head as poet could wish to sing of, or painter to sketch. If we consider the locality in which they were exhi- bited, the Herefords can hardly be said to have realized what was expected of them. But nothing is more un- certain than a show of this kind of stock, and nothing more uneven than the present one. There appears to be an under-current of feeling amongst the breeders, as to what the type of a Hereford should be. In many herds the original grand size has been departed from, and a neater, closer standing beast substituted. The latter would now appear to have the call. Mr. Hill's bull, the first in his class at Chester, and the best aged bull here, has nevertheless, not much improved. He is a compact, short-legged, broad-standing beast, but vei'y dark in his colour, rather patchy, and decidedly bad about the rumps. Some of those behind him had their partizans, while the most liked of all was a very handsome young bull of the Prince Consort's, that deservedly stood as the first of his set. The second prize two-year-old, a very well-formed beast, is noticeable as having been calved in the yard at the Salisbury show, and hence his name. It struck usthc cows and heifers evinced more of the true, fine character of the Hereford than the males ; and some of them were really perfect specimens of their kind. Still neither these nor the Devons had anything like the popularity of the Shorthorn, notwithstanding that the latter were especially well represented. Mr. Quartly, Mr. Turner, Mr. Merson, and His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, sent some patterns of purity, and these were well backed by Mr. Farthing, Mr. Umbers, and others. Mr. Farthing's prize bull is of great length, and Mr. Quartly's particularly handsome. An old THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 137 favourite of ours, however, Mr. Merson's Princo of Wales, could get no further than a coniniendation ; but the gem of the Barnstaple show, the Prince's yearling, distinguished herself as we anticipated. She was only beaten for first place by a yet more handsome heifer than herself — another of the Quartly's. But His Royal Highness may honestly plume himself on his Devon herd, bred with remarka- ble care and judgment, and showing perhaps even to more genuine advantage at the Norfolk Farm than even on the course at \A'arwick. In the cow classes, the awards recently made in the West-country were par- tially corrected, and with little question as to the wisdom so exercised by the superior court. Still there was no desire shown to pass over good useful properties when duly combined with the orthodox points of that most attractive-looking and truly symmetrical animal — the North Devon. If the Warwick show be remarkable for any one feature in which it surpasses the previous meetings of the Society, it is in the entries of riding horses. Taking the general strength of stallions, mares, and hunters, they have never been so good. This, no doubt, may in some measure be accounted for, from our being here in the very centre of a famous hunting country ; but, still, in proof of the increasing interest evinced for such classes, many of those exhibited were sent from long distances. The section opened well with as good looking a thorough-bred horse for getting hunters the Royal gatherings have ever yet attracted. Hunting Horn, to begin with, is by far the best-bred horse of the lot ; but he combines with this the most extraordinary power, size, and substance. In fact, he was so big as a young one, that he never could be properly prepared, and even now at five years old he can hardly be said to have quited formed or furnished. Should he only go on right, and fine a little about the shoulder, he must in a year or two's time develop into a magnificent ani- mal. When we remember such prize stallions as Spencer, Ravenhill, aud Loutherbourg, we may well feel satisfied with such a successor to them as Hunting Horn. The thorough-bred horse award at Chester last year was "corrected" the very next week in York- shire ; but we should think a new trial need hardly be granted here. Still there were two or three well-known horses sent, such as The Ugly Buck, Sprig of Shillelagh, and Sir Peter Laurie. The last-named of these is not so great a horse as one would expect to see ; and The Ugly Buck, light and very racing-looking, has the credit of getting better hunting stock than he would quite promise to do. Three or four very coarse, evidently half-bred animals were also shown in this class, but of course unnoticed. The hunting mares, as a lot, were better ; and there were some half-dozen of them especially good. The prize in the first instance was awarded to perhaps the finest mare for such a purpose ever seen on a show- ground. She is now the property of Mr. Fowler, of Aylesbury, but was sold two or three years since for no less than nine hundred guineas to carry the Empress of the French. Her right eye, however, went, either from disease or accident, and she re-crossed the Channel. The veterinary surgeons attributing its loss to the former cause, refused to pass her ; although up to the end of the week " Empress" appeared in the list as the first prize mare. We were bold enough to inquire of one of these inspectors how it was she was first on the list and nowhere in the show itself. His reply was, that " it was simply a clerical error," which is a fine Delphic oracle kind of answer, no doubt, though what it really means we have not even now the slightest possible idea. If we stood in Mr. Fowler's place we should distinctly request to l