MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE GOOD ELL LIBRARY dx v.aa THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE, VOLUME THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. THIR D SERIES. JULY TO DECEMBER, MDCCCLXV. LONDON : PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAxND. MAY BE HAD BY ORDER THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS. LONDON: PRINTED BY ROQERSON AND TUXFORDi SIG, STRAND. J er INDEX. Agricultural Afl'airs, Lord Leicester on, 404 Agricultural Commerce on the Lake Districts of America 405 Agricultural Economy, 12 Agricultural Education, 45, 236 Agricultural Implements at Plymouth, 193 Agricultural Intelligence, 75, 157, 248, 337, 430, 519 Agricultural Meetings in 1865, 163 Agricultural Reports, 74, 155, 247, 336, 429, 517 Agricultural Societies — Bath and West of England, 17, 242, 516 Bedfordshire, 104 Bucks, 261 Cheshire, 366 Cork County, 217 Derbyshire, 263 Durham, 211 Essex, 27 Freshwell, 457 Hereford, 315 Highland, 207 Keighley, 274 Kingscote, 99, 151, 314 Norfolk, 56 Northamptonshire, 118 North Hants, 30 North Lancashire, 213 North Lincolnshire, ISO, 224 North-West Bucks, 367 North-West of Ireland, 217 Oxford and Banbury, 59 Suffolk, 106 Warwickshire, 313 Yorkshire, 200 Agricultural Statistics of Ireland, 333 Agriculture, Calendar of, 73, 154, 335, 428, 516, Agriculture, Economy in the Practice of, 276 Agriculture, French Society of, Q7 American Dairy and Cheese Factories, 101 Animals, Fattening in a Hurry, 356 Animals, How to Lead, 423 Australian Agricultural Progress, 179 Autumnal Agricultural Speechifying, 176 Averages, 80, 160, 343, 434, 523 Averages, Comparative, 80, 161, 343, 434, 523 Averages, Imperial, 343, 434, 523 Averages, London, 80, 343 Ayrshire?, Training the, 206 > B. > Bark, Price of, 162, 524 Barley and Malt, Dr. Voelcker on, 66 ■^ Barley and Mushrooms, 178 <1 Barley, The Cultivation of the Finer Kinds of, 283 Bath and West of England Society, My Visit to ? the, 70 Bees, Artificial Combs for, 383 Birds, The, Our Friends, 218 Bloodletting and Purgatives; by H. Fergusson, Esq., V.S. Boreham, The Gathering at, 110 Brewers' Grains, 424 Brick and Tile Manufactory, Mechanical, 358, 477 Butter and Cheese Markets, 80, 1 58, 252, 344, 523 Carcass Trade Home and Foreign, 425 Carcasses, Railway and Steamboat Conveyance of, 472 Cattle V. Corn and Malt, 231 Cattle Disease or Plague, The, 240, 259, 266, 290, 321, 327, 373, 374, 377, 396, 426, 499 Cattle Disease, Lord Bury on the, 479 Cattle Disease, Remedy for, 243, 379 Cattle Economy, Our, 392 Cattle Feeding, Experiments in, 283, 296 Cattle Plague Assurance Associations, 409 Cattle Plague, Causes of the, 376 Cattle Plague, Professor Siraonds on the, 238 Cattle Poisoning by Rifle Bullets, 117 Cattle Trade, Home, 394 Cattle Trade, Review of the, 74, 155, 247, 336, 429, 518 Cheese, The Production of English, 371 Chicory, Price of, 524 Chips, 324, 368 Christmas Holiday— Description of Plate, 437 Claying Fen Land, 308 Clover as a Manure, 407 Cologne International Agricultural Exhibition, 68 Commercial Principles Applied to Farming, 292 Comstock's Spader, 380 Corn Trade, Review of the, 78, 159, 250, 341, 432, 520 Cotton Crop of the Southern States and Emanci- pation, 38 Covent Garden Market, 523 Cow, How to Choose a, 381 Cuckoo, Habits of the, 103 Currency Prices in Mark-lane, 80, l6l, 252, 522 D. Dairy Stock, Summer House-Feeding of, 123, 173 Daubenton, Inauguration of the Statue of, 391 Devon Bull — Description of Plate, 345 Disinfection, Principles and Practice of, 318 Drainage, 421 Dublin Exhibition, Agricultural Products in the, 42 E. Eggs, Double-Yoked, 103 Essex Steam Plough, 229 IXDEX. Farm Crops and Fire Insurance, 423 Farm Stock, The Winter Feeding of, 443 Farm, The New, 458 Farmyard Manure; by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S., 82 Farmers' Clubs — Central, 483 Croydon, 276, 361 Midland, 33, 11], 384 Sparkenhoe, 288 Waterford, 331 Wigton, 292 Winfrith, 316, 447 Farming Facts, Odds and Ends of, 9, 328, 406 Farming in West Sussex, 40 Fat and Flesh ; Where they come from, 357 Fires, Agricultural, and Insurance, 359 Fisherman, Our ; by C. W. Johnson, F.R.S., 2 Fishing River Improvement, 102 Flax, 72 Flax Culture, 8 Flax Plant, Cultivation and Management of, 399 Flax, The Growth of, 298 Fly, A Remedy for the, 10 Fodder Plant, A New, 270 Foreign Agricultural Gossip, 13, 153, 177, 340 G. Game Question, The, 351, 451 Game Laws of England ; by Judge French, 363 Game, The Over-Production of, 457 Gardening, Calendar of, 73, 154, 335, 428, 517 Gladiateur — Pedigree and Performances of, 345 Grain Saccharized for Feeding Purposes, 372 Grass Lands, How to Treat, 470 Guano, 80 H. Harvesting Corn, and Disposing of the Crop, 447 Hay Asthma, 313 Hay and Straw Elevators, 129, 222, 301 Hay and Straw Markets, 162 Herds of Great Britain, 257, 440 Hereford Cow (Spangle 2nd) — Description of, 253 Hide and Skin Markets, 162, 524 Highland Agriculture, Duke of Argyll on, 214 Highways, Public, 122 Hoofs, Cracked, Remedy for, 463 Hop Markets, 80, 161,252, 344, 434, 523 Horse Show in London, 116 Horse, The Digestive Organs of the, 316 Horses, Diseases of the Eyes in, 331 House-keeper — The Description of Plate, 1 Howden, To — Description of Plate, 164 Hypothec, The Law of, 408 Implements at Hereford, 63 Irrigation, Professor Voelcker on, 52 J. Jack-in-the-box— Description of Plate, 253 Kerrison, Sir Edward, Biographical Sketch of, 163 Labourers' Prize List, 334 Lambs after Weaning Time, The Best Method of Treating, 480 Land Reclaiming from the Ocean, 97 Landlords, A Lesson to, 37 Law Reports — Dixon and another v. Ayles, 225, James v. Birdsey, 11 Leather Market, 161, 524 Lime, The Mineral Phosphate of; by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S., 164 Liquid Manuring and the Health of Cattle, 280 Long-horned Steer — Description of Plate, 81 M. Malt, 330 Malt Act, New, 225 Malt : is it a Fallacy to Feed Cattle and Sheep on ? 168 Malt-tax, Report on the, 11 Malting Beans and Peas for Cattle, 282 Mangel Wurzel, Experiments in the Cultivation of, 304 Manures, Price of, 80, 162, 344, 524 Marl, Experiments on, 401 Meadow and Pasture Land, Formation of, 330 Meat, The Outcry about, 134 Metals, Price of, 163 Meteorology, its Influence on Agriculture, 36 Michaelmas Rents and Corn Averages, 473 Midland Counties Anti-Malt-tax Association, 72 Milking, Early, 481 Mowing Machine, A New, 329 N. Norfolk to North Lincolnshire, From, 332 North Devon, The Shores of; by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S., 346 Northumberland Farming, Earl Grey on, 216 O. Oil Market, 80, 162 Oil Regions, 226 On the Thames— Description of Plate, 82 Orange Trees, as an Investment, 326 Owls, A Plea for, 291 Palmerston, Lord : his Death and Consequences, 348 Parsnip as a Fodder Plant, The, 311 Pasture, Permanent, Improvement of, 361 Peat Bogs, The Reclaiming of, 410 Phosphate Deposits in North Wales, 398 Pig, The, 353, 464 Pigs and Peasants, The Dwellings of, 461 Pigs, Clean and Dirty, 466 Plain Speaking at Ludlow, 264 Ploughing in Australia, 424 Poetry — Hearts-Ease, 383 Sparrow Club Season, 71 Wild Flowers at Sunset, 15 INDEX. Potato Crop, jMy, 476 Potato Disease, A Few Words on the, 1G7 Potato Markets, 7r, 161, 252,344, 434,523 Poultry, How to make a Good Stock of, 14 Prussian Report on the Cattle Disease, 244 R. Rams, Royal Southdown — Description of Plate, 435 Reviews — Field and Fern ; by H. H. Dixon, Esq., 170 Richmond, The late Duke of, 237 River Drainage, Imperfect, 468 Rivers, Improvement of Inland, 275 Rivers, Improvement of Mountain, 370 Rivers, Improvement of Tidal, 220 Road Locomotives, Rules for, 268 Roots : How is the Farmer to find Cattle to Con- sume his Crop of? 352 Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, 31 Royal Agricultural Society of England, 5, 46, 85, 124, 144, 185, 357, 450 Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, 43, 120, 234, 360 S. Sales of Stock — Grand Dukes and Duchesses, 61 Hampton Court Blood Stock, 65 Long-woolled Rams, 284 Lord Wenlock's Stock, 300 Mr. Davey's, 286 Mr. Rigden's Southdowns, 249 Temple Brewer, 287 The Branston Sheep, 287 Salisbury Hotel, Opening of the, 16, 135 Salt as a Condiment for Cattle, 297 Scotch Farmers and the Game Laws, 139 Scratches and Grease, 329 Seed Market, 80, l6l, 252, S44, 434, 523 Sheep : Are they Liable to the Cattle Plague ? 509 Sheep, on Crossing, 382 Shorhorned Steer — Description of Plate, 1 Soda, The Salt of; by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S., 437 Sowing, Thick and Thin, 299 Speaking to the Point, 249 Steam in the Field, Progress of, 474 Steam Power, 131 Steppe Murrain ; its Nature, &c., 462 Stock Breeding; The Duke of Argyle on, 460 T. Tar Water for the Cattle Disease, 265 Tenant Farmers of England, The, 269 Textless Notes ; by a Crotchety Farmer, 100 Timber, Price of, 162 Town Dairies, The Sanitary .State of, 467 Town Sewage, London and Paris Modes of Treat- ing, 413 Trethewy Testimonial, The, 306 U. Ulster, Breeds of Cattle best suited for, 94 V. Valuation by Arbitration, 219 Veterinary Surgeons and the Government, 482 W. Water, Our Supply of; by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S., 254 Watering Lands by Steam Power, 364 Weeds and their Eradication, 365 Wheat, Fluctuations in the Price of, 344 Wheat V. Stock and Grass, 420 Wool Markets, 77, 162, 252, 344, 434, 524 Wool, The Chemistry of, and its Management ; by Professor Anderson, 271 THE EMBELLISHMENTS A Short-horned Steer The Housekeeper A Long-horned Steer On the Thames . Steam Engine Diagram Sir Edward Kerrison To Howden Prize Hereford Cow A Jaek-in-the-Box A Devon Bull . Gladiateur, the Derby and Southdown Rams A Christmas Holiday St. Leger Winner of 18G5 Page. 1 1 81 81 133 163 163 253 253 345 345 435 435 Now Ready, Cloth, in two Volumes, 782 pp., with four strel Portraits, Price 16s. uniform with "SCOTT AND SEBRIGHT," "SILK AND SCARLET," &c., OR §x\\M) Jfbtks ml lerk. BY H. H. D i X O N. With Steel Engravings of Mr. Hugh Watson, Professor Dick, Mr, Nightingale, and the late Duke of Richmond, &c. Tlie Volumes, "North" and "South" (of the Frith of Forth) may he had separately— Price EIGHT SHILLINGS each. Copies will be sent by Post on application to the Author. ROGERSON AND TtJXFORD, 246, STRAND. CATTLE PLAGUE. ^6 T^NWORB'S SPECIFIC" FOR CATTLE is the best remedy known for this disease. -Ei EXTRACT FROM TESTIMONIALS. From 3Ir. John Jordan, Devonshire Dairy, Green Lanes, Tottenham. I can safely recomraeud Enworb's Specific. I lost every cow that was attacked with the Plague before I obtained it. Since using it all my cattle, now numbering forty, which were seized, are doing well, and most of them recovered. From Mr. John Palmer, Quee7i's Head, Green Lanes, Tottenham. Since I have used Enworb's Specific all my milch cows attacked with the Cattle Plague have been saved, and are doing well. From Mr. Mills, Boman Road, Islington. Your Specific has saved two of my oows which were suffering from the disease in its worst form. Sold in Bottles, 2s. 6d., 4s. 6d., and IOs. SOLE MANUFACTURER, J. T. DAVENPORT, 33, GREAT RUSSELL STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C. "DAYNBIRD, CALDECOTT, k BAWTREE, Seed Farmers and Merchants, 89, Seed •a\ Market, Mark-lane; and Basingstoke. Prize Medals, 1851, for " Wheat ;" 1862, for Excellent Seed Corn and Seeds." J A VXD BAILLIE & CO. beg- to inform their friends that they are now prepared to send out their MANURES for 1865. Agents wanted in North Wales, Midland Counties, North of England, and Scotland. Wainton Works, near Chester. NEW WORK BY THE AUTHOR OF " MANHOOD." Just out, 18mo Pocket Edition, Post Free, 12 stamps; Sealed Ends, 20. sR. CURTIS'S MEDICAL GUIDE TO MARRIAGE : a Practical Treatise on its Physical and Personal Obligations. With instructions to the Married and Unmarried of both Sexes, for removing the special disqualifications and impediments which destroy the happiness of wedded ife.— By Dr. J. L. Curtis, 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. This work contains plain directions by which forfeited privileges can be restored, and essential functions strengthened and preserved. Also, by the same Author, a New and Revised Edition of MANHOOD : A MEDICAL ESSAY on the Causes and Cvlvq o^ Premature Decline in Man ; the Treatment of Nervous Debility, Spermatorrhoea, Impotence, and those peculiar infirmities which result from youthful abuses, adult excesses, tropical climates and other causes; with Instructions for the Cure of Infection without Mercury, and its Prevention by the Author's Prescription (his infallible Lotion).— By Dr. J. L. CURTIS, 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. REVIEWS OF THE WORK. " Manhood. — This is truly a valuable work, and should be in the hands of young and old."— Sunday Times, 23rd March, 1858. "We feel no hesitation in saying that there is no member of society by whom the book will not be found use- ful, whether such person hold the relation of a Parent, Preceptor, or Clergyman" — 5?in, Evening Paper, " Dr. Curtis ha? conferred a great boon by publishing this little work, in which is described the source of those diseases which produce decline in youth, or more frequently, premature old age." — Daily Telegraph, March 27, 1856. London : Published by Allen, 20, Warwick Lane, Paternoster-row; and Mann, 39, Cornhill, London. *;);* Either of the above scientific and useful Works sent Post free by the Author or Publishers for 13 Postage stamps ; or ia sealed envelopes, 20 stamps. Consultations from 10 to 8, and 6 to 8. THE SALISBURY HOTEL, SALISBUEY SQUARE, FLEET STREET, LONDON, E.G. This Hotel is now Open, and affords accommo- dation much needed in the vicinity, and families will find it replete with every convenience and comfort. It is furnished and fitted up in the best possible manner, and with all tiie latest improvements. There is a large Hall, with a Committee-room attached, well adapted for Public Meetings, Large Dinners, Wedding Breakfasts, &c. There is an excellent Coffee-room for Ladies, or families not requiring private Sitting-rooms. A large and well ventilated Room has been set apart for Smoking. There are Hot and Cold Baths on every floor. The Hotel is one of the quietest, and at the same time one of the most centrally-situated houses in London, while the accommodation generally is very extensive, so that the Agriculturists of all countries may here have the oppoi^unity of meeting with each other. The Tariff will be found to bear a favourable com- parison with any Hotel of a similar character. Bed-rooms for Visitors' Servants. THOMAS HIGGS, Manager, No. 3, Vol. XXVIII. SEPTEMBER, 1865. [Third Skriks. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE AND MONTHLY JOURNAL ov THE ACIEICULTURAL INTEREST. TO THE FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED B"^ ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAND. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. BOOEBSON AND TCXFOBD,] [PBINTEBS, 246, FBI ZES WON BY J. AND F. HOWARD, AT THE ROYAL SHOW, NEWCASTLE, 1864, BEING THE LARGEST NUMBER of MONEY PRIZES ever awarded at any Meeting of the Royal Society to one Exhibitor. THE FIRST AND ONLY PRIZE OF £15 FOR THE BEST WHEEL PLOUGH FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, THE FIRST AND ONLY PRIZE OF £8 FOR THE BEST HARROWS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES. THE FIRST AND ONLY PRIZE OF £1 FOR THE BEST HARROWS FOR HEAVY LAND. THE FIRST AND ONLY PRIZE OF £5 FOR THE BEST HARROWS FOR LIGHT LAND. THE FIRST AND ONLY PRIZE OF £20 FOR THE BEST HARROWS FOR STEAM POWER. THE FIRST AND ONLY PRIZE OF £12 lOs. FOR THE BEST STEAM CULTIVATOR AND RIDGING PLOUGH COMBINED. THE PRIZE OF £25 FOR THEIR SET OF STEAM CULTIVATING APPARATUS FOR SMALL OCCUPATIONS. THE PRIZE OF £10 FOR THEIR PLOUGH FOR STEAM POWER. THE PRIZE OF £10 FOR THEIR WINDLASS FOR STEAM PLOUGHING. 3. AND P. HOWARD HATE LONG DEVOTED ATTENTION TO THE MANUPACTtTKE OF mPLEMENTS FOR ALL FARTS OF THE WORLD, AND ARE THE LARGEST EXPORTERS IN ENGLAND OF Catalogues, with full particulars of the above ; also, of Howard's Steam Cultivators, which are in use throughout England, as well as abroad, sent free on application to JAMES AND FREDERICK HOWARD, BRITANNIA IRON WORKS, BEDFORD, ENGLAND. ^ LONDON OFFICE-4, CHEAPSIDE (Three doors from St. Paul's). LIVERPOOL OFFICE— 19, Sweeting Street. ■ Bxig arson, & Tiufiird..Z46.SlTiuiii .W ■ X ^1 I! THE FAKMEE'S MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER, 1865. PLATE I. PORTRAIT OF SIR EDWARD KERRISON., BART., M.P. SIR EDWARD KERRISON, BART., M.P., THE LATE PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. Sir Edward Kerrison ranks very worthily with such men as Mr. Handley and Mr. Pusey, who at long intervals have been selected from the lower House to fill the office of President of the Royal Agricultural Society. Whether proved by the performance of his several duties in the Council Chamber, on the show- ground, or yet more practically by his business about home, Sir Edward has earned some deserved distinc- tion as an agriculturist. His name stands upon most of the Committees in Hanover-square, and he has taken an especial interest in the education question ; at the great national meet- ings, as well as in the Eastern Counties, his herds of highly-bred shorthorns and polled milch-cows have pretty generally their place on the prize list, while Sir Edward has also culti- vated the breed of Suffolk cart-horses with pro- portionate success. The Hall farm and home- stead are thus well stocked with the best sorts of the district; nor has the care of the man been for- gotten about Scole, for Lady Caroline Kerrison has designed and published a series of plans for labourers' cottages, which, it is understood, have been carried out on her husband's estates. To go a step further, we may say that Sir Edward has the innate taste of a country gentleman for rural sports, has a quick eye for a clever cob, and during the season may be seen twisting his team from Piccadilly into the Park, if not joining the Ot-D Si:ri:es.1 procession of the Four-in-hand Club on a pilgrim- age to Greenwich or Richmond. Although he gives his strong support to a smart pack of har- riers. Sir Edward is not himself much of a hunting man, but he is better with the trigger, and, in fact, rather a heavy game-preserver in Suffolk, and a good man on the hill in Ross-shire. Sir Edward Kerrison's election to the post of President was a very popular one, and he has dis- charged the requirements of the office with every credit to himself. At Plymouth, indeed, he rode the lines day after day, followed by a servant on a high-stepping hack, with indefatigable industry, and at one time on the Wednesday had a narrow escape from being received by the West Country folks as the Prince himself. Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, the second baronet, was born in 1821, and succeeded his father. General Sir Edward Kerrison, in 1853. He finished his education at Oxford, and married ia 1844 the Lady Caroline Margaret Fox Strange- ways, daughter of the Earl of Ilchester. Sir Edward, who holds to Conservative principles, has represented Eye since 1852, and was returned at the recent election without opposition. He- is a deputy-lieutenant of Suffolk, a lieutenant in the Suffolk Borders Yeomanry, and a captain of the 10th Suffolk Rifle Volunteers, a corps that owes much of its efficiency to the active interest which the Captain takes in its conduct. - 0 [Tot.. T,VIII.-^-yo. 3. 164 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir Edward Kerrison's character may be best gathered from the following inscription on a picture, by Richmond, which is hung in the Corn Hall at Eye:— " This portrait of Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, Baronet, M.P., was painted at the request of 465 subscribers, consisting of the tenantry and residents of the borough of Eye and neighbourhood, in testimony of the high esteem in which he is held as a landlord and country gentleman and neigh- bour, and by their desire is placed in this Corn Exchange, to the erection of which he has so libe- rally contributed. A.D. 1857." Sir Edward was mainly instrumental in founding this Hall ; while he has also established a reforma- tory at Thorodon for boys convicted of crime, has built twice over a flax factory at Eye, and done a deal for the new Middle-Class College, at Fram- lingham, adding the munificent gift of £2,000 to his original subscription of £500, in order that the school might start fair and free from debt. We are indebted to a correspondent for the following curious tradition associated with the family property of the Kerrisons : " The extensive estates of Oakley Park and Brome Hall, in the coanty of Suffolk, are situated chiefly in the parishes of Hoxne, Thome, Oakley, Denham, and Eye, in a finely wooded and highly cultivated district. The manor of Oakley Park was erected, about forty years since, by the late baronet, from designs by Smithe, and is in the Grecian style a noble banquetting hall occupies the centre of the building, and is supported on handsome pillars of red granite. It is eighty- four feet long, lighted from the ceiling by dome lights. The statuary and other works of art are very valuable. This spot is the more interesting to all who take an interest in the history of England's kings, as the mansion is traditionally said to stand on the spot where King Edmund was first traced, when martyred by the Danes, and tied to an oak tree near the Old Abbey Farmhouse. The fall of this tree, only a few years since, in a still June night, was supposed to have been caused by the great weight of the night dew on the foliage. The tree was of that great age that the wood had lost all its strength, so that, instead of showing any clear rift, according to the run of the grain, it broke into all sorts of shapes ; and, as if to verify the universally-believed tradition that it is the same tr^e where the martyrdom was committed, a large triangular piece of the oak fell out, in which is imbedded an ancient iron arrow's head. This is carefully preserved, and has aflforded much in- teresting conjecture and discussion amongst anti- quarians." PLATE II. TO HOWDEN. Here is a chance for a judge to pick up a good one — not in all the crowd and bustle of the fair, or rather of the day before, for the best business at Howden is over before the fair begins— but after a quiet look over the grey as he comes in from The Grange. He is four off", by Chanticleer, and saw hounds a few times last season. Poor "Nimrod," in his famous book on The Condition of Hunters, tells a story, somewhat against himself, of how when he took to farming in Hampshiie he drew a couple of hundred pounds to go and buy bullocks at Basingstoke. On his way, however, he met the dealer's man, with a wonderfully clever grey horse in hand, and of course they naturally pulled up to have a word or two over so promising a nag. In quite as much a matter of course, " Nimrod" got his leg over him, and it ended by the two hundred going in a lump for the horse, instead of to its original purpose of buying beasts. Still, if we remember rightly, the moral was all the best way, for the grey turned out a clipper, and doubled the outlay very shortly afterwards, Howden and Horncastle are the two great horse- fairs of the country, and the very names of these two towns are as suggestive of such dealings as Mark Lane is for corn or Hereford for cattle. THE MINERAL PHOSPHATE OF LIME. BY CUTHBEKT W. JOHNSON, F.K.S. There is considerable reason to believe that the mineral phosphate of lime has not yet been employed, as a ferti- lizer, so extensively as its merits deserve. This remark applies, we think, not only to its soluble but to its insoluble state. Two prize essays on this important question are inserted in the present volume of the Highland Society's Transactions. The enquiry is not one of recent date. It was in 1845 that Professor Daubeny -and Captain Wid- rington made a voyage into Spain to examine the native phosphate of lime of Estremadura (Jour. Itoij. Ag. Soc, vol. v., p. 406). They found the phosphorite rock exist- ing in large masses, a short distance from Logrosson, a considerable village, about seven Spanish leagues to the south- east of TruxLllo. It there forms "a rock varying from 7 to 16 feet in breadth, traceable for nearly two miles, and extending into the earth to a great, though as THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 165 yet an unascertained, depth." Some specimens analyzed by these usefully-employed voyagers consisted, per cent., of— SOica 1.70 Peroxide of iron. ... ... 3.15 Fluoride of calcium (fluor spar) ... 14'.00 Phosphate of hme 81.15 They brought with them to England a sufficient supply of the phosphorite for various trials. Some of these ex- periments were made by Dr. Daubeny, on turnips, with the following results {ibid, vol vi., p. 330) : Roots. Tops. lbs. lbs. Soil simple produced per acre l-ij^OS 30,591 Manured with 10 c\rt. of bone shavings peracre 19,339 35,210 Spanish phosphorite alone, 12 cwt. ... 28,639 42,016 Spauisli phosphorite, 12 cwt., mixed with sulphuric acid 30,869 34,476 South American Guano, 2601bs 31,114 47,060 Bones, %Tith sulphuric acid, 11 cwt. ... 31,893 17,600 Bones, iinely powdered, 12 cwt 36,185 45,446 Stable dung, 22 tons 39,476 49,912 One conclusion to which these experiments tended is, as Dr. Daubeny well remarks, that " as the Spanish phos- phorite, which appears to act so bcnehcially, is wholly destitute of organic matter, it seems to follow that the more valuable portion at least of what is applied to the land, when bones are scattered over it, is the phosphate of lime, and not, as some have supposed, the oil or gelatine." The useful result to which the Professor was thus led was supported by the experiments of Sir Harry Verney on the use of the phosphorite as a manure. Tbe soil to which he applied it was a heavy sandy loam, resting on a clayey subsoil : the ground was sown with mangel wm-zel in 1844, whose seeds, through the extreme drought of the summer, did not vegetate sufficiently for any satisfactory conclusion. In April, 1845, the ground was sown wilh Chevalier harlev, with the following result(tii6?, vol. vi., p. 333) :— Manure per acre. Produce. Tons. Cwts. Qrs. Qrs. Bush. Pks. Soil simple 0 0 0 3 6 2 Burnt bones 0 18 0 5 3 3 Unburnt bones ... 1 7 0 5 0 0 Pigeons' dung ... 0 18 0 7 5 0 Spanish phosphorite and sulphuric acid ... 0 18 0 6 3 2 Spanish phosphorite alone 0 18 0 5 3 2 Superphosphate of lime 15 3 5 6 3 Stable-yard dung ... 20 0 0 8 2 0 Other experiments on the same important question were made by Mr. J. B. Lawes, at Rothamsted, in Hertford- shire {ibid, vol. viii., p. 510). He found, in some trials upon the growth of turnips, in 1844, with various ma- nures, that the following was the weight of the turnip bulbs per acre : — Tons. Cwts. Soil simple 2 4 SoU dressed with 3 cwt. of ground apatite, or native phosphate of lime ... ... ... 3 1 3 cwt. of apatite, decomposed by sulphuric acid, contaming 200 lbs. of apatite 6 15 874 lbs. of apatite, decomposed by sulphuric acid, containmg 104 lbs. sulphuric acid and 270 lbs. apatite ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 3 5 cwt. of superphosphate of lime ... ... 7 14 5 cwt. of superphosphate of lime — the land dug six inches deep ... ... ... ... 8 15 These trials, then, entirely accord with the experience of others on the native phosphate of lime. All these, in fact, support the conclusion which Dr. Daubeny adopted after numerous trials with the native phosphate of lime of Spanish Estremadura {ibid, vol. vi., p. 329), that, whilst in every instance a considerable increase of crop was obtained by the addition of certain fertilizers, the Spanish phosphate, especially when its action was quickened by the addition of sulphuric acid, proved nearly as efficacious as bones themselves, unless, indeed, when the latter were very finely powdered. In 1855 another series of trials with swede turnips were reported by Professor Voelcker {ibid., vol. xvi., p. 92). In these ti'ials the ground coprolites employed were found to contain per cent. — Hygroscopic water ... ... 1.20 Water of combination, and a trace of organic matter ... ... 3.20 Oxides of iron and alumina ... 4.84 Lime 39.81 Magnesia 5.68 ^ „„„„,,„ ,™ no f'^fpi^—f ^if,[TttS. Carbonic acid ... ... .. fi «■/ ^ Insoluble siliceous matter ... Alkalies, sulphuric acid, and loss.. 5.82 12.56 3.41 100.00 The result of these trials, as the Professor remarked, showed very considerable differences in the weight of the bulbs raised by an equal money-value of different manm-es. Thus whilst £2 worth of home-made superphosphate of lime gave an increase of 8 tons 8 cwts. 16 lbs. per acre, £2 worth of "economical" manure produced merely 16 cwts. 16 lbs. more per acre than the unmanured portion of the field. Again, it will be observed, that whilst £2 worth of dried night-soil gave only 9 tons 4 cwts. of roots, a mix- ture of guano and dissolved coprolites gave 12 tons 16 cwts. 16 lbs., and dissolved coprolites alone 11 tons 12 cwts. These differences are stQl more strikingly exhibited in the following table, in which the different plots are ar- ranged according to the increase which the various fer- tilizers employed upon each produced ; the table likewise shows the cost at which 1 ton of increase was produced in each experimental trial. Table showing Increase per Acre, and Cost of 1 ton of Increase, in 10 experimental trials vpon Swedes. Increase Cost of 1 ton per acre. of increase, tons. cwts. lbs. £ s. d. Home-made superphosphate ... 8 8 16 ... 0 4 9 Dissolved coprolites and guano 7 12 16 ... 0 5 3^ Guano 6 8 56 ... 0 6 2^ Dissolved coprolites ... ... 6 8 0...0 6 3 Mixture of guano, soot, dis- "i solved coprolites, and bone > 4 16 8 ... 0 8 3 J super-phosphate ... j Nut-refuse 4 16 0 ... 0 8 4 Commercial night-soil ... 4 0 0...0 10 0 Bone-dust 3 12 0 ... 0 11 li " Economical" manure ... 0 16 16 ... 2 9 6f Nothing (Produce of the unmanured soil per acre, 5 tons 4 cwts.) These trials were with the mineral phosphate of lime dissolved in sulphuric acid. Other trials have been made with the mineral phosphate alone, finely pulverized. Such were those carried on at Glasnevin, in Ireland, by Mr. Baldwin, in the season of 1859-60. In the Glasnevin trials (Agri. Gaz., 1861, p. 437) the famiyaid manure was applied at the rate of 30 tons per statute acre — the artificial dressings at the uniform cost of £3 per acre. The Peruvian guano cost £13 53., the ground bones £8, the finely-ground coprolites £4 per ton. The produce of swede turnips per acre from the land thus manured was as follows : Prom farmyard manure ... ... 18 tor.« 15 cwts. Peruvian guano ... ... 12 10 Dissolved coprolites 14 10 Ground bones ,,, ... ... 10 10 Dissolved bones „, ... 11 5 Ground coprolites 14 5 «> 2 166 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. lu the valuable series of trials lately marked by the approval of the Highland Society, the mineral phosphate vyas tried both in its simple state and when previously dissolved in sulphuric acid. The experiments of Mr. R. J. Thomson, of Kilmarnock, were upon yellow turnips.- The whole field was manured with 25 tons of farmyard manure per acre, and so much of each artificial manure was added as to contain ISOlbs. of phosphate of lime per acre. The produce, on two series of trials of turnips, in tons and cwts. was as follows ^T/v/^j. High. Hoc, 1865, p. 496). Section 1. Section 3. Soil simple 16 18 13 16 Ground coprolites ... 16 14 14 18 Dissolved coprolites ... 19 13 17 11 Bone-ash 16 l-l 16 3 Bone-ash dissolved ... 19 18 17 5 Bone-ash and gypsum ... 18 4 17 10 Ground bones 18 10 18 2 Ground bones dissolved ... 19 5 18 10 Bolivian guano 18 16 17 8 Sulphuric acid ... ... 16 12 17 11 Gypsum 15 4 17 3 The quantity of sulphuric acid and gypsum applied was made equal to that in the dissolved bone-ash. The results per acre, reported iu the prize essay of Mr. S. D. Shirreff, of Saltcoats, in East Lothian, were as fol- lows. These experiments on swedes were made in the season of 1863-64 {jhid, p. 501). Produce. Tons. Cwt. 4 cwt. of bone superphospliate \ „, , p 4 cwt. Peruvian guano ) 4 cwt. of coprolite phosphate ") ^^ „ 4 cwt. of Peruvian guano ) 4 cwt. of dissolved phospliatic guano 7 oi n 4 cwt. of Peruvian guano ) " The next trials were Avith the white globe turnip : Produce. Tons. Cwt. 6 cwt. of dissolved bone-a.sh ") -,^ ,^ 2 cwt. of nitrate of soda J 6 cwt. of dissolved coprolites "j ^^ ,„ 3 cwt. of nitrate of soda 3 6 cwt. of bone-asli \ ^, ,_ 3 cwt. of nitrate of soda ) ~ The mineral phosphates commonly employed at pre- sent by the artificial manure makers are either the copro- lites of the Suffolk crag, or those from the lower chalk of Cambridi^eshire, or the native phosphate of lime of Norway. These have been carefully analyzed and de- scribed by Professor Voelcker {jbid, vol. xxi., p. 350). He remarks, first, of the Suffolk coprolites (pscudo or false coprolites) : "These phosphoric deposits occur iu the more recent tertiary strata, as a layer varying fi-om three to eighteen inches in thickness, between the coralline crag and London clay. The Suffolk crag is exceedingly rich in fossils, consisting partly of the fractured and rolled bones of cetaceous and other animals, with some fish-teeth, and chiefly of rolled water-worn pebbles, which were for- merly supposed to be the fossilized excrements of saurian and other animals, for which reason they were called co- prolites. " Professor Buckland, however, showed that they are not true fossil excrements, but in all probability calcareous pebbles which have undergone a peculiar metamorphosis, and become impregnated with phosjihoric acid by long- continued contact with decaying animal and vegetable substances. " The name pseudo or false coprolites, which Professor Buckland proposed for them, has been generally aceejHed by the scientific world. In commercial phraseology, we have to imderstaud by Suffolk-coprolites, or crag- roprolites, or p«eudo-coproTite9,, the mixed fos.sil-boiic». fish-teeth, and phosphatic pebbles which occm' in the Suffolk Crag. " These phosphatic matters are distinguished from the grey-coloured chalk-coprolites by a brownish, ferruginous colour, and smoother appearance. They are very hard, and yield, on grinding, a yeUowish-red powder. The subjoined analysis represents their average compo- sition— Moisture and water of combination with a trace of organic matter 2.53 Lime 38.20 Magnesia ........ 1-34 *Phosphoric acid 24.24 Oxide of Iron 4.81 Alumina 3.72 fCarbonic acid . 5.37 Sulpliuric acid 1-40 Potash 56 Soda 1.18 Chlorine -07 Fluorine and loss 4.31 Insoluble .siliceous matter 12.27 *Equal to tribasic phosphate of lime (bone-earth) . f Equal to carbonate of lime ..... The following is the result of an analysis of an sample of Cambridgeshire coprolites : — Moisture and organic matter Lime Magnesia ... Oxide of iron Alumina ... *Phosphoric acid ... fCarbonic acid Sulphuric acid Chloride of sodium Potash Soda Insoluble siliceous matter Eluorine and loss ... ... 100.00 52.52 12.20 average 4-63 43-21 1-12 2-46 1-36 25-29 6-66 •76 ■09 •32 •50 8-64 4-96 100-00 * Equal to tribasic phosphate of lime (bone-earth) 54-89 t Equal to carbonate of lime ... ... ... 15-13" The native jihosphate of lime, or apatite, as the Pro- fessor remarks, is a hard and often well-crystallized mine- ral, chiefly composed of phosphoric acid and lime. It is found in this country in Devonshire, Cornwall, and Scot- land, but not as yet in sufficient quantity to allow of its being collected for technical purposes. In America it is found imbedded in granite at Baltimore, in gneiss at Ger- mantown, in mica-slate in "West Greenland, in granite iu Connecticut ; and in granite, in ilaine, and in various other localities. On the Continent it is found in several places, as in the Tyrol, Bohemia, Bavaria, Sweden, and Norway. Most commonly it occurs in thin seams, im- bedded in crystalline or volcanic rocks, but seldom in sufficient quantity to repay the cost of working. Mineralogists distinguish several varieties of apatite. Generally speaking apatite has a light green or a reddish colour. The apatite which at present is imported into England from Norway is found chiefly at Krageroe. A specimen of red-coloured apatite furnished, on ana- lysis, the following results : — Hygroscopic water ... ... ... ... "43 Water of combination ... ... ... ... "40 ■'"Phosphoric acid ... ... ... ... ... 41-88 Lime ... ... ... ... ... ... 53-45 •(■Chloride of calcium ... ... ... ... 1-61 Phosphate of iron and alumina ... ... ... -66 Insoluble siliceous matter ,., ... ... 1-24 * Equalto tribasic phosphate of lirae (bone-e»rth) f Containing cliloriue « f.. TliK FARMER'S MAUAZLM':. 167 Tliis s|)cciiiieu had n hriLiliI red r.iloiir like irousloiic, and yet it contained but very little oxide of iron. Another sample of very light grceu-colourcd, almost white, apatite from Ki-ageroe, contained — -1!) -23 Hygroscopic ^y.'^te^ Water of combination *Phosphoric acid Lime tChloridc of calcium Oxide of iron Almuina ... Potash Soda Insoluble siliceous matter 41-25 50-63 6-il -29 -38 -Oi -13 -82 100-36 * Equal to tribasic phosphate of lime (bone-earth) 8939 t Contaming chlorine ... ... ... ... i'Od 'i'hcse valuable rcicai-clies ou the use of the luineral phosphate of lime ought to lead us to other and more varied experiments. The natural fertility of those soils in which the mineral phosphate of lime abounds would rather lead to the conclusion that, even in its apparently in- soluble state, this salt is available by the growing plant, in some way which at present we are not able to clearly understand. Professor Way long since described some of those soils, which are dispersed over our island {Jour. Roy. Ag. Sac, vol. ix, p. 56) ; and, indeed, where the tourist sees the farmers of Suffolk spreading the shelly crag (which contains this salt) in such copious dressings over their light barley-lauds, and the farmers of the counties of Devon and Cornwall, in far larger quantities, employing as a manure their similarly-composed sand, such a tourist C.U1 hardly avoid the conclusion that the phosphate of lime in these dressings must constitute, in some mode or other, a considerable portion of their value. A FEW WOEDS UPON THE POTATO DISEASE. BY A PRACTICAL TAKMER. I deeply regret that we have many unmistakable mani- festations of the return of the potato-disease. For the past two years we have been wholly free from it in the neighbourhood from whence I write, but this year it appears to commence with more than ordinary rapidity and virulence. On Tuesday last, August 15th, I was ex- amining a field of mine of twenty-four acres, an excellent crop, and all looking well. On AVednesday we had much vivid lightning, tremendous thunder-claps, followed by heavy rain. To-day, August ISth, there is scarcely a healthy plant of regents to be seen. Of flukes the appearance is much better. The haulm is only just showing symptoms of attack. On the further side of the field stands a plot of a new variety of " red regents," scarcely affected at all ; and adjoining are three acres of Dalmahoys, which are partially touched. In another field of twelve acres, a short distance oft', are planted about eight acres of rocks, one acre of regents, one acre of flukes, one acre of " red regents," and one acre of Skerry blues. The rocks have all gone, or nearly so ; the regents still tolerably free ; the flukes only just showing a few decaying leaves ; the red regents are nearly free ; but the Skerry blues do not show any signs of decay whatever. I would observe that I am speaking of the haulm only in these remarks. The tubers in any case have not yet suffered much damage ; but my neighbour, who is an extensive grower, finds many already in his fields, and to the extent of four and five at a root. In another field of mine of nine acres, lying at some distance from the above fields, I have five acres of Renfrewshire regents, two acres of Dunbar regents, both direct from Scotland ; and two plots of rocks and Dalmahoys respectively. The rocks are by far the most decayed in this field, and the Dalmahoys look best. The regents are about equally decaying, but there are diversities in two or three instances, owing chiefly to the varieties of manures, and management applied, which at a future day I wish to recur to. At present the milder manures cause the better appearance in the crop, and have done so throughout their growth. The manures applied have been pond mud over the surface ; then a dressing of fold-yard dung in ridges ; next a liberal sowing of a mix- ture of pond mud, ditch readings, and fold-yard manure, mixed, and decomposed by a strong admixture of lime and salt ; and lastly, to this was added, in the first part of the field, 3^ cwts. of Lawes' s>q)er2ihosj)hate per acre, on the next portion 3^ cwts. of best Peruvian, (juano per acre, and on the last portion Z\ cwts. of Birmingham blood manure (highly popular here). Lawes' superphosphate from the commencement took a decided lead, and has held it up to the present time, and the haulm is more healthy looking. The Peruvian guano has, up to near this time, been the lowest on the scale of progress ; but since these rains have put in, it has pushed the haulm into stronger growth, as both haulm and leaf denote ; but this part of the field shows more disease than either of the other parts. The other manure has proved well, but cer- tainly it does not equal the superphosphate ; and should the crop of tubers also prove advantageous to the super- phosphate, it would suftice to show that, in this case at least, an expenditm-e in artificial manure in superphos- phate to the amount of £1 3s. lid. per acre is equal to the expenditure of £2 7s. lOd. in Peruvian guano ; or it tends to prove that this particular soil is deficient in phosphates. Be that as it may, this is the state and pro- gress of the crop under the varieties of manure, the soil itself being a mild loam of medium character. When I raise the crop I shall endeavour to ascertain the difference in tubers. But I am digressing from my intention in writing this paper. It was chiefly to suggest immediate action in stemming the disease. There are several ways of modifying these attacks. The first I would point out is to take a pair of strong horses and good moulding- plough, and mould up the crop as closely and eftectuaHy as possible, so as to prevent excessive moisture operating, or atmospheric influences to abet it. The next course to this, and perhaps a better one, is to cut off or draw up the hauhn so that none is left, and then to mould up the ridge again so that no moisture or droughts can enter the ridge. This com-sc, however, prevents the fm-ther de- velopment of the crop. Another, and the easiest course, is simply to cut off the haulm, and with it to carefully cover the ridges ; but this is not effectual. In the other cases it is truly serviceable, but still not fully eft'ective. Another course is to press the haulm aside, so that the dews and rains should deposit their moisture between the ridges ; but this is a very defective way. The vpinds soon disturb and raise it up again " all manner of ways." Another plan is to take up the crop. This is also a bad pi-actice. It is to no purpose to lift the crop tUl it is i-ipe and ready, as the good tubers will then soou rot. If the 168 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. . skins will aljide a tolerably liard rub they may do, but not otherwise ; and at present this cannot be the case iu a general crop. No one knows what ought to be done. The most prudent and wisest course is to wait with all patience the result of the attack. A course of tine wea- ther will effect far more than all the skill and contrivance of cultivators. The prospect is by no means a bright one as respects the crop, but when the haulin is removed there is almost a full stop put upon its growth. It is better to wait awhile than to do this ; but the exclusion of air and moisture from the tubers cannot fail to be right. Un- questionably it would be both safe and wise to lift the potato crop as soon as it ceases to grow, and the tubers denote maturity. The slight depth of covering in the ridge does not suffice as an effective protection from rain or disease. Every effort must be made to save this valu- able crop, for it is not at all unlikely to be our main dependeuce in the ensuing winter. Meat is already selling at uinepence per pound. In face of this we have the Russian Rinderpest and a deficient harvest. Food must be dear. It may yet be imperatively necessary for the Government to forbid importations of stock, and the losses akeady sustained are very seriously affecting the community. The Riuder))est is daily spreading, and removals of stock are perilous. The country is on the alert, having at last become aroused to the consequences of this tremendous evil. The idea of mutual protection or mutual insm'ance is all right enough, but it won't stay the infliction. There caunot be a doubt but that every animal travelling from the interior of Russia, passing through various climates, much unpropitious weather, and without sufficient food, is just in a state to take any infec- tion, or spontaneously to imbibe one. Some regulation in this particular ought to be enforced. If the shippers can- not prove that due and satisfactory care has been taken of the stock shipped from their first stage of transit up to their landing stage, they ought not to be permitted to land. It may be hard upon exporters or importers, but no unhealthy or unduly emaciated stock should be per- mitted to land on our shores. A knowledge of this w'ould soon put these classes of men upon their guard, and it would be found that but few Russian or any other stock from the interior of the continent would find their way to this country. I trust every stockowner will, if for his owu sake merely, do his best to prevent the in- crease of this fatal disease. IS IT A FALLACY TO FEED CATTLE AND SHEEP ON MALT? Dear Sir, — " Feeding cattle on malt is a fallacy." These are Mr. Gladstone's words in his budget speech for the present year. Is it a fallacy to feed cattle on malt, may I ask? for this IS a question important and interesting not only to the scientific man and the practical grazier, but to every flesh-eating individual in the country : to men with large families and scanty incomes, to the arlizau and the labourer it is one of vital consequence. It is important to the scientitic man, because its solution wiU show wliether or not food that has undergone a change before being swallowed, similar to tliut which takes place iu the di- gestive apparatus, is more readily assimilated in the body of the beast, it is important to the practical grazier ; for if semi- malted and malted grain possess the llesh and I'at-forming pro- perties wnich many assign to it, a great end will be obtained. Iu the first place he wilt have, at the present price of raw- grain, a commodity equal in nutritive value to tlie best linseed- cake, semi-malted at £i per ton, malted at from £2 to £3 per ton cheaper. At present, the best hnseed-cake as cattle food has no known equal, and with the scarcity of the natural cattle food (turnips, wurtzel, grasses, and green rape) daring the last three seasons and the present one, it has main- tained a price higher than bread, the food of man. Let the farmer once appreciate the value of germinated grain as food for cattle and sheep, as it ought to be appreciated, and he will have good grounds for sayhig to the linseed grower and cake crusher, " Unless you_can supply me with the best linseed-cake at £8 or £9 per tou, i can and will do without your commo- dity." Malt for cattle involves the interest of eveiy meat- eating individual, for it is not enough to give man bread, with- holding other comforts; but at the present high price of all kinds of meat, butter, and cheese, very little else than bread, beer, and water can be obtained by thousands of our fellow- countrymeu. Wliat is the cause of the present high price of meat? is a question I frequently hear asked, and it is a question I rarely hear correctly answered. It may he remembered by some who have read my letters to Bell's W'eekli/ Messenc/er for October and November, 1863, that I there jiointed out the grazier's difiiculties. These had been then owing to two un- favourable seasons in the grass roots and green cole crops, and consequently an insufficient supply .of the natural food of cattle and sheep ; and, rather than buy artificial food, almost every grazier lessened the number of .his breeding flock, and many gave up breeding altogether. Hence it will appear that the primary cause of the high price of meat has been the failure of the natural food-crops of our flocks and herds, and the enormous' expense incurred by the grazier in substituting arti- ficial food. The hay this year is next to an entire failure. From the thinness of the crops it has been found that thousands of acres are not worth the cost of mowing. In this neigh- bourhood turnips and the artificial grasses have been sown, have vegetated, and been swept away by the fly ; again sovyn, and again swept away ; and tlie wurtzel is a very inferior plant. These are the raw materials of the rich juicy flesh ex- plained by " Engineer," iu a letter on " Watery Obesity," to the Mark Lane E.tjjress, January 16th of this year, and which that gentleman says "costs the farmer comparatively little;" and further, he adds that " the epicurean appetite of the public is annually becoming more squeamish about the quantity and quality of fat as compared with wlijft it was at the commence- ment of the present century." Surely " Engineer" and his epicurean friends must lately have had no other meat than fat Leicester mutton. We, in the land of the Southdowns and half- breds, have not had reason to make a similar complaint ; but I am very forcibly reminded that there is such a combination of circumstances as will greatly influence the production of any kind of fat as human food, and all the squeamish pubhc will have to find fault with will be the extravagantly high price of all kinds of meat. " Saccharized grain is not superior to the raw grain from which it is produced." Tins is the sum and sub- stance of the asserted result of the experiments carried on by the direction of the Board of Trade, and mainly conducted by Mr. Lawes, which have produced so mischievous an impression upon the minds of many agriculturists and the general public, and have been pecidiarly favourable to the cause of those who oppose the repeal of the duty on malt — experiments which have given semblance of truth to Mr. Gladstone's declaration that " feeding cattle on malt is a fallacy," and aflbrded some sort of justification to the determined opposition of Mr. Thompson, and others, to Sir Fitzroy Kelly's motion. It is a new thing to feed cattle and sheep upon grain at any stage of saccharization ; and at what period has anything new been introduced without meeting with opposition from the great majority of persons? Stephenson's assertion that car- riages could be drawn along roads at the rate of forty miles an hour was received with contemptuous incrediUity by some of the leading minds of the present century ; sending messages along copper wire with the velocity of lightning, lighting towns with gas, and many other great improvements in our social system, at first were thought fallacious. The applica- tion of 4 cwt. of guano upon laud, and producing an increase in weight of turnips of from 15 to 20 tons per acre, was thought a fallacy. When tea was first introduced, one boiled the leaves, ate them, and threw away the decoction ; another ate the leaves dry ; a third, after boiling, ate the mixtiu-e of leaves THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 169 and water with a spoon. I scarcely need reuiiud the readei- of the now esteemed value of this plant. AVheu lirst iutroduce;! into Britain, potatoes as food for man were thought a fallacy ; the tubers were cut young, cooked, and served at table like asparagus ; the berries were next eaten, and after a variety of ways of cooking were declared " nasty things, and only tit for pigs." As with tea, so with tlie use of saccharized grain, the fault has been in the cooking. The material, iu the form of brewer's malt (and this I have stated iu former letters) is over- done, and therefore partially unfitted for use as a cattle food ; but, as I shall presently show, properly-prepared saccharized grain is one of the most nutritious foods at the command of the stockmaster, and of the highest value to liim in his present exigency. Those who regard Mr. Gladstone as a prophet, those who think the malt-feeding experiments of the Board of TVade con- clusive on the question, those who complacently submit to losses amongst their tlocks and lierds, using artificial feeding stuifs often containing 70 per cent, of impurities, and rejectinr/ the more nutritious, wholesome, and cheaper wheat and barley ; and those who are content to pay lid. per lb. for common joints of meat, 15d. per lb. for chops and steaks, may pooh-pooh ! and cry out " IIuml)ug !" at wliat an humble individual like myself has to say upon the dietary and general management of live stock ; but the exigencies of the present season have com- pelled not a few to listen more seriously to the dictates of rea- son and common sense, and thousands of sheep and lambs, and hundreds of horses, have been fed in this neighbourliood, dur- ing the past winter, upon semi-malted wheat and barley. On one farm alone, 100 qrs. of sacclianzed barley have been used as food for sheep ; and at the present time seven sacks per week of germinated wheat and barley are being consumed on another farm, as food for old toothless crones and their lambs, and both are fatting fast. To test the comparative value of the two kinds of grain, one flock is having wheat, and the other barley ; and to further test the harmlessness of germi- nated wheat, one shearhng ram is eating a half-peck per day, the produce of five pints of the grain iu a raw state, and is fatting as fast as a pig when fed upon barley meal, milk, and potatoes. This sheep is in a closed slicd, and during the last month has had nothing to eat but semi-mailed wheat. Pro- fessor Voelcker, in a report to the Anti-Malt-tax Association, on the composition of five samples of malt, says, " Too large an amount of sugar in food, it appears to me, may probably have the eftect of nauseating ;" but if a sliearliug ram can eat a half-peck of saccharized wheat every day for thirty days in succession, remain iu health and fatten, there does not appear any probabilities in the case.* Neither are there any grounds for apprehending that " malt can never be used except as a condiment, or in small quantities" (but what grazier ever thinks of using any other single kind of food to fatten an animal upon P) I am inclined to the same opinion so far as the burned porter malt is concerned ; but ray experiments have taught me to beheve that grain, in the various forms of saccliarization, is the only article of diet, with tlic exception of rich grass, that horses, oxen, and sheep can be fatted upon without the aid of any other food ; and I will accept a challenge for any sum not exceeding £500, to fatten six oxen or fifty sheep with sac- charized wheat, against any other single food, time against time, profit against profit. White, in a book called " The Maltster," page 115, says, " To feed cattle on malt is one of the popular delusions of the day," aud states that "thirty-two stones weiglit of barley con- tain 50 lbs. of nutritive or flesh-forming compound, 22^ lbs. of sugar, aud 269 lbs. of gum aud starch ; 25^ stones of malt, the produce of 32 stones of barley, contain only 30 lbs. of flesh-forming matter, 53 lbs. of sugar, and 175 lbs. of starch. There is therefore a loss in the malting process of 20 lbs. of flesh-forming compound, aud 64' lbs. of good solid fatting ma- terials ;" and Mr. "VYhite goes on to say that " the loss of weight in barley, during the process of malting, is occasioned by the rootlets of the grain feeding upon the starch when it is germinating on the floor during the sugar-forming process." And what do sucli gentlemen as Mr. White thiuk becomes of the rootlets ? Do they not know that they are extensively used as food for young colts, cattle, and sheep ? Sir, this closet phi- losopliy bears a striking contrast to true experimental philo- sophy, and to facts weU known to the lowest menial on a farm. * Professor Voelcker appears now to take a more favourable view of malt as food for cattle. if tl\e quality of a feeding stutFis to be measured by the weight of its diflereiit constituents in a raw state, then w heat would be placed Jiighest in the scale; but so far from this being the case, wheat in a raw state stands lowest, whilst in a saccharized state it stands highest in the scale of animal dietetics. I repeat here what I have said in former letters, that to fairly estimate the value of a feeding stuft' it is not suUicieut tliat it contains a large quantity of the fat and flesh-forming consti- tuents, but that those constituents be in a form to be acted upon within the digestive organs without deranging the func- tions of digestion. He who appraises a cattle food regardless of a knowledge of physiology, chemistry, and the mechanism of digestion aud practical grazing, is about as capable of the busi- ness as the navigator who attempts to steer a ship at sea with- out a knowledge of the compass. If Mr. White, Professor Thomson, Graham, and Dr. Lyon Playfair,* backed by the whole Board of Trade, nay even by the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer himself, were to tell the stockmaster to use raw wheat and barley for feeding sheep, because they contain in this con- dition, as Mr. White has told us, the largest quantity of nutri- tive matter, I apprehend they would be answered in something like the following language : " Sirs, our labourers are almost poisoned by drinking b:id"beer, and do you want us to poison our horses, oui- sheep, and our oxen, by giving them raw wheat and bailey ?" Again, to show the inconsistency of taking tlie weight of the different nutritive constituents of raw grain as the standard of its food value, witness the feeding of two horses, one eating a peck of raw barley, the other the same quantity in a saccharized state. The former will be poisoned, and die in a few days, whilst the latter may continue to eat the same quantity daOy week after week, and have no other food, reinaiu in perfect health, aud get fat. Surrounded by numerous extensive graziers, aud having been called upon to investigate diseases which have so frequently prevailed amongst the flocks and herds of this district, I feel that I can speak with some little authority upon the subject now under discussion ; and it is my duty to make known the result of my experience, for the benefit of every British stock- master at this his most difiicult period. Brought up upon a grazing farm, I have from a boy had great dehght in all that concerns the management of domesticated animals ; but it was not until the year 1852 that I began seriously to study the dis- eases and general management of cattle and sheep. In the two succeeding years, 1854-5, I had awarded to me the R. A. S.'s first prizes for two essays on the diseases of sheep. To find a suitable food for a flock debilitated by disease has always been with me a serious difliculty ; and during the last three and present years, with a failure of the root and artificial grass crops, this difliculty has greatly increased. Knowing that saccharized wheat and barley was the appropriate food for horses of delicate constitutions, or which were desired to be made fat for sale, in 1855 I conceived the idea of giving germinated grajn to sheep ; but it was not till the year 1860 that I could induce a single grazier to listen to my suggestion. In that year a noble lord in this neighbourhood, who being always anxious to further the plans and purposes of art and science, was the first to honour me with having my suggestion carried into practice, by feeding an ewe flock upon saccharized wheat. The shepherd, a fair sample of his class, was decidedly opposed to the experiment ; but the steward, fortunately a man of intel- ligence, and showing less prejudice against new systems than most flockmasters, willingly consented to have the grain pre- pared, and the flock fed as directed by me. The experiment 'was a success, and a great success too, for " my shepherd" con- descended to confess that " sprouted wheat was capital stuff for sheep, and hoped master woidd let him have more of it." This year, his lordship's turnip crop being a failure, semi- malted wheat and barley have again been used ; the ewes eat it before lambing, ring, and after lambing ; the lambs eat it ad libitum; and the fact of fat lambs being sold from this flock, fi-om 10 to 13 weeks old at from 40s. to 44s. carries in itself suHicient evidence- that the sacchari zed-grain system of sheep- feeding is not altogether to be pooh-poohed. Atlvising sprouted grain to a neighbouring flockmaster, I was told, as Mr. White * "Barley, in the act of gerniinatuig, loses a certain amount both of the constituents vphich form the flesh, and those which form the fat of the animal." This was the answer of Pro- fessors Thomson, Graham, and Playfair, in 1815, to the ques- tion, by the Chairman of the Board of Excise, " Is malt supe- rior to raw grain for feeding purposes ? " 170 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ill "The Maltster" has told us, that " grain iu malting loses a large amount of nutritive matter." Cotton cake, costing £G per ton, containing 60 per cent, of impurities, was given in- stead ; barley at that time being worth only £6 5s. per ton, and when germinated contained no impurities. The green crops were deficient and bad in quality, and the results were pitiable. The ewes lost condition, the ;ifter-birth came away dark-coloured and in pieces, many in a state of decomposition, showing a want of nutrition iu the body of the ewe ; the lambs died by dozens, and tlic surviving ones remain a most pitiable lot, worth from 7s. to 1:2s. each. Only compare these with tlie lambs the nobleman sold, 10 to 13 weeks old, at from 40s. to 44s. ! Another breeder had been feeding an extensive breeding flock upon germinated barley: they ate it before lamb- ing, and until tlie lambing season was over, and not more than one per cent, of loss of ewes, and four of lambs, had been sus- tained, and up to April 17th they were :is healthy, beautiful, and valuab:e a lot of lambs as could be produced. Tiie shepherd admitted, the steward and the owner admitted, that they had never had less trouble with the lambs, and never a finer lot. On the above date, the shepherd prevailed on his master to use beans ; and beans were used instead of barley, and the re- sults were so fearful that I feel at a loss for words to give a true picture of the case ; however, in one month the flock had been reduced £300 in value. When consulted, deaths of lambs were taking place at the rate of ten daily ; and although the ravages of the disease were put a stop to by medicine and suit- able diet, yet the surviving lambs were reduced to the lowest possible condition. Another flockmaster had expressed liis opinion that barley during maltiug lost much of its goodness, and used raw barley for feeding a lot of shearling wethers, and the loss by death of between ~0 and 3U of the number was the cost of the experiment. The sheep first appeared dull, walked stiffly, the body much swollen : tliey staggered in walking, and in twenty-four hours were paralysed ; many -were slaughtered immethately when noticed ill ; yet so rapid had been the pro- gress of the disease, that the fourth stomach had become dark in colour, and softened so that the finger could be easily forced through its walls, and in some cases had burst. The bowels were similarly affected, and, to use the butcher's own words,' were " rotten as a pear." In these cases neither the chemical nor the mechanical law of digestion had been fulfilled : the raw grain had found its way into the fourth, a delicate stomach, without first being ground by the teeth, and acted upon within the jiauneh or first stomach. There it underwent the putrefactive fermentation, evolving large quantities of poisonous gases, and the sheep died, as remarked in my last letter, poisoned by the elements of their own food. Should any of the opponents of the use of saccliarized grain feel any doubt of the accuracy of my facts, or should there be any gentleman who may be desirous of pursuing the subject, for the sake of elucidating and establishing the truth upon the question, I should be most happy to introduce them to those flockmasters in this neighbourhood who are carrying out prac- tically the principles I have advocated. In conclusion, I would remark that the repeal of the malt duty is as much a question for the meat as the beer consumer, for until restrictions in the use of saccliarized grain consequent upon that obnoxious tax. are removed, the product of flesh food in this country can never be developed in proportion to the wants of an increasing population. J. Seaman. Frioij, &'. JFcddeii, June 30, 1865. FIELD AND FERN; OR SCOTTISH FLOCKS AND HERDS; BY H. H. DIXON.— A REVIEW. The author of the two volumes before us is already favour- ably known to the public by his " Druid" publications, and more recently by his Essay on Shorthorns, which gained the Eoyal Agricultural Society's prize in the present year. If any evidence were wanting of honest industry in investigation and extensive knowledge of his subject, we should have it in these volumes ; and we are greatly indebted to the author for an excellent work on one of the most important and difficult qiiestions which can engage particular or general attention. If any time could have been selected more adapted for the treatment of stock tiian another, it is a season in which we are suffering, and are likely to suffer, from the high price of provisions. Causes of various kinds have combined to pro- duce this efifeet upon articles of necessary consumption. It is unfair to saddle upon any one cause, be it unusual drought, or murrain, or increased consumption, that which arises to a cer- tain extent from many causes ; but of one thing we mav rest assured— that he deserves well at the liamls of all men, be they producers or consumers, who calls attention to the im- provements whicli have taken place, or points to any means ivhich may be used for increasing those necessary articles of daily consumption— the beef and mutton of these islands. The exertions of Mr. Dixon have been well directed. With a natural apology for frequent, but not vain repetitions, the author pi oaiises an occasional break from the higher subjects of his investigation, into tlie more lively themes of horseflesh, salmon fisheries, dogs, and game. This promise he lias amply fulfilled ; rendering his volumes, " North" and '■ South," as in- teresting to the general reader as they are important to those more particularly occupi( d in the business of agricultural life. His book is interspersed with anecdotes of men and localities suflicieutly well knov\n to most of us ; and they are told with a vigour and raciness which proves his own intimate acquaint- ance with the subjects and his love for the labours he has undertaken. The original intention of the author, like aU other original intentions which arc worth anything, seems to have been much modified by circumrtances. We have all heard of the Irish gentleman who set out with a small carpet-bag and one change of uuen for a short visit to his friend, and who was found in the same place, a welcome guest, at the end of three years, with an increased stock of linen and the same bag. Mr. Dixon's first idea was a modest one — " his pleasure in the Scottish woods three summer months to take." The serious task which grew out of this pleasurable excursion "plucked the heart out of" three summers, a winter, and a spring, with about 8,000 miles of travelling, and two hundred and fifty nights away from home. The information which was collected in this extended survey of Scottish flocks and herds filled two fat note-books to the brim, and must have resembled the stuffing of the new linen into the Irish gentleman's original carpet-bag, if, indeed, that eccentric visitor has ever taken his leave. It is beyond the province of a reviewer to substitute his rapidly-stored frag- ments for the hard, well-digested matter of the author. It is unfair upon the writer, and upon the public. In the present instance it would be impossible to do so ; the book will speak better for itself than we can for it. It is rather our office to whet the appetite far more by giving only such a general out- linn of Mr. Dixon's investigations as wiil show how really valuable his labours have been, and how much real informa- tion may be acquired by a careful comparison of " Tield and Fern" with otlier sources of similar knowledge. Perhaps no country has improved so rapidly, and attained such well-deserved repute, in agriculture and the breeding of stock, as Scotland. It presents itself to the inexperienced as full of natural difficulties and inndaptation for the purpose. Its character is one of presumed barrenness in many parts ; and to English cars it sounds only as the Eden of the most enduring sportsman. AVho that had no personal experience of the fact, and w'as ignorant of the names of BosweU, M'Combie, Douglas, Grant Diitt', of the Dukes of Atliole and Kichmond, Lords Kinuaird, John Scott, aud Southesk, of Smith of Deanston, and many others, could conceive the efforts that have been made in the last five-and-twenty years to improve the breeds of native cattle and sheep, to drain successfully the unproductive lands, to reclaim the w'aste, to improve the fertile, aud to plough and plant the " barren muir" for the benefit of mankind? Deer forests and grouse hills remain for the sportsman : the river aud the loch still yield their silvery products to the fislierman in greater abundancs THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 171 than of yoi'c. Tliey who participate iu these pursuits have nothing with which to reproach increase;! civilization; and tens of thousands owe a debt of gratitude to the names we have quoted, for the more valuable supplies which have ad- vanced to meet au ever-increasing demand. When a man travels for his own pleasure there are many modes of locomotion open to hira. In certain countries we advocate a knapsack and double-soles, as being the only means of enjoying its beauties; in others, a horse and saddle- bags, posters, or the rail, as the case may be. To a man of strong nerves, the transit from Bellinzona to Altorf may be accomplished with much satisfaction in the coi'pc of a diligence. When, however, the pleasure begins to assume an air of busi- ness, and the voijmjcur lias laid upon himself a certain necessity, we hardly see how Mr. Dixon's plan could have been im- proved upon : he decided against walking, and very properly. If the body be fatigued, it is almost impossible that tlie raiud can work successfully. The very anxiety to be at the end of a tedious journey militates against the due digestion of the information we have oljtained, or (to speak metaphorically) of the aliment we have been laying up in store. He judged wisely, in a coim- try like Scotland, when he decided upon a hack. To a man accustomed to the saddle the fatigue counts for nothing ; aud the advantage of pushing on as occasion offers, of getting off to walk, of transferring yourself, your hack, and your baggage to the boat or rail, if necessary, speak volumes in its favour. But let the inexperienced beware of any such temptation as the author's success holds out : he wiU assuredly repent liim of his temerity ; and when he has lost his time, his leather, and pro- bably his horse into the bargain, he will find that a ride on an unconditioned Galloway from Caithness to Kensington is no joke. Mr. Dixon is sutRciently modest usually in speaking of himself and his exploits, a virtue not found in every journalist ; but he is fully justified, as claiming some merit for sitting " three-quarters of an hour at niji,ht on a corn-bin, to be sure that the ostler does you justice" : to say nothing of having "to blindfold and stuft' the ears of your mare, aud twist her five or six times round to make her forget which way you wanted to go, when you found a Lanarkshire or Ayrshire blast furnace roaring like a lion in your path, late at night, between yourself and your inn." Certainly tlie undertaking to which he committed himself was no light one, and tlie modus operandi quite unfitted for any feather-bed excursionist. The Scotch tiiemselves are a pleasant and hospitable people to travel amongst ; and the kindness with which our author was received, and the readiness with which information on his favourite topics was supplied, speak well for both parties. Still, even here there are certain difficulties to contend with, not so common in a country where the dialects are more fami- liar to the ear. Gaelic to a Southerner is embarrassing, to say the least of it — doubly so where accuracy of name is re- quired ; and we believe that few meu would have cared to enter upon so peculiar a study as that of a Gaelic dictionary. We have before said that Mr. Dixon otters an apology for the dry- ness of his matter ; and there can be no doubt that he has a right to have his claim allowed, when " ewes and wedders" are compelled to form a foreground for his picture, instead of the joys and sorrows of human beings. It is tlm ■, however, that we give the reader some limited insight into the method and detail of the work itself. Mr. Dixon, starting from Aberdeen, describes the incidents of a very unpleasant voyage, as we all know, up to the Shet- lauds. Here and in the Orkneys he finds ample scope for ob- servation. He does not appear to have been bitten with the mania of Sir Henry Dryden, or to have indulged in his taste for ecclesiastical architecture, but to have gone at once to his business in Jiand. 'Ihe cows we may leave to speak for them- selves, or, rather, we recommend the reader to the pages of " Field and Fern." It was, however, impossible to pass tlirough such a district without a word upou horseflesh ; and we have consequently a very interesting description of the ponies. Instead of carrying peat, as heretofore, they have been sent annually in numbers of from three to five hundred, to the pits. The sum of £5 lUs.is said to have acted as a lure to the breeders, who have furnished of late years the Northumberland col- lieries. The drainuponthe Shetlands accounts for a smallersup- ply during the last few years. The dealers' purchases, however, have during the last two summers fallen off, and have given a new impetus to the breeders. Northumberland employs the greatest number of Shetlands, while Durham gl\es the prefer" ence to the Welsh. The fact is that size and weight in the collieries must teU. Men soon discover that the saving of out- lay is a false economy, unless the work required is eli'ectually performed ; hence the crosses, to produce size. It is said that breeders are too indilfereut there, as elsewhere, to the points of tlie sire. The probability is that half a loaf is better than no bread, aud they take what they can get. While on the subject of ponies, one thing is worthy of re- mark: we scarcely ever saw, and never had, a thoroughly bad one. They are usually enduring, usually sound, and capable of performing journeys (due regard being had to pace) to which the capability of horses bears no comparison. Many of these animals, of which the author speaks, live, more or less, en- tirely undergroimd. It is uo uncommon thing for them to pass four or five years deprived of dayliglit — some that he men- tions exceed fourteen or fifteen years in the pit, and one has been a subterranean labourer for at least twenty. When we add that an average day's work is some twenty miles (half with empty tubs), we need not advert to the lactthat their fod- der is of the best, and most abundant. These islands are said, too, to excel in the quality of their wool, and on each sheep there are three kinds or qualities : the first quality adds to the comfort of our ^vjmeu in the form of veils and shawls, the latter of which can be drawn through a wedding-ring ; and the other sorts make stockings of various substance. The man- ners, indeed, of the producers are not first-rate; for, like our Welsli friends in the midland counties, they can scarcely ever be considered as positively safe till they make their appearance upou the table. The journey from Tain to Inverness, taken as it was at leisure by the author, presents some interesting features connected with shorthorn crosses and the rearing of calves. No truism is more thoroughly impressed in this county than the fact that you " must feed from the starting-post." There is great truth in the aphorism that all " the goodness of young things goes iu at the mouth" ; and whatever pains may be taken in breeding cattle, be it of whatever kiud it may, they are all thrown away unless the rearing of them go hand in hand with it. Our author has not forgotten, in speaking of colour, the old Scriptural ac- count of the force of external impressions, and he relates two very striking anecdotes on the sul)ject. We shall allow him to tell the story in his book aliout the strange cat and the stUl stranger marks on the bullock, and the dog which chased the cow aljout the meadow, and had the satisfaction of welcoming a calf which corresponded to him " with photographic accuracy." In one point we can experimentally bear testimony to the obser- vation of Mr. Dixon — that a yellow skin (and especially about ^Uderney and Jersey cows) denotes a well-filled pail. In speaking of sheep farming, it would have been difficult to have avoided the vexala qiuestio of heather burning. AVe have no desire to be put down as of either side — with the sheep or with the grouse ; but there is no doubt that means may be found to reconcile the interests of both parties, and that the nermanent advantage of the country will depend upon it. The fact is that sport, and everything connected with it, has now become such a " furore" — men are so capable of payiug for their pleasures, and so happily incUued to those which have a healthy aud vigorous tone, that we have no anxiety to thwart their wishes or injure their interests. We beUeve the two may be made, if not coincident, at least unantagonistic ; and if Mr. Houstoun's rotation system of cutting the heather into squares, with considerable drainage, be found effective, we should certainly recommend its adoption. Meu must have mutton and they will have moors — " the moor the merrier," as a friend of ours observed on an occasional visit to Scotland ; but we never desire, with all our love of sport, to see the ne- cessaries of life sacrificed for selfish interests or pleasures. To possession are attached immense responsibilities ; and an accusation has been made of late years, against Scotch pro- prietors, of excessive avarice. The national ciuiracter stood in need of uo such counterljalance to its proverbial hospitality ; aud the robbing of Peter to pay Paul is a mark neither of wis- dom nor morality. Every man has a right to do what he will with his own, conditionally that he does ivith it no toroiig — a truth worth studying by the owners of certain mysterious " flyers" on the turf; and it seldom happens that national pros- perity is advanced by individual cupidity. The rich man wants grouse, and the price he ofi'ers for them wiU command a supply ; but tlie poor man wants mutton, and as lie can only afford to 172 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. give a moderate sum for liid necessities, tlie country sliould be permitted to carry at least its due proportiou of sheep. It is to x?,y\ little purpose that crosses between Scotch sheep and Leicesters or Southdowns receive so much attention if the im- provement in size or quahty is met by a deficiency of supply. Mais revenons a nos moidons, and leave those of the Scotch lairds for the present. Dunrobin calls out the author's national taste for sport, increased as it is by the sight of Purday's and Lancaster's deer-saddles, and the details of hiU craft in the Duke's guu-house ; and the poetry of his nature is let loose upon the beauty of the dairy, by the ribbon borders " of pink saponarium, white uemophylia, blue salvia," and other flowers which " run coyly from the Castle gardens to the sea." The Duke's piper, too, comes into the picture, not so much for his talents as a mus'ciau as for his costume, Highlanders being as uncommon north of Inverness as they are common between Temple-bar and NottinghiU, or on the sands of our fashionable watering places. Inverness and the claims of the Highland Society give Mr. Dixon a proper occasion for a good spell upon cattle. No man knows better how to make use of the oppor- tunity. We will not rob him of the pleasure and profit, nor inflict on the general reader the pain of going tiirough the BelviUes, the Charlottes, the Druids, the Hantou's, the Fair Maids of Perth, with all the other prize-winners and " Black Venuses" enumerated by our author here and elsewhere. We refer the enthusiast or the sceptic to his pages for gratifica- tion or conviction of the immense attention that has been given to the subject by our North British neighbours. Those accounts will be found to be interspersed with amusing anec- dotes of the breeders, and with salient remarks on the pecu- liarities of the people ; and we cannot help adding, for the benefit of others who may come after him, that from beginning to end there is not one word of ill-nature or one single Irreach of confidence. The gentlemen who have trusted Mr. Dixon will have no reason to repent of their confidence ; and although a work of this kind must have depended for its accuracy and interest on the amount of intimacy which the author has been allowed to cultivate in certain quarters, although he may have been tempted by an appreciation of humour, which is mani- festly one of his qualifications for popularity, and although the Scotch character presents as many peculiarities to an English mind as any other nation under the sun, there is scarcely a word in the two volumes which, on that score, we would desire to alter. We hope this is high praise : we mean it to be so ; for the miserable instances of a contrary policy are sufficiently numerous among literary men, and we can conceive nothing so degrading to the profession. We are glad to find a word for the Gordon setters. They are all at the Castle — " black-and-white, with a little tan on the toes, muzzle, root of the tail, and round the eyes." The late Duke is said to have preferred it for an excellent reason — the facility of seeing them on the hill side. They are de- scribed as " light in frame and merry workers." We only hope they have plenty of opportunity of displaying their qualities ; for one of the most melancholy deteriorations of sport in this country is in the indifterence to a good dog, and the ordinaiy employment of none at aU. Retrievers, to be sure, are, like every dog, having their day ; but such setters or pointers as we shot to twenty years ago seem to have gone out altogether. There is also a curious account of a cross with a remarkable sheep dog, taken from the Field newspaper. Whether well authenticated or not, we are unable to say ; at least there is nothing so extraordinary in the fact as that of the Duke of Gordon's own fancy for a cross of the kind. We have seen plenty of bob-tailed pointers, in many parts of England, and aU over Germany, which might have been called anything, but which went under the name of sheep dogs for the convenience of the pot-hunters and to the detriment of the Queen's Ex- chequer. An entertaining chapter is devoted to the late Captain Barclay, the great pedestrian, and the trainer of Cribb for his fight with Molyneux the black. We remember to have heard or read of the way in which he walked away from the post- chaise on his road to London, until the postboy and his pupU began to think they had lost the Captain altogether. His view of a country seems to have been that of Lord Cardigan, whose practical eye saw little else upon the Limekilns at Newmarket, though surrounded by the "cracks" out at exercise, than "a splendid place to manoeuvre cavalry." His Cicerone at the time, a friend of our own, takes a totally different view of the value of the neighbourhood of Newmarket, and sees more in a Derby v/iuuer or a candidate for the St. Leger than in all the squadrons of cavalry in Great Britain. Captain Barclay was impressed with the value of " Moss Paul," as a place " to train a man" instead of a horse. The last of the Captain's line, who goes as often by the name of " AUardice" as anything else, is now in the Army, having passed his examination under the auspices of the author of " Charlie Thornhill." In the same neighbourhood figures the well-known name of Boswell, the highest example of an improving proprietor. Not a Mechi, but one of those simple, substantial pioneers of agri- culture, who set an example of economy and discipline to their tenants, instead of creating a jealous and impracticable class of farmers, who would willingly be gentlemen if they could only afford to be idle, and who never understand the difference between improvement and expense. Cortachy is connected with the name of Airlie, the present representative of which family having created for himself a respectable claim to some distinction in the House of Peers, is happy in passing a fair proportiou of his time in the improvement of his estate. This is done under the superintendence of Mr. Peter Geekie, Lord Airlie's factor, and has more regard to the laying down of a permanent pasture in the midst of country said to be short of grass. The Piper is not forgotten, and Lady Airlie's dairy-farm comes in for its meed of praise. Dr. Murray, of Carnoustie, and the ups and downs of " The Cure," will delight the raciug man ; for if the generality of Scotchmen north of Perth are somewhat indift'erent to the charms of the turf, the Doctor made up for the deficiency. We didn't know the exact value of speculation in thorough-bred stock, till we ascertained that the price paid for the horse that was second to Voltigeur in a field of sixteen sires, for the prize at Middlesborough, was 7s. 6d. As Mr. Dixon justly observes, " there must be some virtue in medical attendance, or in Car- noustie air." In order that nothing may be wanting to make the book readable, we have a full account of Mrs. Blair and her poultry- yard, her baskets of rissoles, her Indian corn, and her enthu- siastic superintendent " Annie." She has birds of all sorts, each one the best of his or her kind, and, whatever may he the state of the debtor and creditor account, she rivals the cele- brated Mrs. Howard in her care and attention to her work. That lady, we believe, made several hundreds of pounds out of a pair of Cochin Chinas, which came originally as a present from a grateful schoolboy, to the late Mrs. Peel, the ■wife of the Dean of AYorcester. Perth and Dunkeld are rich in legendary lore of shooting and racing, and the account of the Caledonian hunt, with its Ayr, Perth, and Kelso meetings ; its Ladies and its Lords Eglinton, Mansfield, Stormont, Tweeddale, Glasgow, Wemyss, and Moray ; its Whyte Melville, Little Gilmour, Sir David Moncriefte, Alexander Ramsay, Sir David Baird, Sir John Maxwell, and the Duke of Athole, with hundreds more who have lived and died since 1777, the date of the establishment of the Club, make up a most interesting chapter, which it is wicked to forestall. Paton, the gun-maker, finds a niche as well as others, and deservedly so. He enjoys the confidence of some of the best shots in England ; amongst others that of Lord Stamford, who two years ago had shot with no other guns, and had not yet been tempted by a breech-loader. Since then he has given way to fashion or conviction : with what result we know not. The hunting of the north, whose division from the south is the Frith of Forth, is admirably summed up by the description of the Fife kennels. Those men who have known the Ather- stone formerly, and who have made a renewed acquaintance with the Pytchley during the last season, will be glad to hear of Mr. Anstruther Thomson's success in the nortli. It must be a vastly dift'ereut country from that throwjh which we have not unfrequently followed the gallant master. We iHYthrour/h advisedly, for Mr. Thomson's weight would scarcely allow so hard a man to go over a country so big as those in which we knew him as a rider. Wliatever the deficiencies of country, however, we are well assured that it has difficulties of its own, more formidable in some respects, and of infinite value for making hounds — a consideration more in accordance with a sportsman's \aews than for breaking horses, a purpose to which the Atherstone and Pytchley countries are too fre- quently put by rash young men. Otter liunting has its repre- sentatives and frequent mention in both volumes ; and if we were asked to select a chapter full of racy incidents, and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 173 calculated to wake up a miud wearied with a triilc too uiucli beef mul mutton, we should recommend a perus;il of the visii to Dr. Grant and Sandy, on the roail from CoUlstream to Hawick, iu the south. We have lieard of a uight wi' Burus, and we have strong impressions of many pleasant ones with hundreds of choice spirits ; but for a gentleman with a taste for Dandie Dininonts, badgers, ferrets, rats, vicious liorses, and for rough practice of every kind, medical, cynical, and zoological, we should say a morning with Dr. Grant and his otter liouuds, Robin, Walter, and Ringvvood " the biggest black- guard of the lot," would be just the thing. As to giving any sort of idea of tlie Doctor's establisliment in a review, which our space warus us must soou come to an end, we dare not think of it : the bits are so good that we can scarcely make a selection, and tlien feel it would be unfair to do so. Let the reader search for himself. We can guarantee him a hearty laugli over the eccentricities of the Doctor and the " happy family," of which he himself is the sbowinan and the nucleus. AVe seem to have said sufficient to explain the method and the matter of these volumes, aud to recommend a perusal of the originals. Space forbids us to do what we fain would do, viz., extract a few of tlie anecdotes with whicli the driest matter is interspersed . Nor is it necessary to treat the south of Scotland with further notice than to say that it is as honestly and industriously handled, and entirely after the same fashion, as that part north of the i'orth, which we have more elaborately specified. There will be found ample food for the lover of the leash, among the lowlanders. Edinburgh appears, to the abstraction of its picturesque beauties in these pages, as a great emporium of wool. The steam-plough and the fine arable land of the Lothians come in for their due share of attention. The crossing of Downs with Dorsets and Leices- ters, and Mr. Douglas and the Athelstaneford herd, (upon the relative merits, as well the demerits of whose bygone cracks, their owner, who is second to no man in the United Kingdom as a judge, here makes a clean breast) are given somewhat in detail ; and the remarkable " dodges " of the showyard prove that the Ayrshire men are as wise in their gene- ration as a Piccadilly dealer. The Eglinton tournament, and the athletics of tlie late earl and his successor, occupy a few pages ; and the book \vinds up witli a short descriptiou of one of the nastiest rides through frost, rain, and eventually snow, through a country with which we are well acquainted, to Kensington. We presume the " garron " was not quite the thing for the Quorn, Mr. Tailby's, or the Pytchley pastures around Sir Hainald Knightley's at Eawsley, ov Mr. Dixon cuiild hardly have resisted tlie temptation of a thaw. The two volumes are illustrated by steel engravings of the late Duke of llichmond, Mr. Hugh Watsou, late of Keillor, Professor Dick, aud Mr. Nightingale, who was, until his re- tirement from ill health in 1800, the most popular coursing judge in England aud Scotland. Thus sheep, cattle, horses, and greyhounds have each their special patron. There is also a spirited sketch of the head of the prize West Highland bull Duntroou, dravra on wood by Mr. Gourlay SteeU, R.S.A., the auimal painter to the Highland Society. The camera has been called in twice, first for an interior, in which Dr. Grant, " Sandy", Ringwood, Pibroch, " Shammy," and a dead otter arc grouped together ; aud again for " A Scene at Knockhill." The latter really embodies " The Turf, the Chase, aud the Leash" of Scotland. Mr. Sharp was secretary to the Caledonian Hunt Club for a quarter of a ceutury. The white horse Palliusburn was one of Earl AVemyss's best huuters for four seasons ; and the greyhounds Carl Time and Tak Tent are no unworthy representatives of Scottish " long-tails." StiU, the author is nowhere to be found among the illustra- tions. An old groom once asked an artist rather testily why he wasn't in a hunting picture ; and that gentleman soothed him by saying, " Foil are. Do/i't you see that hill ? loiCre coming up the other side." By this rule Mr. Dixon is in the preface. We find a woodcut of his mare Cockade, all ac- coutred with pad, book-bag, macintosh, and valise ("just fifteen-four the lot," as the worthy Dumfries bacon-dealer ob- served who weighed them) ; and her rider is no doubt taking notes in the cow-house, to whose door she is tied. This is at least a fair suggestion. AVe have one word only of censure, and we are sure it will be well taken ; for the fault is far too common amongst the writers on agriculture and sport throughout the kingdom. The general interest and utility of the book is somewhat lessened by the assumption of the author that the whole world is as well acquainted with places, people, polled cattle, and prize bulls as himself. In sport, this has amounted to a. vulgarity of diction as common as it is incomprehensible. In agriculture aud ordinary matters it leaves a blank upon the mind of the reader, which nothing but oral explanation can fill up. To persons well " up " iu the subject this is unim- portant ; but it should always be borne in mind that one of the duties of an author is to render his subject popular, and then to elucidate it with that clearness which a popular subject deserves. THE SUMMER HOUSE-FEEDING OP DAIEY-STOCK. In a former paper attention was drawn to this important and interesting subject, by showing the results attainable from a weU-nianaged dairy-stock, by full feeding, good laanagemeut, patient aud never-flagging perseverance, and the most constant aud untiring attention to the minutest details. It is now proposed briefly to notice the breeds of cattle most suitable for dairy purposes, aud the crops that can be grown by the farmer pursuing a system of fixed husbandry, with most advantage for the feeding of his cattle during the summer aud autumn months. Keeping in view the principle that a milch cow requires fuU feeding during the whole of the milking season, these hints arc given to draw attention to the providing of extra food at a time when dependence is apt to be placed solely on grass. The pastures, as everyone knows who is farming light land, are often a very fluctuating source of supply ; a fortnight of dry weather in May or June may so burn up the grass as to materially injure its growth for the remainder of the season. It becomes, therefore, the interest of the stock-owner to pro- vide such food as will make him, in a great measure, inde- pendent of the season, and enable him to keep his cows in fuU profit and in good condition, whatever should be its character, whether wet or dry. Getting into dairy-stock requires a considerable amount of care aud attention — as to the breed most suitable for the land on which they are proposed to be put, and the situation of the land, whether high or low, exposed or sheltered ; as a very slight climatic difference exercises a large amount of influenee on such a sensitive animal as a milch cow. Choice having been made of the breed, it will well repay the intending purchaser to exercise a little care, and go to some extra trouble, and even expense, for the purpose of procuring animals from an inferior soil to his own, as such animals, if of a good sort and well bred, wUl at once begin to thrive, and before they have been many months on their uew pasture will exhibit a marked improvement in condition and produce. If the contrary course has been pursued, and fine-looking animals from a superior soil and it may be climate, have been pur- chased, deterioration is almost sure to show itself, which will continue until the cattle have been reduced to the size and con- dition at which the laud wiU maintain them. Where house- feeding is carried out with regularity, this difference will not, of course, show itself quite so decidedly ; still this is a point which will, under any circumstances, well repay a Uttle atten- tion and consideration on the pait of the farmer. The large graziers who supply the metropolitan and other extensive markets are weU aware of this tendency in cattle to improve or deteriorate when changed from their native soil, and prefer stocking their pastures with well-bred healthy ani- inals, purchased from breeders occupying land much inferior to their own. So great is the tendency to improve, shown by cattle removed from middhng soils to those of first-class quality, that, after being from two to three months on such laud as the rich iH THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. feeding grouudb of the Euglisli niidlaiul counties, llie vale of the Clyde iu Scotland, the golden vein in counties Tipperary aud Limerick in Ireland, their former owners, if happening to see tliem, have the greatest difficulty in reeognismg the iuiiraals thcv themselves had reared. A great "matter in the selecting of milking stock is pro- funng them from lierds of known superiority in milking qualities. In the case of pure hreeds, this can be doue vrith comparative ease, as in most districts there are herds cele- brated for the abundance of their produce, the young and surplus animals from which being obtainable at somewhat higher prices than the average value, on account of the cele- brity of the parent stock. In the absence of such opportunity, recourse must be had to the fairs and markets of the neighbourhood. In the case of gentlemen stocking, or even extensive farmers, it is mostly better to purchase from a respectable dealer of known cha- racter for probity and straightforward dealing. No one could possibly object to pay a dealer worthy of confidence a pound a-head profit ; and it will invariably be found that it has been twenty shillings remarkaljly well spent. On con- sideration, it is hard to say whether it will be spent at all, as a man who is at every fair within liis reach, for the purpose of purchasing and disposing of stock, becomes such an adept that he will pick out the animals suitable for his purpose, and have them bought, while the man who is only occasionally a purchaser would be only in the act of searchitig for them. Sellers have commonly much less huxtering (to use a com- mon phrase) with a weU-known dealer than with a stranger, or a person whom they know is not very well acquainted with the value ; and thus the dealer has a double advantage. If purchasing at a time when distemper is prevalent, it is a very safe thing to purchase through a dealer, as he, being aware of who has distemper, and even knowing the neigh- bours of those who have it, he will, careful of his own reputa- tion, have nothing whatever to do with their cattle. No dealer of established character will knowingly buy ani- mals from a tainted herd, however great may be tlie tempta- tion in the way of profit ; and that very fact ought to be an inducement to tenant-farmers and gentlemen-farmers alike to give the dealers more encouragement than they usually do. They are a shrewd, indefatigable, and hard-working class of men ; and by penetrating into the remotest districts, and even travelling from farm to farm, form a connecting link between breeder and feeder highly useful, perfectly natural and in an eminent degree favourable to the interests of both parties. Next to providi)ig plentiful supplies of food, probably the most important matter to be attended to is, the buying cows that, from their form, general appearance and descent, will have a good prospect of turning out good milkers. The season may be an unfavourable one, and the hay be spoiled or much injured ; it may be a dry one, and the grass consequently bad and the tnrnips inferior — these can all be borne and wdth patience too, as they are absolutely un- avoidable. But when a stock-owner has been fortunate in his endeavours to provide good hay and plenty of it — turnips and other food all right both as to quantity and quality — there is scarcely anything more intensely galling, and tlie memory of which will stick longer to him, than to find, on balancing his books at the close of the season, tliat he has been putting all his carefully and expensively-raised food into bad skins ; in short, that he has taken his goods to an unpro- fitabk market. In selecting a mUch cow, the best judge will at times be de- ceived; as a cow of very promising appearance, coarse, thick- necked, and big-boned, will often be a prime milker, while a eow of the most approved form will now and again prove so \'. orthless as not to be worth house-room as far as her milking qualities are concerned. Whatever the breed of cattle, it will generally be found that cows with the following characteristics moderately well deve- loped will have a good chance of turning out good milkers : The headlight and long, forehead broad, horn not too thick, but clean, and in some breeds waxy (as the shorthorn for in- st-hels to the acre is the lowest for the last five years. There will be, of course, a smaller suridus for exportation by the 441,056 bushels of wheat less, equal to 94,463 tons of flour. From the statistics of Tasmania we learn that there has been a serious faDing off in several important items. No correct returns of the wheat were to be obtained farther back than 1857 : but in 1858 the quantity sent out of the colony was 220,208 bushels, which was ex- ceeded by upwards of 4,000 bushels in 1861, while in 1864 the' total export of wheat only amounted to 20,383 bushels. Thus, in three years, the export of wheat fell awav to a tenth of what it was in 1861, the figures being for that vear 230,398; for 1862, 182,193; for 1863, 98,524 ; and for 1864, 26,383 bushels. Nor was this compensated for in any way by an increase in the quaa- 180 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tity of flour sent out of the country, for this declined from 5,158 to 4,319 tons in the one year; but, in point of fact, more than the actual surplus was sold even then, for a considerable quantity of flour had to be imported before the end of last year, to meet the consumption of the in- habitants. The quantity of oats has also fellen off materially : from 546,590 bushels exported in 1860, the highest year of the series, to 137,800 in 1864, and the export of potatoes fell oif in the one year from 12,615 to 10,509 tons, though this last quantity was still greater than had beeu exported iu any former years. Fruit and jams alone showed an increase, in the former from 144,971 to 160,138 bushels, and in the latter from 7,450 to 21,670 packages iu the year. The exhaustion of some portions of the land by bad farming, and the lay- ing down of others in grass, would account for the great falling olf in the yield of agricultural produce, as it does not pay now to clear new land for tillage, and there is none in Tasmania fit for the plough without. But how are we to account for a falling off' in the yield of wool ? In 1864 there were 4,972,383 lbs., an increase on the year before; but the export in 1862 was 5,241,650 lbs., and in 1859, 6,107,903 lbs. The difference in the seasons makes some difference in the weight of wool grown ; but the number of sheep must have decreased to effect such a change as this, while the flocks ought rather to have increased with the decline of tillage. Altogether, these tables show the state of affairs to be much worse than any one was prepared for in Tasmania, and that island has plainly lost for ever all claims to the title accorded her her twenty years since — that of the granary of the Southern Hemisphere. ITOIiTH LINCOLNSHIKE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT MARKET RASEN. This association has so grown with its growth that the more attractive parts of its annual exhibition — viz., its numerous and large classes of live stock — have become almost altogether unwieldly or unmanagable as an under- taking for a single day's show. "With nearly 500 lots and pens of cattle, horses, sheep, and swine to be got into the yard, or rather fields, in the morning, and to be "judged" after 9 o'clock, the whole thing, to those who take ordi- nary business interest in it, is a continuous process of hun-ying and scurrying all day, the end of which is no clear or defined opinion of the merit or demerits of any of the classes or the judging, unless one set is stuck-to to the end. To those who are officially or professionally en- gaged, the labour is something so excessive that it is impossible to get a complete and correct list of prizes by the expiration of the longest time that one's physique may be fairly taxed. On Thursday the judges had not awarded the prizes of several of the different classes till between one and two o'clock, p.m. ; and in the case of the lighter breeds of horses, Messrs. Wood, Ellerby, and Atkinson had two classes to get through with after the chairman had taken his seat at the dinner-table, some time after the houi' fixed, viz., three o'clock. The thorough- bred stallions were iu the ring when grace before meat was said, and the roadsters had scarcely walked straight from the ring out of the show field when the noble chairman was giving the usual loyal and patriotic toasts. This delay, it may be at once fairly said, was uo fault of the judges ; for some of the horse classes were so good that it was a most difficult task to dispose of the single and large prize for a class which brought so many good animals together. Where two or three prizes are at the disposal of the judges, there is not so much delicacy felt as where a single declaration as to comparative merit has to be made. And no one who respects his own judgment, as well as that of many men who, it is known, are looking on, can jump to a decision in five or ten minutes, when four or five horses are so equally good that it must depend at last on the balance of taste and fancy, rather than judgment, as to which shall be the one presented with the single sub- stantial favour. This is just how matters stood at Mar- ket Rasen iu more classes than the one of twenty-two himter-geldings and fillies shown for the prize of £50. What are the conclusions that we can only come to, on the strength of the above observations ? Why, simply tliat this assQcifttion must drop its diyisional distincUQa of " North Lincolnshire," resolve itself into a county in- stitution, pure and simple, and extend its annual meeting to two or three days. There is plenty of field-room ia Lincolnshire for an important county association ; and with Great Grimsby at the northern end, and Hull across the river, besides Boston, Stamford, and Grantham in the south, Louth in the north-east, the town so well known for its horse fair, Horncastle, more in the middle, and not forgetting Gainsborough and Brigg, in addition to the county town, there is ample scope for a migratory system of visitation quite large enough to make a meeting a novelty to the to^^'n and neighbourhood which may come in turn for the next meeting. This is the first secret of pecuniary success in county agricultural shows. The neighbourhood and districts within easy reach by road and railway were evidently in a state of general holiday- making on Thursday last, when about 10,000 entered the show-yard. This periodical drawing together of all classes has advantages so well known that they need not be here repeated ; and the readiness with which people do meet when no opportunity occurs for it to be said, " I went last year, or two years ago, and I don't care about it this," is a sufficient guarantee that any reasonable investment in the portable shedding and water-proof roofing that may be rcquii'cd for night-protection would be amply repaid, pecuniarily, to say nothing of the increased and more serviceable impressiou that would be made on the minds of youths who are aspiring to agricultural success and honours, and particularly on the minds of townspeople, and outsiders generally, who now so often believe they have a thorough acquaintance with all the ins-and-outs of agricultm-e, both in its scientific as well as practical bearings. In the midst of such helter-skelter and tip-toeing around j the ring, to see the animals undergoing the authoritative scrutinizing process, there is no fair opportunity for that col- lected and instructive discussion which is so desirable; not, however, so much that farmers may be umch improved in ] their art, as that townspeople and outsiders may be suffi- ciently instructed to know how to appreciate what is soundly as well as otherwise correctly done, accoi'ding to the most reliable principles of economy. But as it is, the only con- clusion that it seems is generally come to is, that if such an increased collection of fine animals can be made, and such a large square of closely -packed machines can be pitched and set a-going, farming must be in a very much increased state of pecuniary prosperitj^, and that any cause but the right THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 181 one is given for, or supposed to exist iu respect to, the difficulties under which agriculturists and consumers arc now struggling in regard to every first necessary excepting corn. But if a two or three-day meeting took place, not only would many more of the townspeople among whom the meeting was held he able to pay their shilling or six- pence, but exhibitors and friends of exhibitors, and sub- scribers generally — iu short all the practical attendants — would have a tenfold opportunity for giving correct infor- mation to classes who, in this respect particularly, prove the philosophy of Pope's opinion when he says, " A little kaowledge is a dangerous thing." This argument applies to more societies than " North Lincolnshire," and to more results tlian we have pointed to ; and as we have had a good opportunity for observing the amount of energy and pluck, as well as judgment in organization, which is regularly displayed by Lincolushii'e men at fairs and ram sales, we have not the slightest doubt but that steps will be at once takeu to remedy the shortcomings pointed at as regards an effective and impressive — correctly impres- sive— agricultural exhibition ; and by another year a meet- ing will be organized that will be worthy of their great and well-cultivated county, of their good horses, of their fine Shorthorns, their long and lustrous wool, and there- fore of themselves as good men of business. The Shorthorns were a large and 'good show, a number of them being excellent, both for size and pro- portion of flesh to bone ; while there was nothing to complain of on this occasion about the vigour and hardi- ness of the animals being on the decline from excessive feeding and pampering. The prize of £20 for the best hull was so offered tliat it coiUd be competed for with animals outside the county, and it took in aU the other classes above a year old. It was awarded to Lord Pam, 3 years and 6 months old, sire Lord Clyde ; and, as will be seen by the prize-list below, he came from Yorkshire. He is a very heavy -fleshed and thick-set kiudly red roan. Mr. Sharpley's Lord Panton, a four-year-old, and bred by Mr. Duddiug, is a very loug and heavy-fleshed animal, with great fore-quarters and well-arched ribs, and his hack is unusually true, considering his length. Mr. Brown's JNListerman, which took the premium in the three-year-olds, has a wide straight back and great loin, is very fleshy, stands on short legs, and carries a neat head and horn. In the two-year-olds, Mr. Middle- hough's Prince of ^Yales, which competed in class 1, is an extra-good light roan, with perfect hind-quarters, great shoulder, and heavy but neat neck ; the only thing required to make him of an A 1 stamp, being a middle that, for one so good generally, is singularly weak just where the tape goes. Mr. White's Baron Blencow sh-e Royal Windsor, is a neat and smart silvery white. Mr. Brand's red and white nine-months- old calf Mohawk, sire Knight Errant, is wonderfully good in his fore-quarters, brisket, and shoulder, and carries the finest possible head, with a long tapering nose. If a bovine stripling could be relied on for certainty in regard to the promises he makes, as this young gentleman has, in addition to that fine stylish movement which gives a favourable impression even with animals produced for food, we might predict with confidence that he would make a considerable mark at future shows. Mr. Fol- jambe's Duke of Windsor was second, and, at eleven months old, would nearly make two, in appearance, of the first ; but in Duke of Windsor there are many indications that he will grow "raw-boned " with size, and otherwise unlike, particularly about his head and horn, a prize-taker in good company. Messrs. Dudding's Colonel Tuck, by Friar Tuck, is a good long, straight backed, fleshy, and otherwise promising calf. The females were preceded by Mr. Torr's Gracious Princess, which took the first prize in the cow class ; and she is a line fashionable roau, with dee]), heavy fore- quarters, and a tapering neck, and fine head and horn. Mr. Mutton's Pearl was also very handsome. Mr. Lynn's Pamela is an extraordinarily fat-natured and well-fed symmetrical lieifcr, which promises much better for a good position at Bingley Hall or Islington, than for a good character as a breeder, ilr. Lambe's first yearling is a heifer with great substance ; Mr. Foljambe's silky- coated roan was a picture to look at ; and Messrs. Dud- ding's second i)romises to be of great size and width, as well as fidl of heavy flesh. The pens of Leicester sheep were only six, but Mr. Borton's prize was a good firm-backed curly and lustroua- coated ram ; and Mr. Marris' No. 70 had an excellent back and good "skin," while his pen of ten ewes were worthy of the £10 prize, although they stood in their smartness alone. In the classes of " Long-wool sheep, not being Lei- cesters," it was often diflicrdt to tell where Liacolns began and Leicesters left oif. However, the character of the Lincolnshire sheep, as it was found many years ago, before turnip-growiug and folding were generally practised, stood in the same relations to modern notions and necessity for quick returns, as the Norfolk black-faced and the big coarse-headed Hants sheep did to the more compact and docile Southdown. If the Leicesters have in many cases degenerated into smallness and fatness w'ith thin light coats, and the Southdown has, under similar treatment of in-and-in breeding, become too small for profit, there cannot be a question raised about the fact that all our im- proved and most valued modern flocks owe their supe- rior qualities — the long-wools to the Leicesters, and the short-wools to the Southdowns — to the way in which long and rambling crooked fi-ames have been toned down and brought into shape by these more distinct breeds. Looking at the show of sheep at .Market Rasen from these points of view, we were glad to perceive there were growing opinions in favour of stock sheep being as mathe- matically true in form as it is possible to get them ; for if there is a limit to the size of sheep, it is folly to attempt to grow donkeys in sheep's clothing, as this attempt at unnatural development will be sure to result in flat ribs, warped spines, and legs that drag behind the tail, instead of being actively and firmly lifted in a correct position beneath the carcase they are 'intended to support and carry. It may be here appropriately asked, What is the ad- vantage'to anybody of attempting to produce extra- ordinarily large frames, as a ride ? It is true, some large joints of "mutton are wanted for certain purposes and on certain occasions ; but if a large breed of sheep be kept up, there will always be enough extraordinary off- shoots from a flock to supply the demand for great legs and saddles ; and there caunot be two opinions among men of experience in regard to the diflerence in profits from a flock when symmetry is made the first object and size the second, and where size is made the main aim and sym- metry and well-balanced frames left more to chance. Anotlier point may be here touched upon. If there be any truth at all in scientific conclusions— and no one can doubt it, if he has weighed these mental resultswath practic-al tests and calciUations — an acre of roots or green food and so much corn would be worth so much for producing a crop of mutton. If, say, two cwt. of guano and two ditto of superphosphate would produce so many tons of turnips, the food so produced would yield so much live mutton, — supposing the sheep were equally healthy and thrifty — whether they were of a naturally small or large size. No man wiU argue that a Hampshire Down does not eat more, and exhaust the land more, than a Southdown. By the same rule, a neat Leicester and an exaggerated Liaeola differ in their consumptive and exhaustive characters. For these further reasons, we repeat that the whim, or F 3 182 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fasliiou, or opiniou wLicli now regiJates the actions of some breeders and feeders is, on the ground of economy and profit, almost altogether a mistaken one. It is quite true, if sheep for sheep be taken, a 351bs. per qr. one would be worth more than one weighing 251bs. per qr. But, then, the points arise about fecundity and capacity to rear, as well as about the weight of produce (other things being equal), depending on the quantity of food that goes into the mouth and stomach. For these reasons, we again repeat that we were pleased to see the increased tendency on the part of the judges and spectators, in favour of true frames and straight, stiff legs ; and we have no doubt but that these views will have grown more general by, and be farther demonstrated at, the large sales of Lincoln rams which will shortly take place. After these general remarks, we will not make any critical comments on individual sheep, further than to say that Mr. Lynn's second-prize two-shear had a Leicester ancestor, on one side or the other, not many generations back, and that this stamp of sheep, and the other similar ones in the yard, were undoubtedly to be preferred, both on the score of economy of food and the direct prolit they would yield by the weight of mutton and wool produced. Mr. Edward Davy's pen of ten were tine old ewes ; as Mr. H. Grantham's gimmers were very beautiful and uniform in size, frame, and wool ; while Mr. Listers were regular and neat in size, init not so true in character. Mr. Young's she lambs were a capital pen of ten, and Mr. Edward Davy's were a good second to them. The pigs were much less numerous than these animals usually are in counties where more dairying is done. Among the large boars there were, however, -some excel- lent specimens. The combination of size and quality, as exemplified in jMr. Duckering's fine two-year-old hog, fairly admits of its being pronounced a first-class animal ; whilst jNIr. Dyson's enormous hog, at the age of 2 years and 6 months, was as fine a quality as could be expected in one of his size. It may be mentioned here that a modern agricultural show-yard does not require the same class of attendants as the rings of olden times, when bull-baiting was popular, probably did. This we name because it is equally important to tlic owner of stock and the public that men given to sobriety and respectful addi'css should be placed in charge of animals exposed for pulilic in- spection ; and a more unmitigated and unwarranted display of ruffianism, excepting that no blows were exchanged, than was inade by a man professing to be in charge of one winning exhibitor's pig, we never saw. The regular attendants of an agricultural show- yard do not need the full force of Leeds back-slums bully- ism to di'aw or enforce rules for the inspection of animals ; and the less scrupulous spectators, if they exceed the bounds of reason in touching an animal, can be checked without the use of that coarseness of speech and manner to which it is to be hoped even the mining districts around Leeds are strangers. Mr. Graham's young boar of the small breed was very fine and neat ; and i\Ir. Thornton's was a good second here. In the other classes there was nothing below mediocrity and not much above it. The horses as a whole were undoubtedly the best for form, quality, and size according to their classes, that we ever saw at a county meeting ; and, as Mr. Jacob "Wilson said, in responding to the toast " The health of the Judges," the Market Easeu collection has undoubtedly surpassed this department of the show at Plymouth. As regards numbers too, we find there were only six more at the Eoyal than at the North Lincolnshire meeting — the number at the former having been 193, and at the latter 187. These facts alone are enough to justify the opinion we have above expressed about the farcical per- formance comprised in bringing so many animals together to be before the public only seven liours, during which time all the interest of judging, private comparison, and philosophic examination have to be got through with, or rather that impossible feat attempted. The result of our record of the first class to which we have to refer, will be some further confirmation. A prize of £20 was offered " For the best thoroughbred Stallion for Hunters." These were brought before the judges after 3 o'clock, and while they were deliberating we went to the next field to pick up a few stray late awards, which we had not secured, and when we came back the ring was cleared, and the horses had "left the field and gone," while at the same time no opportunity was allowed for us to get the award ; therefore in this particular our readers must be content to wait till next week. This, however, is not much loss : indeed, as we perceive a local contem- porary v.as in the same difficulty, perhaps the prize was withheld for want of merit. In the draught horses, Mr. Warburton's Splendour, a seven-year-old iron grey, is an immensely powerful, well- 1 alanced and good-looking horse. ^Matchless and Farmer's G'ory are also great and good bay horses of the Lincoln- shire size and stamp. This was a good class. In the roadsters, IMr. Bromby's Phenomenon looked well for com- pactness and general appearances, while his style and activity were equally commendable. Another of the same colour, a bay roan. Young Quicksilver, is a leggy and light- barrelled two-year-old, and promises to grow out of a roadster's height as well as general character. Among the marcs for breeding hunters there were two to redeem the otherwise poor character of the long string of twenty-two entries. The first prize is a twelve-year- old bay, of great power and good appearances, her quarters b!:ing roomy as well as correctly formed, and her tempera- ment— an important element — undoubtedly courageous as well as docile. The second, 'Mv. Fieldsend's, is what may be termed a perfect model — uithln herself. This, in ad- dition to the fine condition she appeared in, adding to her natural beauties of form and features, made many spectators inclined to think the judges had com- mitted a great mistake. But in our opinion they displayed great soundness in over-looking the fine quality and brilliant appearances generally of the dappled bay, in favour of the more roomy first prize. This was a class for breeding hunters, therefore the question of the probable issue had to be taken into consideration ; and if there be any soundness in the theory — that the best sii'e for hunters is a stout thorough-bred horse, why it would have been a weak- ness to have reversed the decision in favour of the fine quality and beauty of Mr. Fieldsend's mare. For these very elements, in addition to the second mare not having an ounce of bone to spare, would give the great proba- bility that her issue, if by a thorough-bred sire, would be weedy " tits" or a lady's Rotten-row canterer. If the two animals had been before us as mares for hunting we should unhesitatingly have given the more elegant bay the preference ; but as they wxre in competition as mares for breeding hunters, we as readily agi-eed with the judges' decision. The other more important classes, which were brought together by premiums oft'ered by gentlemen in the county, were of a very interesting character. There were nine five-year-old hunting mares and geldings in competition for Lord Yarborough's £10 premium ; and Mr. Lacy's black roan, which took it, has fine qualities, including a good style of moving, combined with great power and general good appearances. AVe were informed this horse was bought by Mr. Collins, of London, at a long figure. Mr. Hobbs, of Stainton Hall, Caistor, had in this class a nice-topped short-backed gay chesnut gelding. In the hackneys not exceeding 14 hands 2 inches the most ttisctive one was jMr, Frankish's perfectly-formed light THE FARMERS MAGAZINE. 183 mare, of a beautiful quality, and a style of moving not to be surpassed ; but the favour was coufcrred ou one witli more size and substance, ilr. Olding's was a good brown cob ; but buing therefore out of his class, he was " no- where." The class of the day, however, was formed of the twenty-one hunting geldings and fillies, four years of age, nmslered in response to the handsome £50 preniiuni offered by ^Ir. Henry Chaplin. There were twenty-two entries, but Mr. James Ilornsby's ehesnut gelding beeame alarmed, after entering the horse-box, at Grantham, and in plunging threw himself, from whieh he was sufficiently put out of trim to prevent his making an appearance. Two of the London prize horses were there ; Mr. Clark's ehesnut. Cotton Stockings, and Mr. Percy's Cumberland Bay ; but neither of these was more than commended, although they were among the five between which the single substantial award lay. AVe certainly never saw five better animals standing together, and we should have been equally satisfied whichever one might have received the honour ; for, as we have observed above, it must have come at last to a balance of taste and fancy, and not to a decision from supei'ior excellences or one or more palpable comparative defects. Mr. Clark, who had four entered, had his bay gelding among the five, and he was also com- mended. Mr. Jewison's brown gelding was also in this lot, and therefore commended ; and we were afterwards informed ou good authority that he was sold to Sir John TroUope for 230. The class, as a whole, was a most ex- ceUeat one ; but there were one or two that were altogether out of place. One from Ulceby, a bay gelding, will make a good single carriage horse for large parties who may prefer long rides to pace ; and one from Newark, a bright bay, and also a gelding, but whose colour was more lusti-ous thau his other appearances, for with his linen-prop legs, cow thighs, and other defects and uglinesses, it would be difficult to tell where he would be in his proper place. The premium was given to ISIr. Jackson Everett, Park- ane, Doncaster, for his excellently-formed and stylish bay gelding. The roadsters not exceeding 15^ hands were the last elass, and an excellent one it was, giving the judges some difficulty to come to a satisfactory decision. Mr. Thorn- ton, of Linccln, had three in this class, two of which were very smart — one a black mare, with excellent appearances for quick, light work ; and the other a very clever brown gelding, with great working traits. The judges, however, were inclined for more substance, and the award lay be- tween Mr. Wakefield's very beautiful roan, with very fast and good action; and Mr. West's very powerful six-year- old brown mare, but which was more of a hunter animal than the roan. The premium, however, went to Mr. West. PEIZE LIST: CATTLE. SHORTHORNS. Judges. — Wm. Can-, Stackhousc, near Settle. John Painter, Fovcst-row, Nottingham. J. AYilson, Ayoodhouse, Morpeth. Bulls above one year old. — Prize, £25, J. R. MiJdleliou-li, South Mdford, Milford Junction. Bulls three years old or upwards. — Prize, £8, Pereiia Brown, Glentworth, Lincoln. Two-year-old bidls.— First prize, £10, J. R. MidtUehough. Second of I-i, John Cliarlesworth, Headfield, Devvsbury. Yearling bulls. — First prize, £10, Elam Cartwriglit,WaIesby, Rasen. Second of £4-, Benjamiu Wass, Worlaby, Brigg. Bull-calves under a year old. — -First prize £5, G. Bland, Coleby Hall, lincoln. Second of £3, G. S. Foljriinbe, Osber- on Hall, Worksop. Cows more than four years old, having produced a calf at its natund time, within nine calendar months of the time of showing.— First prize, £8, AV. Torr, Aylesby Manor, Grimsby. Sccond'of £4', AYra. llutton, Gate Burton, Gainsborough. Heifers, three years old, having produced a calf at its natural time.— First prize, £7. Second of £3.—^'o cntnj. Two-year-old heifers.— First prize, £0, John Lynn, Stroxton, Granlluuu. Second of £4^, AVm. Torr. One-year-old heifers. — First prize £0, AA'ni. Lainbe, Anbouni, Lincoln. Second of £4, George Bland. Third of £3, Her- bert Salt, IMetbley Park, Leeds. She-calves under one year old. — First prize, £4, G. S. Fol- jambe. Second of £2, Messrs. Budding, Pantou House, 'Wragby. CoTTAGER-s Premiums. Milch cow, having produced a calf within nine calendar r.iontlis of, and in milk at the time of showing, the property of a cottager or mechanic occupying uot more than ten acres. — First prize £ t, AYilliani Kirk, Stainfield, AA'ragby. Second of £2, Edward Richardson, Hainton, AA'ragby. SHEEP. LEICESTERS. Judges. — L. Borman, Irby, near Grimsby. J. B. Slater, Cammeriugham, near Lincoln. Rams of any age. — Prize, £10. John Borton, Barton House MaUon. Pens of ten ewes or gimmers, the ewes having suckled lambs up to the 10th Jidy. — Prize, £10, Thomas Marris, Ulceby Chase, LTceby. LONG-AVOOLLED (not being Leicesters). Judges. — R. Johnson, AA'estbrough, Grantham. E. Lythal, Radford Hall, Leamington. Uarwood Mackinder, Spilsby. Rams of any age. — First prize, £15, John Lynn, Stroxton, Grantham. Second, Charles Clarke, Scopwick. Shearling rams. — First prize, £10, Robert Wright, Nocton Heath, Lincoln. Second of £6 and third of £3, Wilham Col- lingwood, Fulbeck, Grantham. Two-shear rams. — First prize, £8, HenryGrantham, Sturton, Brigg. Second of £3, Messrs. Charles and John 1). Lister, Coleby Heath, Lincoln. Pens of ten ewes, having suckled lambs up to 10th July. — First prize, £8, Edward Davy, Thoresway, Caittor. Second of £3, Mr. Ealand, Aisthorpe, Lincoln. Pens of ten shearling ewes or gimmers. — First prize, £7, H. Grantham, Sturton, Brigg. Second of £3, Messrs. Lister, Coleby Heath, Lincoln. Pens of ten she-lambs. — First prize, £5, J. J. A'oung, Claxby, Rasen. Second of £2, Edward l\I. Davy, Thoresway, Caistor. HORSES. Agricultur.vl. Judges. — J. Brooks, Grimsby. R. G. S. Howard, Lincoln. T. Plowright, jun., Pinchbeck, palding. Riding Horses. Judges. — AA'. S. Atkinson, AA'oodlesford. T. EUerby, AA'hitwell, near Malton. J. AVood, Market Overton, Rutland. Stallions for draught horses. — First prize of £I5, W. AA'ar- burton, sen., Sturton, Retford ; second of £5, AVilliam Duckering, Tupholme, AVragby. Stallions for roadsters. — Prize of £S, John Bromby, .^Uk- boro', Brigg. Mares for breeding hunters, with a foal at their heels. — First prize of £8, Charles Burkinshaw, Beuniworth, AA^ragby ; second of £3, John S. Fieldsend, Stainton-lc-Vale, Market Rasen. Mares for breeding draught horses, with a foal at their heels. — First prize of £8, Messrs. Lister, Coleby Heath, Lin- coln ; second of £3, AVilliam Pennant, Barlow, Selby. Mares for breeding roadsters, with a foal at their heels. — First prize of £0, J. Conpland, Hemswell Cliff, Kirtou Lind- sey ; second of £3, Rev. AA'^ Jenkins, Fillinglu.m Rectory, Lincoln. Mares for breeihng carriage horses, with a foa at their 184 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. heels. — The prize of £6, J. G. Little, Blyborough, Kirton-in- Lindsey. Hunting fillies, two years old. — Prize of £5, J. J. Young, Claxby, Market Rasen. Hunting fillies, one year old. — Prize of £i, W. £. Hobson, Kettlebythorpe, Brigg. Cart fillies, three years old. — Prize of £5, James Green- house, jun., Blankney Fen, Lincoln. Cart fillies, two years old. — Prize of £i, James Cook, Kingerby, Rasen. Cart colt foals. — Prize of £3, Anderson Kay, Glentworth, Lincoln. Cart fiUy foal.— Prize of £3, R. G. F. Howard, Temple Bruer, Lincoln. Premiums Offeeed by Ge:mtlemen. By the Right Hon. the Earl of Yarborough, President : Hunting geldings or mares, five years old, the pedigrees to be taken into consideration, £10 — William Lacy, Panton, Vl'ragby. Hunting geldings or mares, three years old, by a thorough-bred horse, the pedigree (if any) of the mare to be taken into consideration, £5 — Richard Mason, Keddington, Louth. Hackney geldings or mares, not exceeding fourteen hands two inches in height, given by J. B. Stanhope, Esq., M.P., £5 — Richard MilwaU, Thurgarton Priory, Southwell. Pairs of draught horses, not less than four years old, jnares and geldings only eligible (by J. B. Stanhope, Esq.), £5 — George C. Woodhouse, Wellingore, near Lincoln. Hunting geldings or fillies, four years old, substance, and especially pedigree, to be taken into consideration, given by Henry Chaplin, Esq., £50 — Jackson Everett, Park-lane, Doncaster. Hunting foals, by a thorough-bred horse, tlie pedigree (if any) of the marc to be taken into consideration, given by Edward Heneage, Esq., M.P., £5 — Joseph Danby, Hibald- stow, Kirtou-in-Lindsey. R/oadsters, not exceeding eight years old, nor fifteen-aud-a- lialf hands in height, to carry sixteen stones, the quality of the animal being particularly taken into consideration, given by the Rev. Basil Berridge, £5 — John West, Melton Ross, XHceby. PIGS. Judges. — As for Leicesters. Boars of a large breed. — First prize of £5 to Mr. R. E. Duck- ering, Northorpe, Kirton-in-Lindsey. Second, £3, Mr. Johu Dyson, Leeds. Boars of a large breed, not exceeding twelve mouths old. — First prize of £3 to Mr. John Dyson, Adelphi Hotel, Leeds. Boars of a small breed. — First prize of ki to Mr. C. W. Graham, York-road, Tjeeds. Second, £9, Mr. L. T. Thornton, Lincoln. Boars of a small breed, not exceeding twelve months old. — First prize of £3, Mr. C. W. Graham, York-road, Leeds. Sows of a large breed, having had a litter since 1st March, 1865. — First prize of £i, and second prize of £2, to Mr. E. E. Duckering, Northorpe, Kirtou. Sows of a small breed, having had a litter since 1st March, 1865. — First prize of £-i to the Rev. B. Snow, Burton, Ped- wardine, Sleatbrd. Second, £2, Mr. L. T. Thoniton, Lincoln. Three breeding pigs of the same litter, not exceeding six months old, of a large breed. — First prize of £3 to Mr. R. E. Duckering, IN'ortJiope, Kirton. Three breeding pigs of the same litter, not exceeding six months old, of a small breed. — First prize of £3 to Mr. John Lynn, Stro.xton, Grantham. There were also some other extra and .special prizes given for stock, poultry, and wool. IMPLEMENTS. The entries undex- this head numbered 723 articles, and a very great show they made. The trade, however, as it has been, we regret to say, throughout the year, was pro- nounced to be " not first-rate." As no prize list of the implements was obtainable, we must he content with giving merely the names of the exhibitors and mentioning the sums offered as prizes. For reaping-machines of various kinds £54 in six prizes were offered by the society, but they have not yet been brought to trial. Hornsby's ma- chines, although entered, were not on the ground, from some unaccountable delay of the Railway Companies, between Market Rasen and Plymouth, the Royal machines having been depended on for this show. There were also twenty- eight other prizes, amounting to £80, on offer, with £20 in addition placed at the disposal of the judges for dis- tribution as they might see fit. These awards we will give with the decisions over the reapers, which will take place in a few days. The Tuxfords and Clayton and Shuttlcworth trusted to local agents for any exhibition of their imple- ments. Amies and Barford, with their more general manir- factures and collection, made a great show with 40 different articles, many of them being effectively displayed in motion. Coultas, of Grantham, had several drills and hoes ; for one of the former, for general purposes, we happened to see he was awarded the £4 prize. Richmond and Chandler also appeared, whom we also chanced to see were awarded the prize for chaff-cutters. Beutall, of Heybridge, Essex, had a large stand of machinery, with which a call was made here, on the road to Doncaster for this week. Hebb, of the Foundry Company, ^Market Rasen, and Plornsby, of Grantham, had a collection of ploughs of various sizes, and a steerage horse-hoe. The other manu- facturers were Ashby and Jeflery, of Stamford, who had a large stand of their well-known articles ; Ashley, of Louth ; Ashton, of Horncastle ; Barton, of Great Grims- by; Benson, of Sturton ; Cannon, of Louth; Chapman, of Owmby ; Bradford, of Avashing-machine celebrity ; Brigham and Bickerton, of Berwick-on-Tweed, showing reaping machines, &c. ; Dickinson, V.S., of Boston, non- poisonous sheep-dipping mixtures ; Clark, of Lincoln, drills and other articles ; Marshall and Co., of Horncastle. Besides these there were many other Lincolnshire village manufacturers ; for this county is famous for its nimierous and skilled local machinists. There were also a large number of agents on the ground ; so that there is no fear of Lincolnshire being henceforth looking up and being well supplied with machinery. THE ANNUAL DINNER of the society was held in a marquee, in a paddock belonging to Mr. Goodson, of the White Hart, by whom a good dinner was provided, and served in a satisfactory manner. The pre- sident of the society, the Earl of Yarljorough, occupied the chair. So far as the speechifying went, it could not be expected that the minds of the country gentlemen woidd have settled down to home aft'airs so soon after a general election, and although politics are prohibited at this society's meeting, there is a way of closely shaving the teeth of the wind, which was done on this occasion, but in a very pleasant way, vrhich indeed was unusually so, because brevity was the order of the day. The Stewards of the yard and other ofticials, so far as we could see, did the be-st they could to make everything pass oflF pleasantly under the ditficidties mentioned. One good idea, which was as courteous as it was liappily hit upon, we must not forget to mention, as it maybe followed perhaps with advantage in other small towns, wlicre, on similar occasions, a large influx of visitors may take place. The Rev. F. R. Pentreath, ilastcr of the De Aston Grammar School, placed at the disposal of the Stewards tlie many beds that nearly forty students require during term time. Thus, by the rev. gentle- man's consideration and forethought, several visitors who arrived late at night were, with the help of his obliging and amiable lady, able to rest in comfortable quarters, when they would otherwise have had to sit in a corner, or sleep — that is, the weather being considered, lie two or three in a bed. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 185 THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. A CATALOGUE OF THE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, &r'., EXHIBITED AT THE TLYMOUTH MEETING, IN 18G5. Allchix and Sox, Xorthamptou. Seven-horse portable steam-engine £230, grinding mill £50, screw jacks 22s. Allcock, T., Eatcliffe-on-Trent, Notts. Horse lioes 45s. and 65s., grubber 75s., horse rakes £7 10s. and £8, carriage jack 25s. — Commended for liorse-rake. Allen, E. E., 40, Parliament-street, London. Twelve-horse double expansive portable steam engine £330. Amies, Bakford, axd Co., Peterboro'. Land rollers £8 10s. to £2-i, garden rollers 70s. to £8 10s., steaming apparatus £1 i to £26 10s., sack barrow and elevator 75s and 95s., corn miUs £20 and £27, four-horse portable steam engine £160. Arnold and Arnold, Plymouth. Drilling machine 8 gs., pedomotive grindstone 60s., Gardner's double-acting turnip cutter £5 10s., oat crusher and bean splitter £5 15s., chaff cutters 45s. to 84s., machine made galvanized netting from 4d. per yard, Lloyd's flour miU and dressing machine £6 15s., compound-action butter churns from 27s. Gd. to 85s., and simdries. AsHBY AND Jeffery, Stamford. Hayraakiug machines 11 to 16 gs., horse rakes £7 10s. to £10, wheel hand rake 40s., chaff cutters 50s. to £14, oilcake mills 65s. to £6, 4j-horse portable steam engine £135, eight- horse ditto £220, thrashing machines — four to five-horse £65, six to eight-horse £95, one-horse gear works 8 gs., rotating harrows 70s. to 6 gs., steel crank shields 12s. 6d. and 15s. — Commended for set of patent steel crank shafts. AVELING AND PoRTER, Rochcstcr. Agricultural locomotive engines — eight-horse £360, ten- horse £420, travelling rope porters 60s. Avery, J. 6., 135, Regent-street, London. Tubular churns (three specimens) 4 gs., 5 gs., and £7 10s. — Awarded silver medal for " Jebbs" tubular churn. Ayshford, T. B., Fulham. Dog cart £35, other carts 28 to 30 gs. Badger, J. and W., Worcester. Sets of diagonal lock-beam harrows 50s. to 80s,, ditto scuffle drags 95s. Baker, John, Ipswich. Combined blowing and dressing machines (six specimens) £9 10s. Baker, T., Compton, Berks. Portable cylindrical liquid manure carts £20 12s. and £24. Ball and Son, Rotliwell, Northamptonshire. Combined drill and presser £25, waggons £30 and £35, carts £14 to £16, horsehoes£2 12s. 6d.to £7 10s., horserakcs £8 and £8 10s., grubber £3 10s., scarifier £6 10s., harrows £4 10s , various ploughs £3 15s. to £4 10s., Clarke's patent scythes £6 per dozen. — Awarded second prize of six pounds for pair-horse waggon, and third prize of two pounds ten shil- lings for single-horse cart. Bamlett, a. C, Thirsk. Two-horse mowers £26 and £22 10s., one-horse mower £22, reapers £25 to £32, one-horse reaper £20, combined mowers and reapers £26 and £32. — Awarded third prize of five pounds for combined mowing and reaping machine. Barber, D. IL, King-street, Liverpool. Mower with flexible finger-bar, £22, two combined mowers and reapers £26. — Commended for combined mowing and reaping machine. Barnard, Bishop, .and Barnards, Norwich. Noiseless lawn mowers £3 10s. to £8s. ; garden and park chairs, stools, and seats, 8s. 6d. to £2 15s., garden tables £1 2s. 6d. to £1 10s., galvanized wire netting 4kl. to 2s. 3d. pel* yard. Barrows and Carmichael, Banbmy. Portable steam engines — 6-horse £200, 3i-horse £100, thrashing machine £70, finishing £105. Bayliss, Jones, and Bayliss, Monmore Green, Staffs. Sundry hurdles 4s. lid. to 13s. 3d., and 4s. 6d. per yard; continuous fencing Is. 9d. to 2s. lid. per yard, and self- shutting haudgatcs £2 and £3, footpath gates £1 18s. 6d. to £2 12s. 6d., other gates £1 5s. to £1 16s., tree guards 16s. to 19s. 6d., self-relieving chain harrow £3 18s., garden stool and chairs 4s. 6d. to 17s. Beach, J., Dudley, 'Worcestershire. Farinaceous food for cattle £1 5s. per cwt., meal for milch cows 15s. per cwt. Beare, H., LivertoQ, Devon. Combined thrashing machines £13 10s. to £55, portable gears 7 gs. to £16, intermediate motion £3 chaff cutter 8 gs., turnip and mangold drill £9 10s. ; combined sawing, boring, and tenoning machine £32 : winnower £7 10s., clod crusher £9. Benson, Martin, St. Duustan's Hill, London. Pumps various £1 to £16 16s. 4d., fire and farm engine with hose complete £25 2s. 3d. Bentall, E. H., Maldon. Chaff-cutters £2 5s. to 8 gs., root pulpers £3 13s. 6d. io 7 gs., turnip cutters £4 5s. to £5 17s., oilcake mills 3 gs. to 6 gs., corn and seed crushers 5 gs. to £10, two universal mills 5 gs., two oat kibblers 3 gs., bean mills £2 12s. 6d. to 3 gs., two-horse gears 8 gs. and 10 gs., with intermediate motions 3 gs., hroadsliares 5 to 7 gs., and horsehoe £2 14s. 6d. Beverley Iron and Waggon Company. Liquid-manure distributors £17 and £22, watering appara- tus £1 10s., portable pumps £5 15s. and 7 gs., three-horse reaper £42, two-horse reaper £37, waggons £29 10s. and £33, carts from £13 10s. to £17, cartwheels with axles £5 to £15, clodcrushers £18 10s., plain roller £15 10s., compound action mill £20. — Awarded first prize of ten pounds for pair-horse waggon, third prize of two pounds ten shillings for two-horse cart, first prizeof four pounds ten shillings for harvestcart, second prize of four pouuds for market cart on springs ; highly com- mended for " other waggons," for single-horse cart, and for market cart on springs. BissELL, W., Wolverhampton. Vertical saw frame and engine £88, circidar-saw bench £27, morticing machine £14 10s., combined planmg machine £100, tenoning machine £50, lifting jack 80s., bench cramp 28s. Blackburn, R., Exeter. Traction engine and steam cultivator £350. Blinkiron and Hill, Spalding. Double-acting force pump or fire engine £19 10s. to £47 10s., farmer's force pump £35, hand fire engine £9, village fire engines £60 and £75, six lift pumps 21s. to 50s., and garden engines 30s. to 50s, Boby, R., Bury St. Edmunds. Haymakers £14 and £14 15s., screeners and dressers £15, self-cleaning corn screens 7 to £15, gravel or lime sieve 47s. 6d. to 67s. 6d., malt screens £5 and 6 gs., sample screen 35s., barley hummeller £5. — Awarded third prize of four pounds for haymaking machine. BowDEN, J., Chagford, Devon. Horsehoe 50s., horserake £9, two-horse cultivator £6 10s., iron plough £5 10s. — Highly commended for single-row hor«e hoe on ridge and flat, and for siugle-ro\Y gi'ubber. 186 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. BowuAY, J. L., Modbury, Devon. Corn drill £20 10s., seed and manure drill lO gs., manure distributor H gs., grassraower £-2 10s., reaper with manual delivery £~4, combined reaper and mower £30, horserakes 60s. and 70s., muclune cart IG gs., two-horse gear 8 gs., one-horse gear G gs., intermediate motions 3 and G g.';., chalf-cutters oOs. to G gs., corn criisliers G gs. and £8 10s., flour mill £6 10s., root pulpers £5 to 7 gs., turnip cutter OOs. and £5 10s., pair of rakes !)s. each, sheep rack 3 gs. Bit.\DroKD, T., 03, ricct-slrccl, London. Variety of washing, wringing, and mangling machines ~5s. to £4'5, three-roller mangle OOs. to £G lOs., new bo.x mangle £11 10s., churns 40s. to £0 10s., butter-makers .:21s. to G3s., cinder-sifter 15s. and 21s., and high-pressure vertical steam- engine. Bkagoixs, J., Banbury. Park gates and posts £15 10s., lodge gate GOs., entrance gates 50s. and 40s., field gate 27s. Cd., road gate 20s. Pkextox, "W., Polbathie, Cornwall. Turnip drill 15 gs., ditto one-row £7, nmnure distributor £11, two-horse reaper with revolving cylinder £23, one-liorse reaper £21, horserake -ios., tubular whippletrees 10s. and 18s. Gd. Bridges, IL, 406, O.\ford-strcet, London. Dairy articles Is. to 10s. ; impressions from butter prints. Brixsmead, T., St. Giles-in-the-"\A'ood, Devon. Syuchronical thrashing and reed-making machines £5 10s. and Sgs., self- exercising and nursing chairs 20s. aud 30s. BiilTiSH Seavixg Machixe Co.mpaxy, 71, O.vford-street, London . " Alexandra" elliptic lock-stitch 7 to 2ogs. Brow'x, 15., -13, Oakley-street. Lambeth. Samples of the steel spring lever oil lubricators Is. Gd. to 7s., vermin exterminator Is. per box, fibrine meal 'cake for do^s Is. per bag, concentrated poultry food Is. per bag, dairy scales and glass weights and roscltcs, the latter Is. GlI. to 2s. per pair. Browx axd Mav, Devizes. Portable steam-engines— S-horse £220, 2.^-liorse £75, com- bined thrashing machine £55, t-horse " Cannon" pumping engine £235. BucKiXGHAM, James, Bathpool, Cornwall. Butterfly ploughs £5 10s. to £6 7s. Gd., turnshare plough £i 10s., eidtivators £8 10s. to £11 5s. BuLLEY^ R. B., Station-road, Plymouth. Landau sociable £130, barouche .£85, park phaeton £40. BuxcE, J. S., Plymouth. Longclolh shirts 77s. 6d. to 112s. per dozen, dress shirts 38s. each, spun silk shirts 15s. Burgess axd Key, Newgate-street, London. Mowers £18 to £25, self-raking and swathe-delivery reapers £38 to £40, combined reaper and mower £28, centrifugal pump £04 10s., water lift £40, sack truck I83, liquid manure pumps £3 15s. to £2G 10s., mincing machines 12s. Gd. to 3gs., cask tilts 10s. Gd. to IGs., garden seat one guinea, garden table one guir.ei, American churns 40s. to 50s. — Highly com- mended for grass mower. BuRXARD, Lack, & Co., Plymouth. Concentrated superj)hosphate of lime. BuRXEY AND Co., Millwall, London. Liquid manure and water carts £17 10s., ditto cart bodv £4 10s., cistern to hold 400 gallons £4 10s., ditto COO gallons" £7, galvanized ditto 5d, to Od. per gallon, cattle troughs 30s. to 55s., corn bins 45s- aud G5s., strong hog trough 4-s. per foot, pump trougli 17s. Gd. Burrow, J., Broadclist, Devon. One-horse reaping machines £1G to £21. Bury axd Pollard, South wark. Three-horse self-regulating wind engine £110, half-horse ditto £35, crushing mill £7 10s., agricultural pump £1G, twisting apparatus £12 10s., conical boiler £0. Calvert, P. C, Manchester. Antiseptic fluid 2s. per gaUou, smearing salve. Is. per lb., specific for foot-rot Is. 3d. per Hi., carbolic" acid Is. Gd. per lb. Cambridge axd Co., Bristol. llorserakes £7 10s. and .£8, press wheel roller and clod crusher £8 10s. to £14, chain aud tine-and-chain harrows 57s. Gd. to 100s., two-« heel laud presser Ggs., three-wheel ditto 8 gs., two-horse gearv, ork and thrashing machine £24, winnower £9, washing macliine 3 gs., mangle £4 10s., wringer 25s. Cahr, T., Ricliniond-road, j\lontpelier, near Bristol. Disintegrator for granulating conglomerated friable and uu- fibrous materials .£70. Carsox axd Tooxe, "Warminster. llorse-hoes GOs. to &5s., single-row grubber 70s., chaff- cutters 70s. to £0, horsegear 12 gs., turnip cutters 90s., oil- cake crushers 3 gs., cheese presses 55s. to £G. — Awarded first prize of four pounds ten shillings for single-row horse-hoe for ridge and flat, and first prize of six pounds for single-row grubber. Carter .vxd Co., Swan-lane, E. C. Combined reaper aud mower £30, screw-power reaper £30 ; agricultural carts for one horse 11 gs., for two horses £1G, harvest raves 40s. extra ; market cart £1G 10s., grubber 75s., cliaffcutters 45s. to £7 7s. Gd., manure pump 55s., water car- rier 53s., garden engines, lawn inowers, garden seats, kc, in- cluding metallic corn-bin japanned inside and out, to keep the corn free from vermin, aud to hold four bushels for 25s. Carter axd Co., 237, High Holborn, London. Collections of seeds, dried specimens, and growing in pots. Chambehlaix, W., Dodbrooke, Devon. llorsehoes £G 10s. and 32s. Gd., grubber 2 gs., cultivators G gs. and £7 10s., common spade-plough 3 gs. and 4gs., one- way ploughs 70s. and 77s., heavy drag 3 gs., light drag 57s. Gd., ridging plough 55s., pair of light harrows SOs. Chapman, W., Apethorpc, Northamptonshire. Light two-horse waggon £27, three-horse ditto £35, one- horse cart £14, two-horse cart for general purposes £15. Childs, a. B., 481, Oxford-street, London. Mowing machine £22 10s., double-furrow plough £20, circular-saw bench £10, carriage lifting jack 15s., combined cider mill and press £G, California lifting aud force pump £5, broadcast seed sower 30s., washing machine 60s., clothes wringer 30s., revolving ditto 30s. Clay, C, Waketield. Cultivator and eradicator £G 15s. to 11 gs., chain han'ows SOs., llorsehoes 47s. Gd. and 57s. Gd. Claytox, Shuttleworth, axd Co., Lincoln. Steam-engines — ten-horse portable £295, eight-horse .£230, six-horse £200 ; ten-horse horizontal .£240. tlu'ashing-machines £97 to £120, grinding-mill £G0, circidar-saw beuch £21, pair of pumps £50. Cl.vytox axd Co., Paddingtou. Brick-makers £70 to £195 ; tile, pipe, and brick nmchincs £28. Clixtox axd Owexs, "Whitcfriars, London. Variety of pumps 21s. to £23 10s., pump handle 50s., well- engine frames £9 and £18, pilla- horse-gear £41 10s., hydraulic rams 5 gs. to £30, Holman's fire engine £15, garden engines 35s. to £5 15s., water barrows 42s. Gd. to 52s. Gd., compact fire engine £G5. Colemax axd Mortox, Chelmsford. Steam-cidtivating apparatus £750, rope porter GOs., culti- vators £G 10s. to £13 li.)s., water cart £20, potato digger £18, clod crusher £17, two-horse gear £13, samples of shares. Colthurst, Svmoxs, axd Co., Bridgcwater. Paesimile of covering to Royal Flemish Farm with patent Roman tiles lis. per square, ditto ridging tiles 4d. per running foot, ditto sheeting with eaves 4d. per foot run. Coombe, Ferris, axd Co., 68, Mark-lane, London. Millstones £11 and £13, cement stone £24, smut machine £15, flour dresser £33, flour mill and dres.ser £8, mill requisites, sack barrows 18s., steam aud Mater gauges 27s. to £9, chon- drometers 50s. to 70s., set of three corn mea.sures 4Gs. Gd., weighing machines 50s. aud 70s., screw jack 40s., pair of pulley blocks GOs., Rushlon blocks 37s. Gil., chaff cutters 42s. Gil. and 80s., corn aud lican crusliers G5s. and £5, and galva- nized wire. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 187 CoucoKAX .VXD Co., 3C, Mai-k-laue, London, Silk tiour dicsser £95, wire ditto £3(5, smut tleaucr £~d, weiKhiiig iiKicliiiu; 70s., chondromctcr 5:2^. 6d., set of cora racasiuTs (bushel to a (luartcni) ;)3s. to SOs., com iiieter's bushel 3Gs., and shovel :2ts., malt kiln iloor of woven \viie Is. per square foot, model of iu;ilt kiln, eorn-sample receiver oUs., sack truck ~ls., samples of woven wire &c., a variety of mill- stones £S to £-2'2, seed screen 10 i;s., and sundries. CoKMELL, J., Chelteuhain. Liipiid manure or water carts £11< to £:20 15s., wrouaht iron cistern 2-ls. to £5, ditto cattle troughs :21s. Od. to (J^s. Gd., corn bin -iSs , water cart and engine 'JOs., compact jiortaljle gas apparatus £-20, gas meter £10, foliated iron work £5. CoKXES, J., Xautwicb. Three chaff cutlers, £5, £7 10s., and £S lOs. CoTTAM Axu Co., 2, AVinsley-strcct, London. ^ ariety of stable tittiugs and recpiisites, pig and dog troughs 2s. 6d. to 10s., ventilators Is. fid. to -Is. 3d., corn bins 30s. to 3 gs., glass lanterns os. Ud. to 15s., cast-iron pump 45s. CouLTAS, J., Grantham. General purj)osc drills £2i and £35, forccarriage steerage 70s. and 'JOs., corn drills £18 to £~S, turnip and manure drills £-5 and £~S, ryegrass drill £0(), manure distributor £11, horsehoe £9.— Awarded third prize of live pounds for corn drill, and third prize of seven pounds for two general purpose drills ; also first prize of seven pounds for corn drill adapted to hill-side delivery, and second priz'' of se\en pounds for turnip drill on the llat, as well as tliird prize of live pounds for drill on the ridge ; highly commended for drill for small seeds. commended for general pui'[)ose drill and for corn drill for small occupations, also for dry-manure distributor. Ckaggs, R., 34, "Wakefiekl-street, Loudou. Knife-sharpeners Is. to 7-s. 6d.,' wringers 1:2s. Gd. to 50s. Craxstox, "W. M., 77, L'jjper Thames-street, London. Haymaker for pony 13 gs. CiTHBERT ax» Co., Bedale. One or two horse reaper £0-, two horse reaper £:24. — HiglUy commended for one-horse manual reaping nuichinc. Davey, J., Crasdiole, Cornwall. Parallel expanding horsehoes with self-acting harrows £3 10s. and £4 2s. Gd., improved horsehoe with three tines £2, lever grubber £4, horserake £G 15s. Gd., turnwrest ploughs £3 12s. Gd. and £5 17s. Gd., general purpose plough £4 2s. ; cultivator, grubber, and scarifier £11. — Highly commended for horse-rake and for single-row horsehoe on ridge and Hat. Daty Brothers, Sheffield. Portable steam engines — eight-hor.->e £230, six-horse £200, steam hammer £80. Day, Sox, axd Hewitt, ~'3, Dorset-street, Loudon. Stock breeders' medicine che^t £2 12s. Gd., cattle medicine and pamphlets. Dell, W. U., 72, INIark-laue, Loudon. Smut machines £55 and £12, mill stones £25 to £32, coru elevators £10. Dicker, J. axd W., Chagford, Devou. Reaping macliiae £22, nlo^vcr for heavy crops £32, bin- bottomed cart 10 gs., hand flour-dresser 5 gs., cheese press 3 gs. Dodge, G. P., 70, Upper Thames-street, Loudou. Vulcanized indiarubber driving bands, hose, tubing, and double texture waterproof covers, these latter at £1 lis. 2d. to £3 lis. 2d. ; gutta perclia chiving band, indiarubber bucket, deckle strap, ditching and malting boots, driving apron», capes, coats, &c. — Commended for set of indiarubber vulcan- ized driving bauds. Dowxe axd Co., Plymouth. Shed or covering £9 10s. Dray, Taylor, axd Co., London Bridge. Wiunower and blower £9 10s., chafi-cutters £2 10s. to £4 15s., corn mill £15, crushing mill £4, harrows £3 10s. and £4 10s., weighing machines 2 gs. and £3 15s., grindstone £2 12s. Gd., portalile forge t2 IGs., ditto bench and vice £2> 12s. 6d., corn bin 2)^. (id., harness 7gs., American churns £1 Gs. to £1 15s,, Californian pump £7, lawn-mowers £4 10s. to £6 12s. Gd., self-adjusting scythes lOs. Gd. and 12s. Gd., sack trucks 15s, Gd. and iGs. Gd., lo-gallou farmers' boiF»" £3 5s., small grindstone £1, and a variety of gardeu seats aud tables. EAST^vooD, J., Blackburn. Compound-action churns for one gallon 30s. to t\sentv gal- lons l)()s. Eatox axd Sons, Thrapsiou. Horsehoes 32s. Od. and 37s. Gd., comuined horsehoe an turnip thinner G gs. and £10, sheep-crib and trough 22s Gd., rai'k-bar lifting jacks 3 and 5 gs,, lever ditto 2Gs. aud 27s. Gd., screw jacks 21s. to 25s., combined barrow and sack lift 35s. to 37s. Gd. — Awarded the prize of live pounds for horsc-lioe for thinning turnips. Eddy, J,, Kenl'ord, De\on. Corn-drills £6 KJs. and £16, grass-seed drill 3 gs., horse- hoes 45s., horse-rakes £8 and £'J lOs., grubbers G(Js., variety of ploughs 2 gs. to 'Ms., pulverizer ploughs 75s. to £5, drags 70s., harrows 50s. to 75s., rotatory sifter £5, gravel screen 50s., draughts IGs. and 20s. FowLKK AND Co., Lccds. Complete sets of steam-ploughing and cultivatiug machinery £875, £759, and £G93 ; ten-horse traction engine £45(J, trac- tion waggon £75, seven-tined cultivator £70, extra .strong five-tined ditto £75' steam harrows with slack gear £55, water cart £25, ten-horse portable engine £275. Fox AND Co., Plymouth. Door mouldings 5s. to 22s. per 1(J(J feet run, door and shut- ter 3s. Gd. to 10s. Gd. per 100 feet, base mouldings lis. to IGs., facings 18s., astrigals ISs., architraves 22s. to 2Gs., skirting 10s. to lis. Gd. ; jn-eparcd boards grooved, tongued, aud beaded, 9s. to 21s. per 100 feet run ; ash cart aud coach felloes 3s. (id. to lis. Gd. the set. l"ox AND "Walker, Bristol. Steam-engines — eight-horse portable £230, ten-horse hori- zontal £120. FiiEEMAN and Hardon, Straugewavs, near I^.lanchester. Patent feeding cake £9 and £11 per ton ; " original "' coudi- liicntal food 25s. per cwt. Freer, .1., Kothley. Leicestershire. Grain aud seed planter £54, seed planter £20. Fry, a. axd T., Bristol. ■ Seed aud manure drill £G 12s. Gd., grass drill 05s., two- horse mower £22, one-horse reaper £1S, haymaker £14, horse- rakes 30s. to 70s., one-horse carts £13 to £15, two-horite carts £1G 10s., Haunara's harvest carts IG gs., chaise cart £21, winnowing machines £G KJs. to £8 lUs., sheep rack 3 gs. — Awarded third jirize of two pounds ten shillings for harvest cart, and highly commended for haymaking nuichine. (iARRETT AXD SoN, Lcistou "Works, Suflblk. Sixteen-horse portable steam-engine £420, ten-horse ditto £270, four-horse £170, combined thrasher and dresser £75 and £125, straw-bruiser £45. Gart&x axd Kixg, Exeter. Cooking stoves 21s. to £27, Cobbett or wood-fire grate £5, crinoline guard grate 12 ,2:s., garden lounges 2(Js. to 32s. Gd., garden chair 12s. Gd., verandah chair IGs. Gd., garden engine £7 10s., set of stable cess-pits aud other requisites ; wire fencing : lield-gate 40s. Gerraxs, AV., Trcgoiiy, Cornwall, (^'oru and seed drill £1S, land-presser drill 12 gs., jjortablc horserake £7, broadcast-sower £7 10s. — Awarded second prize of four pounds for land-presser drill. GiHBOXS, P. and H. P., Wantage. Seven-horse portable engine £215, combined thrashiu"- machine £112. GiUDS AXD Co., Half-moon Street, Piccadilly. Collectious of specimens of permanent grasses, agricultura :ind other seeds, and also growing specimens in pots. Gilhekt, W., Shijipon, Berks. Corn drill £25, steerage £4, turnip and luangold drill £20 corn and seed drill £18 10s., one-row drill 2 gs" Gi.iDDOx, J., "Willitou, Somerset. Kiichen Ranges £3 3s. Gd. In £18, American kitchener (I gs., roasting apparatus £2 10s. and £4, heating stoves £1 12s. aud £1 15s., iron hath £4 10s., saddle holler 188 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. £i 10s., hoi water coil 3 gs., force pump M 10s., liydropult &1 14s. 6d. Goss, J., Plymouth. Stencil plate letters 9d. per letter, branding figures and irons 4d. to Is. per letter, various kinds of type Id. per letter. GoucHEE, J., Worksop. Several sets of drum-beaters £3 9s. to £3 19s. 8d., drum and concave £23 IGs., three drum ends £1 2s. 6d. GouLDiNG, W. and H.- M., 108, Patrick-street, Cork. Special manure £10 per ton, bone manure £7 per ton, superphosphate £6 per ton. GowEK AXD Son, Winchfiekl, Hants. Variety of drills £2 ICs. to £33, drill presser for two fur- rows 9 gs., broadcast seed machine £3 10s. and £5 los., broodcast corn distributor 5 gs. — Awarded first prize of eight pounds for two-coulter ridge manure drill for turnips and mangolds, third prize of five pounds for two-coulter ridge driU for turnips and mangolds; first prize of six pounds for tw"o-furrow drill presser, and commended for fiftecu-coulter and thirteen-coulter corn and seed driUs ; also silver medal for broadcast seed distributor. Grant, J,, 26, Cockburn-street, Edinburgh. Copies of the Scoiiisk Fanner S^d. Green and Son, Leeds. Four-horse steam-engine £85, lawn mo\vers £3 10s. to £24, garden rollers £2 10s. to £7 10s., garden seats £1 13s. to £2 7s. 6d., morticing machine £12 10s., wire sofa £1 12s. 6d., Green's pump £26 and £15, garden engines £3 19s. to £6 10s., sausage machines 2 gs. to £16. Geeening and Co., Manchester. Assortment of wire fencing 4d. to 4s. 3d. per yard, straining piUars 30s. and £3, standards 18s. to 30s. 6d. per dozen, fenc- ing wire 12s. 6d. to 35s. per cwt., hurdles Is. lid. to 12s. per yard, bar fence Is. lid. to 3s. 9d. per yard, gates and pillars, tree guards, garden seats, &c. Hare and Co., 31, Essex-street, Strand, London. Specimen illustrations of machinery and prize medals. Harvey, T., Plymouth. Sulphate of ammonia £14 per ton, potato manure 90s., w^ireworm destroyer 80s., cements 20s. and 40s. per ton, iclithy- osaurns fossil £100, ammonite ditto £30, of other animals £20. Hawkes, T., Tiveiton. Mamire and other drills £16 to £25, horsehoes 50s. and 70s., pulverizer ploughs £5 and £5 10s., general-purpose jjloughs 70s. to 80s., corn crushers, £6 10s. and £12 10s., chatf cutters 45s. to £7 7s. 6d., Eclipse reaper 16 gs., carriage lifter 15s., butter machine 10s. 6d. and 2 gs., case of cattle oils 2s. each, cattle food 18s. per cwt. Hayes and Son, Stamford. Waggons £29 to £44 10s., lorry £30, single-horse carts £14 and £14 10s., two-horse carts £14 to £15 15s. — Awarded tlie prize of ten pounds for light strong waggon, first prize of four pounds ten shillings for single-horse cart, first prize of same amount for two-horse cart, and second prize of tliree pounds for harvest cart. Haywakd and Co., 84, Whitecross-street, London. Farm fire-engine or irrigator £33, garden-engine ditto £9 10s. 2d., hquid-manure pump chtto £13, pump on plank 100s., three-way cock and a variety of other pumps and garden- syringes. Headley, Edward, Cambridge. Drag-rakes 9 gs., cattle-troughs, 23s. to 65s., pig troughs 15s. to 27s., sheep troughs 24s. to 38s., wrought-iron manger 38s. Hearder, J. N., Plymouth. Cooking and other stoves £5 to £14 10s. Hellard, R., Taunton. Victoria self-acting side-delivery reaper £35, reaper with cranked bar £35. Henton and Son, Westminster Bridge Road. Elastic saddles £5 10s. to £10, saddle stands 12s., croquet or cricketing tent £5 10s. Kenwood, N., Tideford, Cornwall. Manure distributor, with seed-box, £13 10s,, self-acting sheaf-delivery reaper £30. Hill and Smith, Brierley HiU, Staffs. Expanding horsehoe 3 gs., skims £5 to £6, light land-roller 10 gs., rick-stands £5 to £30 10s., sheep racks 80s., sheep troughs 20s. to 30s., gravel screen £6 16s., wheelbarrows 37s. 6d. and 35s., heating barrow 60s., black varnish Is. 6d. per gallon, wire netting 3d. to 7id. per yard and 3d. per super. foot, garden seats 45s. to 55s., garden roller 50s. to 90s., tree guards 12s. and 21s., field gates 26s. 6d. to 70s., entrance gate and pillars £8 to £15, wicket gate ditto 37s. 6d., variety of sheep and cattle hurdles and fences ; turnstile gate and bow 45s. Hill, M., Holsworthy, Devon. Five hunting saddles 4 gs. to £5. HiNDLEY, E. S., Bourton, Dorset. Screw cider press £18 and £30, apple mill 14 gs., cider screws £8. Hogg, W., Upton Pyne, Devon. Two-horse reaper £20, wheat drill £18. Holmes and Sons, Norwich, Corn and seed drills £37 down to £17 10s., seed and ma- nure drills £33 8s. 6d. and £31 10s. to £34 7s. 6d. and £24, " economical" ditto £15 2s. 6d., ridge roUer drill £8, hand drills £3 and £3 15s., small 26-lever £22 ISs. 6d., manure distributor £15 2s., broadcast sower £9 10s., horsehoe 10 gs., rotary harrow £10, six-horse portable engine £200, combined thrashing machine £130, circular-saw table £36 10s., corn dresser 9 gs., barley hummeller £4 10s. — Awarded the second prize of three pounds for corn drill for hill-side delivery, a silver medal for their new rotary harrows, and highly com- mended for corn driU for small occupations. HoRNSBY AND SoNS, Grantham. Various drills £17 lOs. to £38 15s., drill presser 10 gs., manure distributor £13, horsehoes £3 to £13, grass mower £33, self-raking reaper £35, swatlie-delivery ditto £34, chain- delivery ditto £23, one-horse ditto ditto 19 gs., drop-sheaf ditto 16 gs., eight-horse portable steam engine £235, combined thrashing machine £110, variety of ploughs £3 13s. Cd. to £5 Is. 6d., turnip cutters £4 10s. and £4 2s. 6d., root pulpers £4 13s. 6d. and £4 3s. 6d. ; w-ashing, wringing, and mangling machines £3 to 8 gs., india-rubber wringer one guinea. — Awarded first prize of ten pounds for general purpose drills, third prize of four povmds for corn and seed drill for small occupations, third prize of five pounds for turnip driU on the flat, first ])rize of six pounds for " small seeds" driU ; second prize of eight pounds for improved mower of natural and arti- ficial grasses, first prize of eight pounds for combined reaper and grass mower, third prize of five pounds for one-horse reaper with grated drop-sheaf apparatus, first prize of ten pounds for two-horse reaper with chain delivery, second prize of five pounds for two-horse reaper with grated drop-sheaf apparatus, and first prize of twenty-five pounds for self-acting swathe-delivery reaping machine ; also highly commended for corn and seed drill, and for dry manure distributor. Howard, J. and P., Bedford. Double-action haymakers 1 1 to 18 gs., horserakes £7 15s. to £10, steam-cultivating machinery, with the necessary an- chors, snatchblocks, &c., including two 14-horse self-propeUing steam engines, £1,350 ; traction waggon £50 ; travelling house £65 ; steam-cultivating apparatus, with 10-horse porta- ble engine, £550 ; double-action steam cixltivator £21, water cart .£30, ridging body and subsoil tine for steam cultivation £3 15s., four-furrow steam plough £80, three-furrow ditto £65, set of steam harrows £32 10s., variety of ploughs £2 78. 6d. to 10 gs., harrows £3 lUs. to 6 gs., plough sledge £1 10s., scarifier £9, whippletrees 17s. 6d. to £3 10s., dynamometer 3 gs. — Awarded first prize of six pounds and second prize of five pounds for haymaking machines, and first prize of six pounds for horse rake. Humphries, E., Pershore, Worcestershire. Combined thrashing machine £93 ; six-horse portable steam engine £203. HtJNT AND Pickering, Leicester. Seed drills 18 gs. to £34, turnip drills £3 15s. to £6 lOs., back steerage £4 10s., horsehoes 3 gs. to £8 10s., combined plough and scarifier £5, harrows £3 10s. and 4 gs., cultivator and grubber £7 10s., ploughs £4 to £5 10s., sack barrows 133. 6d, and 21s., angle twitch rakes 3s. 6d., oilcake breakers £3 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 1S9 59. to £0, com crusliers aud kibbling mills £■!• 10s. to 8 gs., malt mill £5 10s., turnip slicer £3 15s., root pulpers £3 15s. to £4 10s., cliecse presses £3 10s. and £3 15s., garden seats 18s. to £1 6s. 6d., garden table 25s., adjustable scythes 10s., milk can and carriage £.0 15s., pair of garden vases £9. Hunt, R. and R., Halstead. Clover and trefoU-secd drawer £50, one-liorse gear £11 10s., corn aud seed dresser £8 8s., turnip cutter 90s., disc root pulpers 75s. and 4 gs., root grater 4 gs., oilcake breakers 3 gs. and 95s. HuTCHiNGS, W. A., Exmouth, Devon. Waggonette £84 ; dog cart £68 5s. HuxHASi AND BiiowN, Excter. Smut machine £16, set of one ton differential pulley blocks 50s., with chain 9d. per foot, lifting jack for four tons £6, to Uft eight tons 8 gs., Biddcll's combined mill £6, millstones £11 to £15 10s., ludiau-corn mill 100s. HuxTABLE, W., Ottery St. Mary, Devon. Haymaker £10, horserake £8, two-horse reaper £18, pair- horse waggon £22. Ireland, J., Edward-street, Manchester. Three-motion churns for four gallons 40s., to twenty gallons 90s. James, Isaac, Cheltenham. Liquid manure distributors, £13 to £26, street water cart £22, liquid manure pumps 55s., India rubber suction pipe 3s. per foot, gapping drills 10s. 6d., mortar temperer 7 gs. ; washer, wringer, and mangier £5 to £9 ; clother dryers 38s. Johnston, P., 290, Oxford-street, London. Butter churns, to make 21bs. 18s., ditto 261bs. 65s., mangle lOgs., butter prints 6d. to 5s., case of butter knives and beaters Is. to 58. Jones, J. M., Gloucester. Leather composition Is. per box ; foot rot specific 2s. Kearsley, H., Ripen. Grass mower £22 lOs., reaper with back delivery £22, one horse reaper 16 gs., combined reaper and mower £26 10s., hay-maker 15 gs. — Received third prize of seven pounds for grass mower, and highly commended for combined reaper and mower. KiTMER, B., Fulston, Line. Combined blower and dresser £9 (two specimens). Lamoureux, Clark, and Co., Plymouth. Miscellaneous collection of seeds for farm and garden cul- ture. Larkworthy and Co., Worcester. Combined horsehoe and grubber 85s., variety of ploughs 65s. to 95s., " excelsior" harrows 45s. to £6, scuffle drags 35s. to £5, whippletrees 15s. Leblanc, D. r., 102, Meet-street, London. Dioptical water-gauge tube for steam boilers 3s. to 40s. Lewis, G., Kettering. Steerage corn and seed driU £16 10s., steerage lever horse- hoe 7 gs. — Highly commended for small occupation corn drill. Luke, W. H., Plymouth. Printing machine by HarrUd, paper-cutter by Dawson, and table. LuxTON and Co., Hatherleigh, Devon. Two-horse light reaper £18, corn drill £18, turnip or manure drill £8, winnower £7 lOs., hay-turner £7 10s., horserake £9, combined thrashing and winnowing machine £50, double moulding and drilling plough 50s., chaff cutters 6 and 8 gs., corn and seed crushers 5 and 8 gs. Lyon, A., Windmill-street, Fiusbury. Mincing machines 10s. 6d. to £6 10s., chopping boards 4s. and 6s. 6d., tobacco cutters Is. 9d. to 2s. 6d., cucumber slicers Is., bread-cutters 16s., apple-parer 8s. 6d., whipping can 3s., kitchen knives Is. 8d., sausage-meat forcers 20s. to 40s., root pulper £7 10s., canteen 8s. 6d., vegetable cutters 4s. 6d. Macnaught and Sjiith, Worcester. Landau £230, Whitworth dogcart £55, and Malvern dogcart £48. M'Neill and Co., BunhiH-row, London. Asphalted roofing felt Id. per square foot, l)ituminous felt Id. per foot, hair felt 7d. to Is. 3d. the sheet, rubber com- pound for steam joints 8d. to Is. the set, and models. Mancur, E., 174, Elcet-street, London. Butter cleaner 10s. 6d. to 203., scales 5s. to 60s., nose ring 4s., wringer 10s. 6d. to 21;3., stable door detector 2s. ]\Iavi'lebeck and Lowe, Birmingham. Chaff cutters 45s. to 10 gs., oilcake breaker 3 gs., turnip cutlers 4 aud 5 gs., cheese press 50s., mangles 70s. and 10 gs., weighing machines 2 to 5 gs., chain harrows 35s. to 70s., tor- mentor 4'5s. to 50s., grindstone with treddle 45s., road scraper 70s., drills 52s. Gd. to 90s., corn bins 323. to 44s., emigrant's or farmer's tool chest £5 10s., portable forge 4 gs., smith's bellows 3 gs., anvil 28s. per cwt., staple vice lis. and 20s., arms and boxes 28s. per cwt., mail axles 25s. and 27s. 6d., horsehoes 2 gs., pulley blocks 7s. and 34s., hurdles £10 15s. per ton, lifting jacks 25s. to 10 gs., lifting crab 55s. and £6 7s. 6d., granary crane £7 10s., galvanized buckets 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d., hop press 2 gs., sack cart 9s. 6d. to 16s. Cd., drag rakes 8s. 6d. and 12s. 6d., wire strainer 2 gs., bundle of wire 14s. per cwt. of 300 yards, set of hames 2Gs. Gd. to 3Gs. Gd., spades 3s. 3d. to 4s. Gd., shovels and cast steel digging and manure forks 3s. to 4s. 6d., hay forks Is. 9d. to 3s. Gd., set of draining tools 39s., patent spades 3s. 3d. to 5s. 6d., weather vane 55s., metallic churns 26s. to 37s. 6d., garden engine £5, stack ventilator 3 gs., dynamometer 50s., garden seats 17s. 6d. to SOs., vermin traps 6s. to 30s., garden syringes 4s. 6d. to 14s. Marshall, W., Upton Pyne, Devon. Two-horse w^aggon £26, light ditto £24, plank side cart £14, light one-horse cart £12 10s. Marshall and Sons, Gainsborough. Portable steam engines— nine-horse £251 5s., five-horse £181 5s., combined tlirashiug machines £92 and £140. Maunder, J., Ottery St. Mary, Devon. Reaping machines with side or back delivery £21. Maynard, R., Whittlesford, Cambs. Chaff engine £42, additional wheel with four knives £3 os., instrument for changing ditto 3?., riddle ditto 14s., six-horse portable engine £208. Mellard, F., Uttoxeter, Staffs. Cheese-maker £13 15s., cheese press £3. — Awarded silver medal for " Pugh's" patent cheese-making machine. Mellard, J., Rugeley, Staffs. Turnip aud mangold seed drill 6 gs., ridging plough £3 10s., grubber and horsehoe £3, horsehoe with revolving harrow 30s., chain harrow £3, disc pulpers £3 10s. to 5 gs., coni- crusher £4, chaff cutters 2 gs. to 10 gs., oilcake breakers £2 15s. aud £5, carriage jack 12s., curd miU £1 14s., cheese presses £2 17s. to £5. Merryweather and Sons, Long Acre, London. Light steam fire engine £400, Paxton fire engine £112, hand fire engine £30, reel, fire-pump, and fire bucket. MiLFORD, G., Thorverton, Devon. Pair-horse waggons £22 and £27, one-horse cart £11, two- horse cart £13 10s., harvest cart £14, market cart £14. — Com- mended for pair-horse waggon aud two-horse cart. MiLFORD, 1\ P., Kenn, Devon. Two-horse tipping waggon £28 10s., ditto for general pur- poses £23 10s., Leeds one-horse carts £14 10s., Plymouth harvest cart 12 gs., general cart £11 10s., two-horse farm and road cart £16, harvest cart 10 gs., lifting jacks 15s. and 17s. 6d. — Highly commended for two-horse cart. MiLFORD and Son, Thorverton, Devon. Pair-horse waggon £24, three or four-horse waggon £29, two-horse tipping waggon £37, one or two-horse waggon £21, corn lades £1 extra, one-horse cart £14, two-horse cart £13 10s., har^'est cart £12 10s., market cart 19 gs., lifting jack 25s. — A warded second pi ize of six pounds for pair-horse waggon, commended for " other waggons" ; second prize of three pounds for two-horse cart, and commended for single-horse cart. MooRE AND Co., Upper Marylebone-street, London. Tool sharpeners Is. to 2s. Gd., water gauge glasses 4s. 3d. to 6s. 6d. per dozen lengths, sheep marks Is. to 5s. each. Morton and Co., Liverpool. Self-acting winding straining pillar 453. and 32s. 6d., wire fence and telegraph £155 to £150 per mile, wire fencing i^d, 19a THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to Gs. per yard, tie post 37s. 6d., gates 13s. to 75s., lip;lituiug conductor Is. Od. to Is. lUd. per foot, baru roof £70, iron cottage ilSo, country house £4<00 to JtoOO ; orii:iiueut:il church ; faniivard roof £37S to £300 to cover 100 bv lOU f eet. MuDFOKD, G., South Ile'.tbrJ, Notts. Stack &c. covers Is. Od. to i!s. per yard, tents and marquees 2s. per yai-d, niacliine belting Is. Od. per lb., cocoa matting Is. 6d. to ~s. per yard. Ml-.sgk\ve, Bkotheks, 59, IIi<;h-strcct, Belfast. Full-sized horse stalls 87s. 6d. to £8 15s., variety of stable fittings and of double-staU cowhouse, iron piggery £13 10s., piggery yard £7 15s., piggery front 05s., slow combuslion stoves 70s. to 10 gs., conservatory stove witli vapour chamber. Neighbour and Sons, 127, High Ilolboru, Loudon. Beehives 5s. to £10 l-4s. bees iucluded, bee dress protector OS., artificial combs 6s. per duzcn, honey cutters 5s. per pair, pressing roller 7s. Cd., bottle feeder 2s. (5d., fumigator 2s. 6d., fungus Is. per packet, indiarubber gloves 5s. 6d. per pair, bee feeding trough 5s. Newton, AVilsox, axd Co., 144, High llolijoru, London. Variety of sewing machines 2 to 10 gs. Nicholson, W. N., Newark. Haymakers 10 to 15 gs., horserakes £7 lOs. to £11, oilcake b reaxers 60s. to 10 gs., land rollers 12 gs., sack elevators 52s. Od. to 73s. Od., ditto and weit'-hing machine £5 15s. Cd., win- nower £10, elevating apparatus for sacking corn from win- nower 73s. Cd., portable steam engine £115, garden rollers G5s. to .£7, wine and bottle racks 18s. and 30g., block-tin malt and grain shovels. — Highly commended for haymaking machine. NoERiNGTON AND Co., Cattc Down, Plymouth. Samples of manure £0 5s. to £10 per ton, saddle-girth 12s. Gd., Peruvian guano £13 5s. per ton, linseed cake £12 10s. per ton. NuNN, J. P. AND E. B., Boyston. Drill for small seeds £16 10s., self-cleaning horsehoe £12 and single-row grubber 00s. Nye and Co., 373, Oxford-street, London. Mincing and sausage machines 12s. Od. to 12 gs., small mills Gs. to 20s., rotary knife cleaners lOs. to £10 5s., taps Is. 6d. to 2s., vegetable cutters and slicers 20s. Oldham and Booth, Hull. Bone mills £47 to £200, bone and dust mill £90, eight- horse single-cylinder portable steam-encine £230, steam winch £67 10s. Page, R., Morchard Bishop, Devon. Two-horse reaper £20, ouc-horsc ditto 16 gs., corn drill £20, winnower £0, reed-maker £0 10s. Page and Co., Bedford. Turnip and mangold horsehoes 2 gs. ;ind £2 10s., Leeds prize horsehoe £2 15s., combined horsehoe, five-tine grubber, and moulding plough, £4 15s. ; hay, corn, and stubble rakes £7 10s. to £10 ; field roller £7 15s., pipe and tile machines 13 gs. to £20, one-horse gear work £12, chafl'cutters £2 10s. to 11 gs., disc root pulper £4 10s., linseed cake mills £3 5s. and £3 15s., various ploughs £2 7s. Cd. to £4 5s., four-wheel scufflers 5 and G gs., sets of harrows £2 7s. Od. to £4, whippletrees 7s. Cd. to £1 Cs., bench drilling machine £7. — • Awarded second prize of three pounds for single-row horsehoe on ridge and flat, and second prize of four pounds for horserake Paehaji, W. Bath. Fences 7d. to 3s. 3d. per yard, hurcUc fencing 7s. per yard, gate and pillars £2 10s., tent 10 gs., gates £1 2s. 6d. to £25. Pabkes and Co., Birmingham. Draining tools £1 10s. to £1 18s. per set, digging forks 3s. 6d. to 5s., other solid cast-steel forks Is. Od. to 15s., spades and shovels Is. 3d. to 4s. Gd ; axes, hatchets, choppers, hooks, trowels, hammers, and hoes, from Is. Parkin, P., Exeter. Cider press £22, screw and nut with two levers £8 10s., apple-breakers 16s., garden chairs 10s. to 2 gs., Cobbett stone £5. Parsons, G., Martock, Somersetshire. Eiglit-horse portable engine £225, 2^-horse ditto £63, flax- reaker and scutcher £63, flax-seeder 7 gs., one-horse cart 11 gs., travelling wheels £7 13s. down to £6 per pair.— Awarded silver medal for combined flax-breaking and scutch- ing machine. Peirce, a. E., 73, Bridge Road, Hammersmith. Cattle troughs £ 1 2s. to £3 5s., sheep trouglis 17s. Gd. to £1 10s., pig troughs Os. Gd. to £1 Gs., sheep cage 12s., por- table fence £3 5s., water cart or fire engine 10 gs., rotary pumj> or ditto £5 7s. and delivery hose Is. 3d. per foot, tubular wheell)arrow 30s., " eclipse" portable piggery £7, "excelsior" shepherd's house £18, corn screens £5 10s. and £9 5s., spare screen cylinders £2 and £2 10s., noiseless win- nowers £8 and £9, sack holder 25s. — Awarded silver medal for improved cattle troughs. Penney and Co., Lincoln. Corn separators 12 gs. to £21, malt screen £4 10s., grave or lime screen 30s., sack lifter £2 12s. Gd., meat safes £1 to £2, game or poultry nettii.g 4jd. to G.l. per yard, garden sofa £2, ditto chairs 15s. and £1, ditto stools 4s. Gd. and 7s. Cd., ditto baskets 4s. and 7s. Gd., corn screens 11 and 13 gs., set of six japanned wire dish co\ers £1 4s. Petiiick, J., T.iracrtou Foliott, Devon. Hand winnower £10, twD-horse farm cart 10 gs. Phillips, E. A., 8, S-uthamptou Buildings, Chancery Laie, Loudon. Rotary spade or digger £50. Phospho-Guano Co-M'ANY, London apd Edinburgh. riiospho-guano in its r-i^v and prepared condition, and spe- cimens of grain and other pioduce raised by its aid alone. PicKSLEY, Sims, and Co., Leigh. Chaff cutters 45s. to £24, oat and beau crushers 65s. to £15, steel mills 90s. to £15 ; gorse bruiser £18 10s. ; turnip cutter, slicers, and pulpers S5s. to £7 10s., oilcake breaker 65s., lawn mowers £5 to £6 10s., wringing and nmngling machines 55s. to 75s., two lio'se mower £22, ditto reaper £22 10s., one-horse reaper £21, ho>^serakes32s. Gd.to 45s., two-horse gear £9 10s., rasping mill £60, grinding apparatus 50s. to 95s. 6d., six-horse horizontal st^ar/. engine £160, four-horse vertical ditto £115, drag-rake lis. Gd. and ISs., twitch and stubble rake 4s. , whippletrees 10s. G/., suudry garden chairs, sack trucks, pig troughs, hay and Uianure forks, with two-horse ver- tical steam engine £55. — Avr:.r.led third prize of five pounds for two-horse reaper. Pitts, Thc .mvs, Plymouth. Odam's superphospliate of lime 5 gs. per ton, prepared guano £9 10s., blood manure .£7, dissolved bones £7, concentrated phosphate £8 15s., special potato manure £7 10s. Plenty, E. P., Newbury. Water or liquid manure carts 11 gs. to £18 10s., galvanized iron pump £4, ditto sheep troughs 20s. to 453., cattle trough 3Cs., lamb trough 18s. Plimsaul Brothers, Plymouth. Various pluughs 2 to 7 gs., wheel hand rakes 40s., horse rakes 3Ss., and £8, drag rake, 18s., haymaker £8, lawn mowers 90s. and £7 10s., comlnned mower and reaper £20, one-horse " eclipse" reaper £17 6s., winnower £7, harrows 40s. to 80s., scuffle drag 4 gs., whippletrees 15s., corn mills 3 gs. and S7s. Od., combined mill 9 gs., corn crushers 5 gs. to £6 10s., linseed cake breaker 70s., turnip cutters 85s. and 5 gs., chaff cutters 45s. to £10 19s., seed drill £20, sackbart'ows 12s. and 14s., set of corn measures 37s., seed distributor 50s. scythes 10s. and 13s., and variety of miscellaneous articles. PoxTEY, M. L., Plymouth. Specimens of seeds, roots, and trees. Porter and Co., Lincoln. Coal gas apparatus £45, corrugated shed for ditto £20. Powis, James, and Co., Lambeth. Combined mortising machines £16 to £30, circular-saw benches £21 to £G0, endless-ljand sav/ing machine £38, gene- ral joiner £75, tenon-cutter £75, floor -board planer £175. PoAVis AND Co., Milwall Pier, London. Mortising machines £10 and £21, band-sawer £38, juincr £9i), saw benches £10 and £70, brickmaker £200. Preece, T., Leominster. Corn drills 5 to 21 gs., mangold drills £2 10s. to £5 15s., horsehoe £2 IDs., grubber 3 gs., corn drill £28. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 191 Priest anu Woolnougxi, Kingston, Surrey. Lever drills £16 8s. to £37, turnip and manure drills tii) to £.C6, grass seed drill £24, manure distributor £10 lUs., horse- lioes £14 to £19.- — Awarded the first jirize of ti-n pounds for general purpose drill, second prize of seven pouiuls for lever corn drill, second prize of five pounds fur corn drill for small occupations, first prize of eight pounds for drill for turnips S:c. on the flat, second prize of seven pounds for drill for tur- nips fee. on the ridge, and second prize of four pounds for drill for small seeds ; also highly commended for general purpose drill, and received-the second prize of five pounds for horsehoe for general purposes, and the second prize of seven pounds for dry manure distributor. PucKEuixci AND Co., Bevcrlev. Leeds prize market cart £~1, other carts £18 10s., £-3, and £33, dog-cart £45, waggonettes £45 and £130, saddle stands 13s. Cd., single-horse harness 13 gs., pendoners Is. each. R.A.\soiiE AXD Co., 31, E.ssex- street. Strand, London. Long's non-poisonous specific for cure of scab in sheep 4s. 6d. per gallon, ditto for killing ticks in sheep 2s. 8d. per gal- lon, concentrated non-poisonous eradicator 4s. per gallon, non- poisouous sbee])-dipping composition Id. to l:jd. per head, dressing fork and sheep skins with fleeces. Rax SOMES AXD Sims, Ipswich. Variety of ploughs £3 7s. Cd. to £7 5s., potato-raising body £1 17s. Gd., ridging body £1 17s. 6d., digging body 7s. Cd., whippletrees £1 5s. and £3 10s., ponieltrees 13s. Od., sets of harrows £4 5s. and £4 10s., corn screen £15, root pulpers £4 14s. Gd. and £7, bean cutter £4, steel mills £3 15s. to 9 gs., universal mill £13 10s., two-horse iron gear £4 5s., lawn mowers £G 10s. to £8, eight-horse power portable steam en- gine £330, combined thrashing machine £136, ninety-gallon feeding pan £3. — Awarded silver medal for semi-circular pomeltrees. Rayxbird and Co., Basingstoke. Collection of samples of seeds and new cereals, oilcakes, and manures. Readixg Irox "Wor.xS Compaxy. Haymaker £15, hor.se rakes 7 gs. and £8 10s., eight-horse fixed steam engine £95, eight-hors<- portable £330, six-horse portable £195, three-horse ditto €130, thrashing machines £75 and £110, perforated beatei drum £8 lOs., portable thrashing nmchine and horse-gear £41, portable grinding mill for horse-power £66, circular-saw bench £35 10s., chafi'- cutters £3 5s. to 12 gs., oilcake m: 11 3 gs., barley-homer £4 15s., two-horse gear £13 5s., grass ;;nd seed broadcast sowing machine 3 gs., combined sack cart ar.d l-older £1 lis. Cd. Reeves, R. and J., V-'csioury, Wilts. Manure, corn, and seed drills £3t 5 f.to £37 5s., corn drill £31 10s., ditto and bean planter £33 li s., corn and seed drill for small occupations £18, other drills £12 to £31 10s.,.manurc distributors 10 gs. to £17, water can £15, barrow pump £G lis. 4d., winnower 10 gs., com scieens £5 10s., thistle destroyer 10s. — Awarded the prize ol ten pounds and first prize of eight pounds for liquid manure corn and seed drill on the ridge, and second prize of seven pounds for four-row liquid manure and seed drill on the ridge ; highly commended for four-row manure and seed drill on th.> Hat, also on the ridge, and commended for general purpose dri 1. Riches axd Watts, Norwich. Eight-horse portable engine £330, grist mills £15 to £37, corn miils £7 10s. to £13, chaff-cutter £8 10s. RiCHMOXD AND Chaxdler, Salfoi'd. Chaff-cutters £3 10s. to 18 gs., com crushers 5 gs. to £11 IGs., two-horse driving gear £16 10s., four-horse ditto £34, root washer 4gs., turnip cutter £3, steaming apparatus £6 9s., sack holders £1 3s. and £1 13s., bread kneaders £5 and £35, oat and bean crusher £10 6s., four-hors steam engine £105. Ridley axd Co., Grantham. Eight-horse portable engine £330 ; ditto combined thrash- mg machine £110. Roberts and Sons, Bridgewater. Market carts 10 gs. to £14, Malvern dog carts £31 to £26, Whitechapel ditto £30 to £26, waggonette £55, and a set of dog-cart harness £7 IO5, RoBEY and Co., Lincoln. Eight-horse portable steam engine £230, combined thraah- iiig machine £115, self-acting circular-saw bench £65, portable mill £25. RusTox, Proctor, and Co., Lincoln. Portable steam engines — eight-horse £230, six-horse £200 four-horse £105, tlirashing machines £105 and £118 10s portable mills £75 and £119, circidar-saw bench £14 10s. to £45, centrifugal pump £52 10s. St. Pancras Iron Works Compaxy, Old St. Pancras- road, London, N.W. Unerring gate latch 4s. 6d. to 5s. Od., iron field gate and posts £3 9s. 9d. ; models of stalls, loose boxes, and variety o stable fittings ; full-sized model of cow stall £3 7s. Od. per cow iron piggery £13 lis. Gd., sheep and cattle hurdles 4s. 2d. to 7s. lid., pair of hurdle field gates £1 5s., wired hurdles, nin- ning fences, and tree guards. Saixty, J., Burnham, near Lynn. Corn and seed drills £10 10s. and £38 10s., lever horsehoe £10, manure distributor £16 10s. Samuelsox axd Co., Banbury. Self-raking reaper £30 and £35, meadow mowers £30 and £31 10s., combined reaper and mower £33 and £36, " Eclipse" reapers 10 gs., haymaker £14, turnip cutters 5 gs. and £4 5s., root pulpers £4 5s. and £4 10s., chaff cutters £3 8s. to £10, lawn mowers £4 10s. to £7 10s., and linseed-cake breakers £3 and £3 10s. — Awarded second prize of seven pounds for one- horse reaper, and second prize of fifteen pounds for side- delivery reaping machine. S.uvNEY, W., Beverley. Horsehoe £5 10s., winnower £6 5s., combined winnower and blower 10 gs. and £11, treadle grindstones 44s. and 533., treadle boot cleaner 3 gs., bread-cutter, riddles 40s. and 50s., sack lifter and filter £3 10s. and £3 18s., cinder sifters 50s. ScRAGG, T., Calveley, Cheshire. Pipe, tile, and brick maker, £31. Sharmax, W., Melton Mowbray. Hay or corn rakes Is. Od. to 16s. 6d., drag rakes 10s. to 16s. Od., stubble rakes 4s. and 5s., scythe sneaths 5s. 6d. to 9s. 6d., flour bin 18s. to 35s., sack trucks 14s. and 10s., strained wire fencing 14s. per cwt., bundles of wire stretches 13s. Od. each. Shaw, Johx, New Wortley, Yorkshire. Flexible lawn mowers 70s. to £11 10s , and Gardner's tur nip cutters 4 to 5 gs. Simpson's Cattle Spice Company, Hull. Cattle spice 5s. per canister and 70s. per barrel ; digestive powders Is. per packet. Skeltox, J., Bodmin Hill, Cornwall. Two turnwrest ploughs £5 10s. and £0 with .^kim coulter. Smith, William, Kettering. Steerage horsehoes £8 to £9 10s., useful horsehoe £0 10s., single-bar horsehoe 80s., winnowing and blowing machines 9 gs. — Awarded third prize of four pounds for general purpose steerage horse-hoe, and third prize of two pounds ten shillings for single-row horse-hoe for ridge and flat. Smith, Brothers, Thrapston. Haymaker 15 gs., horse-rake £7 15s., grist mills £5 to 15 guineas, bean mill 50s., and oilcake mill 05s. Smith axd Co., Liverpool. Palm-nut meal £0 per ton. Spoxg, J. 0., 45, Mortimer Road, London. Sausage and mincing machines 10s. Od. to 4 gs., wring 12s. Cd. to 30s., domestic articles from Is. Stephexson Brothers, Plymouth. Chaff-cutters 45s. to £10, corn crushers 5 gs. to £6 10s. turnip cutters 8Ss. Cd. to £5 8s. Od., root pulper 73s. Cd., lawn mower £6, garden engines 55s. to £5 10s., syringe 8s. 6d., garden roller 2 gs., set of corn measures 31s., lift pump 30s., manure pump 55s., washing machines 70s. to £6 14s. Od. lever weighing machines 58s. to 84s., asphalted roofing felt Id. per foot, flower stand 73s., kitchen range £11, ice producer 25 gs. to 63s., refrigerators 50s. and 75s., ice safe £7, freezing compounds in cases lis. and 22s., cooking apparatus 38s. to £33, Cobbett's stove 5 gs., laundry boiler 55s., pig troughs 38. THE FARMER»S MAGAZINE. to 20s., galvanized netting 5d. to Is. 3d. per lineal yard, sheep shears 3s. aud is., fillin'g axes 2s. to 5s. 6d. SuMMERSCALES AND SoN, Keighlej, Yorkshire. Variety of wasliing, wringing, and mangling machines 65s. to £9, sugar cutter 12s., paraUel vice 80s. Sutton axd Soxs, Reading, Berks. Collections of seeds and dried specimens, also growing specimens and paintings. SILVE.STEK, 3, Sheffield-street, London. Cow railker 10s. the set, sijDhon Is. to 2s. Cd., tube cleaner Is. to 21s., wringer Is. to 3s. 6d., turnip cutter Is. to 2s. 6d. Tasker and Sons, Andover. Corn and other driUs £20 10s. to £43, drill presser £15, sets of trussed beam harrows 3 gs. to 90s., scuflBe drags £5, win- nower 10 gs., corn elevators 5 and 6 gs., eight-horse portable steam engine £233, thrashing machines £55 to £130, screw jack 2 gs., set of tubular iron whippletrees 14s. Thomas, Wm., 'Wellington, Somerset. Bricks 25s. to 40s. per 1000, drain pipes 3d. to 7d. each, and smaller bore 22.-;. 6d. to 90s. per 1000, roofing tiles 30s. to £6 10s. per 1000, chimney tops 2s. to Gs. each, vases 2s. to 6s., ridge tiles 2s. Gd. to 4s. 6d. per dozen, &c. Tinkler, R., Penrith. Various churns 70s. to £5 15s., hay and garden rakes Is. 6d. each, winnower £9, horsehoe 75s. to 90s., land grubbers 70s. and 75s., double plough 94s. — Awarded second prize of four pounds for single-row grubber, aud commended for single- row horsehoe for ridge and flat. ToPHAM, C, 31, Bnsh-lane, London. Sausage makers 10s. 6d. to 50s., masticators 12s. 6d. to 21s., dairy and domestic utensils Is. upwards, tube brushes Is. to 4s. 6d., grindstone and frame 3 gs., boot cleaner 3 gs. Trotter, W., South Acomb, Northumberland. Flexible reaper £25, mower £20. Turner, E. R. and F., Ipswich. Four-horse portable engine £161, crushing mills 3 gs. to £15 17s. Gd., corn mills £28 and £55, crane £5 10s., oilcake breakers 70s. and 95s. Turner's Strap and Hose Co., Greenfield, Lancashire- RoUs of driving straps 2id. to 8s. 7d. per lineal foot ; leather hose 2s. 6d. per foot. Turner and Co., 13, Rose Terrace, Fulham Road, London, S.W. Sausage maker 17s. Gd. to 5 gs., masticator 15s., mincer 10s. 6d., washing machines 5 gs. to £9, kitchen dagger Is. TUXFORD AND SoNS, Bostoa. Portable steam engines — eight-horse £250, one-horse £G0, two-horse £90, three-horse £115, ten-horse £270, twelve- horse £330, ten-horse farmer's self-propeUing locomotive for cultivating and farm-yard purposes £400, ten-horse steeple engine £285, combined thrashing machine £120, straw elevator £48, portable mill £45, Appold's centrifugal pump £30 and £52, circular-saw table £20 and £23 10s., biiuling spring for holding deals 54s., circular-saws 50s. to £9, lifting jacks 30s. to 40s. Tye, John, Lincoln. Corn mill 70/. and 145/., pearl barley mill 30/. 10s., smut machine 38/., crane for lifting millstones 6/., French burr mill- stones 8/., grey miU stones 90s. aud 6/., mill chisels Is. 3d. per lb. Underbill, W. S., Newport, Salop. Turnip drill 95s., patching ditto 8s. Gd., ryegrass 70s., driU press 61. 10s., horse-hoes 27s. Gd. and 33s. 'Cd., grubbers 50s. and 60s., lever horse rakes 6/. 10s. and 7 gs., six-horse portable steam engine 180/., combined thrashing machine 110/. com- bined sawing machine 95/., corn elevators 5 to 6 gs., cultivators 95s. to 8/., ploughs 55s. to 72s. Gd., harrows 52s. 6d. and GOs., hand cart 70s., sheep rack 35s. and 45s., sheep troughs 17s. 6d. and 28s., cow crib 34s. 6d., cattle trough 23s. 6d., sack barrows 10s. 6d. and 18s. 6d., cheese press 2gs., varnish stove 35s., poultry and game fences 9d. to 2s. Gd. per yard, tree- guards 12s. to 24s. per dozen, standards for feuce Gs. to 21s. per dozen. — Awarded silver medal for " Sketcliley's" combined sawing, planing, moulding, and boring machine. ViCKARY, J., Exe Island, Devon. Apparatus for small gas works 50/„ rec\unbent gas bath 8/., meter 60s,, gas cooking stove 4 to 6 gs. Waide, W., Leeds. A''ariety of churns, to make from 1 to Gibs. 30j., to make SOlbs. 5/. 10s. Wallis, Haslam, and Steeyens, Basingstoke, Hants. Corn drill 95s., turnip drill £29 lis. 6d., one-wheel steerage 95s., horse-rake £8 8s. Gd., eight-horse portable engine £230, thrashing and dressing machine £115, straw elevator £53, spring hanger 72s. Gd., spherical bearings lis. and 26s. 6d., thrashing machines £40 and £60 7s., barley avcUer 95s., corn dresser 10 gs., corn screens £8 17s. and £9, sack holders 25s. and 27s. Gd., sack holder and sack truck combined 43s. 6d., fixed gear two-wheel plough, £5 2s. Gd., screw stump ditto 9Gs. Gd., " Excelsior" liarrows 70s. to £6 10s, horse-hoe 45s., vertical lever drill £7 5s., screw ditto £9 5s., set of chain harrows G7s. 6d. Walton and Co., Worcester. Indiarubber wringer 22s. 6d., Canadian washer 72s. 6d., wool and waste washer 10 gs., washer and mangle 8 gs., wringer and mangle 3 gs., clothes dryer 38s. ; tent to hold 30 persons, closing like an umbrella, and weighing but 50 lbs., £5 ; road scraper £5 15s. Warren, J., Maldon. Chaff-cutters 47s. 6d. to 11 gs., bean mills 3 and 6 gs., sets of harrows and whipple-trees 67s. 6d. and 80s., oilcake mills 3 gs., wood beam ploughs 52s. and 68s. 6d., other ploughs 2 gs. to £7 10s. Watts, R. J., Plymouth. Elastic stitch cabinet and other sewing machines £9 to £18. Webb and Son, Combs, Suffolk. Assortment of leather machine bands, buckets, and hose, and of vulcanized indiarubber bands. — Commended for machine bands. Webber and Co., Newton Abbots, Devon. Combined thrashing machine £38 and £105, reed comber 70s. and £5 10s., mortar miU £G. Weir, E., 142 High Holborn, London. Spirit draining levels 30s. to 3 gs., workman's pendulum ditto 15s., chondrometer 35s. to GOs., pumps 5 to 8 gs., churns 25s. to 45s., milk test Is., lactometer 6s., butter purifier 10s. 6d. to 52s. 6d., butter whisks 10s. 6d. to 24s., wasliing ma- chines, mincing aud sausage-making machines, with samples of small mills to grind coffee, pepper, spice, &c. Western Counties Manure Company, Torpoint, Cornwall. Superphosphate of lime, guano, animal charcoal, bone, am- moniacal, and turnip manures. West and Co., 4, Montague-mews North, London. Reaping machine £20, combined reaper and mower £20 aud £15. Wheeler and Son, Gloucester. Collection of agricultural seeds. Whipple, E., Plymouth. Chaffcutters 50s. to £8 10s., lawn mower £6, turnip cutter 90s., oat and bean crusher 95s., self-setting perpetual mouse- trap 2s. 6d., rotary washing machines &c. 8 to 12 gs., and variety of miscellaneous articles. White and Co., 29, Bedford-street, Strand, London. Earth closets for mechanically applying Mo\ile's system of deodorizing and utilizing excrementitious matter by means of dry earth, portable apparatus in deal case 30s. to £9 10s. with partition showing supply of earth from behind. — Highly commended. White, J., 7, Trinity-street, Southwark. Oil-feeders Is. 3d. to 3s. 6d., artificial dams 2s. Gd. to Ss, each ; driving belts ; clothes wringers 12s. Gd. and 153., pen- doners Is. to 3s. Gd., hand-drill 4 gs. Whitehead, J., Preston. Drainpipe, tile, and brick-making machine £21, solid-brick maker £36, Ijrick presser 16 gs. Whitmee and Co., 70, John-street, Clerkenwell. Bean mill £2 15s., oat crusher £2 15s., corn crushers £4 to £20, linseed crusher £4 15s., corn mills £6 to £41, flour dresser £15, flour mills £6 10s. and £20. WiLKiNS, W. P., Ijiswich. Five-horse portable engine £170, grinding mills £30 aud i5S5, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 193 Williams, J. 0., Torquay, Devon. Cooking apparatus 30s. to £21, yacht caboose £2 to lii gs., boiling pot 123., recoil wind guard 15s., sliip stove £5 10s. Williamson Brothers, Kendal. Four-horse portable steam engine £lbO, vortex turbine £135, centrifugal pumps £38 and £43, whirlpool blowing- fan £21. WiLLARV, R,, Preston. Continuous trough for cowhouse £2 'is. per lineal yard, food apparatus £25. WiTHERiNGTON, T., Foregate-strcct, Worcester. Medicine chests, sheep powder, articles for toilet use, cattle medicines, and sheep-dippiug composition. Wood, W. A., 77, Upper Thames-street, London. Two-horse grass-mowers (three specimens) £22, one-horse reaper £1S, self-raking side-delivery reaper £28, combined mower and reaper £25. — Awarded first prize of ten pounds for the two-horse grass-mowing machine, the second prize of seven pounds for combined mower and reaper, and iirst prize of nine pounds for one-horse reaping machine. Woods and Cocksedge, Stowmarket. Corn mills £28 10s. to £75, " universal" mills £7 10s. to £15, crushing mills £5 lOs. to £15, stable mill £5 15s., bean mill £3 15s., turnip cutters £4 10s. and £5 10s., root pulpers £3 12s. 6d. to £5, oilcake breakers £2 12s. 6d. to £3 15s., poppy extirpator £8 15s,, two-horse thrashing machine £37, one-horse carts 10 gs. to £15 10s., two-horse cart £1(3, horse powers £10 to 16 gs., two-liorse mower £22, one-horse reaper £18, asplialte apparatus £17, four-liorse vertical steam engine £110. — Awarded second prize of three pounds for single-horse cart. Worth and Pontife.x, 293, Oxford-street, London. Knife cleaner 3 gs., barrel stand 8s., fork cleaner 2s., razor strop 3s., churns 18s. to 25s., milk pails 7s. 6d. and 12s. 6d., yoke 10s. Gd., bread-cutting machine, burglary preventor, boot ami shoe cleaner, &c. Wray and Son, Bedale. Two-horse reaper £15, mower £19, one-horse reaper £15, combined reaper and mower £25. Wright, J., Sandford, Devon. Drill for small seeds 50s., horsehoes 2g3. and 4-5s., grubber 40s., self-delivery reaper £20, one-horse reaper £18, horse- rakes £7 and £7 10s., ploughs 75s. to £5 lOs. sheep rack on wheels 65s., drags and whippletrees 15s. Wright, H., Boston. Stacking machine £35, straw elevator £35. Wright, C. T. and N. T., Boston. Straw elevator £35. THE IMPLEMENTS AT PLYMOUTH. As far as the trials of reapers are concerned, little re- quires to be added to the account which appeared iu our columns on July 17, and brought down the proceedings to the previous Saturday night. The judges were early in the field on the Monday, hoping to get through everything in time for a peep at the stock on Tuesday. The iirst business was to test the " selected" combined reapers and mowers upon the heavy oats, and then on the lighter rye. Wood's did its work well, the drop slat-platform being of great assistance in the delivery of the rye. There is no pro- vision for delivering the sheaves at one side. If these trials are to be considered decisive, and sufficiently trust- worthy to guide purchasers to the best machines, this is no doubt one of the best for the farmer's money, the judges having awarded it what may be called " the second" prize of £7. Hoi-usby's combined machine took the chief prize of £8, and certainly showed great capabilities in both the light and heavy crop ; the main point about it is that, as in some other machines not so well constructed as this, two men have seats provided for them, one driving the horses, and the other having only to attend to the delivery of the sheaves with his rake. Bamlett's two- horse combined reaper and mower did not work to equal advantage, but did its cutting extremely well, and came in for a prize of £5. Keai'sley's two-horse combined ma- chine made a decidedly inferior performance in comparison with the former machines, but still was considered suffi- ciently meritorious to deserve a high commendation ; and a commendation was awarded to Barber's combined ma- chine, in which the sheaves are pushed off at the side. This machine would bear considerable improvement in make and finish of its parts. On the whole, we are not very favourably impressed with this class of machines : they may answer for a grass district where a small pro- portion of corn is grown ; hut, at present, the public will exercise a discretion by purchasing strong grass-mowers for heavy hay, and strong reapers for good grain crops, a system that will pay far better both in quantity and quality of work done, and more especially in the item of repairs, than attempting to get too much out of one im- plement. The selected manual-delivery machines were tried again, and then several were tested by the djTiamometer, light- ness of draught being in favour of Wood and Samuelson, In the class of one-horse reapers Wood's machine, with back-delivery slat -platform, very deservedly took the first prize of £9, as this is an implement thoroughly "proved" on the farm. The second prize of £7 went to Samuelson's " Eclipse" reaper, with tipping zinc-covered platform for back delivery, aud no intermediate driving-shaft, the very simplest of all in respect to moving parts. Hornsby's ma- chine came in for the third prize of £5 ; the cutting was excellent, and the drop-platform for back delivery is made of slats, with their under-edges bevelled, so as to collect more projecting stubbles iu the slits for catching and deli- vering the sheaf upon the ground. The dividing iron is specially adapted for keeping the standing corn off the cut sheaf. Cuthbcrt's machine received only a " high com- mendation," though its work was universally acknowledged to be very good. The judges seem to have laid down the principle that their awards must be to the machines, and not to the men working them ; and they thus made up their minds that Cuthbert is the cleverest rake-man in England ; so that by consequence, his unequalled per- formance was due mainly to his personal skill and address, and but little to his machine. The main merits of this consist in the strength of its construction just in those parts that long field-practice has gradually improved. The plat- form, for either back or side delivery, is simply a flat board, with the addition of a small friction-roller at the back ; and in light crops perhaps a tipping platform would be decidedly better ; but for delivering very heavy crops, nothing can surpass the plain immovable board. Page, Picksley and Sims, Dicker, Bowhay, and BanJett did work calling for no special remark. In the class of two-horse manual deli- very reapers, the first, prize of £10 was won by Ilornsby and Sons' new machine, in which the man picks up and divides with his rake, and drops a slat platform with the sheaf upon a lower platform having endless chains that deliver the sheaf at the side. We need not say more than we have already done concerning this novel and most valuable invention, except that this decision of the judges is fully consistent both with the actual perform- ance of the machine, more particularly upon the rye, and the great facilities which it promises in the harvesting of crops in very varied conditions. Hornsby's grated drop-platform reaper, with back delivery only, takes tlie second prize of £6 j and an equal prize is 19i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. awarded lo Tickalcy and .Siius' " C'liiiiii))iou"' reaper, uitli shafts, larye main-wlieel, peudulum sliug for the eou- necting-rod etui of the knil'e-bar, and the back half of the platform made to drop, but balanced by a weighted lever. Among the novel ideas in this class was noticeable Brcnton's roller-delivery. The cut corn falls npon a transverse roller of about eight inches diameter, made of wood, with unnierons small iron staples, forming so many short pegs, upon its surface. This roller is ordinarily at rest ; but ■when a sheaf has to be delivered the mau's foot depresses a treadle, and the other end of the lever raises one end of the roller, which carries a small jilain wood rigger : this rigger being thus pressed against a corresponding plain wheel on the axis of the main driving-wheel, causes the roller to rotate and carry over the sheaf, which it delivers behind. The trial upon moist corn did not succeed, the operation being better performed, however, on the Moiulny. Another machine of this maker, but not brought out, we believe, to the trial field, has a quadrant-shaped i)latform with a conical roller, iatended to act as a side delivery. The £40 for self-side-delivering machines is divided into two sums of £:25 and £15 each, the former going to Ilornsby and Sons, and the latter to Samnelson. The concluding competition in this class was between Woods, Sarauelson's, and Burgess and Key's side sheaf- delivery reapers, and Horusby's swathe-delivery machine, the IJeverley Company's swathe-delivering machine having been withdrawn. Ilornsby's swathe-delivery first prize reaper did not manage the heavy oats at all well, but the rye was laid beautifully, the cut in both cases being first-rate. The machine is somewhat like Lord Kinuaird's improvement of 15cll, the coi'u falling, how- ever, on a lixed inclined platform with horizontal end- less chains passing across it, instead of upon a cloth web, as in the Scotch machine. If the dividing iron is right, and there is a sufficiently wide " throat" for a heavy strawed crop to come off the chains, this is a very good machine. We are of opinion, however, that had the Beverley Company displayed a little more address in their manipulation, for it does want a man with a head-piece to hold the steerage-pole, their lately imin-oved machine, would have made a better figure at riynujuth, and have shown the full advantages derivable from a lirst-class swathing reaper. Burgess and Key's sheaf- deli very machine cut well, but delivered badly-formed sheaves : the action of the rake appearing too sudden, and the motion not sufFiciently smooth and quiet, at least for very heavy crops. Wood's sclf-rakiug-olf reaper began in good style; but the rake arm on the vertical spindle, which di'ives the reel, of five flyers, is somewhat weakly designed, although it enters the crop at the side, and sweeps the ])latform in the right direction, and therefore is good in idea. Samuelson's machine, with automatic rakes to reel-boards, revolving windmill-fashion, but in a generally horizontal direction, did its work in a more creditable manner; the slow motion of the rakes enabling them to deliver the sheaf-bunches in a tolerably neat style, though not so well as they are laid by a manual-delivery machine. Two of the Banbury reapers were tried ; the prize going to the lately improved and cheaper of the two — the price £30. The axis of the i rakes is slightly inclined from the upright, leaning a little towards the platform, the tilt of the rakc-arms in their rotation being regulated by an irregularly-shaped circular cam ; and instead of being driven by an endless chain, as in the old machine, they receive motion by means of a shaft with bevel wheel and pinion directly from the in- termediate shaft which drives the crank. There is a quadrant bracket for setting the machine at any requisite height from the ground without disarranging the gear of the main spur-wheel and pinion on the intermediate .shaft. A question has been mooted whether or not the So- ciety should in future prescribe what it means by a " one- horse," and what by a "two-horse" machine. Most of the machines exhibited imder the former category are capable of taking about as wide a cut as those under the latter denomiation ; the drivers simply taking a poi'tion of their breadth where the crop is heavy. Some critics ob- served that the useless knives were taking up motive ])owcr to drive them ; others said that these spare knives are wanted for catching odd straws that lean over away from the crop. A suggestion has been made that the Society should limit one-horse machines to a finger-bar of say four feet in length ; but this hardly serves a prac- tical notion, for if any maker can bring out a machine that will cut a breadth of six feet, and yet be of moderate draught for one horse, why should'nt he ? The dynamometer draughts of the selected grass-mowers and reapers will appear in due course in the Royal Agri- cultural Society of England's ■Toarnal ; but we here give in a tabular fonn certain points as furnished us by some of the makers. PARTICULARS OF GRASS MOWERS AT PLYMOUTH. Picksley and Sims' 2-Horse Mower. Hornsby and Sons' Mower. Wood's Mower. Burgess and Key's IVew Mower. Samuelson & Co.'s Mowers. Number of revolutions of crank for each lineal yard advanced by the machine 10 3 inches. 3 inches. 3j inches. 3 inches, plain. U feet. 9 feet 1 inch with bar down, 4 feet 7 inches with bar raised, about 8 cwt. pole. £22 13 2f inches. 3 inches. 2 3-lfitli inches. 3 inches. plain. 4' feet. 9 feet at u'ork, 4^ feet turned up. 7 cwts. pole. ■ £22 11 2^ inches. 3 inches. 1 J inches. 3 inches, plain. 4 feet 3 inches. 7 feet 10 inches at work, 4 ft., travel- ling, 5j cwts. pole. £30, with extras £22. 11 SHnches. 3 inches. If inches. 3 inches. plain. 4 feet 3 inches. 8 feet wlieu cutting, 4^ feet when travelling. 6 cwts. pole. £20 delivered to any railway station in England. KU- Length of stroke of the knife-bar Breadth of a knife along the Length of a kuife from tlie Distance apart of the fmgers, Knives plain or serrated... Width of cut plain. 4 feet. Total l)readth of machine, out to out Has a folding beam for travelluig. pole. £20. Price THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. PARTICULARS OF MANUAL REAPING MACHINES AT PLYMOUTH. 195 Kumbcrof revolutious of crank for eacli linealyard advanced by the machine ... Length of stroke of the knife-bar Breadth of a knife along the bar Lenth of a knife from tlie bar to the point Distance apart of the fingers, centre to centre Knives plain or serra- ted Width of cut Total breadtli of ma- chine out to out ... Weiglit of machine... Shafts or pole With or without reel Mode of delivery Side or back delivery Price Pickslcy nndiHornsby and Sims' 3-Horse Sous' New 3- Reaper. Horse Reaper. 3 inches 3 inches 2f inches 3 inches plain 5 feet 85 inches 9 feet 3 inches 9 cwts. pole or shafts to order no reel Balanced tip- ping platform Sheaves at the back With shafts £31, with pole £23 10s llornsby and Sons' New 1- llorse Reaper. 3 inches 3 inches 2J inches 3 inches plain 5 feet 8 feet 8;^ cwts. pole no reel Tipping slat platform and endless - chains on a lower fixed platform Sheaves at the side £33 Hornsby and Sons' l-Horse Reaper. 3 inches 3 inches 3f inches 3 inclies plain 4| feet 7 feet 6^ cwt. shafts no reel Tipping slat- platform and endless -chains on a lower fixed platform Sheaves at the side £19 19s. 3 inches 3 inches 3-^ incliss 3 inches plain 5 feet 8 feet 5 cwt. shafts Wood's 1 -Horse Reaper. 7i 3 inches 3 inches Ij inches 3 inches plain 4 feet 8 inches 8 feet 4 inelies 4-j cwts. shafts no reel no reel Patent grated Drop skeleton drop platform platform Sheaves at the back £1G 16s. Sheaves at the back £16 10s., with extras £18 Samuelson and Co.'s 1-Horse Reaper. 4i 6 inches 3 inches 3^ inches 3 inches plain 5 feet 7 feet 6 inches 5^ cwts. shafts no leel Tipping plat form Shea\'es at the back £16 16s Cutlibert and Co.'s 1 or 2- Horse Reaper. 6^ "a 3^ inclies 3 incites o'^ inches 3 inches] plain 5 feet 7 feet 10 inches 9 cwts. shafts no reel Fixed flat plat- form with friction rol- ler behind Sheaves at the back or side £32, or £24 PARTICULARS OF SELF-DELRTERY REAPING MACHINES AT PLYMOUTH. Beverley Iron & Beverley Elornsby & Son's Wood's 2-Hor6e Burgess & Key's Samuelson and Waggon Com- Company's 3-IIorse Reaper. Reaper. New Machine. Co.'s ditto. pany's New 3-IIorse Machine 3-Horse Machine. Number of revolutious of crank for each lineal yard advanced by the machine .... 8 G 7 H 5i 5^ Length of stroke of the knife-bar 3 inches 3 inches 2f inches 6 inches 3 inches 3 inches Breadth of a knife along the bar 3 inches 3 inclies 3 inches 3 inches 3 inches 3 inches Length of a knife from the bar to the point 3^- inches 1^ inches 3i inches 2f inches 2J inches 2| inches Distance apart of the fingers, centre to centre 3 inches 3 inches 3 inches 3 inches 3 inches 3 inches Knives plain or ser- plain 5 feet plain 5 feet 3 inches plain 5 feet jjlain 5 feet serrated 5 feet 9 inches serrated Widthofcut 8 feet 3 inches Total breadth of ma- chine out to out .... 8 feet 9 feet 4 inches 7 feet 6 inches 7 feet 9 inches 6 feet 9 inches 9 feet Weight of machine . . . lOi cwts. 7J cwts. 11 cwts. 10 cwts. 13 cwts. 15^ cwts. Shafts or pole pole pole pole pole pole shafts With or without keel. reel reel reel no reel reel reel Mode of delivery Endless chains Rotary rake, Rotating rake Revolving rakes Endless belts. Endless belts. passing across hinged upon upon the reel. passing across passing across a fixed sloping a vertical with sweep- a fixed sloping a fixed sloping platform spindle ing movement across the platform. platform platlorm Side, back, sheaf, or Swathe, at one Sheaves at side, Sheaves at the Sheaves, or Swathe, at Swathe, at swatlie delivery side the number side swathe, at either side as either side as per minute the side recpiired required delayed at Price £34. pleasure £36 10s., with extras £28. £34. £30. £37, with two complete knife- bars and six extra cutters, £42, with two complete knife- bars, and siv extra cutters. etc. etc. 196 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Amongst the haymaking machines and horse-rakes it is noteworthy that Messrs. J. & F. Howard cleared off all the prizes they " went in"' for : that is, out of the £15 offered for haymakers, they took £6 for one machine and £5 for another ; and out of the £10 offered for horse-rakes, they won £G for the new rake sent out by the Britannia Works. The first-prize Bedford haymaker has really all the improve- ments of "the Leeds prize machine — including the eccentric motion for instantly reversing the action, without having to make adjustments at both ends of the machine; it works most effectively, both as a tedder and turner, f.nd without the possibility of clogging ; yet the selling price is only eleven guineas. The second-prize larger-sized machine is the old one v.ith -leveral improvements — as a solid steel spindle in place of the tubular axle ; the re- versing of the action is accomplished at one movement, without touching the rakes ; and the springs are inserted in slots without being weakened by holes through them. The Bedford horse-rake has been much improved by giving the teeth a larger sweep, and a larger leverage for rising over obstacles when in work ; and to secm'e greater lightness for lifting while preserving the same strength as before, the steel teeth are rolled tapering, that is, slightly decreasing iu thickness all the way from the hinge end to the point, where the tooth is only half an inch thick. The raising is effected by sinking the hinge bar, the main axle forming the fulcrum ; and the curve of the back and lower part of the teeth is concentric with this axle as a centre, so that the teeth have no tendency to lift up the hay when rising. An easy beU-crauk lever arrangement enables the teeth to be easily lifted by the hand, and to keep up when lifted, without any catch or hook. Messrs. Howard have brought out the best ar- rangement we have seen of a seat upon a horse-rake, with hand levers for ready-lifting of the teeth. This is well adapted for hot coimtries, but will scarcely be much pa- tronized by farmers at home. Boby's third-prize haymaker is an admirably -made tool, extremely simple in the working ])arts, and upon wheels of well-seasoned wood. Mr. Nicholson's haymaker re- ceives a high eommeudation. This machine, excepting improvements in a few details, won the first prize at the Salisbury meeting, is pecidiarly efficient, with extremely simple gear for driving both the forward and the back action, and defies any crop to clog it or wrap upon the barrels. Mr. Nicholson has a number of clever diagrams, showing the cycloidal track of the teeth and the frequency of the points of contact with the ground (or the crop) in the case of his own and other first-class machines, from which, according to theory, the Newark machine ought to beat all others hollow. It did not appear, however, during the trials accorded to the several machines, that this did more tossing and separating of the grass or that it turned the tedded hay more efficiently than others. The late improvements consist of a small eccentric for altering the pitch of the shafts; a better form of fork-barrel, with a hoUow fitting the axle- casing, to preclude the possibility of any wrapping and clogging. Mr. Nicholson has brought out a ten-guinea horse-rakc ha\ing the back-action only. This new machine has an adjustable seat for the driver. A. and T. Fry receive a commendation for Grace's new haymaker, with disc or solid wheels, and the axis so placed as to relieve the horse's back of pressure, the man partly balancing by riding; the cage, however, is in one revolving piece — giving iar less advantage than with a division. Ashby and Jeftery have still farther improved their original hay- maker, which has, iu its day, won so many prizes. With- out any complication, the forks are so contrived that their velocity may be increased or diminished at the ])leasure of the operator — a valuable facility for suiting all sorts and conditions of grass. The springs also have considerably greater power than in previous machines. This firm also makes a fourteen- guinea haymaker, with zig-zag arragcment of forks and reversing motion ; and their eleven-guinea machine, of six inches' less breadth, works both ways, but with the forks in a single revolving cage. Among other hay machines that struck our notice were Huxtable's light skeleton machine, with crank axle for setting at different heights, but with only one-way action ; as also Cranston's "kicking" hay-tedder, the great merit of which is its lightness of draught, and its action Ijeing under complete control of the driver on his seat, without stopping " the pony ;" for it has the recommendation of not requiring so much as a horse to work it. The second prize for horse-rakes was awarded to Page and Co, of Bedford, their implement being well-constructed, simple and effectual in principle, and with oval steel teeth. The breadth taken at one time is 7 feet 9 inches, and the price low. THE IMPLEMENT YARD. Notwithstanding previous announcements in hopeful newspapers, nobody expected to find a heavy show of mechanism down at the sea-coast of Devonshire. The figures teU "us that while Leeds had 5,488, Battersea 5,064, and Worcester 5,839 implements, Newcastle last year had 4,024, and Plymouth just one less. All the great makers were represented iu the sheds. Benlall had a fine show of chaff-cutters, mills, and pulpers. Coleman and Morton exhibited their steam- cultivating apparatus, prize cultivators, and rotary po- tato-digger. The Reading Iron-works Company showed their fixed steam-engine, chaft'-cutters, thi-ashing-machines. Tasker and Sous showed drills, and Seaman's trussed-beam harrows. Blackburn's traction-engine was a singular featm-e in the machinery-in-motion department; the boiler upon small wheels running on a sort of endless tramway inside a large drum, while the steam cylinders and gear-work are upon an external frame. A large diameter and great bearing-surface are attained by this manner of construction ; but modern practice points to economizing weight, and keeping the steam hot, as two sources of success in designing " tractor" engines. Car- son and Toone showed prize horse-hoes, and single-row grubbers, unequalled for strength and efficiency. The Beverley Iron and Waggon Company came out with their usual strength in machine-made carts and waggons for all purposes, prize one-horse carts with " tips," harvest-carts, and sets of patent wheels. Woods and Cocksedge showed mills, weed extirpators, and the horse-powers for which they are famous. Eaton and Sons exhibited horse-hoes, and their prize revolving turnip- thinner. J. and P. Howard had a fine stand of hay- makers, ploughs, their certainly unequalled ridging and potato ploughs, ploughs with the new " digging breasts," ffcxible chain -harrows, and their apparatus for steam cul- tivation. The new traction-engine, having the boiler placed transversely upon a three-wheeled frame, displayed its facilities of turning, and ascending and descending inclines. These engines are specially applicable for con- tract companies, to w^ork on the double-engine system, hauling the implement to and fro by a single line of rope. For ordinary farm-use, the stationary windlass, with two winding drums, was exhibited. Ransomes and Sims had a great display of Newcastle prize ploughs, corn screens, mills, their steam engines and thrashing machines. One novelty here was the semicircular whippletree, in- vented by Mr. Edmunds, of Rugby : the foot-chain is at- tached by a friction-roUer, which, running at liberty within the semicircular back of the whiiiplctrce, changes its place according to the position of the whippletree, thus THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 197 always preserving an equal strain upon each horse ; and the judges honoured this invention with a silver medal. On the next stand was Phillips' " rotary spader," invented by " Cicero Comstock," of America. A very ingenious combination of mechanical motions is employed to direct a number of tines properly into the ground, and again to adjust Iheir position on emerging with llu; brol THE FARMER'S MAGAZINK/ Highly commended: R. 0. Lister, Ouseflcct Cinxngo, Goolc (Woolwich). Four-years old liuntinfT fillies.— First prize, £10, M. Kicld, Tadcaster. Second of i;5, Wm. Tindall, Wlieatley, Doncaster (Regalia). Five-year-old hunters, geldings, or mares, warranted sound, and to possess not less than three crosses of blood. — First prize, i;20, Henry Darley, Aldby Park, York (Camilhis). Second of iio, J. Robson, Windlebeck, Ganton, York (Spring Water). Hunters, geldings, or mares, si.K-years old and upwards.— First ijrize, £20, A. Barker, Hatfield, Doncaster (Peter). Se- cond of £5, Sii- J. V. B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P., Haclcness, Scarborough (Conjuror). Hackneys, mares, or geldings, foui'-years old and upwards, qualified to carry 12 stones, and not less than 11 hands high. — First prize, £20, H. J. Percy, Howsenrigg (Crafty). Se- cond of £5, G. Wa.kefield, Nessingham, Ku-ton-in-Lindsey (Pride of the Isle). Gentlemen's cobs, any age or sex, qualified to carry 16 stones. — First prize, £10, H. J. Percy, Howsenrigg (Robin). Second of £5, B. Milward, Conisln'o, Rotherham (Selim). Ladies' hackneys, of any age or sex. — Fu'st prize, £10, W. H. Gaunt, Old ThornviUe, York (Dandy). Second of £5, St. John L. Clowes, Torworth, Bawtry. Ponies, from 12 to 14 hands high, any age or sex. — Fu-st prize, £10, J. W. Pease, Woodlands. Darlington (Victoria). Second of £5, R. Milward, Thiu-garton Priory, Southwell, Notts (Rachel). Best ponies, under 12 hands high, any age or sex. — First prize, £10, J. AV. Richardson, Willoughton, Ku-ton-in-Lindsey (Uncle Tom). Second of £5, J. W. Turner, Sickling Hall, Wctherby (Bullet). EXTRA STOCK. First-class silver medal, A. Hind, Crowle, Ba^^•try (cart horse), J. Jackson, Doncaster (Depper). DAIRY PRODUCE. Cheese, not less than 1 cwt. in quantity, made since October 1st, 1861, the produce of one dau-y . — Fu-s't prize, £8, E. Temj^le, Saltcrgill Farm, Yarm. No other enfri/. Fu-kins of butter. — First prize, £5 ; second, £2. No entry. Si.K pounds of fresh butter, in single pounds. — Fh'St prize, £5, R. C. Workman, Alnxhohne, Doncaster. Second of £2, Thos. Waite, Chequer House, Doncaster. Third of £1, B. Thompson, Foulds, Tickhill, Rotberham. WOOL. Judge. — T. Clayton, Stainley Hall, Ripon. Five hogg fleeces, long-wool. — Prize, £5, R. C. Workman, Almholme. S'ive hogg fleeces, short- wool. — Prize, £5, B. H. Brooksbank, Tickhill, Rotherham. FLAX. Judges. — R. Briggs, Leeds. H. Ludolf, Leeds. Specimens of mill-scutched flax. No entry. Specimens of dew and cold water retted hand-scutched flax, not less than 20 stones, retted and scutched by the exhi- bitor.— First prize, £10, F. Moody, East Butterwick, Bawtry. Second of £5, J. BeacheU, RawcUffe Grange, Selby. Specimens of green flax, growth of 1863, not less than 20 stones, grown by the exhibitor. — Fu-stijrize, £10, J. Laverack, Keadljy, Bawtry. Second of £5, J. Lofthouse, Borough- bridge. IMPLEilENTS. Judges. — T. Martin, Wainfleet, Lincoln. W. Owen, Engineer, Rotherham. T. Scott, Broom Close, Ripon. J. AVUson, Manor House, Morpeth. Thrashing Machines, ch'iven by steam power, subject to thorough trials in thrashing grain and delivering it into sacks ready for market. — First prize, £50, Marshall, Sons, and Co. (limited), Gainsborough. Second of £20, Robey and Co. (limited), Lincoln. Commended: Ransomes and Sims, Ips- v.'ich ; and Ruston, Proctor, and Co., Lincoln. Grinding :MiUs, di-iven hy horse or steam power, subject to thorough trials in crushing and grinding aU descriptions of grain. — Prize of £20, Amies and Barford, Peterborough, for a Felton's American grist miU. Commended : H. Whiteley, Don- caster; and J. Hodgson, Duffleld, Beverley. The silver medal for the invention of any new and im- proved principle of construction as applied to farm imple- ments, to Fowler and Co., Leeds, for their 8-horse power single cylinder engines, with self-moving and reversing gear. Silver medals were also awarded to — W. Tasker and Sons, Waterloo Iron AVorks, Audover, for application of chaff delivery to thrashing machines. John Plant, Birley, Sheflield, for earth closet and commode. Ransomes and Sims, Ipswich, for a six registered equalizing pomeltrees. E. B. Allen, Westminster, for an 8-horse power patent Rouble expansive portable Bteam engine. MISCELLANEOUS. £2, Ransomes and Sims, for BiddeU's patent root puljier. £2, Ransomes and Sims, for a patent rotatory adjustable self- cleaning corn screen. £2, Marshall, Sons, and Co., for appli- cation of a mill to a thrashing machine. £2, Spencer and Co., Doncaster, for a potato planting machine. £3, AV. Bushby, Newton, Bedale, for a plough and digger. £1, C. Topham, Bh'ch-laue, London, for assortment of solid tube brushes for cleaning of boiler tubes. £2, AV. Sa-wney, Bever- lej^, for patent sack lifter and tilter. £2, R. Puckering, Bever- ley, for a market cart. £2, Amies and Barford, for patent turntable rollers. £2, Amies and Barford, for Proctor's patent straw elevator. Highly commended: Patterson and Co., Beverley, for comiDound action mOl. FOXHOUNDS. Judges. — Capt. Percy Williams, Barnby Moor, Retford, Mr. AA''. H. "Williamson, AATiitburn, Durham. Sir AVatkin AV. AVjmu, Bart., AVynnstay. Thi-ee couples of entered hounds, of either or mixed sexes, no hound lieing older than a seven season hunter, the silver Champion Cup, value £20, Lord AVemj- ss ; and to AV. Chan- ning, huntsman, a gratuity of £10. Second, a silver goblet, value £10, The Earl of Yarborough ; and to Ninrrod Long, huntsman, agratuity of £3. Highly commended : Mr. Scratton. Unentered dog hounds, pupped since 1st December, 1863, a claret jug, value £10, Earl Fitzwilliam; and to Harry AjTis, jun., huntsman, a gratuity of £5. Second, a silver flask, value £-5, Lord Hawke ; and to E. Owen, huntsman, a gratuity of £2. Highly commended : Lord AVemyss. Unentered bitch hounds, pupped since 1st December, 1863, pair of silver claret cups, value £10, The Earl of Yarboi'ough ; and to Nimrod Long, huntsman, a gratuity of £5. Second, silver cigar case, value £.5, Mr. Harcourt Johnstone ; and to his huntsman a gratuity of £2. Stallion hoiuids, not less than three-season hunters, and certified to be the sii'es of living puppies, pair of sflver claret cups, value £10, Lord Wemyss ; and to AV. Channtng, hvmts- man, a gratuity of £3. Highly commended : Lord Yarborough. A Silver-moiuited Hunting Whip, for the huntsman who brought hounds the longest distance to the show, was awarded to AV. Channmg, huntsman to Lord Wemyss. There were also Prizes for Poultry. TRAINING THE AYllSIIIRES.— The sliow dodges of the Ayrshire men are iue.\liaustible, and not unattended with danger, as one man in his last twenty-four hours of a " strong preparation" fairly hurst his bull. A great deal depends upon the jockeying during that time. A cow is generally kept sharp set tiU four or five hours before tlie show. If she had been on too fine food, her paunch would be dra\'ni up, and tlie vessel would lean forvvard, and the teats not in position ; whereas if the paunch is gradually filled in these last few hours, first by giving her common food, and then by coaxing her into quantity l)y Ijettering it at eveiy supply, she is filled to repletion, and the vessel hangs taut and square. She often gets her pound of salt at night, and between the two agencies she should be turned out quite the thing in the morning. Cows are also kept well up to " tid" during the show season with gruel made of linseed-meal, oatmeal and flour, diluted with their own milk, and sometimes as much as 31bs. of treacle ia it. The shape of the vessel is also as carefully looked to and adjusted as the Spanish cock's comb, which was, \\'hile the fashion set that way, kept up in pasteboard spliuts, till just before going into Bingley Hall. A board is put below the vcsrel with holes for the teats, and tied with strings round the cow's back, so as to keep it in position, and the vessel is laved with cold water all night,ijto make it flat and contracted and give it consistency. They arc also washed over with butter-milk, and the finer lights put in with soap and gum. Sometimes the co\^' barbers use butter-milk for the legs, and take to hair-oil, audthe liorns are rubbed with charcoal or hawthorn ashes, in accordance with an old superstition. In short, the day and night before the show are, in many instances, quite as important as an artist's glazing-day at the Royal Academy. The judges are all wcU up to " the little game," 'which extends to scraping rams' horns almost to the quick, and then japanning them, and is on all fours with that artistic clipping to hide weak points, against which old Val Barford, K.C.B. (Knight of the Chp- ping Board), struggled so long, tiU the Royal English Society issued its ukase. — " Field and Fern, or Scottish Flocks and Herds," by The Druid. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 207 THE HIGHLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT INVERNESS. The appointment of Inverness as the place of meeting, by rotation, in 18G3, had a pecnliar signitlcancc. It was at this pleasant " key of the Highlands," in '40, that Mr. Hall Maxwell entered on the oflicc of Secretary ; and it is here, after a most eventful uinetceu years, during which the number of members has increased i'roni 3,560 to about 4,200, that he announces his retirement. Two meetings were held at Inverness prior to that of '46, Belville's year. In '31 the Highlanders mustered well, and the great " Corryhoylic descended from the mountain with his buck goats." In '39 the jealousy of the clans was aroused against the growing popularity of the short- horn crosses, and Mr. AVetherell stood forward, in a very hot discussion, as the champion of the " red, white, and roan." The meeting, in '56, was such a success that the Society once more settled to give up the biennial, which had been adopted since '48, and stand by an annual system. Time has worked wonders during those nine years. The mail-coachman no longer pulls up, to give his horses breath and the passengers a scenery treat, at the entrance of the Pass of Killiecrankie. Aberdeen is joined by the iron road to Inverness, with a branch line to Banff; the direct Highland Kailway, when lairds and " masters" do not keep the train dawdling for their sove- reign will and pleasure at the stations, makes short work of the once-dreaded 100 miles; and the Sutherland men take the train South at Meikle Terry. The business of the show commenced at 4 a.m. on Monday, with the meeting of the judges and the commit- tee. Mr. Hall Maxwell stated that the entries consisted of 301 cattle, 132 horses and ponies, 812 sheep, 34 swine, II collie dogs, a new feature, 294 head of poultry, and 707 implements, and that after careful examination by a V.S. not one of the animals, many of which, in consequence of the single train, did not arrive till Sunday, bore the slightest trace of disease. After dinner. Professor Ander- son delivered a lecture on the Chemistry of "Wool and its Management, and a slight discussion between the High- land and Lowland flockmasters on smearing and dipping appi'opriately closed the evening. Owing to the unavoidable absence of Earl Rosslyn, the chair at the judges' early breakfast on Tuesday was taken by Earl Caithness, The morning brought with it some- thing more than one of those Scotch mists which " Wet tlie puir Scotchman to his sark, The Englishman to his skin," and the judges and their esquires had a very rough time of it. Excepting those who were specially interested in the cattle, few left their hotels, and only £151 9s. was taken at the gate in 10s. and 5s. payments. The show- yard was situated about I3- miles from Inverness, on the farm of Seafield ; but the spot was a very exposed one, and great complaints were made by owners of cattle re- specting the very insufficient shedding which was put up, despite the minute specifications made by Mr. Hall Max- well, and the appointment of a professional architect. The banquet at the Music Hall was by far the most cheerful feature of the day. The chair was taken by the Duke of Argyll, who was dressed in the Celtic costume, and wore the Order of the Thistle, and the Duke of Athole, the Earl of Caithness, and nearly 450 other noblemen and gentlemen supported Iiim. His Grace's four years of office now expire, and it seems quite understood that he will be succeeded by the Duke of Richmond. The speech in which his Grace proposed the Highland Society chiefly consisted of a refutation of a lecture delivered by Mr. Leone Levi, an international jurist, upon the state of the Highlands ; and he also stated officially that Govern- ment intended to apply to England and Scotland the same system of statistics which had proved so reliable in Ire- land. In the course of his comments on the announce- ment made by Mr. Hall Maxwell, his Gi-ace observed that, " during the whole course of its existence, the So- ciety had never had a secretary of more energy, of more zeal, and of more efficiency," and proposed a vote of thanks to him for his services. This was responded to in a manner which shov^ed how deep and abiding is the con- viction of the services Mr. Maxwell has rendered to the Society, for whose sake he gave up a very high position as an advocate. Even in a Scottish meeting all national prejudices are broken down, and the numbers in the catalogue begin to run with the shorthorns, of which there were 87 entries. Every shorthorn has departed months since from Athelstancford. The brothers Mitchell, who were in such strength last year with Mistletoe and Blue Belle, sent nothing. Mr. Stirling's herd had not a solitary representative, and even the Brothers Cruik- shank did not bring one to do battle from their 350. Still, in the old bull class, they won by proxy with Mr. James Geddcs' British King, a good roan bull, but perhaps lucky from the fact that Fosco, the second to Van Tromp last year, had gone south to Doncaster. The commended bull Caractacus was also calved a few months after the dam left Sittyton. One of old " Reattie's" medal buUs, Viceroy, was second, and " KiueUar's" Prince of Wor- cester, the Challenge Cup bull at the Royal Northern the week before, had to be content with third honours. It was curious that in the two-year-old class, the Duke of Buccleuch's Royal Errant, Mr. Balfour's Prince Loth, and Lord Strathallan's Allan should be again in their Stirling order of merit. " The Royal" has not the masculine character of " The Prince," but the latter, who is more of a big framed steer gettei', like his sire Great Seal, has rather "given" in his back, and Allan lacks scope and grandeur in his forehand. Lord Kinnaird's yearling bull Oxford Louis was better in his touch than any of them, and if Lord Strathalhin could only again manage a third, his Rosa Bonhem-, which had taken a third and a second before at these shows, worked up into the first place among the cows, where " KinncUar" was second, and Mr. M'Kessack's Lady Ehna commended. In the two-year-old heifer class, Mr. Stephen, of Inchbroom, with his Emperor and Picotee blood, was second and third to " Reattie," and the combination of Prince Louis with Lord Privy Seal gave Lord Kinnaird a yearling heifer first with Princess Harriet. The Duke of Richmond was second with a daughter of Whipper-in's, one of the four first-prize Royal bulls which are stationed between John o'Groat's andKeir; and a daughter of Douglas's Hiawatha furnished a third to Mr. Geddes in a good class. The West Highlanders, headed by the first-prize aged bull and cow at Stirling and Kelso respectively, and each of them bred by the Marquis of Breadalbane, came out 88 strong, and formed along with the Leicesters the strongest features of the show. Both the first and third aged bulls were of Breadalbane 208 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. blood, and the former of them was the Duke of Athole's famous red Donald. His Grace was also first and third with his brindled Oscar and black GiUe Dubh, and first and second with his cows Mhor and Proisag Odhar ; while Mr. Allan Pollok took two firsts for his black "Willie" and his dun heifer " Seonard," and Mr. Malcolm, of Poltalloch, a first and a third. Mr. Peter, another purchaser of " Breadalbanes," had also two bronze medals for his portion ; but even that was no light honour, in such an array. Mr. McComble, who had made a great week of it at Aberdeen with the polled and the fat cups, besides other prizes, marched northward with a heavy black brigade. The fifteen-year-old Charlotte and her daughter Pride of Aberdeen were there with Daisy, for the medium gold medals ; and Sir George Macphersou Grant also scut his prize Perth cow, Mayflower of Montbletton, so as to en- able the Angus-men to judge what " waste is made by time," which seems to touch this race very lightly. " TDlyfour" was never in greater force. Champion of his own and President 4th of Mr. James Leslie's breeding took first bull prizes for him ; Lovely and Fancy, both daughters of The Belle, stood first and second in the cow- class ; and his peerless Kate of Aberdeen, winner of the polled cup at Aberdeen, was first in the two-year-old heifer, and Bloom in the yearling heifer classes. Mr. Collie, of Ardgay, had a first and second for bulls, and " Port- lethen," " Shielhill," " Easter Skene," and Lord Kin- naird did not go empty away. Mr. McCombie's buU success was much greater than usual, as in the only bull- class in which he did not get a first (and was in fact well beaten), one of his own breeding, Press of Aberdeen, was second. Dahomey, a Stirling first, was among the old bulls, but took nothing this journey ; and Lord Southesk made no entries whatever. No Galloway bulls were shown ; but as, thanks to his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh, Messrs. Graham and Cunningham had the requisite four in each of the female classes, the breed was judged separately from the Angus. Mr. Cunningham with his Kate and Diana had the best of it, the other first-prize going to the Duke for Emblem, of his Grace's favourite Knight of Lyddesdale and Free- booter cross. Mr. Graham had no Scmiramis or Harriet to confront her with this year, but he was second to Kate with two Hannibal cows. Colly Hill of Battcrsea fame and Premium represented her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Athole in the gold medium medal ranks of the Ayrshircs. The former, although nine years old, was giving four gallons a day in the height of the grass last year, and led everything in the Dunkeld dairy save Marion. In the cow in-milk and in- calf classes, her Grace made eleven out of the twenty- three entries, and won all six prizes. Whitclegs and Brockie, a second at Perth in his Grace's lifetime, were eligible in each class, and headed them accordingly ; and Charmer and Queen of Hearts were the other Dunkeld prima donnas. Mr. Stewart was first in the heifer class with Dainty, which was separated from one of the Duke of Hamilton's by a heifer of Mr. Doun's, and also first in the bull class with Royal Buttei'fly, a name which Towueley has so tended to popularize. Fat stock are never out of season in Scotland, and there were sixty-three entries, or eighteen more than there were in the Ayrshire classes, and fifteen less than in the combined forces of the Black and all Black. The latter had a splendid representative in the extra class in a polled ox of Mr. Harris's, bred by "Lochdhu." "Tilly- four" was very sweet on this beast at the last Forres fat show, but Mr. Harris would not sell unless the black went as one of a large lot, at a price which would have seemed fabulous if Mr. INIartin of Aberdeen had not given £94 10s, for a cross two-year-old steer this spring, aft.er a hot conflict with " Tillyfour," who had his revenge by beating it for the fat cup with a cross-bred at Aberdeen. There is no doubt that if Mr. Harris had held to his black, he would, with luck, have broken the six years' Smithfield charter, which Mr. McCombie holds for " the best Scot bullock." Flushed with his stock triumph, " Tillyfour " was determined that nothing should part them ; and hence the four years and two months' speci- men of ox-beef has quitted Earnhill for Tillfour at £100 ! Mr. Harris, we deeply regret to say, has just had an acci- dent with a turnip-pulper, which has deprived him of his right hand. Besides this poll, he showed a very grand shorthorn-cross ox, and took another iirst with him. Sir Alexander Cumming also came up strong with similar crosses, and beat the £94 10s. steer, among others. The Dunrobin Highlanders, which are said to have a title of fully two hundi'cd years, were in their right place at the head of the Highland oxen class, with a fine home-bred black, and the l)rown and dun of Sir Alexander, both of which were bred by Mr. Archibald Stewart, of Dunvegan, Skyc, had to yield. Curiously enough, Inverness-shire itself wound up the cattle part of the show with a quartet of iilderneys, as if to make a milk protest in the teeth of the great beef-producing northern counties. There was a satisfactory show of horses for agricultural purposes; and Mr. Steedman, one of the Plymouth bench, was again in office. Sir A. G. Cumming's prize mare at Inverness, in '56, came, as in duty bound, for her medium gold medal, and wore wcU for fourteen. In the old stallion class it was rather a question of form versus action be- tween the winner, Mr. Sam Clark's horse, and Mr. Muir's. One had won at the Perth Union and the other at Glasgow this year ; and the Dowager Duchess of Athole was third with her Diamond. In the three-year-olds, Mr. David Riddell won with a clever " General ;" but the ruck, like their seniors, was bad, and the strength of the Clydesdales centred on the two-year-old class, Avhere Mr. Clark's winner made his mark, followed by good ones of Mr. Riddell's and Mr. Kaye's, the last being the only one bred by his exhibitor. It was a hard run match for first in the yearling colts, and as Mr. Young bred Young Baronet he retii-ed from the bench. His colleagues could not agree, and Professor Dick and another \\ S. from In- verness also went iuto opposite lol)bies. The knotty point was then referred to the breeder of Thormanby and Dundee, who was one of the stewards in attendance, and he decided in favour of \ oung Baronet, a horse with not quite the bone and substance, but more lifting action than his antagonist, which was bred and owned by the Duke of Hamilton. The first prize for Clydesdale m.ares with foal went, after a brief consultation, to a brown mare, Jean, the property of Mr. Fleming, of Kilkerran, well-known as a successful fan- cier of Arabs, Ayrshircs, and Gordon setters, and as the pur- chaser of that Athole herd of West Highlanders, which made room for the Breadalbanes. Another " Jean" was second, and the Dowager Duchess of Athole again received the bronze medal. Mr. Fleming's other brown mare came to the fore in the mare-in-foal class, but it was a much " tighter fit" with a mare of Mr. Buchanan's, which had three years more on her head. The Duke of Hamilton won the three-year-old class with his Stirling filly, beating a filly by his own Sir Walter Scott very decidedly on the point of bone. In the next two classes Mr. Fleming was third and second, in the latter case with one of his own breeding, while Mr. David Riddell and Mr. Archibald Johnston stood in the first places. The Duke of Athole beat young Mr. Hope Johnstone of The Heuk with his grey Glentilt in the pony-stallion class, and among the extras were a lot of Shetland ponies (as at Battcrsea) from Mr. Walker, of Maryfield House ; and three thoroughbred stallions — one of them, Pulchi- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 209 nello, from Marion, and Roebuck by Geucralj who was commended. The Border Leicester men pushed the strong ad- vantage which they have gained at the Kelso and I'aIIu- burgh sales right up to the foot of the Higlilands. Either the judges got ])uzzled, or the aged tup class was unusually level ; but at all events, the judges took more than H hours over it. Eventually, Mr. Ainslie, of Costerton, was placed first for a rather small but very perfect sheep, bred by Lord Polwarth, and Mr. Balfour, with one of his own breeding, and 51r. Rennie followed in order. There were iifty iu the Dinmont class from nineteen exhibiters, and Mr. Purves, who sells 100 tups at Kelso each year, headed the poll with an admirable sheep. IMr. John Torrance and Simsou, of Courthill, ranked next, and the former had also the reserve number. ^Ir. Purves made three entries, Mr. Sirason four, and IMr. Torrance six. In the old ewe class, Mr. Ainslie won again, and he was also third in the gimmers, where Mr. Simsou drew a-head of Mr. Purves. Lord Polwarth did not seud anything. The Sutlierland- shire breeders showed a very poor front when Mv. Brydou flung down the wager of battle to them at their own portals. In fact, the jMoodlaw tups were the only good ones shown, and after clearing everything with them, ineludiug the reserve nmnber in one class, and taking three prizes with the only three he had in the other, the remaining reserve number went to Ml'. Robert Paterson, of Bighouse, near Thurso. In the class of ewes with lambs at their foot jMr. Brydon was also first with his only entry; Sir E. E. IMoutgomery and Mr. Shortrecd, both lowlanders, were second and third ; and then came a selection from Mr. Jlitchell's Ribi- gill'sewes — so good a flock that the ewe cast sold recently at Falkirk at 31s. Gd. "Moodlaw," however, had to lower his colours in the gimmer class ; and Captain John Frazer, of Balnain, luverness-shire, w'as the proud and happy man who did the deed. The blackfaces made a very grand show, as they were certain to do. Mr. Thomas Murray, of Eastside, i\Ir. John Archibald, of Overshiels, and Mr. Malcolm, of Poltalloch, principally rimg the changes, except iu the dinmonts, where "Overshiels" missed nothing but the reserve. The Duke of Richmond only showed Leicesters ; and, in fact, they are gradually getting out of Southdowns at Gordon Castle ; but still the old blood in Mr. Bruce's hands was strong enough to divide the Southdown honours with Mr. Scott Skirving, who has often had these classes pretty nearly his own way. Neither he nor Mr. Gibson could stand against Mr. Beale Brown, who came down, as is his annual wont, with Cotswolds, and added two more firsts for tups and ewes to his prize list. Mr. Reid was second to him in the old tup class with one which he purchased from him at Stirling last year; and JMr. Jonathan Peel showed his Lonks, some of which have been sold to cross with the blackface, and got a special recommendation for them. In Shropshires, the Glainis Trustees took the two firsts and a third, and Mv. Gibson the two seconds and a third. Brae Moray, a curious old breed of sheep " with roan face and legs, hairy wool, and as wild as a roedeer, and with lambs which are always yeaned with a yeUowisli-red spot on the shoulder and the tip of the tail," were also represented, and the sheep ranks w'ere wound up by a " fom'-horued" tup from Lochmaddy. There were thirty-four entries of pigs, but j\ir. Find- lay only took one prize for sows of the large breed. Two Berkshires were first and third in the large boar class, and in both classes for boars and sows of the small breed Mr. John Laing bore up well for the Kinross district. The lunatic asylums in the north of Scotland have always been rather famed for their good pig-feeding, but that at Elgin has enlarged its sphere, and came second with the best large boar. For the pen of large pigs under eight months old it was a match between Rossie Priory and Hamilton Palace, and the former won with 5 months and 10 days to the good. The new prizes for shepherds' dogs under six brought ten entries, but nine were in the dog class, where two handsome blacks were placed first and second. Mr. Merry's only entry was made in a field of seventeen for coloured Dorkings ; but a brother M.P., Mr. Dudley Marjoribanks, and also from Bcauly, was more fortunate with his pens of game-fowl and llonens. Mr. David Ainslie followed up his Leicester firsts with one for ban- tams; and Mrs. Ferguson Blair, the henwife /;«;• excellence of Scotland, did not enter or seud a single bird. She has done enough for her fame without sending upwards of 100 miles for the sake of silver and bronze medals ; and this is not the best time for plumage. The show of implements was large, although 394 less than at Kelso, where the English makers had such a fine chance ; and the horticultural department was very rich iu seeds, samples of grasses, and plants, iucluding several new importations of pines. The Howards, and Ransomes and Sims had large stands of implements, as had Amies and Barford. Mr. Freer, of Rothley, sent a grain dibbling machine, and Mr. J. Ireland, of Manchester, an improved chmm ; and a digging machine was also there, said to be the invention of one Cicero Comstock, of Mil- waukie. Special trains were run in large numbers, but at the end of the second day, the receipts were only £437, or £543 behind Stirling, which had Glasgow and Edinburgh for its " feeders." PRIZE LI ST. CATTLE. SHORTHORNS. Judges. — Thomas Hmit, Thornington, Coldstream. Nicol Milne, of Falilonside, Meh'ose. Andrew Mitchell, Alloa. Bulls calved before 1st Januaiy, 1863. — Breeder of best BiUl, Silver Medal. Fu-st prize, £20, James Geddes, Orbliston, Fochabers. Second of £10, Anch-ew Longmore, Bettie, Banff. Third, Bronze Medal, Silve.ster Campbell, Kinellar, Black- burn, Aberdeen. Bulls calved after 1st January, 1863. — First prize, £20, Duke of Buccleuch and QueensbeiTy, K.G., Dalkeith Park, Dalkeith. Second of £10, Ai-thur James Balfour, of Whitting- ham, Prestonku'k. Thu'd, Bronze Medal, Viscoiint Strath- allan, Strathallan Castle, Auchterarder. Bulls calved after 1st January, 1864. — First prize, £10, Lord Kinneai-, K.T., Rossie Priory, Inchtui-e. Second of £5, Hem-y Gray, The Mains, Cushuie, Alford, Aberdeenshire. Thu-d, Bronze Medal, Viscount StrathaUan, Strathallan Castle, Auchterarder. Cows of any age. — Fu'St prize, £15, Viscount Strathallan. Second of £S, Silvester Campbell. Thu-d, Bronze Medal, David AinsUe, of Costerton, Blackshiels. Heifers calved after 1st January, 1863. — Fu'st prize, £10, Andrew Longmore, Rettie, Banff. Second and thu-d, £5 and Bronze Medal, Wilham Stephen, Inchbroom, Elgm. Heifers calved' after 1st Januarj^, 186i. — Fu-st prize, £8, Lord Kinnaird, K.T., Rossie Priory, Lichtm-e. Second of £Ji, The Duke of Richmond, Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Thu-d, James Geddes, Orbhston, Fochabers. HIGHLAND. Judges.— R. D. Campbell, of Jiu-a. Donald Macleod, Coulmore, Inverness. Jolm M'Laren, Monzie, Blah- Athole. Bulls calved before 1st January, 1862. Breeder of best bull Silver Medal.— First prize, £20, The Duke of Athole, Blair Castle, Blair Athole. Second of £10, Duncan Macpherson, Kingussie. Third, Bronze Medal, Robert Peter, Urlar, Aber- feldy. Bulls calved after 1st January, 1862. — First prize, £20, Allan PoUok, Ronachan, Clachan Cantire. Second of £10, Alex- ander Cameron, CamjDbell of Monzie, Kiidoch Lodge, Fort- WUUam. Thii-d, Bronze Medal, John Stewart, Duntulm, Portree. Bulls calved after 1st January, 1863.— First prize, £10, The Duke of Athole. Second of £5, Alexander Fraser, Faillie, In- verness. Third, Bronze Medal, The Duke of Athole. Cows of any age.— Fu-st prize, £15, The Duke of Athole, 210 THii FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Second of £S, The Duke of Atliole. Tliii-tl, Bronze Meilal, John Malcolm, Poltalloch, Calltou Mor, Lochgrilplicad. Heifers calved after 1st Januaiy, 1862.— First prize, £10, Allan Pollok. Second of £5, Jobn Stewart, Duutnlm, Por- tree. Third, Bronze Medal, John Malcohn. Heifers calved after 1st January, 1863.— First prize, £3, John Malcolm. Second and thu-d, £.li and Bronze Medal, Robert Peter. POLLED ANGUS, ABERDEEN, AND GALLOWAY. Judges. — Robert Hector, Montrose. George Milne, Haddo. A. C. Pagan, Innergeldie, Comi'ie. Bulls calved before 1st January, 1863. — Breeder of ItestBuU, Silver Medal. Fh-st prize, £20, William M'Combie, Tillyfour, Aberdeen. Second of £10, Robert Walker, HiUside House, Portlethen, Aberdeen. Third, Bronze Medal, Alexander Morison, of Bognie, Mountblairy House, Turriff. Bulls calved after 1st January, 1863.— Fu-st prize, £20, Wil- liam M'Combie. Second of £10, John Colhe, Ardgay, Forres. Thu-d, Bronze Medal, Thomas Lyall, Shiolhill, Ku-riemuir. Bulls calved after 1st Januai-y, 1861.— Fu-st prize, £10, John Collie, Ai-dgay, Forres. Second of £5, D. R. Lyall Grant, of Kingsford, Afford, Aberdeenshu-e. Thu-d, Bronze Medal, William James Taylor, Rothiemay House, Huntly. Cows of any age. — First prize, £15, WiUiam M'Combie. Second of £8, WilUam M'Combie. Third, Bronze Medal, Robert Walker. Heifers calved after 1st January, 1863.— First prize, £10, William M'Combie, TiUyfom-, Aberdeen. Second of £5, Wil- liam M'Combie, of Easter Skene. Third, Bronze Medal, Lord Kinnau-d, K.T., Rossie Priory, Inchtiu-e. Heifers calved after 1st January, 186i.— Fu-st prize, £3, Wilham M'Combie, Tillyfour, Aberdeen. Second of £Jt, Ro- bert AValker, Mountbletton, Banff. Tliird, Bronze Medal, John CoUie, Ardgay, Forres. AYRSHIRE. Judges. — John Bau-d, of Ury, Stonehaven. Peter Drew, Carmyle, ToUcross, Glasgow. Duncan Macfarlane, Torr, Helensburgh. Bulls calved after 1st January, 1862. — Breeder of best Bull, Silver Medal. First prize, £20, John Stewart, Bm-nside Cot- tage, Strathaven. Second of £10, Robert Wilson, Nether Johnstone, Kilbarchan. Third prize u-ithhdd. Cows in-MUk, of any age. — Fh-st prize, £10, second of £5, and thu-d, Bronze Medal, The Dowager Duchess^ of Athole, Dunkeld. Cows in-Calf, of any age. — First in-ize, £10, second of £o, and thu-d, Bronze Medal, The Dowager Duchess of Athole. Heifers calved after 1st January, 1863. — First prize, £10, John Stewart. Second of £5, William Dunn, of Dahnare, Tarbolton. Third, Bronze Medal, The Duke of Hamilton. FAT STOCK. Judges. — John Dudgeon, Almondhill, Karklistom Thomas Middleton, Davidstou, Cromarty. J. Stewart Menzies, of Chesthill, Aberfekly. Oxen of any Pm-e or Cross Breed, calved after 1st Januarj'-, 1862. — Fh-st prize, £8, Richard Heath Harris, Earnhill, Forres. Second of £1, Walter Scott, Glendronach, Huntly. Oxen of any Pm-e or Cross Breed, calved after 1st January, 1S63. — First ijrize, £6, second £3, Sh- Alexander P. Gordon Cmumhig, of Altyi-e, Bart., Forres. Thu'd, Bronze Medal, J. and AV. Martin, Aberdeen. Oxen of any Pure or Cross Breed, calved after 1st January, ISei. — Fu-st prize, £4, Su- Alexander P. Gordon Cumming, of Altyi-e, Bart. Second, of £2, David Ainshe, of Costerton, Blackshiels. Thu-d, Bronze Medal, John Ferguson, Bast Grange, PoiTes. Highland Oxen calved after 1st January, 1861. — First prize, £3, James Gordon, of Manar, Keith-Hall. Second of £4, Andrew Longmore, Rettie, Banff. Thu-d, Bronze Medal, Ai'chibald Stewart, Claigin, Dunvegan, Skye. Highland Oxen calved after 1st January, 1862. — Fh-st prize, £6, The Duke of Sutherland, K.G., D statement of its agncaliurai produce is the sister-king om of Ireland. I have now to inform you that it is the intention of Her Ma- jesty's Government to endeavour to get England and Scotland to |jrovide a coaiplete system of agricultural statistics. The difficulty hitherto standing in the way is that we have not had in England and Scotland the same complete iiiacliiuery as in Ireland. I therefore make an earnest appeal to the tenant- farmers, who are intelligent enough to know the importance of knowledge in all its'l'orms, to second the exertions of the Government to enable them satisfactorily to say what are the number of acres under each crop in the United Kin^ om, and to give all such information. Were this done, and had we a good system of agricultural statistics, we should be able more etfectually to refute the erroneous statements made by Pro- fessor Levi in his paper. Before passing from this subject, will you allow me to mention that at the end of Professor Levi's lecture I ventured to make some statements to the Sta- tistical Society of London, which were very favourably re- ceived, and they asked me to prepare a paper on the state of the Highlands for the last 100 years— to be read at the next meeting. I should lie very glad if any gentleman connected with the Highland counties would supply me with any infor- mation as to the traditions of his own neighbourhood or with facts coming under his own knowledge in regard to the people in his own district or county, as to the quantity reclaimed within a given period, and the condition ot people now as compared with their condition sixty or one hundred years ago. 216 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. EARL aEBT ON NORTHUMBERLAND FARMING. At tlie Norihumbeiiaud Agricultural Society, Earl Grey who occupied tlie chair, in proposing " The Northumberland Agricultural Society," said he saw arouud him in that place clear evidence that the society was well supported by those who were interested in the cultivation of the land of North- umberland. And he was told by those who were far better judges than himself that in the show-yard there was also abundant evidence, in the excellence of the stock and tlie number of the implements, of the progress wliich agriculture was making in the county. He was assured that the exhibi- tion of stock did tlie highest credit to the breeders of North- umberland ; and the fact that so many and such valuable im- plements were shown was, he thought, unmistakal)le proof of the progress which was making in improved fanning, because, of course, those implements were not brought tliere unless the makers expected to find a demand for tliem among the fanners. They liad, therefore, he thought, clear proof that agriculture was advancing in the county ; and he believed that to that advance the Northumberland Society had in no small degree contributed. For many years they had been an- nually bringing together the owners and occupiers of land to enable them to see each other's breed of stock, and thus a very great impulse was given to the farming of tlie country. It was to those that, at least in a great measure, they might attribute the progress which had been made. i\s to the fact of the progress, he thought that no doubt could be entertained by any wlio, like himself, were old enough to remem- ber what the state of things was twenty-five or thirty years ago. The change in that time seemed to him, in looking back, almost marvellous. They remembered that at that time attempts which had been made to improve farm- ing were few and feeble. Now, on the contrary, scientific farming was almost universal throughout the county. The sums which liad been spent on drainage in Northumberland in the last 25 years alone might, he believed, be writteu not by thousands of pounds, but by hundreds of thousands. They also saw similar improvements in farm buUdings, especially in the most important of farm buildings — he meant the cottages of the farm labourers. He could remember the time when the dismal Nortliumberland farm cottage was almost a by-word in the kingdom ; and to a great extent he thought they deserved the reproach — they had incurred it by the state of their cot- tages. But he was happy to believe that at the present moment there was no coimty in England in which more had been done in a limited time to improve the dwellings of the labouring class than in the county to which he was proud to belong. Within the same time they had also seen a wonderful change in the process of cultivation. Up to a certain number of years ago everything seemed to have got into a state of stagnation. People merely followed the beaten track of their forefathers, and there was scarcely known an attempt on the part of fanners to depart from time-honoured practices of former days. But they had latterly awoke from their trance. Extraordinary ef- forts had been made ; and they now saw in every department of farming a wonderful cliange. The implements which they now know were no longer the old-fashioned ones of their fore- fathers ; and there was no county in England where a larger proportion both of their grass crops and of their corn crops was got by machinery instead of by hand than in Northum- berland. That had all been done in a few years ; and he was informed a few days ago by a tenant of his own that tlie cost of harvesting the crops now-a-days by machinery was less by one-half. That Was all improvement. And in the same man- ner the increase of stock and the improved modes of managing it — the improved modes of cultivating,J were aU testifying to the progress which had been made. No doubt the farmers had a hard task in bringing about the great im- provements they had done ; but they had proved them- selves equal to the task, and the proof of it was that at that moment the price of land in Norfhmnberland was higher than at any former period, and it apparently tended rather to rise than to fall. The difficulties of the farmer had latterly heen very great, but perhaps in the last twelve months those difficulties had been greater than usual, because, if he was not misinformed, the past year had been one of pressure and hea\'y trial to a large proportion of the county. If he was not mis- taken, they had most of them found that the corn crop of last year was a very disappointing one, probably owing to the se- vere winds which prevailed at the critical season, and thus tlie crops had not come up to what was expected ; and while the greater part of England had an unusually bountiful harvest, in Northumberland, on the contrary, the farmers had in general less than they calculated upon. That fact had been a heavy trial to the farmers of Northumberland ; but it had been met in a great deal no doubt by the high prices they had received for their stock. That seemed to him to mark a sign of the reduction in the price of corn to which they would have to look forward in the future, because he did not think, if they looked to the future price of that commodity, they could look for any high price for corn in this country. Agriculture was extending and improving all over the world : the facilities of transporting corn were also increasing. Foreign countries were adopting railways, and even those countries which had been most be- hindhand and the exception were now adopting the railway. Thus those increased facilities were rendering the transport of corn to our shores from foreign countries more easy, and our population were enjoying the inestimable benefits of that cheap food which conduced so much to the general prosperity, and it was not likely we should return to the old prices. With re- spect to the growth of wool, the improved welfare of the population, their increasing numbers, as well as the increasing daily comforts of the people, would promote the demand for wooUeu clothes. On the whole, he thought that, with respect to farmer's stock and the growth of wool, they might look for a continued high price for some time to come. And that appeared to point out to them the direction in which their efforts should mainly be made in endeavouring to meet the difficulties which surrounded them as farmers. He was persuaded that the old-fasluoned system of trusting to a weak crop for fallow was gone for ever. As to the increasing of the corn crop, he could teU them that it must be done in combination with an increase in the production of stock, and tliough there were great difficulties to be encoun- tered— especially in certain ilistricts of the county — in increas- ing the proportion of stock, from the nature of the soil on some of the heavier lands near the coast, lie did not consider the matter a great difficulty. StiU, he was persuaded that if tliey set themselves resolutely to the task they would be able to ac- complish it. He looked to their deriving great assistance in that respect from the recent invention of the steam plough. He knew that some of those who had already tried that imple- ment had been quite astonished with its benefits, and they believed that in a few years people would see the flat and heavy lands of this country largely cultivated by the steam plough, aud they would by that means be enabled to raise a larger pro- portion of produce than was now done. He klso recom- mended a greater growth of root crops, thougli it was almost in vain to grow such crops unless they could have them often. Much, however, might be done in that respect by the use of portable rails or tramways, which in some parts of England was carried out to a great extent, and which did very niucli in preventing land from being injured in getting away the crops. He believed that they might do more than they had done by feeding cattle with tares and cut grass, and much might be done by increasing the protection of those lands which in the time of our ancestors were considered the main reliance of the country for the supply of food, but which in our days seemed to have been neglected somewhat. He thought he ought to make some apology for having, as a person who could boast of com- paratively little practical knowledge, ventured to address his remarks to persons of whom he had no doubt uine-tenths knew far more about these matters than he did. StiU he thought it sometimes happened that those who might not be themselves equal to carrying on any branch of industry practically might yet be obsei-vers of wliat was done by others, and, by watching the circumstances of the time and the prospect of the future, THE FARMER'S MAGAZiNii. 2i7 form a sound opiuion in wliat clircciiou tlic efforts of practical men slioiild be made. But he thouglit he was not wrong by directing them in tlie daily occupations on tlieir farms, and the liighest authority on agricidtural matters concurred with him in saying that their chief attention at that moment ought to be directed to increasing the number of their stock. NOETH-WEST OF IRELAND AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIETY. The annual show, in connection with the above society, ■was held at Derry on August 9tli, and proved a decided success. At no previous show of the society was a finer display of cattle made, and competent judges decided that the exhibi- tion in every department was a very choice one, nothing in the shape of inferior stock having been brought forward. The yard was thronged during the day by ladies and gentle- men, among whom were the Marquis of Abercorn, president of the society ; Lord Viscount Hamilton, M.P. for Donegal ; Lord Claud Hamilton, M.P. for Tyrone ; and Lord Claud John Hamiltou, M.P. for Derry City. The acting judges were Messrs. Seymour Mowbray, Charles L. EUison, and David Hastings ; and the following is their award : — SHORTHORNS. For the best Bull calved previous to January, 1863 : First prize, £8, George V. Hart, Esq., Kilderry, Muff ; second, £4, George Gather, Esq., Carrichue, Derry ; third, James Sinclair, Esq., Dromore, Coleraine. For the best Bull calved in 1863 : First prize, £8, Major Hamilton, Brown Hall, Ballingtra ; second, £i, Captain Perry M'Clintock, Seskanore. For the best Bull calved in 186i : First prize, £S, J. G. Grove (Wood), Esq., Castle Grove, Strabane; second, £4', J. H. Brooke, Esq., Brookhill, Derry. For the best Cow calved previous to January, 1862, in-palf, or having had a calf in 1865 : First prize, £5, and second, £3, J. G. Grove (Wood), Esq. For the best Cow calved in 1862, in-calf, or having had a calf in 1865 : First prize, £5, J. G. Grove (Wood), Esq. ; second, £3, Samuel Smyth, Esq., The Cross, Deny. For the best Heifer calved in 1863 : First prize, £5, and second, £3, J. G. Grove (ATood), Esq. For the best Heifer calved in 186-4 : First prize, £5, J. H. Brooke, Esq. ; second, £3, N. M. Archdall, Esq., Crockna- crieve, EnniskiUen. AYRSHIRE CATTLE. For the best Bull : First prize, £5, Mr. William Dounell, BallinamaUard, Strabane ; second, £3, Robert L. Moore, Esq., Molenan, Derry. For the best Cow, calved previously to January, 1863, in- calf, or having had a calf in 1S65 : First prize, £3, Robert L. Moore, Esq. ; second, £3, Mr. John M'lvor, Grange, Strabane. For the best Cow, calved in 1863, in-calf, or having had a calf in 1865 : Prize, £3, Mr. Gavin Craig, Oughtymoyle, MagUligan. For the best Heifer, calved in 1863 : First prize, £3, Mr. Gavin Craig ; second, £1, Wm. Knox, Esq., Clonleigh, Stra- bane. For the best Heifer, calved in 1864 : First prize, £3, and second, £1, Mr. WiUiam DouneU. CATTLE OF ANY DISTINCT BREED OTHER THAN SHORT- HORNED OR AYRSHIRE. For the best Bull, £5, Samuel Gillilaud, Esq., Brookhall, Derry. For the hest Cow, calved previous to Janxrary, 1863, in-calf, or having had a calf in 1865 : First prize, £3, and second, £1, Samuel GOliland, Esq. For the best Cow, calved m 1863, in-'calf, or having had a calf in 1865 : First prize, £3, and second, £1, Samuel GiUiland, Esq. For the best Heifer, calved in 1863 : First prize, £3, and second, £1, Samuel Gilliland, Esq. For the best Cow in-calf, or giving milk (extra prize) : First prize, £3, Mr . James Crawford, Rossuagallagh, Waterside ; second, £1, Mr. John M'lvor, Grange, Strabane. SHEEP. For the best pure ShearHng Ram of any breed : First prize, £5, and second, £3, H. L. Prentice, Esq., Caledon. COUNTY OF CORK AGRICULTURAL SHOW. On the 2nd of August, tlie County Cork Agricultural Society held their aimual show on the premises of the Corn Exchange- The show was not so numerously filled up in its several sec- tions as on former occasions ; but tlie general stock of short- horns and sheep were very select, if we except that for aged buUs. Li this section there were six entries. The leading animal was iVmeer, the property of i\Ir. Henry Barry, BaUy- adam, Carrigtwohill, bred by tlie late Mr. Coppinger. He was seconded by Mr. Downing's Earl Windsor, which was first in 1864. In the two-year-old bulls there were three entries. Major Wallis, Drishaue Castle, taking the first place with Felix, fi'om Mr. Jones of MuUinabro's lierd. In the section for yearling bulls there were four entries, Mr. Anderson, Grace Dieu, taking the first place, and Meade and Garde chal- lenge Cup, for Jlercury, bred by himself. He was seconded by Sir George Colthurst's Navigator, bred by Mr. Barnes, Westland. The bull calves were very excellent, and contained eleven entries, tlie first and second honours going to Jlr. Wel- sted, BaUywalter, the prize for tlie best bull bred in the count}-, and the Meade and Garde Challenge Cup for Winter King and King Oberon respectively, both got by Elfin King. In aged cows there were five entries, Mr. Jones, of Mulliua- bro, heading the lot with his Lady Spencer, which was the prize cow at the last spring meeting of the Royal Dublin Society. In two-year-old heifers tliere were but two entries, Mr. W. H. Massy standing first with Wood Belle, bred by the late Capt. Ball. The second was Molly, belonging to and bred by Timothy HaUanau, Currane. In tlie section for yearling heifers there were five entries, Mr. Welsted taking the lead with Rosette, the prize for the heifer bred in the coimty, and the Meade and Garde Challenge Cup ; got by Elfin King out of Rosa by Crusade. She was seconded by Jlr. Jones's heifer Lunette, by Master Harbing«r out of Luna, by First Fruits. In horses the numbers were much less than usual ; tlie £50 Challenge Cup for the best thorough-hred sire for getting weight-carrj-ing hunters was awarded to Mr. F. H. Power, Rosken, MaUow, for Jlouiit Zion. In agricultural horses there was nothing deserving of particular notice. In the show of Leicester sheep Mr. W. R. Meade took first for a shearling ram, bred by himself ; the Representatives of J. H. Smith Barry stood second for a Plymouth commended shearling ; JMr. Meade taking both prizes for the first and second best county bred. In the section for aged rams the Representatives of the late Mouutifort Longfield took the lead, and the Garde challenge cup, and the first prize for the best ram of any other age bred in the count}- ; Mr. Meade standing second, and taking also the second prize for the best aged ram bred in the county. In the section for tlie best pen of five shearUng ewes Mr. David Hewetson stood first, and the Representatives of Mounti- ford Longfield second, and also the prize for the best five shearling ewes bred in the county. lu shearling Shropshire Down Rams the Representatives of J. II. Smith Barry took both first and second prizes. The judges were — In sjiorthorns, L. Christy, A. Warburton, and J. M. Royse, Esqrs. ; and in sheep, Seymour Mowbray, A. Warburton, and J. M. Royse, Esqrs. THE IMPLEMENT STANDS AT PLYMOUTH.— Our report rather strangely omitted to make mention of several firms famous for agricultural carts and other vehicles. ]Beyond the great Beverley Company, Hayes of Stamford got up a good stand of waggons and single-horse carts, with which, as the return will show, he took a number of prizes. There were also some exceedingly well-made and nicely-fitted carts, and a waggon that tips its load sidev.ays, on the stand of Messrs. Thomas Milford and Son, of Thorvertou, Devon. George Milford, of the same place ; F. P. MiKord, of Kenn, near Exeter ; Fry, of Bristol ; and Ball and Son, of Roth- well, also exhibited very well-designed, \vell-l)uilt, sound, good harvest carts, marked at very moderate figures. Among the novelties were the feeding-troughs of A. E. Peirce, of Hammer- smith, made of wrought-iron and japanned — probably the best tilings out for durability and cleanliness, and sold at a low price. 218 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. OUR FEIENDS— THE BIEDS. BY A PRACTICAL FARMER. I was amused by W. W. G.'s liumorous notice of Mr. Punch's lines on " The Season for Sparrow Clubs." * * * Nevertheless, we must be upon our guard lest we encourage a dangerous increase of these friendly but highly mischievous gentry — the common sparrow. I must confess I am often in doubt whether the usefulness of the sparrow or his mischievous propensities predominate. To look at him just now, I should say he was the most impudent, auda- cious, destructive little rascal known. There he is, looking at me through my open window, as careless and indepen- dent as if the whole world were his own, and not caring to quit his perch although he sees me move close upon him. Then look at my spouts how they are pestered by nests ; and my climbing roses, my honeysuckles, and ornamental wires and their trailers, how they are encum- bered and marred by the like; and, take them down as often as I may, there they are again — a little hard-working persevering saucy rascal, and he is everywhere present. If I go to my poultry-yard, there he and a fine cluster of his fellows are ready to meet me ; and In my very presence there they are, picking up the scattered food from the out- skirts ; and the moment my back is turned, down they come, regardless of cockerel or clucking hens, ard fighting their way for the choicest scraps. In my fruit garden there whole Hocks of them are, amongst my currants and raspberries ; nor do they disdain to take a pick at most other sorts, my walled plums and pears being very tempt- ing. As to my vegetable garden, why he is a real nuisance, a downright thief : my radish-seed beds, lettuce- seed, onions, carrots, and every other little seed, he will have, unless covered so that it is more trouble than profit to him to get them, and so he is off elsewhere. But this is all as nothing when I follow him to my corn-fields : just look at the headland of the two-and-twenty acres, all the length where the hedge is left to grow for draining wood, why he and his clan have eaten or " ehampelled" out the whole. You little rascals off^, with you ! " Boy, why don't you keep them off?" " Can't, sir; they fly to the other end and on again." " Do you shout?" " Yes, sir ; but they don't care, they just fly up." " Are they making like mischief in the forty acres ?" "Yes, sir; I can't frighten them away." " Well, we must poison them ; we can't suffer all this damage." " And, sir, they have began of the mangold wm'zel seed, and some of them are helping the birds on the tiu'uip-seed, but not many ; it's the linnets ; but they are on the tares, and the cole-seed, and some are on the liglit headland of oats, and some where the barley is down ; but the wheat is the worst ; there are thousands on the wheats, I can't keep half of them off, and I am shouting at them at 4 o'clock in the morning and all day, sir." " Well, my boy, you give a sad account of them. We must get rid of them in some way, that's certain ; Me can't go on so." Well, I leave the boy, and walk on to the thirteen acres adjoining the sadly-injured headland. What a beautiful crop of mangolds. Why there is not a bare place to be seen. How is this ? Last year all my crops were eaten by grub or wireworm, and now how thriving they look ! I pass on to the thirty-one acres. What a capital plant of swedes ! full everywhere. Last year the grab and wireworm took nearly the whole. This year I have the best plant I have had for many years, and last year it was the worst. I wonder whether the birds have had anything to do with it ! I told the boy we would be rid of the sparrows ; but really " I must think twice." I don't think they are any great catch at caterpillars, or they would have cleared my currant bushes long ago ; but they are right good hands at little grubs — i, e., wireworms, tom-tailor grubs, and the like ; but, best of all, see them on a fine summer day chasing and chasing and chasing butterflies, tom-tailors, beetles, cock-chafers, moths, flies, and inmmierable insects in every variety. And then, again, notice them picking up ants, worms, and every little creeping thing, and again see them amongst the aphides, bugs, spiders, fleas, ticks, gnats, beetles, earwigs, and the thousands of flying insects to be found everywhere. I see these busy little birds care less for the larvtc of these insects than the insects them- selves ; hence their indomitable perseverance and activity. Well, after all, what am I to do ? Last year my crops were destroyed by grub, wireworm, and aphides ; for I lost 22 acres of beans by aphis. This year all is at pre- sent safe. It is true we have a countless number of birds. W' e have had a flue winter, we have had abundance of food for them, and I know they worked hard both in the field and at every hedge-bottom and tree-root ; and we have less grub, less wireworm, less aphides, &c. Now if the winter was favourable for the bird, it would also be better for the grub, or the preservation of the chrysalis, so that we might expect a renewal of attack upon our crops ; but this is not the case. How far, then, are we indebted to the friendly aid of the feathered tribe, not forgetting my old friend Mr. Cock Sparrow? la all soberness I must say we must acknowledge our indebted- ness. It is mainly to their unceasing inroads upon the retreats of grubs, wireworms, and chrysalides, that om* crops are in such an enviable position— that our winter food prospects are so good. I can speak most satisfac- torily of a flock of rooks who spent nearly the whole win- ter upon two fields of mine — one of 24 acres, from which a fine plant of turnips and mangolds were completely eaten off, and the other 22 acres of mangolds and swedes, which were greatly injured. Upon these two fields they were permitted to work as they liked : they bm-rowed into the light soil to considerable depths, and I believe appro- priated to themselves nearly all the grubs and most of the wireworms. The grubs were those of the dart-moth, large and full. On the 24 acres there is now growing a splendid crop of potatoes, and on the 22 acres a good crop of oats : for both I am, in a great measure, indebted to the rooks. These rooks in their way are great thieves notwithstanding : they make sad havoc with the newly- sown grain, young potatoes, ripening grain, &c. ; but they in return deliver us from some dire pests. I wish they would use more judgment, but they won't : they pull up the wheat-plant to get at the grub ; they tear up the grass to get at the tom-tailor grub ; they pull-up the fine turnip- plant to get the wireworm, and so forth, and I put them down as greater friends than enemies to us. The linnet, again, is a great and indefatigable rogue upon our turnip and coleseed crops : he will not quit his depredations upon them, shoot or alarm him as you will ; but then he is equally industrious in searching for larvte, and even caterpillars, or skimming after every kind of flying insect, from the great dragon-fly to the tiniest beetle. The lark, again, does much harm to the early- sown grain on light soils, but he is ever busy after beetle THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 219 and bng-aphis, and caterpillar too, besides bis daily ex- ploits iu captimng tliese said insect progenitors in their airy flights. The bulllinch is the worst of the feathered rogues for the buds of our gooseberry, cherry, plum, and other similar fruit-bearing trees, as also our flowering shrubs : he is so notorious as to be named " piclc-a-bud" in some districts, but he delights in the insect tribe. The hedge-sparrow, almost harmless, though now and then guilty of trespass, is for the most part supported by insect food. The willow-wren is more addicted to ]n-cy upon the tempting young buds of spring, but otherwise its food is all from insect life. The robin is, next to the sparrow, the boldest of our little feathered tribe : its chief food is grubs, worms, caterpillars, and the flying insects. The chaflinch is a great destroyer of our spring flowers, our young turnips, and radishes ; but as soon as other food of insect or grub life appears, they are happy in searching after it. The tom-tit is another enemy to our early buds, but he amply compensates for these little thefts by the persevering way in which he draws out the chrysalides from nail-holes and crevices, the secreted spider, and the many hidden inanimate forms of insect life. The titmouse — " long-tailed tom-tit" ; its food is entirely of the insect tribe, iu which pursuit he is most indefatigable, as it is amongst the smallest of the tribe he luxuriates. The blackbird and the thrush have a most unmistakable taste for our cherries and plums ; but how often are they seen in full pursuit of the finer specimens of butterfly and moth ! and woe to the worm on the lawn should a black- bird come in sight, and snails are not safe before them. The magpie, although so roguish, and so desirous to feed upon a young duckling or stray chicken, is the very best fellow we have for searching out grubs and slugs in our pastm-e-fields ; they even turn over the dried dung of animals, and spread it over the surface, to the benefit of many a slovenly grazier. The jay, when its progeny re- quires food, will rob our gardens indiscriminately ; but for the remainder of the year they confine their attacks to woodlands and thickets, to seeds, worms, and grubs, acorns and crabs, &c. The wryneck, the nightingale, the swallow, the martin, the redstart, the fieldfare, the starling, the lapwing are, more or less, birds of passage, or locating occasionally in one district and then another. Their food is almost entirely the produce of our woods, copses, and hedge-rows for the one part, and of the fly, insect, and grub tribe on the other, and immense quantities of all these tribes do they consume. Verily we are greatly in- debted to the feathered tribes for much of our prosperity, as farmers, although we occasionally sufi^er damage. My private opinion is this : 1 think God so orders and ordains all things for the good of His creatures that we may safely and securely leave all to His guidance. His stormy winds or winter's blasts would soon relieve us from any excess of danger from His minor creatures. AU, I doubt not, is wisely ordained, and it is only for us to make use of those salutary and customary devices for our daily prutection as we usually adopt. I cannot think it altogether or per- fectly justfiable to destroy any of God's creatures for the mere sake of getting rid of them. There must be some juslifiable cause, or it should not be done. Hence I am an advocate for frightening away from our crops these feathered rogues, rather than destroying them ; and I think I have shown that the balance between the injury they do and the good they achieve is much, if not altogether, in their favour. It will at aU times be found that the cause of their congregating in great numbers upon one particular place or crop is that this particular crop is in advance of all others ; but as soon as these come up to the same advancement, then they disperse. They must be kept aloof dmnng this interregnum. VALUATION BY ARBITRATION. to THE FARMERS OE CORNW.VLL GE^'ERALLy, AND INCIDENTALLY TO ALL OTHERS. Gentlemen, — The time is near at hand, viz., Michaelmas, when many changes of occupation annually take place, and it is a common practice to take crops, and sometimes stock and implements, by valuation. For many years past I have con- sidered the usual system adopted in arbitration to be very absurd. I believe I may say that there are three separate systems in practice. Eirst, the buyer and seller each chooses a valuer, and these two select a third, whose decision, in all cases of dispute, is to be absolute. If the two first chosen cannot agree on any particular valuation, the third man is called iu Ijy them. He is told the opinion of each. He then says what lie thinks ought to be done, and his decision is fiual, if he is farther from the truth than either of the others ; but the common practice of this //lird man is to cut the difference in two. The second system is, the three arbitrators are chosen as before. If the tirst two cannot agree, the third man is called in — told what the two have in dispute ; he is then to give liis decision, but that must not be above the highest nor under the lowest ; and the probability is that be, too, as in the former case, will cut the dijfcrence in tuiOy or very nearly so ; hence the system of cutting in two is so well known, that the two first arbitrators find it desirable to drive a bargain rather than say really what they mean. The third system is, the three men are chosen as before, and if the first two cannot agree, they call in the third. He is not told wliat the two think, but passes his own judgment, which is final, though it may he much higher or lower than either of the others, so that in any case of dispute the opinion of one man only out of the three is taken to decide the ease. Now, gentlemen, the inconsistency of such systems of valua- tion must, I tliink, be apparent to anyone who reflects at aU. on the subject. The first t\vo are fraught with the greatest temptation to dishonesty ; while the last takes all the power out of the bauds of the two first, and gives it all to one, which cannot be what was originally intended by choosing three men. I will just give a practical illustration or two which has come under my own notice. First, two arbitrators are called in to value stock, implements, and furniture. They agree till they come to the last piece of furniture, on which there is a difference of opinion of los. as to the value of the article. Neither wiU give way. They send a distance of four miles for the third man : be comes — asks what there is between them — is told 15s. ; Ids reply is, " Cut it in two," for which act they have to pay him the usual guinea fee. A second case occurred last year. The first two umpires go into a field of barley. The seller's umpire says there are 75 bushels per acre ; the buyer's umpire says there are not more than 43. Each is firm at what he says. The third man is called in, and he says GO, whiclr is probably near the truth, but, as usual, is nearly cutting it in two. Such cases as these are common in valuation by arbitration. The case, however, is much worse when one umpire is reasonable, but the other unreasonable. Say John Jiles is a mean, inconsistent man, and values for the seller. Henry Stiles is a reasonable, honest man, and is the valuer for the buyer. John Jiles invariably sets down six or nine bushels of corn per acre more than he really thinks are in the field ; or, if he be for the seller, sets that less than he believes the crop to be. Henry Stiles cannot be so dishonest, but says nearly what be believes and knows to be correct. They cannot agree. The third man is called in, and he, as usual, cuts the difference in two, or nearly so, biased, to some extent, as he cannot help bemg, by the two opinions he has heard. In such cases much loss is sustained by the person whose valuer is a f;ur honest man. In the third system, where 220 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the tliirJ man is uot told wliat the two thiuk, a case occurred thus : Two vahiers cannot agree on the value of a hay stack. The third man is called in, is not told what the two think, sets his value, which is higher than either of the others, and is perhaps the most out of the way of the three, yet his opiniou is final. Now, gentlemen, the course I recommend is plain, pointed, and practicable, viz., choose your men, and they the third man, as before. AVhen the first two cannot agree, call in tlie third man ; say nothing to liim as to the dispute ; let him put liis own j ndgmeut ; add that to the one nearest him in value, and halve those two for the true value. This would make such valuations as dishonest John Jiles's useless, or else make liim approach as near the truth as he could, and hence he the means of making aU dishonest valuers approach to honesty and truth, and make useless the present system of dishonest " banter" and give the opinion of two men out of the three for the decision. If any person can offer a l)ettcr system, or im- prove upon this, I shall he glad to see their opinions upon it ; but if they cannot, I hope they will do all they can to get this improved system of mine adopted. I am, gentlemen, yours, &c., Talsliddy, St. Colnmb, Tiios. Allaa'SON. July 26, 1865, IMPROYEMENT OP TIDAL EIVEES. Much of what was said in a previous article on the reclaim- ing of land from the ocean by embanking, applies to the deepening, embanking, and reclaiming of land from tidal rivers, with a view to improve their drainage, navigation, and fisheries, as well as the adjacent lands on both banks for agri- cultural purposes. Our remarks at this time will therefore be chiefly directed to the proper form and inclination of the channel of the river, so that the general question under con- sideration is one in practical geometry, scientifically speaking, as applied to river improvements. " Given the diiference of altitude hetween high and low water at the mouth of a river, the length of the tidal channel, and the volume of river water, required the dimensions of the channel and embankments," is a proposition that has sadly puzzled many a promising agricidtural student long before now, and in all likeUliood it will afford to young tyros the ele- ments of botheration for a long time to come. The ancient historian Herodotus never fell into a greater mistake than when he gave a blind credence to the priests of Egypt, who informed him that geometry was first invented by them ; for the changing of the course of the river Nile, and the other river improvements thereby etfeeted by Menes, long before their order of priesthood existed, proves not only a practical acquaintance with applied geometry, but also witli tlie experi- mental solution of our proposition itself ; whUe Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel, and the irrigation of the plains of Nineveh and Babylon on the Tigris and Euphrates, from whence Menes and his followers came to Egypt, further proves that the antediluvian patriarchs must have taught their off- spring the science of geometry as applied to agriculture and the other arts. Both before and after the Noahitic deluge, tlie whole human ra'ith derricks and buildings suitable for the operations. The produce of these, however, though remunerating, was as nothing compared with one sunk in 1861 by A. B. Funk, which at the depth of 470 feet struck a reservoir, from which floN^'ed spontaneously a stream or foun- tain of petroleum ; others now .adopted the plan, and one well on the Buchanan farm yielded, without pumping, one thousand barrels per day. Then comes the Empire well, pouring out 3,000 brls. per day ; next the Sherman well, in April, 1862 ; and the next year the " Noble and Delemaire" well, which, after having been bored 167 feet, was abandoned. But soon after the proprietor, Mr. Noble, recommenced the work, and bored to the depth of 471 feet, when to his astonishment, the petroleum began to flow copiously, and yielded a rich return for the labour bestowed upon it. This discovery of " flowing wells" produced such an abund- ance of the material that pumping w'as abandoned as unprofit- able. The reader will be able to form some idea «f the quan- tity of petroleimi obtained, from the fact that the firm of Brewer, Watson, and Co. expended 750,000 dollars for barrels alone before they had realized any profit. They were, in fact, the pioneers in the movement, and, in the end, reaped an abundant harvest from their efl'orts. At their establishment at New York they made great exertions to introduce the article to general consumption. This required much time and labour, and before it was accomplished the price of the article fell so low as from 10 to 50 cents per brl., (or from 5d. to 2s. Id.), and a large quantity was allowed to run into the creek, the owners not being willing to expend money for barrels to receive it. Tlie first person who attempted to refine the crude oil was Samuel M. Kier, of Pittsburg. This was an important disco- very, and was immediately adopted by W. H. Abbott, of Titus- ville, who erected the first large refineiy at that city. There being at that time no railroads to the works, the iron required was conveyed in waggons through roads axle-deep in mud ; and so dish'eartened were the parties concerned that they would have abandoned the enterprise, but for the energy of Abbott, who persevered till the building was completed. An unfortunate accident occurred soon after the discovery of the flowing wells. From some unknown cause, the oil at the " Brown Well" took fire, "and," as described by an ej'e- witness, " columns of black smoke rolled upwards into the air, the blazing oil leaped heavenward, and, falling over on all sides from the fiery jet, formed a magnificent fountain of liquid fire. The sight was awfully grand ; but sad to relate, nineteen persons were burned to death. Among them was ilr. Rouse, one of the proprietors of the well. He lived for several days after being injured ; and in framing his will, after making certain beciuests, left to the county of Warren a handsome sum, to be applied, one-half for road purposes, and one-half to the poor of the couutv. This bequest is now valued at 150,000 dollars, or £30,000 sterling. Tlie low price of petroleum, consequent on the enormous 228 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. supply suddenly olitained before a regular or adequate demand existed, produced tlie natural effect of causing a suspension of the works, and in most cases the abandonment of the wells altogether. The " oil bubble," as it was termed, was said to be exploded, to the great delight of those prophets whose prctUctions on such occasions are " always of evil and never of good," and wlio always rejoice in their fulfilment, whatever suffering it entails. It was, however, but for a short time ; for very soon a demand sprung up for petrolemn for lighting purposes, and it came into universal use, as unequalled for cheapness and purity of flame. Again thousands of speculators poured into the " oil region," in which refineries sprung upas if by magic, and all was activity and excitement. Railroads were laid down, fresli lands were leased at higli rates. Tow-boats laden \'sdth barrels, full or emptj', were constantly plying to and fro. Farming was abandoned, villages suddenly grew into populous towns, and the whole face of the country became one scene of bustle and activity. The following description of tlie oil-region at the opening of the present year will, we trust, be interesting to the reader. TitusvUle is situated at the head of Oil Creek, and in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Previous to the discovery of the oil fountains, the only trade of the place was in timber, which was then sold at from five to ten dollars per tliousand feet for the best qualities. It is now worth from twenty -five to fifty dollars, and the demand is greater than the supply. The number of houses is more than one thousand. The im- ports of merchandise by rail in 1863 was 70,000 tons ; and the exports of oil 750,000 barrels. It is estimated that in this year (1865) the entire exports from Titusville wiU amount to 18,000,000 doUars, or £3,600,000 sterling. The wooden buildings are giving place to stone and brick, and building-lots are seUing at from 1,200 to 1,800 dollars per lot. The bottom lands below Titusville consist of a rich tract, on which flowing wells are situated ; and the oil from thera is said to be of a superior quality. It is supposed that by sinking to the depth of 1,200 feet a larger flow of oil than any yet dis- covered will be reached ; but this is at present only conjecture. Wells are now sunk along the entire line of Oil Creek, north of Titusville. A railroad has been constructed as a branch from the Great Western and Atlantic Railroad. It passes through Titusville to the Schaeffer Farm, which is mid-way between Titusville and the Oil City, or about seven miles from each. The railroad is about to be continued to this latter place, which is situated at the base of a mountain, and at the mouth of Oil Creek. It consists of only one street, and being confined within a narrow space can never become a large town. There are five or six hotels in the place, whicli are usually filled with strangers, looking out for lots ou which to build houses or sink wells. Besides Oil City, several other towns have sprung up in the oil region, as Funkville, Petro- leum Centre, and M'Clintockville. This latter is situated on the M'Cliutock Farin, the mills on which belong to the M' Clintock Petroleum Company of Philadelphia. About seven miles below Oil City, and at the confluence of French Creek with the AUeghany River, is the town of Franklin. It is situ- ated in Venango County, and is the terminus of the "Atlantic and Western Railroad. It is a place of considerable trade, and thousands of barrels of petroleum are shipped or sent per rail from thence. French Creek is a large stream here ; it rises in the southern part of New York, and running nearly parallel with Oil Creek, empties itself into the Alleghany River. Its banks are studded with derricks, indicating the ex- istence of wells along its course. Oil is found in large quantities on both banks of the Alleg- hany river for twenty miles above Oil City. The most cele- brated are the Economite wells ; but others are now being worked equal in yield, and the land is fast letting or selling at very high prices. IMostof the wells are flo\vinff over, and re- quire no pumping. The town of Tideoute, in Warren County, receives part of the produce of these wells, and ships it by the Alleghany River, on the west bank of which it stands. An- other portion is taken in tow-boats to Irvine, fourteen miles above Tideoute. These boats are dravra by horses, and carry from 150 to 200 barrels of oil each. The horses often cross and re-cross, and sometimes draw up tlie centre of the river against the stream. Chery-run is another river on which oil IS found in large quantities. The great Reed Well on this stream \nelds 280 barrels of oil daity : and the land on the banks of this and some neighbouring rivers has been pur- chased at very high prices. Hundreds of wells are being sunk or bored ou the sides of these streams. In short, the entire counties of Venango, Warren, and Crawford, are now being prospected for oil ; and one cannot traverse the country in any direction without meeting with parties seeking new oil-lands. Refineries for purifying the petroleum are rising up every- where, and great improvements have been made in the mode of distiUiug the oil. The largest establishment for the purpose is at Corry, in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. It^is a brick building, and cost, with the machinery, 150,000 dollars, and employs upwards of 200 workmen daily, requiring 300 barrels of crude oil daily to supply it. Virginia has its oil region, comprising the counties ot Pleasants, Richie, Wood, and Wirt. Ohio also has numerous territories in which oil is found. On the Cow-neck Creek in Virginia the Jackson and Pedo AVell was sunk to the depth of 587 feet, when a reservoir of oil was struck, from which flowed at first 1,000 barrels of oil daily, of a fine iUumiuating quality. Another on the Horse-neck Creek yielded an equal quantity for a short time, but fell off. The Gilfillen Well, on the same stream, 250 feet deep, gave 500 barrels daily, another 700, and many others on the Canawha yielded from 25 to 1,000 barrels. The Ohio oil-region has not hitherto been much explored, but it is beginning to attract attention. The New York and Ohio Petroleum Company has recently purchased about 5,000 acres, and have liegun sinking wells upon it. So important and established have these companies become, that an agency for those in Pennsylvania named the Connate, the Cybele, the Ceres, the Themis, the Astrea, and the Nemesis combined, has been appointed in France (Paris), the announcement of which sets forth that 26 millions of francs of capital is to be invested in tbem, and 12,000 acres of land have been pur- chased on their united account in the oil region. The depth to which these wells have at present been sunk or bored is from 100 to 1,100 feet ; but there is reason to think that, at a much greater depth, there is a reservoir of petroleiim, .compared with which the quantities hitherto ob- tained are but driblets. How far this opinion may be borne out, remains to be seen. Certain it is that the deeper the engineers have gone, the greater has been the flow of the petroleum. In fact, it has only been by deep boring that a " flowing well" has been obtained, by striking a considerable reservoir or " vein" of oil. In most cases, however, the pres- sure of gas is not great enough to force up the oil, without the aid of a pump. Even those which flow vigorously for some weeks have in many cases declined in power of flowing, rendering the use of the pump necessary. The mode of sinking a petroleum well is thus described by an American writer in Harper's Magazine : " After the spot has been decided upon, which is in most cases in the lower bottom-lands, a stake is driven into the ground at the spot where the bore is to be commenced. A derrick is built, from twelve to sixteen feet square at the base, and about forty feet in height, running to a point at the top. The engine-house is erected, and the necessary machinery made ready within. Sections of iron pipe, six inches in diameter, are then driven into the ground by means of a pile-driver, until the first layer of rock is reached, which, in most cases, is found at the depth of thirty-five or forty ieet below the surface of the ground. Great care is taken that this iron pipe is driven plumb. After the rock is reached, and the eartli in the pipe removed, a l)lock-and-tackle is rigged at the top of the derrick, and the driUing-tools, weighing in some cases 900 lbs., are hoisted up and dropped into the driving-pipe down to the rock. A temper-screw is then attached to the top of the drill by means of a rope, and made fast to the end of a walking- beam. This is a heavy horizontal piece of timber, supported in the centre by a Sarason-post. The other end of the walking-beam is connected with the driving-puUey by means of a crank. The engine drives the pulley, tlie end of the walking-beam rises and falls ; and thus the drill is raised or lowered at will. At intervals, during the process of drilling, a tool, called a ' reamer,' is inserted in the well, and the bore is increased to the proper size. A ' sand-pump' is a metal case from five to ten feet in length, constructed with a valve at the bottom. This sand-pump is lowered into the well at intervals, and when it reaclies the bottom the valve opens and admits the borings, and when the pump is raised the valve closes, and the contents are brought to the surface, After the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 229 bore is tlius cleansed, the drill is once more inserted and tlie drilling is continued." A journal is kept, showing the diiTe- rent kinds of rock and earth passed through, and tlie exact points where watercourses, gas, or shows of oil are found. If a large vein of oil is struck, the well is immediately tubed with a 'Z or ih inch iron pipe, put together in sections. The trucks or tubs that receive the oil are mostly of wooden staves, and are placed at some distance from the well, but are con- nected witli the pump l)y an iron tube attached to the spout, conveying tlie oil to the tank. The expense of sinking a well ranges from ~ to 3j dollars per foot. A well complete, in- cluding all necessaries, is estimated to cost between five and six thousand dollars." The largest flow of oil has been obtained by sinking below the third sandstone, which, however, is found at various depths, and, in some instances, has not been reached at aU. It is supposed that the "great basins" lie at the depth of from 1,500 to 3,000 feet, at which a perennial supply, it is supposed, would continue to flow. It is the opinion of geologists that the formation of petroleum is constantly going on in the la- boratories of nature, and that immense quantities of carbu- retted hydrogen gas, which accompanies the oil, are evolved in its formation ; and that were it not constantly forming, the escape of that which exists would soon exhaust the supply, by which the pressure no longer operates to produce the tlowing wells. Every theory, however, relating to the interior of the earth l/ehiv the deptli already reached is mere conjecture, founded, it is true, on analogy and observation, but liable to be upset by actual experience. One thing appears to be esta- blished to a certainty — that the basis of petroleum is coal ; and, probably, coal of a certain description differing from that which is found in England generally, because no petroleum is procured in any of our northern coalpits, although sunk to a much greater depth than any ot the oil mills in America. It is, we think, probably the product of a species of coal richer in oleaginous or other inflammable matters than common coa more tender, and more easily acted iqjon by the natural heat of the earth, by wiiich it becomes semi-liquiiied. This suppo- sition is founded upon the fact tliat in ZVcw Brunswick, pre- vious to the discoveries of petroleum in Pennsylvania, a com- pany was formed for the purpose of distilliag oil from cmme coal, which is found in that province in great abundance This species of coal answers the description we suppose to be applicable to that from which the petroleum of Pennsylvania and otlier of the United States is produced. The " New Brunswick Oil-works Company," as the establishment is called, was conducted with great success, until the discoveries in the P'nited States ; after which, as the New Brunswick oil was obtained by distillation direct from the coal, it could not for the moment witlistand the competition. Latterly, however, the works have been resumed witli great credit and success. We happen to kuow this from the circumstance that a relative of our ov™, who held a number of shares, which he had laid aside amongst his bad debts, has recently and most unexpect- edly received a handsome dividend iipon them. We have referred to this case as pointing to cannel coal, which is the most inflammable species of that mineral we are acquairted with, as at least possessing a large share of those properties requisite for the production of petroleum. The Old NoEroLK Farmer, THE ESSEX STEAM PLOUGH; OR, OSBOEN'S SYSTEM OP BIGGER HAULAGE. Justice has been but somevrliat tardily meted out to our. West India planters M'Hae and Osborn, for what they have done in advancing the cause of steam culture. This we be- lieve mainly arises from the fact that the propositions of both patentees were dillerently reduced to practice from what they are described and illustrated in their specifications and draw- ings. On entering tlie experimental grounds, the former (M'Hae-) found that his project was subject to many cardinal alterations before it came up to the demands of practice, and as soon as these improvements were made, and tlieir efficacy tested in the field, his engine and implement were immediately shipped from Glasgow to British Guiana. The other's (Os- born's) engines, &c., were shipped from London under some- what similar circumstances ; so that the British farmerst Scotch and Eughsh, hardly had time to ruminate on wha, some few of their numbers only had imperfectly seen ; conse- quently neither could arrive at a practical conclusion. Indeed, so slight and imperfect were the impressions left upon the public mind in both cases, as to the mechanical details of the two implements, and methods of hauling, that almost every vestige of them was obliterated before the Chelmsford,Mecting of 1856, when steam ploughing was for the second time intro- duced into Essex. At this latter period (1856) it was acknow- ledged one of the greatest modern improvements, in the esti- mation not only of the competitors for the prize offered by the Royal Agricultural Society of England, but also of the gene- rality of spectators ; but so completely was the former efi'aced, that hardly a single individual was present who could give any mechanical account of the first steam plough, all that remained being a faint recollection that something of the kind had been madp ; but its inventor, construction, and merits were ques- tions upon which not a shadow existed in 1856 capable of leading to their practical solution. Fortunately the Glasgow and London newspapers recorded at the time the trial, experi- . ments made, and also the manufacturers of the engines, &c., and to these sources we can yet apply for information. The report referred to above, relative to Osborn's steam plough, will be found in the Muiinf/ Journal of October 14, 181-8, page 486, from which it is quoted in the January num- ber of the Farmer's Mar/axbie for 1849, pp. 47 and 48. Both reports are illustrated, sliowing the rigger method of haulage. Tliere were two engines in the system. These \vere manufac- tured by Mr. Wm. Curwood, engineer, AVhitechapel ; and the experimental trials were made ou the farm of Mr. Tyler, near Stratford, Essex. Osborn's method of haulage is on the rigger principle, as previously carried out by the other West India example (M'Rae's), and subsequently by the late Mr. Fowler, but dif- fering in the details of mechanism from either ; and also from the prior examples of Pratt, 1810 ; Chapman and Chapman, 1812; Saxton, 183r2 ; Pinkus, 1839; Claussen, 1846; and those of a subsequent date, viz., Beadon and Smith, 1847 ; Sir J. S. LiUie,1847 ; jVxnonx, 1853 ; and Fisken and Fisken,1855. Osborn's tackle consisted of two vertical-grooved riggers working in framing fixed by straps to the side of the boiler plate, the one over the other, so that in going round these the wire rope formed tlie figure 8. From the bottom of the lower rigger the two portions of the rope were taken off tangentiaUy by means of two smaU hori:',outal pulleys or friction \-iheels, and from which they passsed to tlie opposite engine, or to an anchored snatch-block at the opposite heatUand, where only one engine was used, and at any desired angle required, the two ends of the wire rope being attached to the implement be- tween, or the four ends of the two ropes to two implements between, where two engines and two implements were used. Motion was communicated to the lower rigger by means of gearing from the end of the crank shaft, wliich latter was situated below tlie boiler. There were two engines of 10-liorse power each, with vertiea cylinders housed in the smoke box, motion being communi- cated to the crank shafts below the boilers, on the old plan of beams and side rods. They were rendered self-locomotive by means of " stubb-wheels and chains connecting thi m with the crank-shaft." The trial experiments on Mr. Tyler's farm were made both with two engines, the one opposite the other, and also with one engine, the rope passing round an anchored snatch-block at the headland opposite. The distance between the^canals in s, 2 230 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Britisli Guiana, where the eugiues were intended to work, being only from 2-tO feet to 360 feet, tliey in the first trial were only phxced 1:20 yards asunder; but in subsequent trials tliis distance between them was increased to ~10 yards, and also between the single engine and anchored pulley. The im- plements used were one of Lowcock's two-way ploughs, a Kentish turn-wrest, and an Essex two-wheeled plough. The first trial witli a Lowcock plougli is reported a failure, owing to tlie draught not being adapted for steam power ; but the second and suljsequent trials are acknowledged successful. At this time, Oshorn's own implements, those covered by his patent, do not appear to have been made : at least no notice is taken of them in the report. In point of fact, the two long implements specified as designed for crossing the open ditches in the low-lying plantation grounds of British Guiana were not suited for the land in Essex — a very good reason for not bringing them to the trial ground ; and the other implement specified by Osborn apjiears as if it were the one at that time in use by Alexander M'Rae, Esq., on his plantation, and noticed by Leonard Wray, Esq., in his " Sugar Planter's Guide," published by Smitli and Elder, Cornhill'^ in 1848, or before Oshorn's experiments were made as above. Such is a general outline of the first experiment of steam ploughing in Essex, and although highly successful and satis- factory in one sense, it nevertheless neither does justice to the subject nor Oshorn's system of steam culture. In point of mechanism, as a question of science in the march of improve- ment, there is something so mysterious about the latter, Os- horn's system of steam culture, that it requires clearing up, for the reporter to the Miniufj Journal states, doubtless on the authority of the patentee then in London, and no doubt pre- sent at the trial, tliat " the mode for taking up the wire rope constitutes the patent," i. c, the rigger system of haidage ; whereas in the specification and claims" of the patentee, not a word is said about rigger haulage ; on the contrary, two ver- tical winding drums are specified in the letterpress, and de- lineated in the drawings. Thus, quoting from the Patent Ofiice " Abridgments of Specifications," " each engine carries two drums on the side nearest to the other engine, and to these druins are attaened chains or ropes, by which t«o four-wheeled carriages, fitted with ploughs or other implements, are simul- taneously drawn across the field in opposite directions, each carriage pulling after it the rope or chain by which it is to be drawn back again. Thus, while one drum on each engine is at work winding up its rope, and so putting the ploughs or other implements in motion, the other drum Is delivering out its rope in readiness for the return operation." Inventors, when tliey enter the Patent Office, sometimes find themselves anticipated in part of their discoveries ; at other times, different projects are so similar in character that they are obliged either to confine their claims within a narrower compass than they had intended, or else to allow prior aijpli- cants to "specify out" before they give in their final claims, which sometimes necessitates a second patent. This was more especially the case under the old patent law, which allowed a wider field to grasping claimants than the present statute does. Something of this kind appears to have been experienced by both M'Rae and Osborn. In other words, they had each two ways of carrying out their projects, but were obliged to confine tlieir claims to one, leaving the other for a second patent, pro- vided it was not included in the claims of a prior patentee. Indeed, on the part of Osborn this is manifest, for we find his patent-agents took out a patent of the same date as his own for a plan of rigger haulage, Claussen's patent No. 11,303 and Oshorn's patent No. 1],304. being both dated July 23rd, 1846, and taken out by the Messrs. Robertson and Brooman, 160, Fleet-street. There is something so singularly interesting in this, more especially when Claussen's specifications and draw- ings are examined and compared with Oshorn's project as re- duced to practice, that we have thought it worth while drawing the reader's spteial attention to it, as a question in the march of progress in connection with the working and operation of our Patent Laws ; for had it not been for the extra expense, Osborn would doubtless have had a second patent ; and unreasonable as the expense of patents then was, it is pro- bable that he would have secured the whole of his project by a second patent had lie received greater eucouragement so to do from English farmers, canal owners, &c. Hence the rationale of the statement in the report of the Minmr/ Journal already quoted, for the claims in the second patent would have then been those referred to, viz., " the rigger system of haulage," or " the mode of taking up the wire rope" as applied to steam culture, and canal and road haulage. But be these hypotheses, contained in the preceding para- graph, as they may, one thing is manifest, viz., that to Osborn belongs the merit of having first reduced to practice the plan of putting the rope round the riggers in the form of the figure " 8," so as to give it bite, and avoid the excessive abrasion and tear and wear upon it experienced under the other West India rigger system, that of M'llae, who put his rope twice, or a sufiicieut number of times, round the barrel of his rigger to make it bite. The objections to this latter system of yoking the wire rope are too manifest to require pointing out, as are also those of the former, but the odds are greatly in favour of Os- horn's plan. In the construction of his riggers and friction pulleys it must be observed that Osborn fell into an egregious mistake, one into which all his successors who have adopted the rigger principle of haulage have fallen, viz., that of making them of too small a diameter : the former (the riggers) beiug only 30 inches. This may be pardonable in the outset, but it is the utmost that can he pleaded even in behalf of a practical man. It was doubtless much against the success of the trial experi- ments made on Mr. Tyler's farm, and still more against the durability of the \^ire rope under continuous use in British Guiana. But mistakes of this kind, although they oifen mili- tate greatly against the successful introduction of a new pro- ject, only apply to the construction, and not to the principle upon which any peculiar mechanism is based. The report of the trial experiments made in the mother-country speaks favour- ably both as to the bite of the rope upon the riggers, and its general freedom from abrasion ; the fact that the experiments «"ere most successfully made when working with the greatest length of rope is conclusive under the fomier head — bite ; while the tangential method of taking off and leading on the rope from and upon the vertical riggers by two horizontal fric- tion wheels, was calculated to reduce the amount of abrasion to a minimum. In this latter respect we aver Oshorn's system of friction wheels or riggers is freer from objection than any of his successors' methods that have yet been reduced to practice. It also appears, from the report of the Mhnmj Journal, that Mr. Osborn contemplated steam haulage both in the canals of British Guiana and also on land, by working his rigger system along an anchored wire-rope. In the former, canal haulage, this would be effected simply by placing his engine longi- tudinally in a punt. According to the report, two wire ropes were to be anchored in the canal, one on each side for the up and down traffic, the two eugiues in the two puuts thus acting as two steam tugs, each hauling a fleet of barges after it, the one fleet on the right side, and the other on the left side, the two plying in opposite directions. In the latter case, rigger traction on land would be performed on similar principles, as the engine, in working itself along an anchored rope, would haul two or more waggons after it, the principle being similar to Chapman's plan. Although in both these propositions Osliorn was anticipated by prior patentees, in a manner which he probably was not aware of when he applied to his patent-agents in London, yet his plan involves improvements upon them which might have been patented after one of them, viz., Claussen's already re- ferred to, had been specified and out of the way. This, at the time his engines were manufactured, was the case, the ground then being clear ; and it is possible, as formerly hinted, that a second patent woidd have been applied for had he received in this country sufficient encouragement from farmers and cana owners to justify the heavy expense wliicli patents then incurred. But at at that time the agricultural mind was looking in a dif- ferent direction for the practical solution of tlie problem of steam culture, /. e., rotary action, wliile the general body of the public was literally " railway mad," and bent upon filling up every canal in the kingdom with the least possible delay. Hence the upshot, no second patent, and only but a faint recol- lection left of Oshorn's method of rigger haulage, there being not one in a thousand who knew anything about it at the Chelmsford meeting of the Royal As:ricultural Society in 185G. His plan of using two engines ;,lso merits special notice, for althougli the mode described in his specification is the working of two implements on the old ridge and fallow system, yet he also specifies the working of one-way implements, which anti- cipates some of our modern discoveries. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 231 CATTLE VERSUS CORN AND MALT. At a late meeting of the l)i)rc!icster Farmers' Club, the following lecture was delivered by Mr. Uajien : — lu introducing the subject this evening, 1 cannot but fear that I shall not interest you to the extent I shoidd wish to do upon occasions of this kind, Ijut I am sure you will take tlie will for the deed. The subjeet of my lecture is " Cattle t'ersiis Corn and JIalt."' In the first place it may be supposed that I should attempt to show the relative advantages of feed- ing cattle and of growing corn ; but such is not my intention /or a moment. It would be presumptuous on. my part, in the presence of so many practical men, to attempt to prove that you could gain more by one system than another, therefore I sliall not argue the question in tliis way. I shall rather demonstrate to you the fallacy of the advice given by many people — members of Parliament and others — at agricultural meetings, and indeed by all classes of the community, since tlie advent of free trade, that it would be desirable for you to fatten cattle instead of growing corn. It is my wish to show you that the clfect of acting upon such advice would not be at all to your interest or to the general advantage of the people. And first, I believe, the price of meat, if you acted on that principle, would be so reduced that you would fail in the object you had in view. Therefore I am au.^ious to show you that it would be a mistake to follow such advice. I must endeavour afterwards to point out to you that it is more the duty of county members to support your interests in the House of Commons than to give suggestions of tliat kind. Especially, gentlemen, shall I show you in the latter part of my remarks that ill reference to the malt tax their duty towards you is quite of a different character. You are aU aware that in the advice they offer you from time to time they cannot understand as well as you yourselves that respecting your individual pur- suits you shoidd be better judges than tliey as to whether or not it would be preferalile to fatten cattle rather than to grow corn. I desire in the first place to draw your attention to some remarks of a gentleman who is an eminent member of au ad- orning county — Sir Lawrence Palk, in Devonshire, who, after making a good speech, said, " The long and short of what I would impress on the agriculturists is tliat they must look for the future more to producing good beef and mutton than to growing cereal crops." Now, gentlemen, you know, as men of business, that price must depend upon supply and demand. If you produce a larger quantity, price must low^r in conse- quence. The price of meat for some years past, as you are aware, has been, as I may say, the sheet anchor of the farmer. But, gentlemen, the demand has lieeu met by tlie producers of meat. jUthough the price has been high, and I admit has been remunerative, it has been met by you ; for we must not forget the expensive means that have been used in fattening hose cattle, and those enterprising men who have done so nave only met a fair return for it. I wish, therefore, to show you, if the advice of Sir Lawrence Palk and other gentlemen could be acted upon, what would be the effect. The answer seems to me to be a common-sense one. The price of meat must be reduced, and that to the extent of say Id. or 2d. per lb. I believe myself most firmly that it would convert the present fair profit into a positive loss (Hear, hear). Some have con- tended that the increased snjiply would be met by increased consumption ; but it is quite evident that unless you can reduce he price of meat you cannot increase the consumption — not 11 an equal ratio, to say the least of it. And not only that, the price of meat must be governed by the consuming capa- bilities of the people. If it was possible, -o? instance, to get meat up to Is. per lb., I would ask you if the great price would not in a very short time be reduced in consequence of people not l3eing alile to buy meat at such a rate ? Therefore, in occasioning less consumption, tlie case would cure itself. We know, too; that if it were possible to raise the wages of the labourers and artizans of this country to the extent of twenty- five or thirty per cent., it is quite possible the price of meat, butter, and cheese would rise in proportion, xnd wages would rise in proportion ; but wages, like everything else, are a mar- ketable article, and you cannot raise the price of wages with any view to their being marketable articles. Therefore it u oidd take years to increase the price of wages. I have no doubt my- self that in the course of years wages will so advance in this country, if we continue prosperous, tliat the price of nieat and produce will increase in value in proportion as wages increase ; for you will lindtlie artiz.an-labouring classes of this country do iiotwovk to save, but to live, and live w ell if they can. There- fore it is only a question of time, but it must be a long time before any revolution of that kind can take place. In refer- ence to the price of meat, let me call your attention to the report of a committee of the House of Commons that sat in lS3-i or 1835 to inquire into the agricultural distress at that time prevailing. Before that committee some eminent farmers — some of the best in the eastern counties — gave evidence, and their evidence went to show that they were in the habit of stall- feeding largely, but that they had to meet a loss on the animals they sold. Their evidence was corroborated fully by each other that the loss on these animals so fed amounted to£l or £C per head each, and they gave them roots into the bargain. This was at a time when meat was only 6d. per lb. You will agree with me that iu fattening meat at 6d. per lb. your loss would be something like it, but you would sacrifice your roots also in feeding animals. But these gentlemen contended that, not- withstanding the loss they sustained on feeding the animals to supply the markets at such a price, they regained their profit by what they called the value of the " muck" or manure which they produced. Now, gentlemen, muck of itself will not pay rent, however pretty the muck that can be made of it. Pat- tening must be followed by corn. Every practical fanner knows the necessity of a rotation of crops. Growing roots alone (as many contend we should) could never repay him. You cannot afford to sacrifice — as the Norfolk farmer contended he could do— his crops for the sake of the corn and muck that was to follow them, for that, as reasonable men, you know, must depend upon the value of the produce hereafter. Now, gentlemen, let me endeavour to show you the effect of depending on foreign supplies of corn to feed the masses of this populous country. 1 must first call your attention to the relative supplies of foreign and British produce. Since free trade became tlie law of this country, during the first twelve years we imported, in round numbers, about 5,000,000 qrs. of ^^heat per annum. But from 1S60 (when the worst crops were grown in England tliat had been known for a half century) to 1863 we imported 10,000,000 qrs. of wheat per annum, or about sufficient to feed lialf the population of this country. It is strange to say, too, that during those years prices were reduced, and went down 2o per cent, fbut this, I believe, was more in consequence of the American war than from any other cause. They sent ns their corn as being the only country which could receive it and pay them their money, and from the effect of their own necessities. But, gentlemen," I shall now suppose, for instance, that we should unfortunately be engaged in a war with that country, and that the supply of corn should cease. What would be the consequences? If we should be, as well, engaged in a war with our near neighbour — that great naval and military coun- try— what woidd be the elfect on the price of corn ? People argue that war has ceased — that we are so civilized that war is almost impossible. But the history of the past is the best cri- terion for the future. You will find we have had Iiefore as long an interval of peace, and it was followed by war. As an Englishman, I cannot help looking with some alarm at the great preparations for war which are now being made iu this and other countries. Sooner or later war must come, therefore I Ixdieve most sincerely it is the duty of a paternal government to protect agriculture, and do all they possil)ly can to promote the growth of food for the people of this country ; because, whenever war comes — for come it will, God knox^s how soon — the greatest question of the day will lie, the feeding question — the feeding of the people. If we have depeuded on foreign countries for one quarter or one-half of the food of tlie people, I would say this — that it is the absolute duty of the Legislature to promote in every possible \^ay this branch of agriculture. We all 232 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, know, geutlemen, M'but effect \\ ar has upon price ; for ouly iu the years 185i-55, duriug- tlie time of tlie llussiau war — w lieu too we had good crops — prices advanced as far as 80s. to 85s. per quarter, just double those at present, and tliis whilst we had good crops at liome, and this also at a time when we were fighting happily, not against, hut with i'rance — when France and England \^cre mistresses of the seas of the world ; when there was no one to compete with, and so far as regards our importations there was nothing whatever to prevent it. But even at that time, with good root crops, wheat was selling at 80s. to 85s. per quarter. What would he the effect iu the event of a great war unfortunately rising ? It may happen that that greater country may fight against us, instead of with us. Therefore, again I say it is the positive duty of the Legislature of tliis country to protect and encourage the home produce of the Uritish agriculturist. This, gentlemen, I do not argue more for the sake of the farmer alone than for the community at large. It is a national question, and I do not urge it for the sake of the pecuniary advantage whicli may arise to the agricidturist ; hut the supply of the people gene- rally with food of home produce is the main question. Gentle- men, one word with regard to the effect upon agricultural iahour, if this insane advice, as I may call it, should he fol- lowed. If the foreigner is to feed the people of this country v.'ith their hread-food, if the system proposed by some men, not well informed on the suhject, should be adopted, that we ."hould almost entirely grow roots instead of corn — which I don't believe possible — the next thing must be tliat tillage land mirst be converted into pasturage. Then, I ask, what would be the effect on that deserving class, the agricultural kbourer P We all know as practical men that every 100 acres of arable land will tind employment for four men. If you convert that land into pastiu'e, one man wiU do the work of four ; therefore, by such a system, you throw out of employment a vast uumher of men, and unjustly so. Gentlemen, I fear my remarks will now touch a little on politics, iu this short address I am giving you — and it slmU be very short I promise you. I have endeavoured to show the effect of following Sir L. Palk's ad- vice iu this matter : I wish now to show you what should he the duty of County Members upon this question, aud with regard to your interests generally. In doing this I do not wish for a moment to leave out of the question the constituencies of county memhers — you yourselves, gentlemen, and your class generally, especially with regard to the duty your worthy chairman has enlarged upon — the Malt Tax. That forms part of my subject, and you will excuse my entering iipou it. With men who have fuUy made up their minds, I do not intend to argae the question upon all its merits, as I should be wasting your time in doing so. I cannot, how'ever, help saying this, with regard to it: That if any farmer lias entertaiued mis- givings previously, I think for the last two or three years he must have begun to see that our demands on that subject are just and reasonable. If he looks at the price of barley he win find that most unremuncrative ; he will iuid, however much he wLll grow, however much he may improve liis soil, he will get no corresponding advantage from it. In growing malting barley, for instance ; if he grow's 20 or 80 less per cent, over the country, he would get a much larger price ; hut he does not get anything more from this extra quantity. So far as regards the grinding value of the barley, it is quite certain he cannot afford to grow it for grinding purposes. At this moment the inferior grinding barleys of Europe, and Turkey iu Asia, can be brought into this country at a much less price than we can grow them. I \i-ould be prepared to supply any gentleman in this room grinding barley, w-eighing oOlbs. a bushel, at a guinea per quarter. I should be happy to take orders for 5,000 or 10,000 quarters of good grinding harley, at a guinea per quarter. If you get a large crop of barley in this coimtry, the brew'ers positively get all the advantage. The public pay the same price for their beer, and not a farthing less (Hear, hear). If you get a large crop, people get the advantage of cheap bread, wliich is alw^ays a blessing ; but whatever the crop of Ijarley, the people never derive any advantage. It all goes into the capacious pocket of the brewei'. I don't blame the brewers; but there it wiU continue to flow, unless you and your representatives in the House of Commons bestir yourselves to alter the system, and you should bestir yourselves fo be represented as every other class of the community is represented. If you wish to get the repeal of this tax, don't be satisfied with your members saying to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, '• Oh, Mr. Chan- cellor, my constituents want the repeal of the Malt-tax, but don't inconvenience yourself about it. I meet them very seldom, only about once a year, at joUy agricultural dinners or at election times — don't inconvenience yourself about it. It is quite true you boasted, Mr. Chancellor, in your speech on the budget last year, that duriug the last nine years you liave taken off taxation to the amount of nine millions a year. But my constituents say they have had no advantage, nothing worth mentioning ; but rather their agricultural burdens have increased. I don't know whether 'tis a fact or not, but they say so." That is wliat such a member would say. Now, gentlemen, I think it is time for you to bestir yourselves and say whether this is fair or not. It is time you should say, " You have taken the duties off tea, sugar, and wine, and paper ; but I feel no interest in these things, except in a very small ratio, a very small degree indeed." But, gentlemen, it seems to me you want men, regardless of all party feeling, to demand ' justice at their hands. I would ask you, gentlemen, is the next great surplus to be frittered away in the same way ? Are you to have no benefit from it ? It is a question you have to ask yourselves, whether it shall be so or not. According to present appearances, tliere will be, as has Ijeen the ease for some time, another great surplus to be disposed of. It will be frittered away as before amongst people that ask for it — amongst people that liave the most influence with the Chan- cchor of the Exchequer and the Government of the day, what- soever that government may be — this is a matter of course. As I have said before, I do not blame the members more than I blame their constituents respecting this matter But I would ask you how Blanchester would act under similar circum- stances. Would they not put themselves in communication with their members ; and if those members did not satisfac- torily represent their opinions, would tlicy not change them ? Most assuredly, yes. But, gentlemen, at T\Ianchester they have Cli ambers of Commerce. And it is a well-known fact that the Chamber of Commerce at Manchester carried Free Trade, and we give them credit for doing so ; hut where is the Chamber of Commerce for agriculture ? v/nat interest have you P How are you represented in these matters ? Gentlemen, I am coming to the pith of the matter ; I a)u comiug to tlie post- script which contains the best part of the letter, as the ladies say. I would suggest, if not Chambers of Commerce, that we should have agricidtural boards in this country ; that we shoidd put ourselves iu communication with our representatives ; because they themselves are quite at a loss to know what we require uidess we tell them, and I believe no agricultural boards could be so easily formed as those formed by Farmers' Clubs. They are supposed to, and I believe do most thoroughly, represent the agricultural views of the districts in which they are formed. People may sneer and say, " I don't belong to one," but I say plainly they represent their views and opinions in these matters. I see this exemplified in every discussion that is introduced ; indeed, I saw it at the last lecture that was so ably given in this room. Many men adopt the opinions enunciated here. Only lately a man said to me, " I shall not do so-and- so until I hear what the lecturer says on the subject." There- fore, however much individuals may keep aloof, and always will keep (for we cannot all be of the same opinion), that we do represent the agricultural opinions in our clubs and dis- tricts, I have no doubt whatever ; aud that we shall continue to do so I have no doubt. And if we are iu that position I would ask if we cannot go further, and put ourselves, as time and occasion may require, in communication w ith our members, and let them know what we want. I believe they would be satis- fied equally with ourse'ves ; but they are kept, as a rule — as we should be without such societies as these— in darkness as to our views, because they only get our views and opinions at the after-dinner meeting of some agricultural society ; and it is a mere nothing they can get there, NvhUst we, as agricultural clubs, represent those opinions, and can tell our members what we mean. In speaking of politics, I would say that as regards party politics, I have been a member of various farmers' clubs for a great many years, but I must say that I neve;- heard any subject introduced of a party nature. I believe we have scru- pulously avoided party politics, and therefore we have no rea- son to be afraid of expressing our opinions fearlessly on all subjects that relate to agricultural politics. I know the fashion of the day, gentlemen, is, in a great measure, to ignore THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.! agriciilniral cLiims. I do not knou'wliy, but such is the case. In the House of Curamous, aud out of it, we seem to have lost our interest in the body-politic of this country. I believe it most firmly that we have. I would uot say tlie inanufacturiu!^ interest has no claims : it has exercised its wisdom, I wUl call it, in advancing its own claims and objects before the powers tliat be in this country. They have indeed been heard, whilst we have not, hoM'ever just our claims may have been ; but this is no reason why we should uot insist upon justice on our side ; we ask for nothing more. You are aware that in France, gen- tlemen, the Government seems especially to take care of its agricultural interest — that they luive a Minister especially de\oted to the interests of its agriculture ; and you may have secu, as I have secu within the last few days, a circular (and a very sensible one too) addressed to tlie people of France in reference to agriculture. The agriculturists of France com- plain tliat prices are so lov.' that they are losing their money ; and you know if men lose tlieir money tliey squeak, in any part of the world. They blame their legislature first, in a very sensible way. This Minister of Agricvdture replies, " It is not so. It may be from your good crops, oi- the good crops of Euglaiul. The facts with regard to France are these — that they only import, and have imported within the last two or three years of these low prices, three per cent, of their con- sumption ; but then they have in the same time exported more than they have imported." But, gentlemen, in this country the case is entirely different. As I have shown you, we im- port from one-quarter to one-half of our consumption — the bread of the ])eople of this country. Tlie large importation ought to be sufficient to satisfy any body of people tliat we are not in a safe position to import a larger quantity than this, especially, as I have said before, in the time of war, come when it may. I don't mention these large importations that we receive in this country for a moment with any view of v^'isliing to re\'erse that system which lias been established here, and firmly established within tlie last few years — -free trade, I mean. Neither do we want, as I know of, a Minister of Agriculture here ; but we want freedom to grow, untaxed, the natural pro- ducts of our own soil. Tlie manufacturers argue, and with irresistible reason too, that, from various circumstances iu tiiis beautiful island of ours, with its enterprising people, we are adapted to manufacture for the world, \ritli all our advantages of coal and iron, whicli tend to make this country so great, and we ought to become a great manufacturing people. There- fore, with this irresistible argumeut, they obtained free trade ; and, it appears, rightly too ; for you don't find a single man v.'lio wishes to reverse this principle : whatever the feelings of individuals may be, it is of no use. It is a matter of fact ; and facts are stubborn things, as you all know, you can't contend against. It lias become the law of the country, and you can- not resist it ; but whilst you give the nianufacturers this privi- lege, if I may so call it, you at the same time have a riglit to say, " We in the countiy demand free trade — we demand free trade for the growtli of one of our great productions (if uot so great as wheat) — barley." We say, " If you are adapted, yon of Manchester and you of the North of England, to be the manufacturers of the world, we as agriculturists can say, Iu all lairness we are entitled to produce what the soil and cli- mate of this country are eminently and peculiarly adapted for ; and why put a restraint upon our productions, if you untax yours ?" , We only say it in fairness ; we ask no favour. I lie- lieve it is perfectly absurd to say that any favour is asked ; for it is only a matter of justice we ask, like the rest of English- men. • When we say we want no favour, we have been told " You have got some little favours." And ^^•llat are they ? I believe one of the greatest of these privileges is that our shep- herd's dog is allowed to jog along free of tax: the rest is, I believe, that the farmer, his master, saves about the same in having no duty to pay upon his fire insurance. These are our many privileges. We never asked for them, and we don't want them : we only want to be put in the same position as tlie rest of the community. It is difficult to understand how such legislation could have taken place. I can only fancy it must liave been done at a lax time of the session, in the dog-days. I once happened to be iu the House of Commons in the dog- days, and there I saw one of the senators lying on his back at fuU-length, and his hat upon his face, just in the same way as you see a lazy hind in a hay-field. It must have been at some such time the legislation took place about the shepherd's dog. We want nothing of the kind : we want fairness. We would say to the people of Manchester, or wherever free-traders may be, " Don't keep it aU to yourselves. Don't let your sympa- thies run all iu favour of foreign producers." They say, charity should begin at liome ; and I would say, let justice find a resting-place there as well. Gentlemen, I don't mean to detain you much longer. I trust I have said enough to show the fallacy of substituting the fattening of cattle for the growth of corn iu this country ; and if we left that principle, how dangerous it would be in case of war, not only to the growers of corn, but to the community at large. I trust I have thrown out a hint with regard to your duties respecting your agricul- tural members, that there should be a source opened up whereby you may in some way or other communicate with them from time to time, and that your opinions should be as thoroughly represeuted to the House of Commons as every class of the community is represented. This, I am sure, is due to you ; and if you only demand it as your right, as English- men, ill a just cause, you are sure to get it. Mr. J. G. Homer agreed with Mr. Damen that the right principle to go upon was to combine the production of stock with the growth of corn. Indeed, he did not see how a great portion of this country \^'as adapted to the production of meat alone. On their hill farms, it certainly would not answer, though there was some land that could perhaps be turned to better account in pasture than corn at the present price. But suppose they were to give up growing corn, as Mr. Bright advised them many years ago in this tov^ai, the consequence would be that the supply of the necessities of the people would be left entirely to foreigners, and prices would soon have an upward tendency ; for he was informed that, according to qua- lity, ours was now the lowest market, with all our foreign im- portations. The price of meat must be governed, in a gi-eat measure, by the price of corn. Supposing they were left with- out a root crop, or only half a root crop, and corn was very dear, what remun&ration could they get with the cake so liigh for the feeding, at present prices of beef and mutton ? None whatever. But, witli the low price of corn, they were able to feed with remuneration. With regard to the malt-tax they only wanted fiiir - play. The Legislature thought they had given the farmers a great boon by allowing them to malt for feeding purposes ; but there were so jnany restrictions that it could not be done. He believed it would be a great ad- vantage if they could have malt to mix with other things, and that if they were unfettered in this respect they would be able to produce more meat than they did at present. Mr. J. Galpin was called upon by the chairman, and said he dissented from one portion of Mr. Damen's remarks. He stated that not only in the House of Commons but out of doors there seemed a disposition uot to do justice to the agricultural interest. He of course could not speak for the House of Commons, but on the part of those out of doors he entirely dissented from that opinion. For his own part he thought too much political matters had been discussed at these clubs. That was his individual opinion, and he knew it would not be received with approval by the members present. _ He was one of those who wished to avoid going into such subjects, anrt whatever he thought himself he desired to accord the same privilege to others. He, however, trusted the day would be far distant before they saw m .ibei"! merely delegated from an agricultural body or any other body to support individual interest, but that they would be allowed to exercise their judg- ment as honest and upright men for the good of the community at' large. It would be an unfortunate thing if they made any- thing a question of agriculturists against manufacturers ; and he did not think any oue woidd feel it to his interest to advance anything injurious to the agricultural interest. The Chairman understood Mr. Galpin to draw a distinc- tion between the feeling out of the House of Commons and within the House. He said nothing about the latter. Mr. DiVMEN thanked the chairman. That was a good distinction. ]\Ir. G-\xriN said he^confined his observations to the out-of- doors part. Mr. T. II. Saunders offered a few remarks in support of what had been advanced by Mr. Damen and Mr. Homer. He also observed that on arable farms the stock cost them quite as much as they got for it, or double as much as where they had good deep grass land ; but theu they must manage accord- ing to the soil and the climate, and could uot in many districts pay attention solely to stock. As to barley, if Mr. Damen 234 THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. roiild supply good griuding samples at the price lie had men- lioned, it was impossible to grow it here, and leave any rent for the laudloi-d. Mr. II. UuKE said his opiuion ^^■as that the more stock they kept the more com they could grow. In some localities the land was naturally arable, and in others it was naturally pasture. Within the twenty years he had been in this county one-third of the land had been broken up ; and he thought there was an opportunity of keeping stock to a much greater value than when it was laid down. There was one tiling which he would mention, and which they heard very little of at farmers' clubs, or when they were going to take the lease of a farm, which ^^as tlie climate of the country. lie believed in this county they had as good a staple of land as in most coun- ties, but the climate was very much \i'orse. If they only went a very little distance, say between Christchurch and South- ampton or Portsmouth, he M'as satisfied that there a man would produce stock with much more profit and more weight with roots alone in ordinaiy seasons than they could here with all the roots and corn they could give them. This was a great consideration when a man was taking a farm, and he estimated that 5s. an acre would go a very little way towards it. He believed there was more stock bred in this country than twenty years ago ; but lie considered it a great question whether a larger amount of meat was produced, and he would tell them why. In the market that day he saw a lot of sheep sold weighing about 7 stone, which, with a little extra keep, would have made 10 stone. They would have well paid the expense of keeping a little longer ; and stock was often sold just at the time they were beginning to pay the farmer. Thus the amount of produce was reduced, and the population of the country were the losers. It was from facts like tliese that he was led to doubt whether more meat was now produced than a few years ago. They \iere obliged to keep their corn till it came to perfection, but not so with their stock, and hence the low price of the one and the high price of the other. Mr. G. W. Homer ohseiTed that they had been recom- mended to grow more turnips, but he was inclined to think they were the most expensive crop grown, although a portion was necessary, because it vras the best crop under wliicli the land was cleaned. A gentleman of considerable experience informed him that he found his turnip crop cost him in grow- ing about £i an acre, and that the jiroduce from it was but £2 — this under the ordiuaiy system of keeping a flock of sheep upon them. That at first sight might appear rather startling ; but when they considered the large breadth of land over which sheep went, the clovers and turnips, and the produce of the permanent pasture meadows \vhich they consumed, it was a question whether his estimate was not a sound one. Now, he thought the gro^dng of more cereals and pulse crops, and feeding them on the land, would pay lietter than turnips. On light laud they might sow an early description of pea, and by being cut rather before ripe, it might be followed by a crop of rape, previous to spring corn. On heavy land beans might be substituted, which would be better food than turnips. As to the question of the malt-tax, at the present time they were bringing their nntaxed cider in this county from Devonshire at about 10s. a hogshead, whilst the tax upon malt liquor was about lis. a hogshead. Mr. Damen, in reply, said he had very little to offer, as most of the discussion supported the views he had propounded. With respect to the observations of his excellent friend JMr. Galpin, he did not for one moment suspect that there could be any feeling whatever against the agrictiltural body in this neighbourhood ; but he did contend that their interests had been somewhat neglected or passed over in the House of Commons for some years past. If they looked into it, they would find that the representatives of the agricultural interest had not had that weight in years past wliicli they might expect under the system of free trade. He would refer to the Malt- tax, and he must say on that question the agriculturists had not had justice done them. He did not wish to put it in any party spirit ; but as they had free trade in corn they now asked for free trade in barley. He did not wish to see any rival feeling created between town and country, manufacturer and agriculturist ; but he wished to see justice done to the one as well as the other. Tlie CII.\IRMA^■ , in closing the discussion, observed that with reference to the question of introducing politics in clubs of this kind, he must say he entirely differed from Mr. Galpin, with this condition, that it was with agricultural politics they had to do. These he considered lay strictly within their province ; and he could not sit as a member of the club, more especially as their chairman, without insisting on that condi- tion. They had to do with the agricultural politics of the country, confining themselves to those, and laying aside in ioto all party politics ; and he conceived that every member was free to go as fully as he liked into agricultural politics. This brought him to one observation of his friend Mr. Damen, as to the ignoring of the agricultural claims in the House of Commons. He thought ]Mr. Daraen was right in what he had said, that there was an ignoring of the claims of agricul- ture ; and they could not take a better instance to show it than the Malt-tax They had taken away protection to the British agriculturist, to which he assented for the sake of the common weal; but they claimed that equal justice should be done them. If they took away the protection of tlie English agriculturist in the growth of corn to the benefit of the foreign grower, surely they could not refuse to do justice to the English grower, by taking olf a duty which pressed as a heavy tax upon an article wliicli ranked second in importance of all that he grew. As to the fallacy of advising them to produce stock instead of growing corn, he need only refer to the practical experience of agriculturists, who need not be told which was the most profitable way of employing their land. The system which had been adopted for the last twenty years was the raising and production of as much stock as they could, and the gro^^ing of as much corn as they could ; and lie Ijelieved IMr. Duke was right when he said that both must go together in order to make a farm remunerative to the tenant. The larger quantity of corn they grew the more stock they kept ; but lie did not believe the increase in the amount of stock, even at the present price, balanced the loss they sustained by the low- ness of corn. Mr. Damen had alluded to the desirability of their having some means of official communication with their county members. All he could say upon that point was that they had a better means of communication now than before the establishment of these farmers' clubs. They might depend upon this that it had brought them into more direct contact with their county members than they had ever experienced before ; and he rejoiced to know that this had been the case. But at the same time he did not see why an agricultural board should not exist in this country as well as commercial boards — the object being the protectiou and advancement of commerce in the one case, and the protection and advancement of agri- citlture in the other case. A vote of thanks to Mr. Damen was then proposed by Mr. Homer, and seconded by Mr. Clements, and that gentleman having responded, the proceedings terminated. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. THE CLONMEL SHOW. Contrary to previous expectation, the Irish Royal for 1863 has been tolerably successful. It commenced with the judging on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 16, winding up with a ball on Friday night ; and the attendance through- out was good. Of course, the Lord-Lieutenant was there, and delivered at the banquet on Wednesday an exceedingly practical speech, in which he strongly inculcated the doc- trine of self-reliance on his audience, which, he very pro- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 233 perly said, if disregarded they would never be able to remedy the evils under which the country suffered nor ad- vance its prosperity. The Shorthorn class numbered seventy-nine entries, of which very few were absent ; and the aged bulls, which were turned out for tlic inspection of ^lessrs. Unthank and Game, were a useful lot of animals. These gentle- men took for their lirst choice ^Ir. Motlat's White Chief- tain— a good-handliug, thick, short-legged bull, by Mr. Barcroft's Sir Colin, the great opponent ia his show days of Dr. ^rilale. The next was of a difl'ereut style, a mas- sive, high-standing, wiry-haired bull, belouging to the Right Hon. iMr. Fitzpatrick, who had picked him up at the Newcastle Hoyal last year. ]Mr. Malcouisou's Field ^larshal 2nd, formerly Lord Waterford's show bull, came in for a high commend, his good fore-end making up, in the judges' opinion, for a vciy awkwardly -set pair ol hind legs. There were also two commendations in this section, namely, Mr. Butler's Prince Imperial by the Fairsby Le- viathan, which was a challenge-cup winner of the Hoyal Dublin Society ; and ]\lr. Barcroft's Gray Friar by Dr. M'Halc, out of a Sir Samuel dam. The first two-year-old bull, Felix, belonging to ^Ir. Wallis, though not a stylish animal, has lots of substance, and is an even bull, likely to get good stock. Last Easter, at Dublin, this bull was also tirst in the two-year-old sec- tion, when shown by his breeder, Mr. Jones, of jMullinabro. The second bull at Clonmel, Gwynue of Lothian, beloug- ing to Mr. Massy, was by Lamp of Lothian out of Sweet Poll Gwynne by Duke of Cambridge (12747), and is a good-handling bull, with wide rib, but looking a little pinched-up in his gait when shown out. ]Mr. Cosby's llavensvvood, also of Lamp of Lothian blood, and which had been the best yearling of the Dublin Show last year, was highly commended. Tlie yearling bulls were headed by another of the Lamp of Lothian tribe, in Mr. E. J. Smith's massive Chief of Lothian ; supported by Mr. Kearney's Son of Dr. McHale as second. This bull was shown in thin condition, which brought out his lightness behind the shoidder more than would have been the case if he had more flesh on him. Mr. H. Butler's Fenian, by Paterfamilias (18521) out of a cow of Holmes' blood, was commended. There was a large turn-out in the baby-bull section, the two prizes in it being given to a pair shown by Mr. Ander- son, Grace Dieu, two very promising calves ; and these left such a good lot behind them that the judges cleared off all scores by commending every one of them. Mr. E. J. Smith, who appears likely to take up the place left vacant by the death of Capt. Ball, show^'d Capt. Ball's Recherche in the cow class, and won with her. Notwithstanding her frequent appearances in public, Recherche keeps a grand cow, and is not only a show animal, but a regular breeder. The second cow, IMr. Anderson's Dandelion, from Mr. Langston's herd, has a capital breast, and is also very good in her quarters. Mr. Barcroft's My sic VJ, a former winner, came in for the thii'd place in the section; with commendations to Mr. Andei'son's Flower of Rocklands, Sir John Keanc's Silver, Mr. Malcomson's Knight of Windsor cow, and Lord Lismore's Flirtation, bred by the late Capt. Ball. Mr. Jones had his Lady Spencer, with her good breast and rib, in the three-year-old section, and won the first place with her, as he has done before ; while Mr. Rey- nell's well-bred Princess of Wales was put second. la the two-year-old heifers there were some capital beasts shown, and Mr. Massy's Woodbelle, bred by Capt. Ball, was put first. She has an immense chest and capital loin, but is getting rather gaudy behind. Sir Robert Paul's very handsome Silk, with her sweet head, and beautiful ruu of neck, breast, and rib, was second, followed by commendations to the others. There was a capital muster of yearlings, the judges fixing upon Mr. Anderson's nice handling Gameheu 2nd as first, with an exceedingly perfect heifer. Rosette, belouging to JMr. Wclsted, as second. ^Ir. ^Meadows' Fanny 15th was highly commended, along with JMr. Welsted's Elfin Rose, which, like Rosette, was by Booth's Elfin King. Three nice heifer calves were picked out for honours in that class, namely, Mr. Bloomfield's Medora, Mr. Ander- son's Octavia Srd, and Mr. E. J. Smith's Sunshine, which was the produce of his winning cow Recherche. The other breeds, Herefords, Devons, Ayrshires, polled, and Kerries were meagrely represented, and do not call for any special remarks. In the strictly tenant-fanners' section some good cows were shown, all of which proved the extent to which Shorthorn blood has been drawn upon for the improvement of the dairy stock of Ireland. The horses were poor in point of quality, and served, in most cases, to illustrate the necessity for im- mediate and great improvement in this class of stock, rather than to show advancement. The Crokcr Cup, for the best thorough-bred weight-carrying stallion, was awarded for this season to j\Ir. M'Craith's bay horse Forager, by Cossack, dam by Liverpool. The dift'erent classes of sheep were well represented, particularly Leicesters and Shropshire Downs. In the former Mr. Owen was the leading winner, obtaining the loug-woolled Cup with his shearling ram ; while the short-woolled Cup went to a Shropshire shearling ram, exhibited by ]Mrs. Smith Barry, who took most of the prizes in that department of the sheep classes. Mr. Hamilton was also a successful exhibitcr of Shropshires. Sir. Marris, Lincolnshire, came out well with Leicesters and Southdowns, and Mr. Beale Browne with Cotswolds. The show of Berkshires, in the swine class, was what oue would expect in a district where pigs are not only a leading description of stock, but where Berkshires are the favourite breed. Messrs. Joyce and Malcomson were the most successful exhibitors of that descriptiou of pigs ; and jMr. AYainman and jMr. Napier of white swine. There was nothing striking in the poultry sections ; and the other minor departments of the show, namely, butter and flax, were respectably filled. The implement yai-d was not nearly so well supplied as it ought to have been ; and it is alleged that the increasing inditt'ereucc of mauufactm-ers to exhibit arises from the want of that spirit of competition which is brought into play by trials of the different machines. Whether this view is correct or not, we cannot say ; but certainly the entries of implements at the Irish shows are not in- creasing. The following gentlemen ofBciated as judges: — Shorthorns ; Messrs. Unthank and Game. Herefords and Devons . Messrs. T. Duckham and Cnretou. Other breeds : Messrs. Mowbray, Guthrie, and Hilliard. Farm horses : Sir Percy Nugent, Major Burrowes, and Mr. Darker. -Thorough-breds and hunters : Messrs. Boyd, ThurneD, and Clarke. Leicesters : Messi's. Paintei", War- burton, and Thuruell. Downs and Shropshires : Messrs. Duckham, Cureton, and Thurnell. Swine : Messrs. Chaloner, Borthwick, and Fisher. Poultry : IMessrs. Darker and Staunton. Butter : Messrs. Forde, McDonald, and Greene. Implements : Messrs. Borthwick, Wade, and Fiulay. 286 THIi FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AGRICULTUEAL EDUCATION. PUBLIC A^B PRIVATE CHARITY SCHOOLS, Under primitive aud patriarchal times the gratuitous educa- tiou of the rising generations by governments, cliiefs of clans and tribes, and by wealtliy patriarchs, had many tilings to commend it to the favourable attention of the general public ; lji.it the progressof science, audthe subdivision of labonr, through tlie instrumentality of the thousand-and-one chemical and mechanical appliances of modern times, which have split society into innumerable sections located over the face of the whole liabitablc globe, and yet all united l)y a common fraternal tie of industry, have changed tliis old educational policy, and substituted in its place one of independent action, whereby it has become the duty of every parent to educate his own children, failing which tlie children must educate tliem- selves as they grow up to manhood. What was once the rule has now become the exception, the old policy being in a great measure reversed. The change which has thus taken place is no less interesting and instructive, when viewed in a social light, than it is when examined in an individual and industrial, as it shows the moral force and triumph of innate principle over expedience, so to speak, that manifests itself in the breast of mankind, struggling, as it were, to rise above their fallen condition to that common level from which they fell ; or asMU- tou lias beautifully pourtrayed it, in " Paradise Regained," only attainable at the furtlier verge of Time. The change, how- ever, is a work of progression, which at the present time is far Ironi being complete; hence the mixed character of our colleges and other seminaries for education, both puljlie and private, that exist in every division of the kingdom, or we may say throughout civilized Christendom, some being self-supporting, others being partially or wholly supported by Government, either by annual grants, or permanent endowments, or partly by both ; and a third class being upheld by charity, either by annual subscriptions or otliersrise, or by permanent endow- ments. _ A few practical examples will best illustrate the respective merits of these several plans in this concluding paper. Tiie self-supporting system, the first of these plans, is the ous that merits special attention, as it is daily gaining ground in the estimation of the public, being free from many objec- tions to which the others are subject. Its principle of action is that of merit, both teachers and taught having to rely upon their own exertions for their respective interests in the matter, the former for their incomes, and the latter for their penny- worth in the shape of ' education. If a schoolmaster is an industrious, successful teacher, his merits are appreciated in the locality where his scliool is situated; a large number of scholars collect, to lieuefit by his abilities ; consequently he reaps a correspondingly large salary in fees. If he is, on the oilier hand, indolent and unsuccessful in his labours as an instructor of youth, the reverse is the case, few attending his schools, so that his income is correspondingly small. On the part of the boys, their position is of a somewhat similar character ; for under a good teacher the yoke feels much lighter, their en- couragenient to make progress greater, and accordingly they advance in their education more rapidly, costing tlieir parents less money and time for schooling of a superior kind than in the opposite case of a bad teacher, who invariably makes indolent, bad scholars, and an expensive education. In the former case a good education is obtained at a great economy of time and jnoney ; in the latter an inferior education at a sacrifice of both money and time. And the gains of the one and losses of the other extend to more than school-fees and the length of time spent at school ; for they include also the board and clothing of the boys, and also the influence which these circumstances have upon their future welfare when they enter upon their apprenticeships as young farmers and labourers. In a practical light, therefore, the difference between the two, viz., a good and a had teacher, is not very easUy estimated. It is not always the greatest scholar or the ablest man in science who makes the best and most successful teacher, more especially in the rudimentary branches of education. And even in tlie lecture-room of the college, where a higher standard of scientific attainment is necessary than in the grammar-school, the more talented of two philosophers or learned men may not prove himself the most successful teacher. This arises from the fact that teaching the rising generation any branch of science, as agricultural chemistry or mechanics, is an art and not a science. It is not, for example, the science of agricultu- ral chemistry, but the art of teaching that science ; and it very frequently occurs that the most talented chemist or profound scholar in any other branch of" science is remarkably deficient of the art of teaching. It is not very easy to describe the dis- tinctive characteristics of the one in comparison with those of the other within the limited space at our disposal, but this is the less to be regretted inasmuch as our readers generally must be practically familiar with the facts of tlie case themselves, as actual examples everywhere abound which are publicly ac- knowledged. It is upon a thorough practical knowledge of the art of teaching that the success of self-supporting schools depends. '■ The right man in the riglit place" has become a national proverb, and in no case is it more applicable than in the school and class-room. The truth of the proposition manifests itself in every example, from the infant-school up to the professor's chair of the college ; and if it is more conspicuous under the self-supporting system, where teachers are entirely dependent on scliool fees for their incomes, than under the otliers, where their incomes are whoUy or in part paid by Government, or are oljtained from some other charitable source, it is partly be- cause the right man fiUs the right place on the taskwork prin- ciple upou which the former system is founded, arid partly liecause of the routine independence of teachers upon which the latter two systems are founded, together with the little value put upon gratuitous education by the taught, according to the proverb, " Easy got, little valued." It may be fallen hu- manity, but it is now the natural course of things, from which no section of society is excepted ; the stimulus of merit, with its appropriate reward, being essentially necessary to industrial action in every art and branch of science and in every sphere of the industrial world. Self-supporting schools are very diiferently constituted. Thus a teacher rents a house for an infant-school, grammar- school, or college, and takes in pupils, his income Ijeing entirely derived from fees— generally so much weekly, quarterly, or yearly. The whole responsibility of the concern rests upon himself : his merits as a teacher, for example, are known in the neighbourhood to parents, who enter into an agreement with him for the education of their children. In grammar-schools and colleges he may have a number of assistant teachers in his employment, but the principle of action is the same. In other cases a number of parents join, rent a school, and engage a teacher, who undertakes the work for the school fees on specified terms. In this case the teacher is more or less under the inspection of his employers, but in other respects infant-schools, grammar-schools, and colleges are similar to the last or first example. Again, not a few landowners build schools, and engage teachers, wlio undertake the work for the school fees, being less or more under the supervision of landowners, agents, or those whom they may appoint, as the minister and church- wardens of the parish, or the managers of a dissenting congre- gation, &c. Again, self-supporting schools may be either day-schools or boarding-schools, but further into details under this or any of the above it will be unnecessary to go, as they are generally well known. On the merits of Government or national schools and colleges much need not be said : at best they form a case of necessity, the existence of the least of two evils as it were. The prin- ciple on which they are founded, if principle it can be called, is analogous to the old oft-told story of " robbing Peter to pay Paul." The people are unable, for example, or thini them- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 23? sc-lves unable, to raise the wiud for the purposes of building schools aiul colleges, auil of paving teachers lor educaling themselves, and therefore they apply to Governmeut for auuiuil grants or a round sum to cover a permanent endowment. Asxd how does the Government raise the wind? Simply by taxing the people, and thus making them pay indirectly for educating themselves. AVc need not go furtlier into detail to sliow tlic reader tliat as a cpiestiou of principle the establishment of national schools will not bear a very close investigation. It is only as a question of expediency that their existence can be justified, and even when examined under this view the system is greatly more expensive and less ellicient in its operation than the modern self-supporting one already noticed. Necessity, however, is subject to no economical laws, and therefore Government must iu many cases tax the whole com- muuitj% or rather those who pay the taxes for grants and en- dowments. Tills is generally done for the ostensible purpose of erecting schools and colleges for furnishiug a suitable edu- cation for those \\ho are unable to educate their families as they ought to be educated, and in many cases such is actually the plain matter of fact. Tt is, however, otherwise in not a few examples, more especially schools and colleges for teaching science such as that of agriculture, for they are only adapted for the more wealthy classes of societj-, who are able to educate themselves. How few students are there, for example, at tlie universities of Oxford and Cambridge, whose parents are not well able to pay for their education on the self-supporting principle ! and nearly the same thing may be said of the Irish and Scotch universities. No doubt when these great national seminaries were first instituted, landowners and those whose sons they were designed to furnish with a suitable education were iu a position similar to what the great bulk of fanners are iu at the present time, so that as a ciuestion of expediency it may be argued tliat the young lairds and lords should be turned adrift to shift for themselves, and that these great semi- naries, English, Irish, and Scotch, should be modernised to suit the wants of the agricidtural body and others usually de- nominated middle-classes, less able to pay for their education, but who are taxed etpially, if not more heavily, collectively speaking, than the upper classes. Either such ought to be the ndc, or else if the upper classes are allowed to retain the great national seminaries in question, then they (the upper classes) ought to be taxed to support modern schools and colleges for the middle classes. It is not likely that either of these two propositions will be practically carried into effect ; but so far as the agricultural body is concerned, the existing anomalous slate of things should be borne in mind by landowners, who get tlieir ious educated principally at the expense of the public, including their own tenants ; for so loug as the lower and middle classes are thus heavily taxed to pay for the education of the upper and more wealthy classes, they will, as a matter of course, be less able to pay for the proper education of their own families. It wiU thus be seen that the existence of the old system, with its rich endowments and less amount of labour to perform iu teaching, including the precept and example which it affords, opposes the progress of the more meritorious and self- supporting plan. That our old universities ought to undergo a thorough reformation in the subdivision of labour and class-rooms so as to conform to the requirements of modern times is manifest, and in such a reformation we do not see why teachers aud professors ought not to be placed more and more upon the taskwork principle, and wealthy students made to pay higiier fees, so as in a great measure to cover their education. Government grants and revenues from endowed properties being confined to buildings, museums, laboratories, and experimental expenses in the dilferent branches of science, without regard to that social division into upper, middle, and lower classes. The least objectionable mode of Government assistance is where it is confined to purchasing school and coUege grounds, erectmg buildings, furnisliing museums and laboratories aud other permanent works of this kind, and then leaving teachers and taught to do the rest on the self-supporting plan. Eor a few years small sums iu the form of salaries may, in some pases, be given in order to start the self-supporting system into healthy effective action ; but such salaries should be terminable, aud the teachers aud professors thrown ultimately wholly upon their own industry; for it is clearly, as has already been sliown, the more remunerating plan for teachers them- selves, also the cheapest plan for the taught, and the best plan for all p;ij'tics iutcrcsted, provided always that the teachers are thorough masters of the art of teaching. Charity-scliools and colleges, endowed or supported by private individuals, are free from many of the objections to which Government ones are subject. Many of our national seminaries, such as the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, are largely included under this system, laud and luouey having been left tliem by private individuals for educational purposes ; and iu a similar manner many of our large charitalile institutions for the education of certain classes of society are less or more mixed up witli Government grants, llie latter having been found necessary to give eflicieucy to the former in terms of the bequests of the donors. There is a large portion of the rising generation without the means of obtaining an elementary education, and private cliarity can hardly be turned into a better channel then in pro\ idiug such for this class, whose members, it must lie borne iu iniud, are not exclusively confined to the lower orders of society, but include luauy of the upper ranks. Hence the different grades of charity schools which have been instituted to meet the exigencies of the case, botli on the day- school principle and also boarding-school principle. In a review of this kind of schools the details are far beyond our limits for discussing in a single paper. This is perhaps of less importance, since comparatively little or no charity has been extended towards tlie education of the practically agri- cultural body, /. e., tenant-farmers and labourers. No doubt a few bursaries at some of our Universities are open to com- petition for the sons of the better-to-do class of farmers, and a few who v.'ork tlieir way upwards under public or private teaching to finish their education at coUege ; but, when com- pared with the great bulk of the agricultural body, including small farmers and labourers, they must rather be considered an exception than otherwise. It must not be inferred from this that we are advocating the gratuitous education of the rising generation of the agricul- tural body. Nothing could be farther from our mind, for the small tenant farmers and agricultural labourers ouglit always to be able to pay for the education of their children. No doubt there are a fevv orphans for whom charitable provision requires to l)e made, and for them alone we advocate a gratuitous education. Charity advanced in the form of school fees farther than this, is in too many instances charity mis- applied. At the same time landowners, iucluding those of corporate towns, may grant schools and colleges rent free, and uphold them advantageously, as some of them do, without any sacrifice of the self-supporting principle, as they woidd in the vast majority of cases derive indirectly ample interest on their capitals thus invested, while the industry of teachers and taught would be mutually stimulated ; by doing so they would in some measure repay the advantages they themselves gratuitously derive from our national uni\ersities and schools at which they are educated. THE LATE DUKE OE UICHMONU.— " A gay, wild- eyed roan with a white calf brought our eye back to sliort- liorns in the pastures at Old Mills, where Mr. Lawson has a nice herd ; and in front of us, about a mile away, the ' sun shines fair' on tlie cupolas and warmly-tinted sandstone of the Elgin houses. Hard by it is the celebrated Green, where many a shorthorn Waterloo has been fought, and wdiere buyer and seller have set each other like cocks so often, witli ' The Cock of the North' to look on. There, too, came ' The Farmer's Friend' in his simple guise, like an old soldier, always in time, and \^■itll a kind greeting and a pleasant story on his Ups. Buclian Hero of the white eyelash had passed away from Mr. Ferguson Simpson's hands before that gentleman took up his residence at Covesea, near Elgin. Hence he never joined the bull ranks on the Green ; but he won in a still greater fight at Berwick-on-Tweed, against 'the English b'/lls, the Scotch b/dls, and a' the b;dls. One of his great acbnirers, who had his eye to a ' crank' iu the palings ou that memorable day, thus describes the contest : ' I lookit, and they drew them, and they sent a vast of them back ; again I lookit, and stilt the Bucliau Hero stood at the heed. They had nae doot ot him then. A Yorkshireman was varra fond of him. And he wan ; and Mr. Simpson self him to Sir Charles Tempest for two hundred. It was a prood day that for Aberdeenshire and Mr, Simpson.' We rode through Elgin ^^'ithout drawing 238 THE FARMER*S MAGAZINE. rp,ia. Time was pressing-, and we were only just able to admire the tliistle on the tbuutain, to wonder why tliere sliould be both a ' Eatchen-street' and a ' Batehen-laue,' and to glance from the gaunt-eyed, tliin-legged wayfarer who illustrates the psalm over the Alms House door, to the ruined cathedral, where the ivy was shrouding the savage handiwork of ' the Wolf of Badenoch.' The road wound round some curious heather knoUs, and the long beech hedges and the Gordon tartan, greeu with a single yellow stripe, soon showed that Pochabers was nigh. The late Duke of llichniond used to tell with great glee how, wlien other officers indulged in gaudy papers, he lined his tent at Aldersliott with tartan during his stay there with the Sussex militia, and hovv he proved himself the canny Scot by uutackiug it and carrying it back to Good- wood with him, to ' serve in the next campaign.' Shortly be- fore the late Duke's death in 18G0, a new outlet was made to the Spey, but it did not just chime in with tlie temper of this most rapid and unmanageable of Scottish rivers, and taking a turn eastward, it all but cut away the fishing station at Tug- net. Watching the progi'ess of the works to defend the village of Garmouth and its adjacent port of Kingston, gave his Grace almost a daily object for a four-mile drive during his last summer at Gordon Castle. When he had seen Tugnet, he \vould often go and visit a small steading which he was putting up near the railway station. The tenant only paid £8 a-year ; but he was an old Peninsular man, and there was the great tie. Many and long were his cracks about old times and comrades with Captain Eife, who has also exchanged his swori. for a ploughshare. His Grace quite astonished another old ' caunon-bair of the district, who did not know him by sight, when he asked him to fetch his Sunday waistcoat with the medal on it. The old man could not tell for his life ' how the gentleman kenned I wur theer, and that I wur hit gan down the brae at Orthes : it's true enough. Did ye ever hear the like ?' It vras the Duke's earnest care that his tenants should do well, and he latterly loved far more to be among his farm improvements and his Southdowns than he did to go to Glenfiddich, where he had once been wont to spend nearly half of his three montks' stay." — " Field and Fern, or Scottish Flocks and Herds,'' hy " The Bniid." PEOFESSOR SIMONDS ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. At a meeting of Norfolk farmers Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., presided ; and Mr. E. Howes, M.P., and Professor Simonds were among those present. The CiiAiiiMAN stated the result of an interview which he and some other gentlemen had had at the Home-office on Mon- day with Mr. AVaddington. Before they went to the Home- office they proceeded to the Metropolitan Cattle-market, where they found that the inspectors had made a rigorous examina- tion, and had excluded some cattle. They saw some, however, in which they fancied they could discover symptoms of the disease. Professor Simonds accompanied them to the Home- office, wliere they suggested that the Order in Coiuicil which had been issued for the metropolis should be extended to Nor- folk. The difficulty stated to e.\ist was that an Order in Coun- cil could only be applied to a town or place within certain de- fined limits. It was suggested that it would be desirable if possible to prevent the removal of diseased cattle to different parts of the country, but there was a disinclination on the part of the Government to make such an order. A sugges- tion was then made for the more efficient supervision of cattle landed in England and for putting store stock in rpiarantine. It was objected that there could be no quarantine, as there was uo accommodation for tlie stock ; and it was also stated that the existing inspection was considered to be sufficient. Pro- fessor Simonds suggested that there should be abetter inspec- tion of cattle coming from llussia. This opinion was favoura- bly received. The Chairman, in conclusion, hinted that fanners should agree not to purcliase stock in markets or fairs for at least six weeks. This would prevent an importation of foreign cattle and check the spread ofthe contagion. Various statements were made as to the state of cattle in Norfolk. Erom some localities the reports were very discou- raging, but in other districts the cattle appeared to be still healthy. Professor Simonds expressed his opinion that farmers might rely upon receiving some assistance from the Government, but that in the main they must rely on themselves. The reason why so little could be expected from the Government was the amentable condition of our legislation upon these matters. He was perfectly satisfied that the disease would spread in the several places where it now existed, and that sooner or later, unless stringent measures be taken, the whole of the country would be att'ected. He did not come to this conclusion simply hecause he viewed the disease as one which spreads its con- tagion, or, if he took the view of his friend Mr. Wells, be- cause it was atmospherical, but he came to the conclusion from positive experience which had been gained in other coun- tries, and also from the records which were left to us of the experience which was gained in this country 130 years ago, when the disease existed in England. It was re- corded that in 174'5 the disease made its appearance in Eng- land, and that it existed from time to time down to 1757. When they came to look at tlie small amount of traffic which then existed among cattle, when they came to look at the state of society as a whole, at that time, and when they considered that, under the circumstances which then prevailed, the plague lasted 13 years, they liad certainly not much encouragement or hope for its removal under existing circumstances. It was also not very encouraging for them to remember the fact that at the time of the last disease an Act of Parliament was passed, empowering the King in Council to issue orders for in- formation to be immediately given to the local authorities by farmers and others whose cattle were affected, and npon that information the King was empowered to order all such animals to be killed and buried in pits with their hides on, the additional precaution of throwing quicklime in the pits, and keeping the ground enclosed for a given time, being also taken. All these measures failed to exterminate the disease which existed at the time of which he was speaking ; and, as to the identity of the disease M'ith the one whicli now existed there could not be a question, because those who described it at that time were well calculated to do so, they being chiefly physi- cians. It was very true that veterinary science was then in its infancy — in fact it was scarcely in existence ; but the medical science was of course very different. The CuAiKMAN asked whether the last outbreak was occa- sioned by foreign importation ? Professor Simonds said it would be difficult to answer a question of that sort, but he had no doubt that the disease was introduced on that occasion as it had been on the present oc- casion. A statement was on record that two calves were pur- chased from some persons residing in Holland, the farmer who made the purchase having the idea that the Holland calves would improve his own stock, and when they came to look at the milking qualities of the Dutch cattle they might under- stand that there was a certain amount of truth in that state- ment. Another statement was a very important one, and was very likely to be true — namely, that some persons had pur- chased from Zealand a large number of hides which had been taken from diseased cattle, and they were stealthily brought over to this country for the sake of making more money of them. Either of those statements might be correct, and he (Professor Simonds) was inclined to believe them, but aliout the introduction of the disease at that time there could not be a ((uesfion. They must recollect that this was a disease not belonging to England. It no more belonged to us than the Asiatic cholera, tlie ycUow fever, or any otiier of those diseases belonged to us. It was a disease specially belonging to llussia, Austria, and the Danubian provinces, Bessarabia, and the whole of the countries lying eastward. The countries on the west side of the line were strangers to the disease, save and except upon its introduction. Sometimes it went into Prussia, sometimes into Bohemia, and sometimes into Bavaria ; but it never went there except upon tlie introduction of cattle in THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 239 whose systems the disease was either iiiciibated at tlie time, or the eattlc themselves were positively in a state of disease. It was, however, scarcely possible for the disease to be introduced iu the latter way, because the sanitary regulations of those couutries were sucli as to prevent aninuils in that state being allowed to pass. Therefore it could only be brought by ani- mals after the ordinary period of incubation had passed, and before the disease had begun to declare itself. It would always he a knotty point for them to decide ; in fact, he dared say they never would be able to decide it to the satisfaction of ail their minds. There were such men to be met witli in Uw. medical profession, and also in their own profession, who were called contagionists ; and there were men not at all favour- able to this view, of disease being spread by contagion, or at any rate, not being exclusively spread by conta- gion ; it was difficult, of course, to draw a line between the two opinions. Perhaps it might be that the truth lay in the middle there as it did in other things ; but let them at the same time not lose sight of the fact that the disease was con- tagious, and that it was by infection that it extended itself. It was true tliat they could not always trace every individual case as it occurred, as they had heard that morning, but it was very difficult indeed to do that when they knew the various sources by which the disease spread and the various media that might be brought into opera- tion. For instance, if they placed some sheep with un- healthy cattle, those sheep which were not tliemselves sub- ject to the same disease would not become affected for a month or two, or more ; but, of course, the danger was to other cattle. If they took sheep from an infected to a non- infected lot of cattle — he did not care whether it was a mile or two miles off — and mixed them with a lot wliich were per- fectly healthy, the latter would be as likely to take the disease as though they had been placed with the diseased cattle them- selves. He knew of an outbreak whicli occurred the other day in the neighbourliood of London, where the animals were apparently isolated from all others. It was said, " Oh, here is a ease of spontaneous origin." He had inquired into the case, and the fact was found to be that the sheep were placed in pas- turage in a park, a portion of the park being let off to dealers, and the dealers were in the habit of not only taking their sheep to the park from the market, but occasionally they would allow them to remain, if not sold, until another market. This being so, he thought they could not wonder at the exist- ence of the disease in the market. Could anybody say that we had had in this country a real good case of spontaneous origin of the disease ? He had shown that for more than lOU years this country had been free from the disease, and surely during that time there had been sufficient mismanagement among animals to induce the disease to appear if it could be induced. Not only had this country been free from the dis- ease, but it might be said that the whole of the continent of Europe, generally speaking, had also been free from it for many years. It was a fact, however, that it had now been intro- duced. How did it get into Norfolk? Directly from the Metropolitan Market. How did it get into Suffolk ? Directly from the Metropolitan Market. How did it get into Shrop- shire ? Directly from tlie Metropolitan Market. He could show them that in almost every case — certainly eveiy case which he had traced out — it was through the Metropolitan Market and through the great traffic of cattle in this country that the disease had spread as it had done. He would give them an instance as to how it had spread in Sussex. Two or three farmers, residing not far from Chichester, were dairy farmers. They were in the habit, as was the custom in some parts of Sussex, of making veal hj calves. One farmer went to Chi- chester market and bought a calf. Believing that it was a country calf, and had been sent there by a brother-farmer, he put it to a cow, and in two or three days afterwards it was uoticed to be dead. He was stating a fact whicli occurred in Sussex. A cow next the calf-pen was first attacked, and then the cow which suckled the calf was next attacked ; so that the more directly cattle were together the -more certainty there was of the spread of the disease. In the cases men- tioned 11 cows and 13 calves -died. Another farmer lost 15 cows and 15 calves by introducing into his dairy a calf pur- chased from tlie same source. He thought this was an answer to the argument that the disease was an atmospherical affec- tion. It seemed to him that the best way in which this evil coiled 1)6 liiet was to form in the diflereut counties, where the disease existed, societies such as that which it was proposed to organize in Norfolk. By sucli associations they could, for ex- ample, in Norwich put in full force an inspectorship of the mar- ket, and so on. This \\ ould do good, no doubt, but not so much as we might at first sight expect, because there might be a large number of cattle on Norwich-hill which had been exposed to tlie infection without any one knowing of it, as there might be no signs by which the disease could be recognized at the time; but there would be a moral effect — persons knowing there would be an inspector, and not knowing how soon an animal would show the disease, would hesitate to send such animals to the market, and a great amount of good might thus be done. With regard to seizing diseased animals, that was an important point, and the law could be put in force in all towns where there were corporations or powers sufficient. A great deal might be done by the toxins, and a great deal might bo done by union on the part of cattle owners, farmers, and others. If they carried out the principle laid down by Sir Thomas Beaucliamp, of non-remuneration to an individual who should not within a certain lengtli of time give notice of the existence of the disease, they would be doing an immense amount of good, and he had heard that proposition with great pleasure. There were one or two other points he should like to say a word upon, because they had not altogether escaped those whose duty it liad been to take some prominent part in this matter. One was t'ie proposition that they should abstain from buying cattle for a certain length of time, and it was also suggested that they should aljstain from buying foreign cattle. He considered that those two recommendations would have contributed greatly to the value of certain propositions of liis whicli had been put in type by the Privy Council, and circu- lated, he believed, by tlie newspapers throughout the length and breadth of the laud. He hardly knew whether, at a meeting like that, it was legitimate in him to say tliat those two propositions were really tlie first two that stood on his list (Hear, hear), but as he was only a servant of the Govern- ment it was not for him to disagree with their putting a pen through those propositions, which ]iad been done, not because the Government were desirous of doing what woidd in any way prevent benefit arising from resolutions of the kind, but tliat they felt that they might be hereafter called upon to frame some resolution on that basis which they could not practically carry out. For that reason, therefore, those propositions were struck out. His proposal was, not only that no fanners' purchases should be made for six weeks, but that none should be made at all except to the extent of buying animals fit for slaughtering, that no store stock should be bought at a fair or mar- ket at all, but that the farmers should buy of each other, and not at the fairs or markets, for a time. With regard to foreign cattle, he had suggested that they should avoid buying them, as it was by them that the disease had been brought into this country. When he said they slioukl avoid buying foreign cattle, lie did not mean that they should avoid buying cattle which was food for the people, but that they should avoid buying foreign cattle that were not fit for food for the people, and which when bought they must bring on to their own farms to graze. Let tlie farmers get tlieir profits — if they got any protits at all — out of tlieir own stock, and not encourage foreigners to send their stock over here (Hear hear). Mr. Bead had very properly drawn attention to the impropriet)- of sending foreign store stock throughout this country, and he had suggested the other day that store stock should not be permitted to come into our ports. But who was to draw the line of demarcation between a store animal and a lean animal that was fit to be slaughtered ? If any of those he was addressing went, as he had done, into the Mstro- politan Market, and saw the beast sold to be knocked down by the butchers, they would be puzzled to know what was a store animal and what was a fat animal (laughter). There was such an immense amount of practical dilliculty in the way that it really coidd not be carried out ; but they might do something with reference to importations from abroad. So long as they kept westward of the line he had alluded to, there was no risk of bringing the disease into the country ; the moment they crossed the boundary, that moment danger arose. It was a question to consider when the danger arose, and he believed it was only within the last two or three mouths that this kind of commerce had extended its ramifications into Russia, Hungary, Poland, and Gallicia, and what had been 240 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the effect of it ? He liad heard of a lot of Russian cattle coming here. It was told to liim in tlie most incidental mannei-, and he began to study when he heard of it, Ijecause lie knew that Russia was the home of the disease, and conse- quently he knew the risk the English people were running. He inquired how they were coming. He was told they were to he got together at Revel. He asked were they coming over tlie Baltic, aud was told they were, and that probably they would come to Hull. He kept his eye on that cargo, so to speak, and determined to find out all about it. He had no reason to believe that any of those animals were afTected by the disease, but he alluded to it to show liow the traflic had come. The animals were got together at Revel, and sent over in an experimental boat. They' were bought in Russia at a very low price, which left a large margin in England to cover expenses ; they were put on board a vessel, they came round by Denmark, stopped at Copenhagen to take orders as to whether tliey should be taken to Hull, or London, or else- where, as suited the policy of the importers, because wlien they talked aljout Dutch cattle they probably came directly from Holland, but were not necessarily Dutch, and this was what caused the difficulty with regard to quarantine. In one boat he had alluded to, there were 3:20, and 145 were sold in Hull, parts of which went to Manchester, Derby, Wakefield, aud that district. The remainder, 175, went to Loudon, lay for two or three days in the lay-house close by Islington, where the disease first broke out, and when sold in the Metropolitan Market no less than 1~0 of them went down to Gosport to supply the shipping. A simOar thing had oc- curred at Plymouth, aud only yesterday the towu-clerk of Plymouth was with tlie authorities at the Privy Council-office, and he spoke of the disease existing there — carried there in the same manner by cattle bought iu the Metropolitan Market, and sent down for the supply of shipping. Hence it was that the disease got spread. They found tliat there was a little too much difficulty in the way of coming round by that tem- pestuous sea the Baltic, and so tliey adopted the plan of send- ing the cattle from Revel and other ports to Lubeck, where they were put ou the rail and sent to Hamburg aud shipped with animals collected together at Hamburg, the \^'hole of them coming over together ; so that when tlicy arrived here no one could tell where the cargo came from. Part of them might be perfectly healthy and from a healthy district, while part might come from an infected district. If they could shut the door against importations from those countries he had alluded to, they would be doing much good. Under the Im- portation Act they were empowered to take any measures they liked ; they could even slaughter all diseased animals when they came in, could liurn all the material they were surrounded by, disinfect the ship — in fact, the powers were unlimited. Consequently there was plenty of power to regulate the im- portations ; but here was the difficulty — how could they, see- ing that the cattle were brought overland to Antwerp by way of Mayence, and shipped there — how could they identify every animal ? lie believed, however, they miglit do a vast amount of good by shutting those Baltic ports, aud that if tliey could obtain an Order in Council to prevent animals from being brought from ports of Russia, and if they planted a man familiar with the breeds of cattle and tlie ins and outs of the cattle trade at Lulieck, if the Luljeck Government would give power to put such a mau there, as Mr. A'\'addiugton seemed to tliiuk they would, they would be shutting out one of the chief sources of the supply to this country of infected animals. If they did not adopt all these precautions they would have im- portation on importation year after year, from which the re- sult would be a continued loss to this country. It was a most difficult question for the Government to deal with, when tliey remembered what was the present price of meat, and that the English were a meat-eatiug people. Their present purpose was chiefly to get rid of the evil now existing. He liad be- fore said that every one must look out for himself and his own interest, aud to a great extent be his own policeman in this matter as well as a policeman over his neighbour, and he felt assured they would to a considerable extent exterminate the disease from their own districts (Hear, hear). The Chajeman asked if it were a fact that the de- velopment of the Russian cattle trade had only just taken place. Professor SiMONDS believed that untU the last few months absolutely no animals were brought fi'om Russia to this coun- try, which arose from the fact that they could not bring them liy way of Prussia. When he saw some Podolian oxen,' he asked some of the proprietors how they got them there. They said they did not know. He asked how they crossed the Prussian frontier, and was told they came by way of Prague. His reply was, that they must have come by way of Cracow, as the rails went there, aud he could not understand how they were got here. His own opinion was that they had not come that way at aU, but had come by way of the Baltic to Lubeck, and thence overland. It would not answer the dealer s purpose to send them the other way. The delays were too great for them to be brought overland ; and this was one of the hopes he had from shutting the Russian ports. The Hungarian oxen they had not much fear of. It is true they might have had something to do with bringing the disease here ; but the gathering together of Hungarian oxen at Vienna, the lengtli of time occupied in getting them to Mayence, aud from Mayence to Antwerp, aud then shipping them here, exceeded the period of the disease ; so that if they arrived in a diseased condition it would be perceived by our inspectors, and no harm would be done by them. Besides this, in Hungary a cordon was drawn round a farm immediately the disease appeared ; no man, wo- man, or child was allowed to go off or on, not merely during the existence of the disease, but for three weeks after killing the last animal. Even congregations in the churches were in- terfered with ; roads were turned flhen possible, to prevent passengers passing too near the infected localities, and the most extraordinary measures, to English ears, were taken to prevent the spread of the contagion. It could ouly be liy passing through a thousand such cordons that the disease could get to this country. Knowing that aU these regulations existed there, aud that so sharp a look-out was kept, he was inclined to believe that if the Russian ports \^'ere shut the dis- ease would be shut out (Hear) . Mr. Wells asked Professor Simonds whether he really thought the disease was spread by contagion or infection, and in no other way. Professor SiMOXDS said this was not a meeting for discussing the pathology of the disease, and therefore they could not go fully into that part of the question, although it had the higdi- est interest for members of the profession ; but he thought tiiat when they looked at all the facts iu connection with the dis- ease, they were justified iu saying that it only spread by con- tagion or infection. It was true that it could be hemmed in, and was hemmed in. It might exist in a village where one farm «'as infected, and there were perhaps twenty cattle on that farm, and although there might be a hundred aud fifty or two hundred other cattle in the village, if the regulations were well carried out they kept it entirely within the boundary. After further conversation, the proceediugs terminated. THE DISEASE IN CATTLE. SiE, — Having been for above 30 years extensively connected with the trade and sale of cattle, I feel it my duty to forward you the following facts and my experience relative to the pre- sent disease iu cattle, which I think you will deem ought to be published. "iVhile we naturally view mtli alarm the disease among cat- tle, and are anxious that every precautiou and proper steps should be taken to stay the spread of such a cilamity, yet tlie public should hesitate before they give credence to the reiterated statements made by certain professors connected with veteri- nary companies and colleges. AVe find upon examination of their statements that they do not understand the origin and cause of the disease, neither have they any remedies that have been proved to be of any use or in the least efficacious ; also, they are entirely at variance in their opinions among them- selves. It is assumed by some that this disease has been im- jjorted from abroad, yet though the most strict inspection, un- der the direction of Government, has been made of every head of foreign cattle, it is not proved that any are unsound, Init on the contrary, that they are more sound than English, Irish, or Scotch. Tills being vs'cU known by those who buy aud slaugh- ter them, they are especially and almost invariably bought for those parties who are the most particular in their investigation, viz., the Jews. No class of people pay so much attention to the cleanliness, wholesomeness, and sound state of their meat; priests are appointed to see their oxen killed, and most mi- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 241 niitely examine the carcases : tliis must be admited as a very distiuct test of the soundness of foreign oxen. It is also a fact that SO per cent, of all the oxen bought to supply the Govern- ment contracts are foreign; aljout 600 per week tliroughout the year are required for these contracts. All the beasts are sub- ject to a second rigorous oUicial inspection before they are allowed to be killed at the various dock-yards, and then there is a due inspection of the meat. It is a very serious matter for any person to assert that for which there is not the least proof, viz., that the disease is brought into this country by the importation of foreign cattle. It is a great blessing that they do come to help to supply the increasing demand ol food for the people. AThat would other- wise be the fearful price of meat ? Last Monday we had 3,800 foreign cattle in the Metropolitan Market all perfectly sound, some of which, from their excellent quality, made as liigh price per lb. as English, some moderately-sized beasts from Brenren making £30 each. One of Professor Gamgee's sapient remarks — that the in- creased supply by foreign beasts, which is above one-third of the whole supply of the London markets, tends to increase the price of meat — proves that such Professors are merely pro- fessors ; but those who heard his contradictory statements of his own statistics in the committee of the House of Commons last year, will know what reliance to place on his observations. As to the proposition of causing foreign cattle to undergo a quarantine for a fortnight, this would be perfectly unreasonable ; for where could be the seuse or justice of detaining 5,000 cattle per week, if needed for immediate consumption, and which are pronounced by eflicient Government inspectors to be sound, in the vicinity of Loudon, where they might imbibe the very disease which is prevalent in this country ? As chairman of a large meeting, held last year, of graziers, salesmen, and others interested in the trade and feeding of cattle, relative to the foot-and-mouth complaint, it became my duty to sign a circular, at the direction of the meeting, ad- dressed to each Member of Parliament, to the efl'ect that, in the opinion of the meeting, the foot-and-mouth disease was caused by a baneful atmospherical influence ; Professor Simonds subscribed to and concurred in this opinion, and in each expression of the letter. If the foot-and-mouth com- plaint was then caused by the bad state of the atmosphere, why not the present disease, which simultaneously attacks animals in various counties where they have not had any con- tact with foreign cattle ? what is to stay the winds of the atmosphere from visiting not only counties, but countries ? In the absence of all proof that this disease is imported, for no foreign stock has been known to be afl'ected until they have l)een a considerable time in this country, is it not reasonable to conclude that it is a species of cholera in the air ? There is nothing antagonistic to tliis theory in the fact that the cow- sheds of London are very generally attacked. In the case of fevers and epidemics, would they not dwell and be fixed in localities that were badly drained, and not properly ventilated ? About 130 years since England was visited by a similar scourge ; no foreign cattle was then sent. The importance of the subject I trust will be a sufficient excuse for troubling you with this letter, feeling it my dvity to give publicity to facts that come under my extended experience. I remain, yours obediently, Stoie Newbigfon, Aurj. 11. John Giblett. PROFESSOR FERGUSON'S REPORT TO THE IRISH GOVERNJIENT. In accordance with instructions received from the Irish Executive, I proceeded to London to investigate the nature of the cattle plague now raging in that metropolis, and the best means of preventing its introduction into Ireland. On seeing some of the cases, which were shown to me by Pro- fessor Spooner, the principal of the Royal Veterinary College at Camden Town, I immediately recognised the disease as an old European continental acquaintance — one which had fre- quently ravaged the bovine herds of Europe, particularly those of the northern and midland states. The cattle malady, at present so fatal among the dairies of London, and also to the cattle of many of the English provinces, to \>liich it has already extended, is maHgiiaut, contagious typhus — the most important peculiarities of wliich are its great fatality and rapid extension by contagion and infection. It is much more con- tagious, infectious, and fatal, than any other disease affecting the oxen trilie. It is also considerably less amenable to medi- cal treatment, all kinds of which it has hitherto set most com- pletely at defiance. Although by the majority of veterinarians and agriculturists malignant bovine typhus is considered to be iuvarialdy the result of contagion or infection, or both, such is not the case. Malignant typhus can 1)e generated in an animal without being the result of ehher infection or con- tagion ; but once generated here in a single animal it becomes rapidly extended and midtiplied by contagion and infection. Some veterinarians deny its being either contagious or in- fectious. They must, however, be atl'ected either with an obliquity of judgment or an insidficiency of observation and experience relative to the malady in question. It is not alone contagious by immediate contact, but can be propagated from diseased to healthy animals by mediate infection, or the latter coming in close proximity with objects that have been in con- tact with or the close neighbourhood of the latter. Dogs, cats, and even fowl are capable of becoming the vehicles of malignant typhus infection. This ceases to be a matter of wonder when it Ijecomes known that the mouth-and-foot dis- temper can be carried from an infected townland or a farm to one at a considerable distance, on which the herds and flocks have hitherto been sound, by crows and other wUd birds. These feathered carriers of pustular infection, by walking over the infected pastures, pvr some of the iufectious matter on their feet, and in their flights in search of food convey it to distant fields and pastures. However far-fetched may seem this theory, it has been proved or demonstrated to be true by a pinioned tame jackdaw being used in an experiment to test it by being made to walk in a pen of infected sheep. His feet would take up and retain a sufficient quantity of pustular in- fection to infect a hitherto healthy portion of another and dis- tant pasture. The experiment was a successful one. In a few days the sheep confined in a pen on the hitherto healthy pasture, into which the jackdaw had been turned after being among infected sheep, were all aftected with the foot-and- mouth distemper. The important question to be now decided by the Government is, what are the best means of preventing the introduction of the cattle plague or malignant contagious typhus into Ireland ? There is but one way in which the disease can be prevented from afiecting the bovine herds of this island, and that is the immediate prohibition, by an order in council, of the importation of any cattle from the seaboard into Ireland. I wish it to be distinctly understood by the Irish Executive that I regard the total prohiliition of cattle importation into Ireland, as long as there is the slightest trace of the disease in England, or those states having the disease in them, from which that country imports cattle, as the only means that have any probability of preventing the introduction of the cattle plague into Ireland. I am thereby adverse to any less stringent measures, such as quarantine. And even should importation be totally prohibited, it is by no means certain that the disease may not liecome generated from mere atmos- pheric influence, or propagated by mediate infection, over the vehicles of which Government have no control wliatever. Hugh Ferguson, Her JIajesty's Veterinary Surgeon in Ireland. THE CATTLE DISEASE. A supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, pub- lished on Saturday, August 12, contains two orders by the Lords of the Privy Council, dated the 11th of August, relative to the cattle disease. The first is in the foUowimr terms : — " Whereas, by an Act passed in the Session of the 11th and 12th years of her present Majesty's reign, intituled ' An Act to prevent until the 1st day of September, 1850, and to the end of the then next Session of Parliament the spreading of contagious or infectious disorders among sheep, cattle, and other animals,' and which has since been from time to time continued bv divers subsequent Acts, it is (among other things) enacted that it shall be lawful for the Lords and others ot" her Majesty's Privy Council, or any two or more of them, from time to time to make such orders and regulations as to them may seem ne- cessary for the purpose of prohibiting or regulating the re- moval to or from i^uch parts or pln.r(s as thfv may desiguate 242 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. in such order or orders, of sheep, cattle, horses, swine, or other nnimals, or of meat, skins, hides, liorns, hoofs, or other part of any animals, or of hay, straw, fodder, or other articles likely to propagate infection ; ajid also for the purpose of purifying any yard, staljle, outhouse, or other place, or any wao-o-ons, carts, carriages, or other vehicles ; and also for the purpose of directing how any animals dying in a diseased state, or any animals, parts of animals, or other things seized under the provisions of this Act are to he disposed of; and also for the purpose of causing notices to he given of the appearance of any disorder among sheep, cattle, or other animals, and to make any other orders or regulations for the purpose of giving elfect to the provisions of the said Act, and again to revoke, alter, or vary any such orders or regulations ; and that all provisions for any of the purposes aforesaid in any such order or orders contained shall have the like force and efTect as if the same had Ijeen inserted in the said Act ; and tliat all persons offending against the said Act shall for each and every offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding £20, or such smaller sum as the said Lords or others of lier Majesty's Privy Council may in any case by such order direct : " And whereas an order was made in pursuance of the authority of the said Acts on the 21'tli of July, 1865, hy the Lords of Her Majesty's Most Hon. Privy Council, applicable to the city of London and to the metropolitan police district, containing certain provisions for the purpose of preventing the spreading of a certain disorder, of which the nature was at the time of the making of the said order uncertain, but which has since been ascertained to be of a typhoid nature, and is commonly designated as the ' cattle plague,' and which may be recognized by the following symptoms : — " ' Great depression of the vital powers, frequent shivering, staggering gait, cold extremities, quick and short breathing, drooping head, reddened eyes, with a discharge from them, and also from the nostrils, of a mucous nature, raw-looking places on the inner side of the lips and roof of the mouth, diarrhcea, or dysenteric purging :' "And wheieas inspectors have been appointed in pursuance of the provisions of such order : "And whereas it is expedient to make further regulations or the district to which the said order is applicable : " Now, therefore, the Lords of Her Majesty's Privy Council do hereby, by virtue and in exercise of the powers given by the said recited Act, and the several Acts continuing the same, as aforesaid, order as follows : — "1. That in this order the word 'animal' shall be inter- preted to mean any cow, lieifer, bull, Lauu^i^, ox, or calf. " 2. Every inspector appointed or to be appointed under the provisions of the Order in Council of the 2itli of July, 1805, shall have the power of entering upon and inspecting any pre- mises in or upon which he has reason to believe that there is any animal labouring under any such disease, from time to time, as often as he may think necessary. " 3. Every person witliin any district for which an inspector shall have been appointed as aforesaid, upon whose premises there shall be any animal labouring under any such disorder, shall, as far as practicable, keep such animal separate and apart from all other animals, and no person shall, without the licence of such inspector, send to market, or remove from his jjremises, any such animal, or any animal which has been in the same shed or stable, or has been herded or been in con- tact with any animal labouring under such disorder. " 4. Every animal within any such district as aforesaid dy- ng of such disorder, or slaughtered on account thereof, shall be buried, if practicable, on the premises where it has died or been slaughtered, or (if this be not practicable) as near thereto as may be convenient ; and if such animal be not buried with its skin, its skin shall be disinfected in such man- ner as the inspector of the district may direct. " 5. Every person within any such district, on whose pre- mises there shall be any animal so labouring as aforesaid, shall leanse and disinfect such premises in such manner as the in- spector of such district sliall direct. " 0. Every person offending against this order shall for every such offence forfeit any sum not exceeding £20, which the jus- tices before whom he or she shall lie convicted of such offence may think fit to impose." The second order repeats the preamble of the first order. It then goes on to say — " And whereas since the making of the said order the said disorder has appeared in other parts of England, and it is expedient to extend the provisions of the said order to the re- maining parts of England and Wales, and to make further regulations for the purpose aforesaid for the last -mentioned parts of the United Kingdom : " Now, tlierefore, the Lords of Her Majesty's Privy Council do hereby, by virtue and in exercise of the powers given by the said recited Act, and by the several Acts continuing the same, as aforesaid, order as foUows : " 1. That this order shall extend to all the parts of England and Wales not comprised in the said recited order. "2. That in this order the word ' animal' shall he inter- preted to mean any cow, heifer, bull, bullock, ox, or calf. " 3. If at the date of the publication of this order in the Zo?i- doii Gazette there shall be any animal labouring under any such disorder in the possession or custody o' any cowkeeper, dairyman or dairywoman, or of any milkman or milkwoman, or vendor or purveyor of milk, or of any dealer in cattle, or farmer, or person in possession of cattle, whatsoever, within those parts of the United Kingdom to which this order refers, or if at any time hereafter, while this present order shall continue in foice and unrevoked, any animal, being in the possession or custody of any such person as aforesaid within the last-mentioned parts of the United Kingdom, shall be seized or attacked with, or be found labouring or suftering under, any such disorder, notice of the existence of such disorder, or of the first appearance of such disorder in or among the animals belonging to, or in t'le custody of, any such persons as aforesaid, shall imme- diately thereupon be given by the person in whose possession or custody such diseased animals or animal shall be, if sucli person shall reside within any corporate town, to the mayor or other principal officer of the corporation, or, if elsewhere, to the clerk of the justices acting in and for the petty sessional division of the county, or district in the nature of a countj', in which he resides ; and upon receipt of such notice, or upon any other information which satisfies him or them that such disease has appeared within his or their jurisdiction respec- tively, it shall be lawfid for such mayor, or other principal officer, and for the said justices, if he or they shall think tit, from time to time to appoint some veterinary surgeon, or other person duly qualified, to lie an inspector, for the purpose of carrying into effect the following rules and regulations within the corporate towu or petty sessional division for which he shall have been appointed, and the same authority may, from time to time, revoke such appointment. " 4. Every such inspector shall have the power of entering upon and inspecting any premises in or upon which he has reason to believe that there is any animal labouring under such disease, from time to time, as often as he may think necessary." The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th rules in the second order are the same as the 3rd, 4th, 5tli, and Gth rules of the first order. THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND AGEICULTUEAL SOCIETY. A monthly meeting of the council of the society was iield at Douch's Railway Hotel, Taunton, on the 11th -A.ug., under the presidency of the Kight Hon. the Earl of Portsmouth. There were also present Sir J. T. B. Duckworth, bart., Colonels T. D. Acland, M.P., and II. A. E. Luttrell ; Drs. Brent and Gil- lett ; Messrs. D. Adair, G. H. Andrews, R. G. Badcoek, W. A. Bruce, C. and R. II. Bush, T. Danger, J. T. Davy, J. Daw, E. H. Dickinson, E. S. Drewe, R. Dyniond, M. Earrant, H. Fookes, J. Ery, John and Jonathan Gray, J. Gould, R. N. Grenville, M.P.,' J. D. Hancock, T. Hussey, H. P. Jones, R. K. M. King, J. E. KuoUvs, J. Lush, II. G. Moysev, S. Pitman, G. S. Poole, W. Porter, W. A Sanford, J. W. SiUifaut, and W. Thomson ; H. St. John Maule (Secretary), and J. Goodwin (Editor). THE C.VTTLE PLAGUE. Before the regular business of the day commenced. Colonel Acland, M.P., drew attention to the importance of taking some steps in reference to the visitation commonly known as the cattle plague, which is causing so much alarm in various parts of England. Through the exertions and instrumentality of Mr. Daw, by whom the arrangements had been projected and matured, a meeting had been held at E.xeter on the previous THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE; 243 day, when a Dibtrict Cattle Assurance Association had been formed, and a committee, comprising several members of the council of this society, had been appointed with Mr. 11. R. M. Daw as their honorary secretary : at the instance of that meet- ing, he (Colonel Acland) had undertaken to bring the subject under tlie notice of their council at their j)resent meeting. Mr. Sanford, also, one of their vice-presidents, had specially come among them for the purpose of calling their attention to the subject. Mr. Daw (Exeter) said the proper way to cope with (ho evil would be by prompt action in local areas, and he tliuiight it higlily desirable that a IMatual Protection Society sliouUl be establislicd, in every Poor Law Union in the counties comprised within the Society's area of operations, for the very simple reason that the area of a Poor Law L^nion was quite large enough for the disti-ibution of insurance risk, and quite as large as consistent with promptitude of action. At the Exeter meeting on the preceding day they utterly repudiated tlie idea of treating the niatter in the form of a county movement, and at one of tlie largest meetings ever got togetlier in the Guild- hall, they hsd resolved to establish a Mutual Lisurance Asso- ciation, confined to a district coincident with the area of St. Tho;nas" Union, believing tliat that would be the best means o f dealing with the evil, and leaving the residents in the other unions to follow their example. Hence it was that they had refused to allow several large stock owners in different parts of the county to become insurers in tlie Exeter District Associa- tion, but rather recommended them at once to form associations iti their own immediate neighbourliood. This course of action was tlie more essential because of the peculiar nature of the disease. Tlie Association would be managed by a committee, of V(-hich every insurer of 20 bidlocks would be eiigilde as a member, but it would also include persons of influence and in- telligence, who, though not actually owners of stock themselves, might choose to show their interest in the objects of the Asso- ciation by subscribing as tliough they were. In the event of any animal being affected, the first step would be to call in an inspector, who woidd have power to order its immediate de- struction ; and two practical men having assessed the value of any animal so destroyed, its owner would receive two-thirds or three-fourths of the amount as might be agreed on in the con- ditions of the Association. It must be obvious that in small areas the affair woidd be mucli more manageable than in more extensive districts. Ultimately a committee was appointed to collect and dis- seminate information on the subject of the disease, and with authority to communicate with the Chairmen and Clerks of the Boards of Guardians in the several Unions in the six western counties, with the hope of calling the attentiou of agricultu- rists throughout the district to the importance of adopting due precautions against the spread of the malady. A motion to memorialize the Government to adopt additional precautions at the outports, in accordance with the suggestions of Mr. Andrews at an earlier stage of the meeting, was negatived by the casting vote of the Chairman. A meeting of the Committee appointed to collect and dis- seminate information on the subject of the Cattle Plague was held at Douch's Hotel, Taunton, on Saturday, Ang. lUih, im- mediately after tlie rising of the Council. The members pre- sent were Mr. E. A. Sanford, in the chair, Col. Acland, M.P., and Mr. Daw. The following form of letter to the Chairmen and Clerks of Boards of Guardians in the Poor Law Unions in the counties of Somerset, Devou, Cornwall, Dorset, Wilts, and Gloucester was settled and approved, and ordered to l)e signed by the Hon. Secretary and Secretary : " THE CATTLE PLAGUE. " Bath, August Mth, 1863. " Sir, — We are directed by We Council of the Bath and West of England Society to communicate to you their opinion that an association for the mutual protection of agriculturists should be established within the area of each Poor Law Union, in consequence of the cattle plague having appeared in the west of England. We have the honour to request that you will be so kind as to take, with the utmost promptitude, such measures as you may deem most suitable to submit the consideration of tliis question to a meeting representing the different parishes of your union. " We beg to inform you that such an association has been established for Exeter and the St. Thomas's union surrounding that cily. The rules adopted by that association shall be for- warded to you without delay. Tlie Council have appointed a committee to collect and disseminate iuformation on this important subject ; and we are directed by that committee to furnish yon with a copy of a circular which has been suggested to the Council as likely to be productive of good effects in arresting the progress of the disease. "AVe have the honour to be. Sir, " Your obedient servants, "H. St. John Maule, Hon. Secretary. "Jo.siAH GooDWi>f, Secretary." Tlie following letter has been received from the Clerk of the Privy Council, by the Secretary of the Bath and West of England Society : Privy Council Office, Whitehall, 17th August, 1865. Sir, — I am directed by the Lords of the Council to ac- knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1-lth iust., com- municatiug the opinion of the Bath and West of England Society for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Arts, and Commerce, that au association for tiic mutual protection of agriculturists should be established within the area of each poor law union, in consequence of the cattle plague having appeared in the West of England, and enclosing a copy of a circular issued by the society ; and I am to state that their lordships highly approve of the elibrts made by the society with a view to prevent the spreading of the disease, and they trust that the judicious suggestions made by the society will be extensively adopted. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Arthur Heips. The Secretary of the Bath and West of England Society for the encourage- ment of Agriculture, Arts, Manufac- tures, and Commerce. THE XEW OITICERS. At the meeting of the Council held at Taunton on Saturday last, Mr. H. St. John Maule, who at a former meeting of the Council had resigned the office of secretary, was elected hono- rary secretary ; while Mr. J. Goodwin, who will still continue to edit the society's Journal, was elected secretary in suc- cession to Mr. Maule : and ilr. Spackman, land agent and surveyor. Terrace-walk, Bath, was elected to the office of of- ficial superintendent or director of the show-yard. The busi- ness of the Society will henceforth be conducted in offices de- voted to that purpose exclusively, a course rendered absolutely necessary by the annually increasing magnitude of the Society's operations. AN EFFICACIOUS REMEDY FOR THE CATTLE DISEASE is tar-water, made of the best Barbadoes tar, and capsicum. Boil one ounce of capsicum in four gallons of water. When the decoction has cooled down to lUO degrees of heat, pour the same on one gallon of tar, stirring it well ten or fifteen minutes with a flat stick. Let it stand twenty- four hours or more. Then pour off the liquor, and administer to each beast from one to one-and-a-half pints, three times a day, until the whole four gallons are taken, w-hich seldom fails in performing a cure. Smear a little tar on each nostril, and upon every foot, and between each hoof. The cattle-houses should be well cleaned and limewashed, and the mangers and cribs painted over with hot tar, that which has been used for making the tar-water being sufficient for that purpose. The same, being burued in the cattle-houses, corrects the air in them; but this should be done when they are empty, ere any hay or straw is placed in them, to avoid the risk of fire. Bran- mashes, with a little oatmeal gruel, sweet hay, or sliced tur- nips may be used as diet, with pure water, and a small quan- tity of common salt therein. Keep the bowels moderately open with an occasional dose of castor oil and a table- spoonful of sweet spirits of nitre. This is a cheap, safe, and efficacious remedy. Good ventilation, combined with proper drainage for conveying the excrement aw.ay through pipes or brick tunnels, is absolutely necessary, to prevent the effluvia arising from contaminating the surrounding atmosphere and spreading distemper amongst the inhabitants, as this is a contagious dis- ease, that ought to be immediately arrested, or direful cou'iequences will be the result. — T\'eedon House Aug. 26, flH THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. PRUSSIAN OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. The Berlin official Annalen der Landwirthschaft publish the following " extract from a report" drawn up by two physicians who had been despatched to Russia by the Prussian govern- ment in September, 1864, to inquire into the state of the cattle plague then raging m some of its provinces : " The tidings received from Russia of an epidemic disease which, traveUiug from east to west, had during the last three years shown itself in men and animals, especially horses, proicpted the Prussian Government to despatch Herren Winkler and Dressier, two veterinary surgeons, to Russia in the Sep- tember of last year, for the purpose of collecting on the spot scientific information as to the cause and nature of this epi- demic. " The Siberian plague, ' Tasva Sibirslca, or ScJialvali^ which by former Russian physicians was called the ' black sick- ness,' or the ' plague of boils,' but is now knovra in the scien- tific world by the name of ' inisUda malicjna'^ '■ carbuncnlus,^ and ' lieni/is,' was most prevalent in 18G-i in the well-watered low lands near Lakes Onega and Ladoga, and along tlie rivers Newa, Ocka, Wolchoff, Tschecksna, Malloga, Kyasma, Kuma, Wyatka, and Volga. The flat level plains, extending along these rivers, consist of meadow and pasture land, with a marshy and sandy soil, partly overgrown with low shrubs, and partly with pines and Scotcli firs. However carefully you may seek, there is not a trace to be found of an artificial canal anywhere, and as the natural watercourses do not descend in a body of stfficient force, the water remained in a state of stagnation, causing the meadows to resemble more nearly enormous swamps tlian useful healthy pasture land. Only here and there do the larger rivers, where the shore is tolerably elevated, burst through the impediments opposing their course. Almost with- out exception the water of these rivers and canals is of a dark brovra muddy colour. Hence there is also a very insufiicient supply of pure water for drinking ; wells of even the most simple construction are scarcely ever to be seen. The sliips on these waters are drawn by horses, and as tliere is a pretty con- siderable traffic along the principal streams, many liorses are constantly employed in this trying sort of work. Notwith- standing this, however, the shores of the streams are not in a condition to justify their being used for this purpose. The towing-path is alternately a villauous stone pavement or a muddy pool, materially increasing the labour required of the horses. " The cultivated portions of these plains and tliose used as pastures for cattle are extremely small in comparison with their extent. Even the larger landed proprietors are of opinion that cattle of themselves bring in no material profit, but must be kept for the sake of the manure only. The cultivated tracts are lost amid the interminable plains of meadovv, pasture, moor, and forest. Scarcely the tenth part of the surface is appropriated to agricultural purposes, altliough the soil from its chemical and physical properties, being composed of a most excellent and rich black earth, would yield a most profitable return. Indeed, on comparing this territory with similar tracts of land in Germany, the idea involuntarily presents itself that as yet the inhabitants are merecliildren, and have not got even through tlie A B C of culture. " These low lands are only very scantily inhabited, the vil- lages and estates, with the exception of those along the shores of some of the principal streams — as, for example, the Wolchoff — lying at a great distance from each other. The houses, which in the villages are chiefly of wood, are built quite close to each other in a double row, and two storeys high. Some few look toleraljly comfortable, but mostly they are made to face any and all directions, bearing no signs of ever under- going repair, though wood is left to rot along the roads. Even in the towns — as, for instance, Tver, on the Volga, where we changed horses — the small inns, liaving large courtyards and extremely roomy but low-roofed coaclihouses, were almost rendered inaccessible by insurmountable masses of filth. In the stables there was a superabundance of dung. Altogether, agriculturists in Russia are at a very low ebb of civilization. With some few good qualities, there still prevails among them extreme ignorance, superstition, barbarism, disorder, and un- cleanUness. As they religiously observe every holyday in the Russian church, they sink into idleness, and consequently into poverty. The possession of large estates is not a guarantee of intelligence and economy in their management ; there is no such thing, as viith us, of the beneficial influence which a large enterprising landowner exercises over the smaller ones, by trying new experiments and introducing agricultural im- provements. " Altliough men and animals live in close proximity, kind feeling for the domestic creatures reaches only so far as is rendered indispensably necessary. So long as the country is not covered with deep snow they must seek their sustenance for themselves in the large meadows ; consequently, they at times live in the enjoyment of great abundance, and at others with difficulty find the means of subsistence. In like manner domestic animals must slake their thirst wherever they can. This they do in the muddy water on the shores of the rivers, or in the hollow tracks left by the cattle. Proper troughs for cattle are not anywhere to be seen. In the winter tliey find but slight shelter from the snow and inclement weather in the ill-kept courtyards, in sheds, and in narrow dark places, where very insufficient food is given them, as the owner of cattle never aims at possessing anything like an adequate supply of winter provender. No sooner has the sun melted away the snow than the cattle are driven to the pastures, still in- undated with water, where, exhausted by the starving process of the winter, they speedily consume what has been left from autumn, as well as tlie first buds of spring, which the rapid vegetation of that country quickly developes. As the herbage grows the temperature increases in warmth, and the exhausted animals liave not sufficient stamina to oppose to the great ex- tremes of heat and cold which day and night offer. Added to which, double work is required of the horses ; for, on the one hand, there are the labours of the field which spring always brings witli it, and which are universally done by one horse at a time, and, on the other hand, the rustics undertake to tow the numerous barges along the wide swampy rivers, and often against tide. These heavy vessels, which are nearly square, looking more like oblong chests than ships, and demanding in their towage an enormous waste of strength, carry as much as -^ 40,000 cwt., and are laden with corn, stones, bricks, hay, and wood. The hard work of towing continues the whole day without abatement, and this for many days in succession, while during the short night, with heavy dews falling, the weary animal has to seek his food for himself. The work they have to perforin is oftentimes so fatiguing that the poor crea- tures barely progress at a snail's place, being only capable of putting one foot before the other, and requiring to be con- tinually goaded on. Even loose horses find it difficult in au- tumn to overcome the difficulties which these unmade roads occasion. On September 29, when the authors of this report were travelling in the country, 2,000 horses were still engaged alone in towing the barges along the canal of New Ladoga to Schliisselburg. On the Volga, near Tver, where a very active navigation and traffic prevails, each barge, mostly laden with hay and corn, had ten horses in a row to tow it along, while three men on foot, furnished with shrill whistles of a peculiar construction, were urging the animals to exert themselves to the utmost. A still greater strain is put upon such horses as are conveyed in the vessels themselves, sometimes to the num- lier of 50, and who have to keep on at the labour for months together. Of these, 12 and more work at the same time at one single crank, to get the sliip away by means of anchors sunk at a distance. " The cattle have still less consideration shown them than the horses. Pewer of them are bred, as they are comparatively less profitable. Sheep and swine, which supply the population with food and clothing, live with the moujiks, enjoying perfect liberty, but also exposed to the pernicious influences of the unhealthy climate. " Spread of the Yasva. "As early as the beginning of the 18th century the Yasva, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 345 as stated in ancient documents of tlie Church, occasioned pro- cessions through the streets and prayers in the churches. To the same end a statue was erected at Tobolsk to St. Nicholas, which afterwards began to work wonders, and attained great fame among the orthodox. A Uttle later, Pallas, Gmelin, Renovatz, aud other scientific travellers collected more reliable information on the subject. Since 1740, when Gmelin dis- covered the first traces of the malady on the banks of the river Irtisli, where it had been prevalent long before, it has been a permanent scourge of Western Siberia, breaking out every year in the hot season, and chiefly killing men and horses. Sometimes more, sometimes less violent, it gradually spread beyond its original home, following in its course the rivers Irtish and Tobol, as well as their tributaries, and affecting alike high lands and low lands, sand and swamp, and, indeed, every sort of soU aud geographical situation. All domestic animals without distinction were liable to be attacked by it, but its most numerous victims were horses aud men. Its ap- pearance always followed closely on the advent of the hot sea- son ; cold weather, or a refreshing rain, as it counteracted the ravages of the mediaeval plague, equally put a stop to the Yasva. In 1798 the Yasva, advancing further west than ever before, reached the Caspian Sea and Ukraine, penetrating at the same time as far as the White Sea in the north, and even showing itself in Lithuania and on the Russian shores of the Baltic. In the first half of this century the disease continued to exist in its original haunts, and, slowly progressing towards the east, made its appearance in the more remote districts of Siberia, as far as the Chinese frontier. In 1823 it visited the provinces of Kasan, Cherson, aud Taurida, where it had never shown itself before, and raged at Charkow, Kasan, and all along the lower course of the Volga ; but it is only in the last three years that it advanced again in a westerly direction, and infecting all the country from Astracan to Lithuania and Vitebsk, reached St. Petersburg, Olonetz, and the shores of the White Sea. Its principal victims on this latter occasion were horses ; next, in point of numbers, came cattle ; then sheep, swine, and, as the last in the scale of suffering, men. In some places all domestic animals were Liable to be attacked ; in others, horses and cattle only. " According to official, though, ])erhaps, not quite reliable statements, the number of horses alone tliat perished of this malady in ISG'i amounts to 72,309 ; but the loss is popularly estimated at 100,000. Of cattle 60,000 liead succumbed in the same year. Looking at some of the provinces infected, we find 26,000 horses to have died in Novgorod, 12,000 in Yaroslav, 4,860 in Olonetz, 4,109 in St. Petersburg, 4,000 in Tver, and 3,182 in Vologda. In six districts of the Province of Novgorod 13,888 horses, 4,300 cattle, and 2,308 swine and sheep died, while only 1,059 horses, 578 cattle, and 95 sheep and swine that had been attacked by the malady were saved. In some parts of the district of New Ladoga all horses employed in dragging barges were carried ofl" ; in other parts there were but few deaths, in some none at all. " According to the same official sources, 938 persons were attacked by the yasva in 1864, of whom 302 died. In the above-mentioned six districts of the province of Novgorod, the number of deaths amounted to 207, and tlie number of persons saved to 360. "No doubt the weather was particularly active in spreading the yasva in 1864. There had been much snow in the winter, but spring was late, and when it came at length rather hot. The snow then passing away rapidly, the water inundated the lowlands, and a luxuriant vegetation sprung up from the combined influence of heat and moisture. The air was close, oppressive, and impregnated with noxious miasmas. In the be- ginning of June the temperature rose on the banks of the Upper Volga to 30 degrees of Reaumur in the shade, while the niglits were cool, and, in consequence of the over-charged state of the atmosphere, wet and dewy. Thus all tended to promote the spread of the murrain. On the 12th of June it broke out in the province of Vologda, on the 17th in the province of St. Petersburg, on the 22nd in Vladimir, on the 2oth in Olonetz, on the 26tli in Tver, on the 27th in Kostroma, on the 9tli of July in Yaroslav and Orel (where it ceased of itself after a ■week's duration), on the 26th in Wilna, and on the 27th in Moscow. It reached its climax from the 20th to the 28th of June, when the heat was at its height. On the temperature becoming cooler, the malady rapidly decreased, and in some localities disappeared altogether. From the 14th of July the heat began to increase again, and with it the plague; but from the 20th, when a heavy rain purified the air, few or no fresh cases occurred. In September, when the authors of this report were travelling in the provinces that had so much suffered from it, the disease had already died away. "DiFFEKEXT Kinds of Yasv.\.. " There are two kinds of yasva, generally speaking, which may either occur separately, or both at the same time, and in the same locality. In the later case a variety of intermediate stages have been observed by the physicians. The yasva is either an acute or apoplectic disease, when it kills its victims very rapidly ; or it'is chronic, when it is called diptheritic, or exanthematic, from the boUs and spellings accompany- ing it. " The apoplectic kind kills the animal in an hour and less. The animal suddenly begins to tumble, looks dull and stunned, cannot stand fast on its legs, breathes heavily, now and then emits a strange, half-involuntary sound, falls prostrate on the ground, and dies with or without spasms. As a ride no boils or blisters have been noticed in cases of this nature ; though when death was a little longer delayed than usual incipient pustules might be discerned on the skin. The apoplectic kind is the rarer of the two, and always fatal. " The exanthematic kiad does not necessarily end in death. It begins with sudden and painful shiveriugs, which, after the lapse of an hour, are foUowed by the appearance of small pustules chiefly on the withers, breast, belly, udder, aud penis, or, more rarely, on the ribs, hind legs, and erup. These pustules rapidly increase in size, penetrating deep into the cellular tissue. They are neither very hot, nor particularly painful ; sometimes elastic, and allowing of being moved this way and that way with tlie skin, sometimes hard, fast, and sticking immovable in the body. On dissecting the animal, they are found to contain decomposed ingredients of the blood. As the pustules grow larger the animal begins to tremble, and becomes feverish and doleful. It stands quite stiU, with its eyes fixed, and its head hanging down. Notwithstanding the fever and its increasing violence, the appetite does not altogether cease, the normal functions of the body continuing at the same time much as ordinarily. In many cases horses have suddenly fallen to the ground, and died with food in their mouths. Death, which is the ordinary termination of this the mUder species of the malady, as well as of the apoplectic one, ensues always within a fortnight, and, as a rule, without any pre- monitory warning. Recovery is initiated by a gradual dis- cussion of the tumour, and the peeling off of the inflamed part of the skin, and the infected membrane. " In some cases pustules have not been noticed until after the fever had already continued for some time. This species of disease always brought on death in a few days. " The carcas'es become rapidly putrid, emitting a horrible stench. The normal apertures of the body are frtquently filled with sanguinary, frothy matter. At the beginning of trie disease, the dead animals were frequently allowed to remain where they had breathed their last ; or they were thrown into the rivers, and, being washed up to the banks, deposited in some stagnating pool by the current, whence they filUd the air with pestilential vapour. It is said that St. Petersburg remained free from infection until a very large number of dead horses had been floated up to one of the metropoHtan islands by the waters of the Ladoga Canal. " The pud mortem examinations of apoplectic animals showed abnormal secretions of blood in the cellular tissue, and near the lungs, the liver, and tlie spleen, which latter organ was very soft, spongy, dark-coloured, and turgid. The secre- tions were of a dark red colour, and mostly clotted. " In cases of exanthematic yasva, the pustules were fre- quently of enormous size. At the bottom of the pustules there was always some yellowish sedematous matter, which penetrating into the body from its outer circumference, pierced its texture, and even got as far as the great internal cavities and the organs disposed in them. The fat had always entirely disappeared, having been changed into that yellowish, sede- matory matter ; and the blood was dark brown, like tar, and in most cases serous. The organs of the abdomen were full of dark-coloured blood and soft and spongy in texture ; spleen and liver in the same condition, as in the cases of apoplectic yasva. If the seat of the pustule were in the pectoral cavity, the heart and lungs were similarly affected, T 2 Sifi THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. "There was little diffeieuce between the symiitoms evinced hy the carcases of horses and cattle. Slice]) are generally atfected by the apoplectic form, and there is nothing reliable known asto the yasva of the swine. " Among the human part of the animated creation the male sex is more liable to the disease than the female. In this case the symptoms of the malady, occasioned or manifested by the yasva pustule, are identical with those of the well-known disease, pusiiila nmUfjiia. Acute pain first indicates the spot where the pustule is to appear. A swelling of the skin ensues, and there is a reddish hue noticeable on and near the spot mentioned. At length a red point becomes visible, expanding gradually into a bluish blister, varying iii size between a pea and a threepenny piece. These blisters have been observed on the face, throat, breast, arms, legs, hands, and feet. If there are but few blisters, and if they are small and confined to the arras, hands, and feet, the general state of the patient remains tolerably good, and the inflamed portion of the pustule being segregated from the rest, and falling off in course of time, recovery follows as a rule. In ease of numerous blisters stud- ding, however, the face and upper parts of the body, the state of the patient becomes feverish and typhoidal. A painful en- largement of tlie tumours is accompanied with headache, gid- diness, and nausea, and death takes place after a few days, or even hours, in consequence of a putrid decomposition of the blood. " It has been asserted by many peasants and village doctors in Russia that the contagion is not always communicated to man by animals, but will also attack men and animals at the same time. The fact might be accounted for easily enough by assuming the atmospheric and other local influences at work to poison the human as well as the animal organism under certain circumstances ; and there are, indeed, cases recorded where the numlier ot men and women infected exceeded that of the horses, while in other jjlaces human beings are said to have cauglit the infection long before the animals. As a rule, however, the contrary was the case. " The Causes and Contagious Isatuee of the Yasva. " As we have seen, the primary causes of the Yasva must be sought in a variety of circumstances, peculiar to the locality — the low state of culture and civilization in those easterly parts ; the many stagnating rivers and swamps evaporating noxious miasmas, and converting the air into a most injurious and oppressive sort of malaria atmosphere ; the bad water used for drinking ; the sudden advent of summer, and the rapid change of the weather from cold to warm and from warm to cold ; the wet and swampy grasses eaten by the animals after the dry and scanty fodder given them in winter ; and the excessive work to which the horses are put whentlie barge-dragging and agricul- tural season begins — all these are so many circumstances which cause the animals to catch cold very frequently, and which, by deteriorating the normal condition of the blood, increase their disposition for the prevailing disease. To these must be added the peculiar tendency of the Russian horses to suffer from con- gestions of the skin, a disorder frequently attended with the bursting of veins, or causing the animal to tear open with his teeth the vessels of the skin when heated. This tendency is nothing but the consequence of the want of proper cleanliness, and often ceases when the horse is tended and curried, as is the custom in other countries. Nothing, therefore, being more fi-equent than a sick, sensitive skin and the loss of blood from the capillary veins, we need not doubt that this is the very reason of the pustulous or exanthematic form of the plague committing such ravages among the poor neglected beasts. " The plague being already extinct when the authors of this report were travelhng in Russia, they had no means of testing the difl'erenl opinions on the contagious nature of the Yasva. Tlie majority of the peasants and village veterinarians, sup- ported by some of the learned doctors, contend that the disease is not contagious. Sick and healthy cattle, they say, had been frequently kept together without the latter being infected ; and the village veterinarians who had never dreaded touching dis- eased animals, even though their hands might have happened to have i-jien wounds and sores, had done so with impunity. Other peasants are, however, convinced that the contrary is the case, and that the disease is propagated by its victims. They observed, however, that in some places the plague did not break out until after the return of the horses from the river work, and that the cattle and other animals caught the infec- tion from the liorses. As to the experience of medical meii, it undoubtedly goes to prove that persons attacked had come into frequent and habitual contact with sick and dead animals ; tliat they had been engaged in curing or otherwise preparing for sale their hides, hoofs, and horns, or that they had only transported these articles from one place to another, or touched the stable utensils of diseased herds. As a rule, where the in- tellectual condition of the peasants was lowest, the Yasva v.'as most virulent among cattle and men ; although it is but right to add that precautionary measures might have been more stringently enforced in most parts of the realm. Horses, for instance, although diseased, and sure to die within a few days, were put to work all the same, and frequently exjiired in har- ness. Ill the neighbourhood of St. Petersburg many hides of diseased horses were sold to the tanners and curriers, which led to their men being infected in great numbers, and not a few carried off by the disease. On the other hand, it is equally undeniable that persons were taken ill and got pustules who had never come into contact with diseased animals ; that hos- pital attendants, whose duty it was to nurse a large number of tlie sick, were not infected ; and that in some places a single animal would be attacked without propagating the contagion among the others. " Wasps, infusorias, and a variety of harmless insects have been charged with spreading contagious matter, and it is not altogether improbable that the poison, in some cases, may have been communicated by the sting of a bee, or some other tiny animal of the kind. Indeed, some person would assert they liad been stung by insects on the very place where the pustule subsequently showed itself. Suspicion principally attaches to the stinging and sucking species of breeze-Hies, such as Ta- hanus and Stomo.ns calcitrous, and the mischievous gnat of Kolumbatz {llharjiocohim Cacensis), which al times will appear in swarms in .swampy localities. '• The Cure of the Yasva, and Sanitary Measures TAicEN to Prevent its Spread. '• The apoplectic species of the malady leaves no time for cure, and the means employed in cases of exanthematic Yasva are, as a rule, without effect unless applied at a very early stage. People used to cut open the pustules when forming, to burn and cauterize the wounds with sidphuric acid and sulphate of trali : to apply cataplasms of dough, linseed, hayseed, and to- bacco leaves impregnated with sal ammoniac ; and also to keep the wounds cold, and put ice on them, if possible. In some cases peasants wcndd apply ants' poultices, or foment the tumours witli hot bricks and stones, so as to slightly burn the skin. Embrocations with a mixture consisting of l-9th of creosote and 8-9ths of turpentine are also recommended as useful. Men and women have been frequently benefited by applying poultices saturated with vinegar of saturn and spirits of sal ammoiuac in equal proportions directly the skin became painful and a tumour visible. " As a precautionary measure it was formerly prescribed to kindle large fires, the smoke of v^liich was intended to kill noxious insects and warn off travellers. " On the late appearance of the epidemic in Western Rusiia, SO veterinary surgeons — a large number, when the scarcity of professional men in the country is taken into account — were sent to the infected provinces by Government. But although instructed to offer assistance and medicine gratis, their activity was not attended with any remarkable result. "We may also mention that it was only after the plague had been raging for some time, that people were ordered to bury the carcases at once, and in deep pits. '• The supervision of domestic animals by Government phy- sicians, as exercised in the ordinary routine of business, is no guarantee against tlie s])read of contagious diseases. A herd is simjdy driven past a Go\crnment physician, counted, and the number compared with that mentioned in the passport. How, then, is it possible for the physicians to distingaish the sick from the healthy ? Tlie authors of this report heard a woman say that she had washed off the purulent matter from the nose and eyes of an infected cow just before the arrival of the medi- cal man. In no case have diseased animals been killed by order of the Government, or indemnification offered to owners who should kiU them of their own accord. "We believe ourselves justified in inferring from the above that the Yasva is not a new and distinct malady, but only a peculiar specicb of the well-known Lieniiis, or iuflaramatiou of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 2il tlic >>i)leen, wliicli bus liceii frequently witnessed in Europe and America under loeal eircunistances similar lo those of the liussian ])lains. The autlinvs of this reiio»1 had the satisfaetitni of seeing their view of the ea-e adujiled liy lir-rr llaiiiit, tlie famous ehief veterinary surgeon of the Government, who, hav- ing- represented the Yasva as a distinct mahidy in his work on epidemics among- animals, after rediscussing the subject with them, now elas'^cs it with Licnitis." AGRICULTURAL R E PORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR AUGUST. Although the temperature has Ijeen tolerably high, the pro- gress of harvest work in all parts of the United Kingdom has been very slow. Immense (|uautities of rain having fallen, the grain has remained in the fields some time after being cut, and juucli of it has been carried in a damp state. The wheat trade has, therefore, shown signs of firmness, and an advance of from 2s. to .3s. per qr. has taken place in the quotations. At that amount of improvement, however, the business doing has been only moderate. Millers generally are aware that the stocks of old wheat on hand are large, aiul that very extensive supplies of foreign have been purchased for immediate shipment to England. It is, however, very evident that for several months really tine wheat wil', be comparatively scarce and high in price, although it is admitted on all hands that tlie yield of the new crop as to quantity is nearly, or quite equal to last seasou. Nearly the whole of the growth of barley has been secured in our forward districts. The yield is certainly a full average ; but most of the samples show a great want of quality : hence, fine parcels have been held for more money, and enhanced rates are anticipated during the coming seasou. The produce of the oat crop is even smaller than was at one time anticipated. We shall therefore be eliielly dependent upon supplies from abroad to meet the consumption. Beans and peas are a very middling crop, though certaiidy larger and of better quality than last year. Trom the above remarks it is obvious that both wheat and barley have seen their lowest range for some time; but we are not prepared to say that there will be any excitement in the demand. Continental and American advices are opposed to any great activity in the trade. The produce of the crops is represented as large, but not of very fine quality. The prices at which it is oft'ered are considered low, and we could he readily supplied with wheat at rates which -would leave a fair margin of profit in this couutiy. The crop of potatoes in almost every county is proving unusually large, and, with some few exceptions, wholly free from disease. The great abundance of the growth, and the low prices, 50s. to 100s. per ton, at which it is offered, must to some extent have a controlling influence upon the value of the better kinds offered. On the continent the crop is certainly not equal to some former years. The probability is, therefore, that the importations during the winter months will be on a very moderate scale. The turnip crop is a partial failure ; but, where successful, it is very large. Swedes, mangolds, &e., promise the largest return ever known ; indeed it is doubtful whether they can possibly be consumed, owing to the small numbers of stock in the country. It is a fortunate circumstance, however, tltat the supply of food is large at a time when butcher's meat is very higli in price. An abundance of keep will tend uot only to fatten the stock somewhat rapidly, but likewise to allay the present excitement caused by the spread of disease in various localities. The great abundance of food will, likewise, materially lessen the feeders' outlay for linseed and eake. Notwithstanding that the heavy rains have produced mould in some localities, the growth of hops in Kent, Sussex, &c., is likely to turn out unusually large, and of good quality. New qualities have been disposed of in the Borough at from 140s. to 180s. per cwt. As the stock of olds and yearlings is nearly exliausted, present rates are considered safe for fine parcels. The advance in the Bank rate for money to four per cent, has somewhat checked the demand for English wool ; never- theless very little change has taken place in the quotations. The pubUc sales of Colonial qualities, wliich, in the aggregate, will amount to nearly 140,000 bales, have piogressed steadily. Really tine qualities have changed hands freely at full prices, although the demand on continental account has been inactive when compared with the previous series. Inferior and faulty wools have given way 0|~d. per lb. The improved demand for woollen goods in America is likely to bear considerable in- fluence upon our manufacturing trade for some time. The first cut of hay has at length been secured. It has certainly exceeded last season, and the second cut in the southern and eastern districts has been somewhat heavy. Meadow liay has sold in London at from £4 15s. to £6 10s., clover £5 to £7, and straw £1 Ss. to £2 ~s. per load. The pastures have presented a most luxuriant appearance, and much (Ufficulty has been expericiieed in keeping down the grass. The crop of apples is a partial failure, but the growth of most other kinds of fruit is very large. The deficiency in the crop of apples will be severely felt in our cider districts. In Ireland fiiir progress has been made in harvest work. Wheat and barley are about average crops, but other produce presents a deficiency. The various markets Iidve beeu scantily supplied with grain, for which the demand luas ruled steady on rather higher terms. The harvest in Scotland is tolerably forward, mucli less rain having fallen than in England, and most accounts agree in stating that wheat,, barley, and oats wUl be fair average crops, though not of fine quality. The growth of potatoes is enor- mous, and it is expected that very large shipments will be made to the south during the winter. As a whole, the crop is free from disease. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. Much excitement lias prevailed throughout the country, omng to tlie spread of disease amongst cattle in various quarters. Every precaution has been taken to prevent con- tamination— diseased animals have been seized in large unmbers, and inspectors have been appointed with adequate powers to condemn meat unfit for human consumption. The losses amongst tlie cows in the metropolitan dairies have been serious, and it has been found necessary for the Privy Council to stop the export of cattle to Ireland. These precautions have certainly become necessary-, because we do not hesitate to say that the new disease which we term gastric fever is an im- portation from the continent. We do not suppose that the import of foreign cattle will be prohibited ; but our advice to the graziers is, uot to purchase foreign store animals for grazing purposes, and to the dairyman, to avoid mixing foreign cows with English breeds, although they may give an immense quantity of milk. If our views are carried out we shall hear very little more of disease in auy quarter. Fair average supplies of beasts have been on sale in the London market, but at least two-thirds of them have been be- neath the middle quality. Prime Scots, Devons, Herefords, shorthorns, &c., have changed hands freely, at very full prices. Ail other kinds have moved off heavily, on rather lower terms. Foreign store beasts have been offered as low as 2s. to 2s. 6d. per Slbs. The numbers of sheep brought forward have been mode- rately good, but mostly in poor condition. Prime Downs, half-breds, &e., have sold freely, at enhanced quotations, and even the most inferior breeds have realized extravagantly high rates. The lamb trade has been devoid of animation ; never- theless, prices have been supported. In the value of calves very little change has taken place ; hut pigs have produced more money. The prices paid for the latter in some parts of the country have been unusually high. us THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The imports of foreign stock into London have been as fol- lows ;— Head. Beasts 16,536 Sheep 54.,333 Lambs 6,727 Calves 3,287 Pigs 8,251 Total 89,134 Compariso;n oy Imports. Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 1864 11,475 39,114 2,716 2,786 4,326 1863 9,503 34,937 4,125 4,827 4,108 1863 5,630 30,653 5,204 2,060 3,297 1861 6.581 33,210 3,176 1,874 3,718 1860 6,647 38,349 1,856 2,520 4,075 1859 6,503 29,175 3,308 3,254 1,805 1358 8,293 19,500 3,764 3,512 2,935 1857 4,693 31,215 1,760 2,661 2,333 1856 5,677 17,801 1,271 3,301 1,901 1855 5,341 23,605 984 3,484 3,476 The total numbers of stock exhibited in the Metropolitan Markets were as under : — Head. Beasts 29,600 Cows 170 Sheep and lambs 147,530 Calves 3,838 Pigs , 2,175 Comparison of Supplies. Sheep and Beasts. Lambs. Calves. Pigs- 1864 29,420 154,300 3,426 3,046 1863 26,364 149,430 3,070 2,033 1863 24,073 154,920 3,354 3,013 1861 23,430 159,740 2,952 3,230 1860 32,390 151,500 3,346 2,070 1859 23,170 165,090 3,322 2,320 1858 26,915 151,530 2,127 3,510 1857 20,695 143,758 3,173 2,450 1856 21,271 147,250 3,354 3,875 1855 20,816 151,870 3,356 4,273 This district suppUes thus compare with the two previous years :— Aug., 1863. 1864. 1865. Prom Lincolnshire, Leicester- shire, & Northamptonshire ... 14,000 13,500 9,830 Other parts of England 4,000 3,700 3,000 Scotland 101 133 739 Ireland 560 297 520 The comparison of prices stands thus : — Aug., 1860. Aug., 1861. Aug., 1863. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef from 3 0 to 5 6 2 10 to 4 10 3 4 to 4 10 Mutton... 3 8 to 5 6 3 3 to 5 4 3 8 to 5 4 Lamb 5 4 to 6 6 5 0 to 6 0 5 0 to 6 4 Veal 4 3to5 6 3 4 to 4 6 4 0 to 5 0 Pork 4 0 to 5 0 3 10 to 4 8 3 8 to 4 10 Aug., 1863. Aug., 1864. Aug., 1865. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef from 3 4 to 4 10 3 4 to 5 0 3 0 to 5 6 Mutton... 3 6 to 5 2 3 10 to 5 4 44 to 6 8 Lamb 50 to 68 58 to 68 60 to 70 Veal 34 to 48 40 to 50 42 to 54 Pork 3 6to4 6 3 6 to 4 6 4 0 to 5 0 The supphes of all kinds of meat on sale in Newgate and Leadenhall have been very moderate. Prime qualities have changed hands freely, at full quotations ; otherwise, the trade has been in a most inactive state. Beef has sold at from 3s. 4d. to 43. lOd., mutton 4s. 4d. to 5s. lOd., lamb 5s. 4d. to Os. 4d., veal 4s. to 5s., and pork 4s. to 5s. 4d. per 81bs., by the cajrcase. NORTH UNCOLNSHIUE. The crops are being rapidly ingathered, although much im- peded hy the late rains. Sprouted wheat is spoken of freely ; and potatoes, in the Isle of Axholme, are said to have suilered greatly from tlic rain-storms. Turnips seem to have reaped a peculiar advantage from the wet weather, which after IMouday ceased ; but, mitU then, was almost incessant. Mangolds generally look well, especially so on heavy land. Potatoes on the Wolds are in prime condition, and realizing £16 to £17 per acre, to be taken up and paid for in October, with the usual ten or twelve days' grace. The cattle murrain has not at pre- sent made a sign in this locality ; the railway officials, acting up to the instructions of the Board of Trade, are busily occupied in remedial measures, so far as the transit of stock on their lines is concerned. This is evidently a capital plan. The cattle-trucks are lime-washed, and the dose is repeated after any of them have been used by foreign stock, and in some eases by suspicious-looking animals passing through our own locality. At Hull, wliicli is the chief port for cattle from abroad, and transliipped in our neighbourhood, the authorities are ou the alert, and every care is shown by them in the ex- amination of stock, and placing any suspicious-looking beast in quarantine ; but at present there has not been any case at all analogous with the Russian rinderpest, and no case in- deed calling for any special application for veterinary skill. AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c. ASHFORD LAMB FAIR, (Tuesday last.)— The supply was about an average, and for good lots a brisk trade was done at high prices, but very few remaining unsold at the BEDFORD FAIR.— A poor show of fat cattle ; those sold made from lis. 6d. to 12s. per score pounds. Best half-bred wethers made from 8d. to 9d., ewes from 7id. to Sd. per lb. ; good tegs sold at from 35s. to 40s., lambs from 30s. to 33s. each. Small fat porkers made from 7d. to 72d., large 6-^d. to 7d. per lb. BODMIN FAIR.— The following prices were made : Fat cattle £3 5s. to £3 10s. per cwt.. Sheep 7id. to 8d. per lb. Store cattle made good prices. A brislc sale throughout the day. BRACKNELL FAIR.— The supply of horned cattle was very large, and in a healthy condition. There was a good de- mand for fat beasts, which sold at from £18 to £34 each, and store stock for grazing were in request, well-grown steers selling at from £13 to £15, and heifers at £10 to £13. In most instances a warranty was required against existing disease. Among dairy cows there was but little business transacted ; for although dairy farms are being greatly increased in this county for the transmission of milk to London, yet the cattle plague, which is so fatal among milch cows, deters country dairymen from buying fresh stock. However, the prices made were from £17 to £33 each. Many droves of lean and store cattle were not sold. In the horse fair there was a good sale for best de- scriptions of animals, some realizing 35 to 40 guineas. COCKERMOUTH FAIR.— The general average price given for lambs was 17s. 6d., but 18s. and 19s. a-piece were obtained in some instances. Half-bred Leicesters were sold at 17s. to 25s. each, but went ofi" slowly at the latter figure ; the more improved breeds realized 26s. to 32s. each, and several lots were sold. Pure-bred Leicesters were scarce, and sold at 40s. to 50s. each. A sum of £3 15s. was asked for one, but no purchaser was found. Mr. Robinson Mitchell sold a lot of half-bred Leicesters at 24s. 6d. each. There was a small lot of Iri; h wethers shown, but they were not sold ; 50s. each was offered for them, but refused. Ewes were bought at 53s. and 55s. each, but transactions were few. The supply of cattle was confined to a few. lots of Irish two-year-old heifers, which realized £6 to £7 a-head. Upon the whole the prices were considerably in favour of sellers, and though buying was not brisk, before the fair concluded a large business was done. CREDITON FAIR.— There was an average supply of bul- locks ; sheep, above average. It was a " selling market," and cattle fetched rather high prices. Sheep sold at 8d. per lb. GLOUCESTER MONTHLY MARKET was moderately supplied with fat cattle. The quality generally was rather inferior, but trade was firm at advanced prices. The supply of sheep and lambs was short, and the demand was consequently active. A clearance was soon effected. The prevailing prices were— Beef, 7d. to 8d. ; mutton 8^d. to 9id. ; lambs, 9d. to lOd. per lb. ; pigs, 10s. 6d, to lis. per score. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 249 GRANTHAM FAT-STOCK MARKET.— A small show compared to late markets. Trade brisk. Ecel" Ss. Od. to lis. per stone, mutton Sd. to 9d. per lb. HI^'CKLEY FAIR was the dullest ever observed iu this town. Almost impossible to state the prices given. Fat cattle were sold at an advance of from Is. to ~s. per score pounds. IPSWICH LA:\iB FAIR.— The cattle disease, no doubt, affected both the attendance and the supply. The Corporation had taken every precaution that no diseased cattle should reach the fair. An inspector was stationed at every approach to the field, and on every road, whether highway or by-way. As yet sheep and lambs have been considered safe from the infection ; but, nevertheless, there were fewer pens than usual. Trade was brisk among the sheep. Lambs made 35s. to 37s., blacklaced ewes 60s. to 70s. Gd., haK-breds oOs. to 60s. Fat beef fetched 9s. to 9s. 6d. per stone. LANARK SECOND LA^MB MARKET brought together a large gathering of dealers from various parts of Scotland, and a few from Ireland and the bordering counties of England. The morning dawned fair, and excepting a shower which fell during the forenoon, the weather was favourable for the trans- action of business. The .number of lambs was upwards of 16,000, wliicli added to those sold the previous evening, would run up the total show to 20,000 head — the largest number that has been brought forward at the second lamb market for many years. The condition of all the lots was fair, though some were perliaps more unequal than usual, owing to the severity of the winter. In the afterpart of the day blackfaced wether lambs could not be sold at all, and a great many lots failed to find new ovi'ners. Blackfaced ewe lambs would be up from 2s. to 3s. on the prices of the corresponding market of last year, and Cheviot ewe lambs from Is. to Is. (id. Blackfaced wether lambs were back from Is. 6d. to 2s. on the prices of the market held at Lanark a fortnight ago. Cheviot wether lambs also declined in value, and compared with the rates going at Lockerbie last week, they indicated a fall of from Is. 6d. to 2s. Crosses fetched nearly the same money as at recent markets. Blackfaced ewe lambs sold at from 18s. 6d. to 24s. clad, wether lambs at from 15s. downwards ; Cheviot ewe lambs, seconds at from I7s. to 30s., and wether lambs at from 16s. to 32s. each. LINCOLN FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— A good show of beasts, but a thin supply of sheep. The former made 8s. 6d. to 9s. per stone, and the latter from 8d. to 9d. per lb. LUDLOW FAIR. — There was a numerous attendance of dealers ; but the number of sheep was not so large as last year. Fat sheep averaged Sj-d. per lb. Store sheep sold ijriskly. The pig market was remarkably liigh, fat porkers fetching ft-om 6d. to 6kl. per lb. The supply of cattle was comparatively unimportant, this being essentially the sheep- fair of the year. Fat beasts, of which there were very few, realized 7d. to 7^. per lb. There was a poor show of horses. Cart-horses were sold for £20 to £23 each. Of those of an inferior description but few changed hands. MxiRLBOROUGH FAIR.— Most of the pens of ewes and lambs were in prime condition, and met a ready sale, at an ad- vance of from 10s. to 12s. per head on last year, and fully os. per head in advance of Britford Fair. There were several strings of good cart-horses, and cobs in great variety. Cows met rather a dull sale ; but there were large numbers offered. On the whole, the sale was good, at greatly-enhanced prices. jMARTOCK FAIR.— The attendance was not so large as was expected, owing, no doubt, to the fine weather. There was, however, a good number of fat beasts, which sold well. Sheep and pigs fetched very high prices. JIJELTON FAIR. — Owing to the prevailing epidemic, the pitch of beasts was smaller than on any previous occasion. Only few store cattle were offered. Meated beasts were in good supply, and found ready purchasers at very full prices, especially for prime quality. In-calved beasts were very slow of sale, at reduced prices, none being at present required for the London trade. The pitch of sheep was larger than usual, especially of store lambs, prices for which ranged as high as 'iOs. MONZIE LAHtB MARKET.— There was a great defici- ency compared with the corresponding market last year. The high prices asked by holders in the morniug would not be ac- ceded to by buyers, and consequently the day was well ad- vanced before many sales were effected. About ten o'clock sellers gave way a little ; and immediately afterwards a consi- derable number of the best lots were picked up at the sub- joined prices : Mr. Hugh M'Laren, Dunnichcn, sold his best lot of cross-bred lambs at 23s. per head, and seconds at 19s. each. Mr. John Wilson sold the top lots of the Morcnish Cheviot lambs at rates ranging from £23 to £25 per clad score. Tiie inferior lots brought ])riccs varying from £16 lOs. to £20 per clad score. Mr. AVilson also sold the Claggon lambs, Lochtayside, which consisted principally of blackfaced stock. The top price was about 20s. per head ; seconds ranged from 15s. to 18s. each. The current prices of cross-bred lambs ruled from £20 to £22 per clad score. Blackfaced lambs formed a large portion of the stock, and numerous lots oi small inferior lambs were shown. Mr. Thomas Patton, Glen- almond, sold his best lot of blackfaced lambs, to go to Kinross, at £17 per clad score, and seconds at £15. Mr. Duff, Berry- hiU, sold his blackfaced lambs to the same gentleman at simi- lar rates. The other lots of the blackfaced stock brought about the same rates, and some inferior lots ranged from £8 to £11 per clad score. Prices generally ranged fi-om 4s. to 5s. per head higher than last season. NEW ROMNEY LAMB AND WOOL FAIR. — There was a brisk demand for lambs, some of which changed hands at the highest prices ever known. The average was about 293. per head, but a great many fetched 31s., and as high as 36s. per head. There was not much doing in wool, though there were several buyers present. The highest prices offered were £23 per pack for Kent fleeces, and £15 for lamb wool. Flock- masters held for £24 per pack for fleeces, at which price a large quantity was offered. NORTHAMPTON FAIR.— Scarcely anything selling : no dealers or graziers. Some fat Beasts were disposed of, but at very high prices, so extravagant, that they carmot be sold at a profit for less than 9d. or lOd. per lb. OLD RAYNE FAIR.— Like aU the other markets at pre- sent, the turn-out of cattle was small. Fat beasts sold at 70s. per cwt. Mr. Bro\ra, Knockollochy, sold 4 slots at £23 10s. ; Mr. !Middleton, Clatt, a pair of stots for £40, and a pair of qneys for £37 10s. ; Mr. George Hay, NetherhaU, a pair of prime queys for £54 10s. ; Mr. Wilson, Moss-side of Newton, three at £17 10s. ; Mr. Edwards, WeUlieads, sold 4 yearlings at £11 10s. Mutton fetched 7d. to Sd. per lb. Mr. Grant, Drumbulg, sold wethers at 25s. ; Mr. Singer, WUhamston, a lot of ewes at 21s. PENRITH FORTNIGHTLY IVLiRKET.— Beasts were in demand, but the rates remained unchanged. Average prices : Beasts 7s. 6d. to 8s. per stone, sheep 72d. to 8d., lambs BJd., and calves 8d. to 8id. per lb. SETTLE FxVIR was well supplied wth sheep and lambs, and the attendance of the trade was numerous. A heavier demand than usual was experienced, but the prices were about the same. SHAFTESBURY FAIR.— About 3,000 sheep were penned, which readily changed hands at high prices. Lambs made 33s. to 50s. the head, ewes 48s. Of stock there was not much shown, but there was a ready sale at high prices. STROUD FAIR was unusually " slow." Very little stock was shown, but that disposed of realized high prices. ME.RIGDEN'S SOUTHDOWN SALE. The annual sale and letting of Mr. Rigden's Southdowns took place at Hove on Friday last. The day was very fine, and there was a large attendance of flockmasters, both from the county and other parts of England. The ewes, pnncipally four-shear, and 100 in number, were sold in lots of five, and averaged £2 18s. The highest-priced lot of ewes were bought by Mr.;Harris, of Chichester, at £5 10s., and the second priced lot for Miss Talbot, of Gloucestershire, at £4 15s. Out of the 30 rams wliich were in tlie catidogue, seven were sold at an average of £15 os. lOd., and ten were let at £15 lis. 6d. The six-shear Battersea gold medal sheep, which has now made about 300 gs. in lettings, was let to a " Shrop" flock- master, Mr. Green, of Great Marlow, who also hired another at 18 gs., and bought four at 11 gs., 11 gs., 15 gs., and 23 gs. Mr. Tomhne, M.P., hired three, at 20 gs., 15 gs., and 15 gs. ; Mr. Turner, of Chyngton, hired one at 20 gs. ; and his Grace the Duke of Richmond another at 16 gs. Messrs. Humfrey, Selby, Symes, Filder, Croskey, Harris, &c-, also hired sheep. The great feature of the sale was the demand for tups to cross with " Shrops." 250 THE FARxMER'S MAGAZINE. REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. " Rain in harvest" has ever been a terror to hus- bandmen, from the patriarchal age down to the present; and we regret to make an unfavourable record of the character of the past month. The fear in July and in the previous months was drought, and the traces of its effects have still been left in a deficient crop of oats and a light one of hay; but the month just passed away was without seven days' co^isecutively fine weather. The bean crop, indeed, if well harvested, has been made by the copious fall, and esculents have become luxu- riantly fine; but the potato disease has certainly sprung up among the later sorts, and the bulk of the corn crops has sustained much damage as to condition, while the quality of the wheat was very various previously, from the unusual fluctuations of temperature. The samples of new that have hitherto appeared create but sorry forebodings as to the entire yield ; but, hapj)ily, there are excep- tions, and perhaps farmers, anticipating the im- proved value of everything fine and dry, have kept these back for yet better markets. Nor can we blame those who have the good fortune to possess them, for so doing. We scarcely like any further reference to disasters; but accounts from Poland (once the granary of Europe) are doleful in the ex- treme, and we hope they are exaggerated, for hail as well as rain have come down heavily on the corn in that country, and almost driven farmers to des- peration. In France, too, they are decidedly short this year, as well as in Southern Russia, while the Western States of America have suffered so severely as to give birth to speculation in New York, at advancing rates. But if we go a step further in the catalogue of woes, we must face something still more to be deplored—" that terrible cattle-plague," which has come as the most dismal heritage of free-trade, and fastened upon us with such a grip that the whole island is in consterna- tion, from north to south. As there is, however, one Being who can control the elements, and stay the plague effectually, let us hope that both will cease at His merciful command, and confidence in His goodness ultimately fill the land ! We need not, however, say much in referring to what has already happened, in vindication of our opinion that very low prices for corn seem next to impos- sible. The following rates have lately been quoted at the places named : The best wheat at Paris, which has now become one of the cheapest mar- kets, was quoted at 45s. per qr., red at Antwerp 47s., Zealand wheat at Maestricht 44s., red quali- ties at Hamburgh 46s. 6d. per qr. The best old highmixed Polish at Dantzic was held at 58s., cost, freight, and insurance included ; red at Cologne, 43s. per qr., at Straubing 36s., at Venice 37s. per qr. Floating cargoes of Ghirka from Odessa have been placed in quantity at 43s. per qr., Berdianski 43s. 3d. per qr., Wallachian 37s. per qr., red at Stral- sund 40s. 6d., Stettin 43s. ; spring wheat at Chicago, 28s. 3d. per qr. of 480lbs. New York quotations note the value of Milwaukie Club as about 35s. per 480lbs, amber Western 36s. per 480lbs., winter 48s. 3d. per 480lbs. The first Monday in Mark Lane o|)ened on small English supplies of wheat, with moderate arrivals of foreign. The show of samples this morning from Kent and Essex was scanty, and with there- turn of rain the market closed 2s. to 3s. per qr. dearer; but the latter advance was made with difficulty. Foreign also improved Is. to 2s. per qr', the qualities most in demand being good dry Russian. Cargoes off the coast improved in value fully Is. per qr. The varied character of the wea- ther through the week similarly affected the several country markets ; those held early followed the London rise of 2s. to 3s., then Is. easier terms were accepted ; and as the close brought more rain, there was again some enhancement of values. Wheat at Glasgow was Is. per boll higher, and the rise at Edinbro' was Is. to 2s. per qr. Holders of foreign in the Irish markets insisted on higher prices ; but not much business was done. On the second Monday the English supplies were scanty, but the foreign liberal. The morn- ing's show from the near counties was moderate, with a good proportion of new, poor in quality and condition. Old samples were still dearer, say Is. to 2s. per qr. ; but the sale was not brisk; new continues quite neglected, as unserviceable to mil- lers. A fair amount of business was passing in foreign, at a further improvement of 2s. per qr., Rus- sian sorts again being in principal request. The float- ing trade was also improved to the extent of Is. to 2s. per qr. The weather being again very catching, and the several country markets affected accord- ingly, many were 2s. to 3s. per qr. dearer, though little reliance could be placed in the stability of so sudden a rise. Liverpool on Tuesday was ex- cited, but calmed down again on Friday. Glas- gow noted an improvement of Is. 6d. to 2s. per boll, and Edinburgh was Is. to 2s. per qr. dearer. The advance paid at Dublin on foreign samples was fully Is. per barrel. The returns of the third Monday were small, both in English and foreign qualities. The morning's show was also scanty, with but a small proportion of old. These latter sold at the value of the pre- vious Monday ; but new were exceedingly difficult to dispose of, from their inferiority and unfitness for milling. The foreign trade remained firm, but no advance could be quoted. With the weather somewhat improved, there was less demand for floating cargoes, which were Is. per qr. cheaper. Though Wednesday was a pouring day, and very damaging, as some of the days intervening were very hot and fine, a good deal of corn was carried, and there was not the same universal advance. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 251 tnany places quoting no higher prices ; but the majority were Is. to '2s. per qr. dearer, thus making; the country clearer than London, and the markets held on Saturday were generally of this upward tendency. Glasgow made no alteration. Edin- burgh was Is, per qr. dearer. Dublin was only firm, no further advance being practicable. On the fourth Monday the English supplies were but moderate, though there was plenty of foreign. There was a rather better supply this morning from Essex and Kent, mostly new, the condition of some of which was little above that of grains. The upward movement had then ceased. Even old English samples did not sell freely, though only the former Monday's rates were de- manded, and new, from being worse conditioned, were of very doubtful value, tliough occasionally a fine parcel was offered for sale at about the price of old. The foreign demand was less brisk ; but Friday's advance was insisted on for all fine dry Russian sorts, sqch as Saxonska and Ghirka; but secondary quality Danzic was not dearer, and the demand slackened for fl.iating cargoes as well, with prices below those of Thursday. The imports into London for the four weeks were, in English qualities, 15,035 qrs.; in foreign, 74,S07 qrs., against 15,989 qrs. English, 72,689 qrs. foreign in 1864. The London averages commenced at 46s. per qi-. and closed at 48s. 4d. The general average opened at 4'2s. lOd. and closed at 43s. Id. per qr. The imports into the kingdom for the four weeks, ending lOih August were, in wheat 1,753,805 cwt. J in flour, 268,852 cwt. There were no exports of wheat or Hour from London. During the past month the flour trade passed from a state of extreme depression and dulness into one of full activity, with a corresponding advance. Business in Norfolks and all country descriptions had previously been at the lowest ebb, the manu- facture entailing almost certain loss, but every market-day noting an improvement of Is. per sack. Norfolks have become fully worth 33s., some holding for more ; while barrels, notwithstanding their relative dearness, have gained 2s. per barrel. Town millers raised their top price on the 14th to 43s., at which it has since stood. The stock of barrels in London is very reduced, and the rise at New York is not favourable to large imports. The imports into London in four weeks were 53,905 sacks English, 2,174 sacks 19,105 barrels foreign, against 40,966 sacks English 1,406 sacks 56,332 barrels foreign in 1864. The barley trade during the month has been on a small scale, the season not having yet com- menced, and the arrivals of new malting being hitherto extremely scanty ; but prices have gradually hardeneil for all kinds, in- consequence of the smallness of stocks and the roughness of the weather, foreign Baltic having improved in value Is. to Is. 6d. and low grinding about 2s. per qr., Danube being worth 22s. to 23s. per qr. As much barley has been out in the rain, fine Uj-ight quality for malting is likely to be very scarce, and full prices paid for it; but there must of necessity be much that will prove discoloured and coarse, which may weigh upon the markets. Not much depen- dence can be placed on foreign this season to supply any deficiencies of our own, as Northern Europe, like ourselves, has had much wet. The imports into London for the four weeks were 855 qrs. English, 12,168 qrs. foreign, against 1,110 qrs. English, 11,880 qrs. foreign in 1864. With the weather so much against the barley crop, malt has been steadily advancing in value, till fine qualities have become worth 66s. per qr. The past month, like its predecessor, has been extraordinary for its imports of foreign oals; but with the weather damaging to the small crop on the ground, the market has borne the unusual pressure well, uot having given way more than Is. per qr., a decline of 6d. per qr. taking place on the second and fourth markets. Fme 40lb. Danish and Swedes are now worth about 22s. 6d. per qr., and Russians in proportion ; so, if there be any falling off in the foreign supplies, we expect this last Is. will be recovered : but as yet there is no sign of it. The imports into London for the four weeks were — in English sorts 1,594 qrs., Scotch 1,952 qrs., Irish 455 qrs., and foreign 271,643 qrs. (half of which anived on the fourth Monday), against 2,954 qrs. English, 40,094 qrs. Scotch, 14,127 qrs. Irish, and 229,495 qrs. foreign for the same period in 1864. Beans have been very steady through the month, being all along high priced ; but on the fourth Monday they advanced fully Is. per qr., some of the new crop being cut, and reported to !)e damaged by the wet weather. This grain, however, is too high for speculation, and as they have a crop of Maize in America this year, and shipments have been coming forward for Ireland, we may see some decline if the bulk of the crop escapes damage, or should only be damp. Egyptian have lately been selling freely at 38s., and Mazagans at 40s.. The imports into London for four weeks were — 1,93 7 qrs. English and 5,691 qrs. foreign, against 2,3o8 qrs. PvUglish and 1,451 qrs. foreign, in 1S64. Though the trade in peas has been small, prices have been gradually hardening, old foreign having followed the value of beans, and new coming as yet in too small quantities to lower prices. Fine new boilers are worth about 42s., but extra foreign are held for more — grey at 36s. to 37s., and the other sorts in proportion. The imports into Lou- don for the four weeks were 910 qrs., exclusively English, against 1,896 qrs. English and 4,204 qrs. foreign for the same period in 1864. With a rise in wheat and flour, and probable advance in meat, it seems likely that fine boilers may improve in value as Christmas approaches. With good arrivals of linseed at the commence- ment of the month from India, and some dulness as the consequence, prices eventually hardened again, both for seed and cake, and the price which well-fed cattle now readily make prevents much probability that rates will decline, more especially as the crops abroad have been reported as defi- cient. The seed trade has been in a state of abeyance in conseqaence of the doubtfulness of the weather. The high prices at which the small stock of clover- seed left off at the close of the season, has pre- vented any speculative inquiry ; but holders with 252 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. present prospects have been little disposed to sell. Trefoil, too, has improved in value. Old mustard- seed has found some speculative inquiry, the new being endangered. Canary seed has also risen from its long neglect, and become worth 2s. per qr. more ; but new winter tares, offered in greater plenty, have fallen in value to 7s. 6d. per bushel. CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE. Shillings per Quarter. ■WHEAT, Essex and Kent, white new 38 to 50 ... 4ito53 „ red ,, 38 44 ... 4.4 47 Norfolk,' Lincoln, and Yorkshire, red 44 47 BARLEY 27 to 30 Chevalier, new 30 37 Grinding 26 29 DistiUing 28 32 MALT, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk 58 66 Kingston, Ware, and town-made 58 66 Brown 50 54 RYE 26 28 OATS, EngUsh, feed 19 to 23 Potato 22 27 Scotch, feed 18 23 Potato 22 27 Irish, feed, white 17 20 Fine 21 24 Ditto, black 17 20 Potato 21 24 BEANS, Mazagan ...36 39 Ticks 36 39 Harrow 39 41 Pigeon 41 46 PEAS, white, boilers..37 41 Maple 37 to 40 Grey, new 35 37 FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., Town, Households 38 43 Country, on shore 31 to 34 „ 35 36 Norfolk and Suffolk, on shore 31 33 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings perQuarter. WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 47 to 51 old, extra 51 to57 Konigsberg 45 49 extra 49 51 Rostock 45 49 fine 50 51 SUesian, red 43 45 white 46 48 Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk red old... 43 49 Russian, hard, 38 to 39. . . . St. Petersbvu-g and Riga 42 44 Danish and Holstein, red 41 43 French, none Rhine and Belgium 44 49 American, red winter 44 to 47, spring 43 to 46, white 47 60 PARLEY, grinding 22 to 25 distUling and malting 27 32 OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 18 to 23 feed 17 21 Danish and Swedish, feed 19 to 23 Stralsund... 19 23 Russian, Riga 19 to 22. ...Arch. 18 to 21....P'sburg 20 24 BEANS, Friesland and Holstein 35 38 Konigsberg 35 to 39.. .Egyptian 37 38 PEAS, feeding and maple... 36 39... fine boilers 39 41 INDIAN CORN, white 30 35...yeUow 30 34 TARES — —...Lentils — — FLOUR, per sack, French.. .32 35. ..Spanish, p. sack 32 35 American, per brl 22 24...estra and d'ble. 25 27 PRICES OF SEEDS. LONDON, Monday, August 28. — Cloverseed is without business passing and unaltered in value. Trefoils are steady in value. "\Viuter Tares, with improved sup- ply and small demand, were noted 6d. per bushel lower. New Rapeseed, with small supply, is fully as dear, BRITISH SEEDS. MusTAED, per bush., white 9s. 6d. to 10s. Canary, per qr 52s. — s. Tares, winter, new, per bushel 78.3d. 7s. 9d. Cloverseed, red — s. — s. CoBiANDEs, per cwt — s. — s. Trefoil 278. 28s. LissEED, per qr., sovring 56s. to 60a., crushing 54s. 58s. Rapeseed, per qr 72s. 76s. Linseed Cakes, per ton £9 10s. to £10 10s. Rape Cake, per ton £5 10s. to £6 Os, FOREIGN SEEDS. Cohiandee, per cwt 20s.to22s. Oahraway ,, — s. 33s. Trefoil 25s. 26s. Hempseed, small — s. per qr., Dutch — s. 48s. Linseed, per qr., Baltic 58s. to 60s.Bombay... 68s. — s. Linseed Cakes, p>-^r ton £9 lOs. to £11 Os. Rape Cake, per ton £5 Os. to £6 Os. HOP MARKET. BOROUGH, Mo^-DAY, Aug. 28.— Our market has been supplied with about 1,500 pockets of the new growth, which, considering the early period of the season, have met with a good demand, prices ruling for Susses from 120s, to 14:0s. and for Kents 115s. to 180s. The demand for yearlings continues good, and the recent advance in value is fully maiatained. POTATO MARKETS. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. LONDON, Monday, Aug. 28. — The arrivals of home-grown Potatoes are tolerably large. For most quahties the trade la duU, and prices have a do^vnward tendency. There was no import into London last week. Regents 60s. to 90s. per ton. Shaws 50s. to 70s. „ COUNTRY POTATO MARKETS.— Doncaster, (Satur- day last.) — A good supply of new potatoes, which met a good demand at the foUowing rates : Wholesale prices from 8s. to 9s. per load, and retail Id. per lb. Manchester, (Saturday last.)— Potatoes 5s. to 10s. per 2521bs. York, (Saturday last.) — The supplies, though fair, do not come to hand very liberally, but, owing to there being no complaints of the quan- tity likely to be produced in England, and the accounts of the Scotch potato crops being favourable, the prices rather re- ceded : Ave may quote them at from 7s. 6d. per tub of 2801bs., and from Gd. to 8d. per peck retail. ENGLISH BUTTER MARKET. LONDON, Monday, August 28.— Trade with us is in a most sluggish state, with drooping prices ; indeed, quotations are quite nominal. • Dorset,fine 120s. to 122s. per cwt. Devon 112s. to His. per cwt. Fresh lis. to lis. per dozen. GLASGOW, (Wednesday last.) — The arrivals of cheese, both by steamer and rail, continue large, and are quickly bought up, at sellers' prices. About 31 tons passed the weigh- house scales. Some prime lots of Cheddars brought 2s. to 3s. above our highest quotations. Old Dunlop 60s. to 66s., new ditto 56s. to 60s., old Cheddar-made 648. to 67s., new ditto 58s. to 62s., skim-milk Zis. to 26s. per cwt. CORK BUTTER MARKET, (Friday last.)— Prices of Butter per cwt. : — Heavy-salted : First quality 117s. to 114s., second ditto 114s. to ills., third ditto 107s. to 104s., fourth ditto 106s. to 103s., fifth ditto 94s. to 91s., sixth ditto 74s. to 71s. Mild-cured : First quality 121s. to 118s., second ditto 118s. to 115s., third ditto 116s. to 113s. Currency: Heavy- salted, 10s. per cwt. less ; mild-cured,. 10s. ditto ; sponged butter, 2s. ditto. WOOL MARKETS. ENGLISH WOOL MARKET. CITY, Monday, Aug. 28. — For nearly all kinds of English wool the demand continues very inactive, both for home use and export. In prices, however, very little change has taken place. The supply on offer is very moderate ; but we under- stand that the stocks held by the leading manufacturers are limited. Current Prices op English Wool. s. d. s. d. Fleeces — Southdown hoggets per lb, 1 8 to 1 9 Half-bred ditto ,, 1 114 2 0^ Kent fleeces „ 1 10^ 1 11 Southdown ewes and wethers ,, 18^ 19 Leicester ditto „ 1 10| 2 0 Sorts— Clothing ,, 16 1 11 Combing „ 15 2 OJ BRESLAU WOOL REPORT, Aug. 21.— We had again a pretty brisk demand for most descriptions of middle-fine comb- ing and clothing wools, with transactions amounting to about 3,000 cwts. Prices liave been generally well maintained, and in most instances were in favour of the sellers. Only fine and superfine qualities are continuing comparatively neglected, with the exception of lambs', which are much required and very scarce. The bulk of the above-mentioned quantity, consisting of Hungarian, Volhynian, and PoUsh fleeces, has been acquired liy home and Saxon manufacturers and combers at from 66 to 75 thalers, whereas slipes, skin-wool, in bundles, refuse, and Charkow scoured wools have been purchased at late quotations hy Netherlands Hamburg, and French commissioners. In general, business might well be livelier at this season of the year ; hut there is no reason to despair of a soon return of greater activity, as provisions are by no means very large, at prices increasing at most staple places. — GunsbukgBrothers. , Printed by Rogerson and Tuxford, 246, Straud, London, W.C. THE FARMER'S MAGAZIE'E. SEPTEMBER, 1865. CONTENTS. Plate I.—PORTRAIT OF SIR EDWARD KERRISON, BART., M.P. Plate II.— TO HOWDEN. Meeting at Market Rasen A Catalogue of the Agricultural Descriptions of the Plates ..... The Mineral Phosphate of Lime: By Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S. A Few Words upon the Potato Disease: By a Practical Farmer Is it a Fallacy to Feed Cattle and Sheep on Malt ? . Field and Fern; or Scottish Flocks and Herds. By H. H. Dixon,— A The Summer House-feeding of Dairy-stock Autumnal Agricultural Speechifying .... Foreign Agricultural Gossip ..... Barley and Mushrooms ..... Agricultural Progress in Australia .... North Lincolnshire Agricultural Society Awards for Implements, &c. Royal Agricultural Society of England Implements &c., Exhibited at the Plymouth Meeting, in 1865 The Implements at Plymouth .... Monthly Council ..... The Yorkshire Agricultural Society : Meeting at Doncaster . The Highland Agricultural Society : Meeting at Inverness The Durham Agricultural Society : Meeting at Durham North Lancashire Agricultural Society: Meeting at Accrington The Duke of Argyll on Highland Agriculture Earl Grey on Northumberland Farming North-West of Ireland Agricultural Society County of Cork Agricultural Show .... Our Friends, the Birds: By a Practical Farmer Valuation by Arbitration ..... Improvement of Tidal Rivers ..... Hay and Straw Elevators : American Loaders and Stackers . Romsey County Court: Important to Farmers . The Oil Regions ...... The Essex Steam Plough ..... Cattle versus Corn and Malt .... The Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland : The Clonmel Show Agricultural Education: Public and Private Charity Schools Professor Simonds on the Cattle Plague The Disease in Cattle .... The Bath and West of England Agricultural Society An Efficacious Remedy for the Cattle Disease Prussian Official Report on the Cattle Plague General Agricultural Report for August Review of the Cattle Trade for August Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c. Review of the Corn Trade during the past Month Market Currencies, &c. .... Review Page. 163, 164 . 164 . 167 168 170 173 176 177 178 179 180 224 . 185 . 193 . 197 . 200 . 207 . 211 . 213 . 214 . 216 . 217 . 217 . 218 . 219 . 220 . 222 . 225 . 226 . 229 . 231 . 234 . 236 . 238 240, 241 . 242 . 243 . 244 . 247 . 247 . 248 . 250 . 252 Now ready, in One Volume, post 8vo, THIRD EDITION, considerably enlarged, with about 90 IlluS' t rations on Copper and Wood, including upwards of 60 new im this Editioji, price \2s. Grf. cloth. A Treatise on English and Foreign Boats ; descriptive of the various forms of Boats and Sails of Every Nation, with Practical Directions for Sailing, Management, kc. BY H. C. F 0 L K A R D, E S Q., Author op "The Wild-Fowler," kc. London: Longman, Green, & Co, Paternostcr-row. PIGGOTT.— RICK CLOTHS, with Poles, Tackles, and Guide-lines complete ; MARQUEES, TENTS, and FLAGS, for Sale or Hire, TARPAULINS and RAILWAY SHEETS, war- ranted waterproof, and not to stick when packed. H. PiGGOTT, 59, BisHOPSGATE Without, London, E.G., Contractoi' to the War DepHrtnieut and the Admiralty, and to the National Rifle A>sociaiion, and to the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society. EDGINGTON'S RICK CLOTHS for 60 Years have m^iintained their celebrity as the best. EDGlNGTON't* GARDKN NETTING, the cheap- est and most durable, Id. per square yard, or in qiian- tiiics oC 2'jO, 51 0, or 1,(!(10 Harris, carriage free. EDGINGTON'S MARQUEES and GARDEN TENTS are the prettiest. EDGINGTON'S MARQUEES, for hire, are the most handsome and capacious. HAY THORN'S and BRITTAIN'S NETTINGS. Sample of material Cree nn tipplieation. Be particular— FREDERICK EDGINGTON and CO., Thomas-street, Old Kent Road, London, S.E. A liberal Discount to the Trude ! ! ! International Exhibition, 1862, Class XIX. — Honour- able Mention. EDGINGTON, JOHN, and COxMPANY. Rick Cloths, with Poles. Pulleys, and Lines complete, New and Second-hand ; und Waterproof Trirpaulings for Watrgons and Carts. Cricketing Marquees^ Garden Tents, from 3 guineas each. Tem- porary Rooms for Evenmg Parties. Flags and Silk Banners. Tanned Netting for Fruit Trees, Id. per square yurd. Address: JOHN EDGINGTON and COMPANY, 48, Lonu: Lane, Smithfield, E.C. ; 18, PiccaHilly ; and 108, Old Kent, Road. — Illustrated Price List sent free. EAYKBIRD, CALDECOTT, & BAW- . TREE, Seed Farmers and Merchants, 89, Seed Market, Mark-lane; and BasingstoUe. PuizE Medals, 1851, for "Wheat;" 1862, for Excellent Seed Corn and Seeils." [\/IANCUR'S American PATENT SCALE ItJ. for weighing fish, game, deer, sheep, pii;s, and eiilves ((lead oi- alive^, hay, straw, iind farm produce. Price, trom lib. to 20111b., 5s.; fr^m lib. to 30()U)., 7s. 6d. ; from lib. to 50Olb., 15s. Will be forwarded, free of all expense, on receipt of P.O.O, made payable nt Fleet. street. Address, E. Mancuh, Agent, 174, Fleet- street, London, E.C. ALDERNEY, JERSEY, k GUERNSEY COWS AND HEIFERS— EDWARD PAR- SONS FOWLER, of Jersey, will have on PRIVATE SALE, at Mr. GOWER'S REPOSITORY, Barbican, London, E.C, a Choice Herd of the above, the SECOND and LAST MONDAY in everi Month throughout the Year. Warranted perfect, direct from the Islands, and of the Purest Breed. On view the Saturday prior. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. LONDON MEAT, BUTTER, FISH, AND POULTRY MARKET. ESSRS. GARDON & CO., COMMIS- SION SALESMEN, II, Newport Market, London, for Meat, Poultry, Butter, Eggs, Fi.eH, Hams, Bacon, Cheese, Ales, Porter, Cider, &c. , beg to return their most sincere thanks to the Public for all past Consignments of Meat, Butter, Poultry, &e., and to assure those who may plea«e to favour them wiih further Consignments that every exertion shall be made to obtain the Best Market Price. Commission for Selling, 6d. in the pound. Pigs, Calves, and Sheep, 6d. each. Live Cattle charged at per luad. NB. Having lartre and extensive Premises in a commanding jiart of the Market, they feel certain to give satisfaction to every sender. Accounts returned the d ty of Sale. Please send an Invoice by post with each Consign- ment. PRIZE MKDAL AWARDED. Hijhlv Important to D^irvrnf^n and mII who keep Cows. BARLAND'S PATENT POCKET SELF- MILKING APPARATUS, by means of which lOO Cows lUAy Milk SBaeBBBS^'lvt*.*^ in Osse Hour. It is recom- menilrfd by se%'eral well-known land stewards of the United Kingdom for its <»l«»aHlines», qiticlt- Me!<»S, and eCOIBOEUy. Farmers need only to give it a trial to see its advantages over all other in- ventions. " We have received from so fraast 'WOrtlsy a source so gond an account of the Pocket Milkins; Apparatus that we feel ourselves J UStifi«' URAL ARCHITECTURE : a Series JX OF DESIGNS FOR RURAL AND OTHER DWELIilNGS. The Ground Plans, Elevations, and Specifications by James Sanderson, Borough Engi- neer's Oflice, Liverpool. THE AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR; OK, YOUNG FARMER'S CLASS BOOK.— By Edmund Mukphy, A.B. DOMESTIC FOWL: THEIR NATURAL HISTORY, »"BREBDIN&, AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. THE FLOWER GARDEN.— By George Glenny, F. L. S., Author of " Properties of Flowers," &c. HORSES; THEIR VARIETIES, BREED- ING, AND MANAGEMENT. — Edited by M. M. MiLBURN, D OGS : THEIR ORIGIN AND VARIE- TIES. HGS : THEIR ORIGIN AND VARIE- TIES. COWS AND DAIRY HUSBANDRY.— Bv M. M. MiLBUKN, Author of "The Sheep," &c. — (The Dairy Department revised by T. Horsfall). SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING. — Em- bracing the HISTORY, VARIETIES, REAR- ING, FEEDING, and GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP ; with TREATISES on AUSTRALIAN SHEEP FARMING, the SPANISH and SAXON MERINOS, &c.— By M. M. Milbuen, Author of "The Cow," and of various Agricultural Prize Essays. THE HIVE AND THE HONEY BEE. PESTS OF THE FARM.— A New Edition. — By M. M. Milburn, Author of " The Sheep," &c. LAND DRAINAGE, EMBANKMENT, AND IRRIGATION. — By James Donald, Civil Engineer, Derby. SOILS AND MANURES, with INSTRUC- TIONS FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT.— By John Donaldson, Government Land Drainage Sur- veyor. in t^e ^tfS0, m continuation of t!jc same 5fties, THE IMPLEMENTS OF THE FARM. —By R. Scott Burn, C.E. THE POTATO: ITS HISTORY, CUL- TURE, AND NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.— By S. Copland. London : Houlston & Wright, 65, Paternoster Row. Dublin : J. McGlashan Upper Sackville Street. And all Bookeellers. No. 4, Vol. XXVIII. OCTOBER, 1865. [Third Series. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE AHD MONTHLY JOURNAL OF THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST. TO THB FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED BY ROGJRSON AND TUXFORD, 246, STRAND. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. BOQEMON AN© TOXro»D,] [FmulT«m», U6, ITBAND. HOWARDS' CHAMPION PLOUGH Gained at the LAST TRIALS of the Royal Agricultural Society op England, at Newcastle, The FIRST and ONLY PRIZE for the BEST WHEEL PLOUGH FOR GENERAL PURPOSES. This is the most important Prize for Ploughs offered by the Society ; And for the last TEM YEARS J. & F. HOWARD have been the Winners of it. HOWARDS' CHAMPION PLOUGH HAS RECEIVED FIFTEEN FIRST PRIZES from the Royal Agricultural Society of England, being the Largest Number of Prizes awarded to any kind of Plough ever exhibited. HOWARDS' CHAMPION PLOUGH WON THE FIRST ALL ENGLAND MATCH OP 1865, And at the Last Two Yeaks' Autumnal Matches the unprecedented number of Forty-one All England Prizes, and upwards of 500 local Prizes, The Largest Number ever gained by any Maker. MORE THAN SIXTY THOUSAND ARE NOW IN USE. At the Plymouth Mketino of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, July, 1865, J. & F. HOWARD won every Prize for which they competed, viz. — Two FIRST FRIZES for the Best Haymaking Machines, and the FIRST PRIZE tor the Best Horse Rake. These Machines have won every First Prize at evtry competitie trial, both at home and abroad. The following Prizes have been awarded to J. & F. Howard by ihe Royal Agricultural Society of England : — FORTY-FOUR FIRST PRIZES FOR THE BEST PLOUGHS FOR LIGHT LAND, BEST PLOUGHS FOR HEAVY LAND, BEST PLOUGHS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES. BEST RIDGING PLOUGHS, BEST SUBSOIL PLOUGHS, BEST HARROWS, BEST HORSE RAKES, BEST HAYMAKERS, AND BEST HORSE HOES ; ALSO THE GOLD MEDAL, AND OTHER PRIZES, FOR STEAM-CULTIVATING MACHINERY. FULL PARTICULARS MAT BE HAD OF THEIR AGENTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, OR WILL BE SENT FREE ON APPLICATION TO JAMES AND FREDERICK HOWARD, BRITANNIA IRON WORKS, BEDFORD, ENGLAND. LONDON OFFICE : 4, Cheapside.-LIVERPOOL OFFICE : 19, Sweeting Street. THE EARMER'S MAGAZINE. O C T O B E 11 , 18 6 5. CONTENTS. Plate I. — SPANGLE 2nd; a Royal Prize Hereford Cow. Plate II.— A JACK IN THE BOX. E Cattle .AGUES Descriptions of the Plates .... Our Supply of Water; by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S The Herds of Great Britain: The Sholebroke Herd . The New Part of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal : Th Bucks Agricultural Association : Meeting at Aylesbury Derbyshire Agricultural Society: Annual Meeting Plain Speaking at Ludlow: The Cattle and other Farmer's I Dr. Crisp on the Cattle Plague Miss Burdett Coutts on the Cattle Disease . Rules for Koad Locomotives .... The Tenant Farmers of England; by a Practical Farmer The Ervum— a new Fodder Plant Professor Anderson's Lecture on the Chemistry of Wool and Keighley Agricultural Show . . . , Inland River Improvements , . . . Importance of Economy in the Practice of Agriculture Health cf Cattle as affected by the different Systems of Li Malting Beans and Peas for Cattle . Experiments in Cattle Feeding Cultivation of the finer kinds of Barley Sale of Long-woolled Kams Sheep Sales AND Lettings Sparkenhoe Farmers' Club: Meeting at Loughborough The Cattle Disease in France A Plea for Owls .... Commercial Principles applied to Farming Salt as a Condiment for Cattle. Growth of Flax .... Thick and Thin Sowing Hay and Straw Elevators Experiments in the Cultivation of Mangel Wubzel The Tbethewy Testimonial Claying Fen Land .... Culture of the Parsnip as a Fodder Plant Warwickshire Agricultural Society: Meeting at Stratford-on-Avon Kingscote Agricultural Association : Annual Ploughing Meeting Hereford Agricultural Society Digestive Organs of the Horse The Principles and Practice of Disinfection The Cattle Plague Mr. Newdegate on the Cattle Disease Smithfield Club Cattle Show for 1865 Chips ..... The Cause of the Cattle Plague Odds and Ends of Farming Facts Another Nb-w Mowing Machine Formation of Permanent Meadow and Pasture Land Diseases of the Eyes in Horses Waterford Farming Society's Annual Show From Norfolk TO North Lincolnshire . Agricultural Statistics, Ireland, 1865. The Labourers' Prize List Calendar of Agriculture Calendar ^f Gardening General Agricultural Report for Septemer Review of the Cattle Trade for September Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c. Foreign Agricultural Gossip Review of the Corn Trade during the past Month Market Currencies, &c. Pagb, . 253 . 254 . 257 Plague 259 . 261 . 263 . 264 . 266 . 267 . 268 . 269 . 270 ITS Management 271 . 274 . 275 . 276 auiD Manuring. 280 . 282 . 283 . 283 . 284 . 286 . 288 . 290 . 291 . 292 . 297 . 293 . 299 . 301 . 304 . 306 . 308 . 311 . 312 . 314 . 315 . 316 . 318 . 321 , 322 . 323 . 324 . 327 . 328 . 329 . 330 . 331 . 331 . 332 . 333 . 334 . 335 . 335 . 336 . 336 . 337 . 340 . .341 343-4 Now Ready, Cloth, in two Volumes, 782 pp., with four sttel Poitraits, Piko IGs. uniform with "SCOTT AND SEBRIGHT," "SILK AND SCARLET," &c., OR SCOTTISH FLOCKS AND HERDS, With Steel Engravings of Mr. Hugh Watson, Professor Dick, Mr. Nightingale, and the ktc Duke of Richmond, &c. Tlie Volumes, "North" and "South" (of the Frith of Forth) may bo had separately— Price EIGHT SHILLINGS each. Copies will be sent by Post on application to the Author. ROGERSON AND TQXFORD, 2i6, STRAND. CATTLE PLAGUE. "-pNWOKB'S SPECIFIC" FOR CATTLE is the best remedy known for this disease. -L^ EXTRACT FROM TESTIMONIALS. From Mr. John Jordan, Devonshire Dairy, Green Lanes, Tottenham. 1 can safely recommend Enworb's Sfecific. I lo-^t every cow that was attacked with the Plague before I obtained it. Since using it all my cattle, now numbering forty, which were seized, are doing well, and most of them recovered. From Mr. John Palmer, Queen's Head, Greeii Lanes, TottenJtam. Since I have used Enworb's Specific all my milch cows attacked with the Cattle Plague have been Srived, and are doing well. From Mr. Mills, Boma7i Road, Islingfon. Your Specific has saved two of my cows which were suffering from the disease in its worst form. Sold in Bottles, 2s. 6d., 4s. 6d., and IOs. SOLE MANUFACTURER, J. T. DAVENPORT, 33, GREAT RUSSELL STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C. PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED. Hitihly Important to Dairymen and all who keep Cows. BARLAND'S PATENT POCKET SELF- MILKING APPARATUS, by means of which JLOO Cows msty HfilK tlfieB19Selvc.im ervilia of Linufcus — variety aiirjnsli- folife. It is a species suitable to Mediterranean regions, and holds its place near the leutil (Emtm lens). This year my crop — obtained from a surface of IGO square metres — is not yet thrashed ; but it is very abundant, as the plants I had the honour of exhibiting before the committee of the Central Society of AgTicidture showed. There are numbers of pods, fiUed with grain, upon each stalk ; in fiict, they are almost as numerous as the leaves upon the greater part of the plant. I shall continue the ciJture of this plant under the same conditions, and think that others would be willing to make experiments with the species ; I therefore offer, first to my fellow-members, the seed harvested at the couunencement of this month (Aug. 0th), proceeding from seed sown on the 7th of May ; and shall be glad also to place it at the disposal of any agriculturists who may wish to try its culture. Should this acclimatization prove useful — Lf the K'rsa' Allah' or ervilia from the imperial farm of Vincennes spreads itself iu dry and arid lands, rendering the same services that it does iii . Africa, my desires vriU be accomplished, for I shaU have added one more proof of the benefit the imperial farms are to agri- ctdture, by enabling seekers to try experiments when they could not otherwise obtain the means. E. E. GciERiN Menesville, Member of the Imperial and Centr;vl Society of 7\griculture ff France, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 271 PROFESSOE ANDERSON'S LECTURE. "THE CHEMISTRY OF AVOOL, AND ITS MANAGEMENT." After the dinner of the committee and judges, at the High- land and Agricidtunil Society, .it Inverness, Professor Ander- son delivered a lecture on the " Chemistry of Wool, and its Management." There was a large attendance. Professor Anderson said : In addressiii<; you on the present occasion in the centre of a distriet in uhieh iirable farming scarcely occupies that position of preponderating importance whicli it does in most places, I liave endeavoured to select for your consideration a suljject hearing more innnediately on its staple produce ; and the choice has not lieeu unattended with dilficulty, for the agricultural questions with which chemistry has hccn cliielly occupied are exactly those which l)ear most directly on the operations of tillage, and least so on those of the sheep farmer. The composition of the soil, and the ma- nures to be applied to it, of the crops it yields, and the feeding stutfs which can he most advantageously employed for the fat- tening of stock, are the subjects wliich have come most promiueiitly under the notice of the chciuist ; and though tliey necessarily embrace many matters which must gre.atly interest the slieep farmer, iu common with everyone connected in any w.ay with the practice of agriculture, they do so to a less extent than others bearing more directly on this particidar subject. The great majority of the questions whicli are of most import- ance to liim are of a kind on which chemistry is incapable of thro\ring light, and with which, indeed, it has no connection of any kind. Even here, however, there are matters on wliich a knowledge of some chemical facts is not unimportant, and among these I have chosen the cliemistiy of wool and its man- agement as one likely to possess some interest on the present occasion ; and though I may possibly touch upon matters which may at first sight appear to have no very direct applica- tion to practice, I am satisfied that further consideration will show that they are far from imimportant. For it cannot be doubted that those who feel; an intelligent interest in their profession will seek to know everything connected with it, being well assured that there is no fact which may not at some time or other come to possess a direct practical bearing on it. The subject I have selected for consideration, taken iu its broadest aspect, is one of great extent, and might, in fact, be made to include the entire management of the sheep ; for the production of a good crop of wool of the highest quality in- volves tlie nicest attention to the breed of the animal and its perfect health. But these, and especially the former, are matters which do not come within the province of cliemistiy, and cannot, therefore, be discussed here. Neither is it always possible to explain by analysis the cause of the dift'erence iu quality of different kinds of wool, the commercial value of which is due not so much to its composition as to its structure. We sliaU see presently that there are often differences in the composition of the various kinds of wool, but on the other hand two samples m.ay he chemically undistinguishable from one another, although the experienced wool stapler will set down one as of the highest, and the other of the lowest quality. Even the wool of a single fleece is separated by the manufac- turer into many qualities fitted for different purposes, and bearing very ditferent v.alues. The cause of this is rendered obvious when the wool is examined by the microscope, when it is seen that its quidity depends partly on the fineness .and uniformity of the fibre, and partly on the length of the staple, which fits it for the manufacture of particular fabrics. It is well known that these qualities are greatly affected by the breed and the climate iu which the sheep has lived, and it is by attention to the former that the character of Scotch wool h.as been so much raised ; while the latter is a difficulty with which our sheep farmers wU alw.ays liave to contend, and which must prevent our wool in general from bringing as liigli a price as that produced in more favoured localities. The nature of the food supplied to tiie sheep has, no doubt, a ma- terial influence on llie quality of tlic wool, and is a subject which well merits attention. But I do not pro))ose to enter upon the cousideratiou of this question ou the iU'eseut occa^ sion, and that principally Ijccause the information regarding it is of the most scanty description ; and I have failed to discover any experiments on the influence of the food on the weight or quality of the fleece. We know generally that the best wool is obt;iined from auim.als fed on the richest pastures, but it is not possible to tell how far the superiority is due to the more nutritious character of the grasses, or merely to the more favourable cUniiite. The composition and nutritive value of the cultivated and luatural grasses of lowland districts are well knowm, but there is absolutely no information regarding those whicli form the bulk of mountain pastures. Many of the species are no doubt the same as those found in the lower dis- tricts, and their composition is probably very similar, though others arc different, and of their composition we arc entirely ignorant. There would, of course, be no difliculty iu making analyses of these ; but the inform.atiou they would convey would be of Uttle use, unless it were coupled with a know- ledge of those which the sheep select and avoid. It is proba- ble, indeed, tluat the higher or lower value of mountain pastures depend not so much on the dLffereuce in the nutritive value of the grasses of which they are composed, as in the greater or less abundance of those which are most palatable to the stock — fcfr sheep prefer the finer grasses, and are only com- pelled by hunger to consume the coarser species, although they arc' often just as nutritive as those they select. The influence of an abiuidant supply of food on the quantity at least of the wool is sufficiently olivious, but it becomes stiU more striking when we consider what that quantity is, and how active must be the animal functions by which it is pro- duced. To do this, it is necessary to look at the relative weights of the fleece, and the animal which produces it. These vary greatly with the breed, as may be seen from the table here given, which contains those whicli are most widely distributed in tliis country : — LONGWOOLLED. Lincolnshire 8 to 10 lbs. Devon 9 Leicester 7 Blackfaced 3 INTERMEDIATE. Dorset fi Cheviot 5 SHORTWOOLLED. Merino 6 to 8 Shropshire Down 7 Southdo^^^l 3 to i Taking all the breeds together, the average weight of a fleece may be set down ati5 lbs., wliile that of the sheep in the un- fattened condition will not exceed 90 or lOOlbs. It thus appears that a sheep produces every year a quantity of ■n'ool equal to about a sixteenth of its own weight. Even tliis, however, does not give a perfect idea of the matter, which can only he obtained by making the comparison between the dry wool and the dry matter of the sheep. Wool in its natural state cont.ains about 16 per cent, of water, and if an allowance be made for dirt adhfting to it, the weight of actual wool in each fleece is about olbs. But the entire body of the sheep contains about two-thirds of its weight of water, so that if dried up (exclusive of wool) it would weigh only 301bs. ; and hence it foUows that a sheep produces annually, in the shajie of dry ■n'ool, a ipiantity of matter equal to al)out one-sixth of the solid substances contained in its body. These facts arc sufficient'to show the importance of an abundant supply of nutritive food to support the drain in the system occasioned by the growth of this large quantity of animal matter. When we further consider the delicate organisation of the skin, each hair of the wool growing within a little tube of its own, fur- nished with minute glands, by which it is furiiisiied with a peculiar oily eceret ion necessary to promote its growth and keep it in a soft and pliant couditioiij aud otii-Ts by which tlio 372 THE FARMER'S MAGAZIiNE. perspiration is evolved, and that the growth of the wool de- pends upon all this complex machinery performing its functions in a perfectly healthy manner, the importance of an exact knowledge of all tlio cumlitions affecting them will be sufficiently obvious. Without venturing to discuss the physio- logical questions connected with the functions of the skin, I proceed to remark that the chemical composition of the wool is extremely complex. As removed from the animal, it con- sists of two parts — the -wool proper, that is, the fibre which is used )jy the manufacturer ; and the " yolk," a peculiar sub- stance secreted by the glands of the skin, by which the fibre is moistened and protected. In the pi-ocess of scouring the wool, which is the first step in its manufacture, tjie greater part of the yolk is removed by means of water and other agents, the action of which wiU be afterwards explained, and the fibre obtained in a more or less pure state. By careful treatment, the scientific chemist removes them entirely, and then obtains the pure fibre, which then differs but little from the hair of other animals. We shall consider separately the nature of each of these. The pure wool is of itself a very complex sub- stance. It contains a small quantity of fixed or mineral mat- ters, M-hich are left behind in the ash when it is burnt, and tins contains a comparatively large quantity of silica, a sub- stance found in extremely limited quantity in the animal body. Setting aside these substances, tlie wool consists of — t'arlion 50.05 Hydrogen 7.02 Nitrogen I7.7I Sulphur 2.31 Oxygen 32.31 100.00 In composition, therefore, it does not materially differ from the nitrogenous constituents of other parts of the animal body. It is as rich in nitrogen as the gelatine of tlie bones, and sur- passes every other animal substance in the proportion of sulphur it contains. The state in which this sulphur exists in it is peculiar. A very distinguished French chemist, M. Chevreul, supposed that it might be removed from it \rithout injuring the quality of the fibre ; but more recent experiments have disproved this view. But tiiey show that a portion can he easily extracted, although the remainder resists all agents, pxce^^t those which completely destroy the fibre. So feebly is part of the sulphur retained, that it is actually expelled when the wool is boiled with water, and even slowly escapes at ordinary temperatures ; and this is the reason why metallic, especially silver, articles become black on the surface when left for a long time in contact with it. A portion of the sul- phur can be easily removed by alkalies, but a part resists their action, and from this difference in the condition in Mhich it is ])resent it is not improbable that the fibre of wool is composed of two different compounds, but chemists have not yet succeeded in devising a method by which they can be separated. This opinion derives support from the fact that the quantity of sulphur varies in different samples of wool, and appears to depend in some way on its quality. It has been found to vary from 3-4 per cent, down to 1-89, and one observer has even found as little as 0-89, although this residt appears to be doubtful. The largest proportion (S'-i per cent.) was found in the wool of a particular breed which feeds on moorlands in Germany, and which is extremely coarse and inferior in quality, while the lowest was found a particularly fine wool. The quantity in ordinary wools is about 2-5 per cent., and from that to 2 per cent, was found in several samples of Eng- lish wool, though the experimenter unfortunately omits to specify the breeds.,,/The " yolk," as it*is called, which is mixed with the wool proper in the fleece, is still more compli- cated in its comijosition, and is a mixture of a variety of suli- stances secreted Ijy the oil and sweet glands of the skin. The proportion found in the fleece varies very greatly, sometimes amounting to nearly half the entire weight of the fleece, though in general it does not exceed 25 per cent. In one instance examined by Chevreul the wool contained only 31 per'cent. of pure fibre, but the loss in this case included 26 per cent, of earthy matter adhering to the fleece ; but even including dirt the quantity rarely exceeds half the weight. It appears that tlie yolk IS largest in tlie finer varieties of wool, but upon this point there appears to be considerable room for further inquiry. I he chemical nature of the jrolk was first examined in the end of the last century by Vanquelin. Before his time it had usually been considered to be of a fatty nature, but he showed that it was principally composed of a soap containing potash as its base, some carbonate of potash, small quantities of some other salts of potash, and an animal matter. More recently Chevreul examined the yolk, and found it to contain, in addition to these substances, two peculiar substances of a fatty nature, but differing from ordinary fats in being incapable of forming soaps with the alkalies, but which have not been more par- ticiilarly studied since his time. When wool is immersed in water, a portion of the yolk, consisting of the matters exuded liy the glands, rapidly dissolves, and the matter so taken up is rich in potash, and has to some extent the qualities of soap. As this accumulates in the water it acquires a powerful deter- gent property, and causes the fatty matters of the wool, which are themselves insoluble in water, to enter into solution. In this way Chevreul found that 32 per cent, of the wool entered into solution, but it retained 8j per cent, of fat, which could only 1)6 extracted from it by spirits of wine or by alkalies. These substances are removed from the wool in the process of scouring, first by the use of water, and afterwards by means of an ammoniacal solution. Formerly urine allowed to putrify until ammonia was produced in it was employed for this pur- pose ; but the facility of obtaining the pure alkali has led to its being substituted, and in some cases soap is also used. The nature of the soluble matters of wool has undergone a farther examination within the last few years by two Frenchmen, named Maumene and Rogelet, who have founded upon it an interesting branch of manufacture peculiarly worthy of the attention of the farmer, because it gives him some indication of what sheep are receiving from the soil. According to their observations, average wool, when washed with water, yields to it 15 per cent, of its weight of yolk, composed of a particular animal acid in union with potash, of which it contains about 33 per cent. According to this calculation, a fleece weighing 6 lbs. must contain about 5 ounces of potash which are for ever removed from the soil and have hitherto been entirely lost. MM. Maumene and Uogelet, however, recover this, and their process is in actual operation in some of the great centres of the woollen manufactures of France, and is in all respects a most interesting and important one. They buy from the woollen manufacturers the yolk obtained in their process of washing, according to a carefully graduated scale, giving for that extracted from a ton of wool aliout 15s. if it be diffiised through 69 gallons of water, and only 4-s. 5d. if contained in 600 gallons, and at proportionate rates for intermediate degrees of concentration, the ditfereut prices paid for the same article in different degrees of dilution depending on the increased cost of recovering the potash from the more dilute fluids. By this means the manufacturers are induced to adopt a systematic mode of washing the vvool so as to use the minimum amount of water. These fluids are then evaporated to dryness, and the residue introduced into iron retorts, where it is calcined, gas (which can be used for illuminating purposes) and ammonia being driven off, and the potash left behind in the form of carbonate. The quantity of potash which might be thus recovered from the wool is very large. MM. Maumene and Rogelet state that there are 47,000,000 sheep in France, and from their wool, if it were all carefully washed, there would be obtained annually 11,700 tons of carbonate of potash, worth about £350,000, which is sufficient to supply the entire demand for that substance in that country. In Britain the flgurcs arc stiU higher. There are supposed to be 55,000,000 slieep in tlie United Kingdom, and in 1859 we imported the fleeces of about 22,000,000 ; and if the whole of this wool, both native and imported, were subjected to the process, it would yield upwards of 19,000 tons of carbonate of potash, worth £570,000. Of course it is not practicable to recover the whole of this, for a good deal of wool will always be washed on the small scale, when the potash cannot he profitably recovered, and the opera- tion must therefore be restricted to the great manufacturing centres, where it can be carried 011 on a large scale, and in a continuous manner. The matter, however, is not on that account the less important to the farmer, for the rise of an industry of this kind brings forcibly before him the extent to which valuable substances are being removed from the soil. The wool produced in this country carries off annually 14,000 tons of carbonate of potash, equivalent to 9,500 tons of pure potash, all of which is at present entirely lost, and whicli it would cost nearly £200,000 to replace if the farmer bought it THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 273 in t!ip iii:\i'ki'( evi'ii ill its choapost ioriu. It is lo be reniem- boivd toD lliat potash is the very substauco of which, according- to tlio moilcru system of manuring, we return the smallest ipuiutity to the soil, so that if at any time our laud should show symi)toms of exhaustion, it will most probably lie due to deficiency of potash. There seems uo good reason why the farmer, though he cannot recover the potash in a pure state, should not wash wool in a systematic manner, and ajiply the lluid as a liquid manure to the soil. Although the yolk must be considered as a refuse matter, its presence has an important influence on the quality of the ileece. IVlien it is delicient the wool becomes harsh, more or less brittle, and unfitted for the manufacture of the finer fabrics. A proper supply of it must therefore be of much importance, and can only be main- tained by attending to the health of the animal; but unfortu- nately it is liable to be removed, and it is necessary to protect the animal as much as possible against its loss, or to produce some substitute for it. In those localities where much raiu falls, the yolk, from its solubility, is liable to be washed out of the ileece, ancl the quality of the wool is thereby affected. In these districts it is customary to resort to the practice of smearing the sheep with various mixtures. This process is usuaDy stated to be also employed for the purpose of protecting the sheep from the effects of cold and wet. For the former of these purposes I think it must be admitted that it can have no etlicacy, for it seems impossible to conceive that the appli- cation of a small quantity of a greasy mbtture to the skin can be of any use to an animal so well protected from cold. The real use of the smear is to destroy the tick and other parasites which infest the sheep, and by its oily nature to keep the wool in a soft condition. The mode of application of the regular old-fashioned smear was of the kind least suited to fulfil this object. The substance, always a greasy mixture, was rubbed into the skiu in place of being applied to the wool. In prac- tice, no doubt, what is applied to the skin gradually spreads itself through the wool ; but in the meantime the thick oily coating is far from favourable to the proper performauce of the functions of the skin, stopping up the pores, and preventing exhalation from them, while the substances mixed \vitli the grease occasionally produce irritation of the skiu. In fact, the application of such substances to the skin appears to be a violation of the laws of physiology, although their application to the wool itself might possibly be defended on the principle of keeping it in a soft and clastic condition, and preventing it acquiring a harsh and coarse texture — in fact, acting as an artificial yolk, when that is washed away by the rains. Of course this opinion goes on the assumption that the yolk really is washed out ; but whether this happens, and to what extent, is a matter in regard to which there is no very definite infor- mation. I am inclined to think that the extent to wliich it occurs is over-rated, for it must be remembered that the wool in its natural condition repels moisture, and it is probable that water can penetrate it in sufficient quantity to affect the yolk only under exceptional circumstances. That tliis must be the case, I tliink, derives confirmation from the fact that the pro- cess of smearing is gradually disappearing, and is being more and more replaced by that of dipping, the object of wliich is merely to destroy parasites. It would be out of place to enter here into minute details regarding the composition of the various smears and (Ups in use in different districts, for they are really endless in niuuber, but it may be useful to make a few general observations regarding them. They are either made up by the farmer from receipts which have been long in use and are well known, or they are manufactured by persons who make it their business. The oldest kind of smears were mixtures of grease, butter, palm oil, or other fatty matter with wood tar, or brown spirits of tar, and sometimes a little sul- phur, resin, or soap. To these poisons were afterwards added to destroy the tick, those in most common use being arsenic, corrosive sublimate, and white hellebore. These materials were melted together and applied by separating the wool and rubbing the mixture well into the skin. Dips are mixtures of a similar kind, but generally containing a larger quantity of soap, in order to enable them to be mixed with the water. They consist in many cases of soft soap, tallow and oil, soda, and tar, which are well mixed together with the addition of some water, so as to give the whole a proper consistence, and the poisonous substance is stirred in while they are hot, or sometimes is added to the water in the first instance. Of covivse there are endless varieties in the nature of the mixture and the mode in which the materials arc combined, each of which claims some superiority. In general, the mixtures made by farmers themselves arc of a simple character, but I have seen a receipt in which almost aU the substances already men- tioned were mixed together, somewhat on the same principle, 1 presume, as that on which unskilled physicians are said sometimes to mix together a variety of drugs in the hope that some one of those he uses may produce a beneficial eft'ect. When the farmer makes up a dip for himself ho may rest assured that the simpler it is the better. Very little good can be expected from the mixture of a variety of dilfeient oils or of several poisonous substances. In regard to the latter espe- cially, too great care cannot be exercised, and the risk of acci- dents from poison being kept on the farm, and of carelessness on the part of those who use the dips, is one of the great objec- tions to the practice of the farmer preparing for himself those poisonous mixtures. Several cases have come under my notice in whicii the disadvantage arising from poisons is well illus- trated. I particularly rememlier a ease of malicious poisoning of calves, which undoubtedly arose from the suspected person having got access to arsenic which was kept on the farm for making a dip. A large number of calves — seventeen or eighteen, so far as I now remember — died with all the symptoms of poisoning, and, on examination of the contents of the stomach, arsenic was easily detected in them. The animals had been fed on cooked linseed, and although none of it remained, I was able, by examining the pot in which it was boiled, to detect it there ; and suspicion pointed to a particular farm servant who was known to harbour an iU-wiU towards his master ; but the fact that arsenic was kept on the farm rendered it impossible to bring the thing home to him — for there was uo means of proving that he had had access to it, and that the other farm servants had not. The fact of arsenic having been kept at the farm in this case defeated the ends of justice, and uo doubt also formed the temptation to use it. The man would have hesitated long before he ventured to buy it, and had he done so the crime would have been brought home to him with unerring certainty. Accidents also occasionally occur from the careless use of poisons in the dips. This is well illustrated by what happens when arsenic is employed. That substance dissolves with great difficulty in water, and being sold in the form of a very coarse powder, part of which is in grains as large as those of sand, it falls rapidly to the bottom of the fluid, and can only be kept imperfectly in suspension by constant stirring. When this is not properly attended to, and the dip is nearly exhausted, it sometimes happens that the last sheep get far more than their due share of the poison. Particles of arsenic adhere to the skin and produce irritation, or being absorbed into the system atfect the general health of the animal. Of course this illustrates the misuse of the poison, and it is against this that it is necessary to guard. As far as the destruction of the tick is concerned the action of these poisons leave nothing to be desired ; the risk which attends their use is the sole difficulty, and that may be got over by the exercise of sufficient care. Notwithstanding this, accidents do occur, and hence a demand has arisen for non-poisonous sheep dips. Several of these have recently come into use, and they appear to lie made chiefly from certain coal-tar products, oil and alkalis. In one, that portion of the coal-tar oil which is heavier than water is employed, and its action is attributed to its containing a substance called carbolic acid, which closely resembles the creosote extracted from wood tar. It is doubtfid indeed whether they are not identical, and it is well known that a great deal of what is now sold as creosote is actually carbolic acid. The action of a smear or dip containing this part of coal tar cannot differ materially from that made in a similar manner from wood tar, and it is not easy to see wherein the superiority consists unless it be in economy of cost. The other dip is made from a portion of the coal tar which con- tains no carbolic acid, and it is stated to be equally efficacious in destroying the tick. The use of products from the distilla- tiou of bitiuninous substances for the manufacture of sheep smears is by uo means new. It dates back a considerable period, a patent having been taken for the use of the oil obtaiuedfrom bituminous shales (which contains carbolic acid) so long ago as 1770, although it does not very clearly appear how it was employed, and the suljstance probably never came into general use. It is only of late years that tliese substances have been again resorted to, and how far they have proved superior to mixtures containing wood tar I am uuable to state . 274 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. It is not easy to form any opinion regarding the relative advantages of different dijis or smears, bnt it may Le stated geueraUy that those made from tlie purest materials are to be preferred. Hitherto the great object of the manufacturer appears to have been to make them as nasty as possible, which may be very right when any virulent poison is mixed with them, because the sheep arc thus prevented from licking it ; but on the other hand, it is proportionally injurious to the wool. The fact is tliat the inferiority of laid wool depends to a great extent on the difhculty the wool scourer finds in re- moving the fUthy matters contamed in the smears ; and what at the present moment is most required, especially in the case of a smear, is a mixture wliicli shaU not colour the wool and sliall not be too easily removed by water, but can be completely extracted by the materials used in scouring it. In order to attain this object it seems most reasonable to rrse the purest materials which can be obtained, and as the chief disadvantages arise from the colour of the tar, there seems no good reason wliy carbolic acid itself should not lie used. Of course, it is much dearer, Imt a comparatively small quantity would proba- bly suffice. In the manufacture of dips and smears there appears stiU to be great scope for improvements ; and the attention of manufacturers should be directed to devising some mixture which shall in a manner waterproof the wool, and shall yet be easily extracted from it without leaving any colour ; and it is probable that this will sometime or other be accom- plished, i'rom the focts I have brought under your notice on the present occasion, it wiU be seen that there are many ]joints besides the nature of soil, manures, &o., in which clicmistry can assist the farmer ; and I trust it wiU be found that some information and instruction may be derived from what has now been said. Whatever we may otherwise think, I imagine that no one can faU to see the advantage of looking at the same thing from different jjoints of view, and examining both the sides wliich are proverbially to be found in every question. Tlie Earl of Caithness said that he eonld not allow the party to separate without giving expression to the interest with which he had listened to the addi'css wliich liad been so clearly given by Dr. Anderson. He was not himself a slieep farmer, nor could he claim to possess an intimate knowledge of the subject ; but coming from the extreme north of Scotland, where sheepfarming was so important, he felt very strongly the necessity for taking advantage of every improvement. He believed they were all too much inclined to go on in the old way, while they ought to be constantly making progress, and he was glad that Dr. Anderson liad directed their attention to the question of the management of wool ; for he was satisfied that in all that related to it there was abundant room for its improvement, and he trusted the address they liad just heard would he. published. Mr. Gentles, Locluiess-side, said that he could not agree with the conclusions to which Dr. Anderson had come with regard to smears and dips. He had never used anything but smears all his life, and always with success ; while those who had used dips had always lost their wool. He considered dips of no eartlily use, and in spite of all that science could say to the contrary, he meant to contimie to use smears. Mr. Paterson, Birthwood, said that his experience was exactly the opposite of that of the gentleman who had just spoken. He had used both smears and dips, and he had never seen anything but unsatisfactory results from the fonner, while the latter had in his hands always succeeded. It was quite true that where dips weie used the weight of the fleece was smaller than when it was smeared, but the greater value of the wool more than counterlialaneed the diminution in quantity. He had always used arsenic in his dips ; but he had taken care to mix it up well with the other materials, and had never seen any of the liad effects to which Dr. Anderson alluded. The great defect ol all the substances applied to the wool was that they could not be removed satisfactorily by washing, and espe- cially where tar was used it resisted all the efforts of the bleacher. He would like to ask Dr. Anderson whether gum might not be employed with advantage in making dips. Dr. Ajn^derson said there was an old saying as to who should decide when doctors disagreed ? which had been often quoted to the disadvantage of science ; l)nt he thought that what they had just heard raised the far more difficult proljlem of who should decide when practical men disagreed ? It was impossiljle for two persons to be more diametrically opposed to their views than the gentlemen who had just spoken; one up- holding smears as keenly as the other condemned them. He thought that they might derive from this an instructive lesson, for it taught them that they must not dogmatise. Science and practice were in fact only two different modes of arriving at the truth, and when our knowledge was perfect we should be enabled to explain and reeoncUe the discrepancies which arose. Mr. Paterson had somewhat misapprehended what he (Dr. iWlerson) had said regarding poisons. It was not their use, but their careless use, that he condemned. Arsenic, especially, was a most valuable substance, in consequence of the specific effect it produced on the skin, which made it the sheet anchor of the physician in treating aU diseases. Jlr. Paterson had obviously used it with care, and the result had been satisfactory. As regarded gum he did not think it could be used with advantage, because it was too soluble. What was wanted was some means of wateqiroofing the wool, as it were, and he thought that sometliing of the kind would yet be devised. KEIGHLEY AGEICULTUllAL SHOW. The twenty-third annual show was held on Priday, Sept. 1. The Keigliley show has always taken a position amongst the Yorksliire agricultural meetings. Amongst the visitors to the show-ground were, the Marquis of Hartington, M.P., Lord Frederick Cavendish, M.P., Lord Edward Cavendish, M.l'., Sir Francis Crossley, M.P., Mr. Busfield Pcrrand, M.P., Mr. Holden,M.P., Mr. W. E. Forsler, M.P., Mr. G. Hardy, M.P., and Mr. Akroyd, M.P. About MbOO was offered in prizes, in- cluding ten silver cups ; and the entries exceeded one thousand, being a large increase on those of last year. There was an excellent display. The silver cup for the best three Shorthorns was taken liy Mr. R. Eastwood, Thorneyholme, Clitlieroe. Lady Pigott had entered for this and other prizes; but her Ladyship resolved not to send animals for competition, so long as the cattls plague prevails. Mr. Jonathan Peel ob- tained the prize for the best buU on the ground. The Short- horn cow of Mr. Eastwood's, " Brampton Butteiily" (second at the Lancashire show at Oldham), here proved superior to any other, and his " Uosette," which lias obtained different- awards at many places, was a good second. The silver eup for the besi hunter was taken by Mr. James Charnock, Halifax; and Mr. Brady Nicholson, Sturton Grange, oljtained a similar prize for leap- ing. Mr. H. T. Percy, Ilowsanrigg, took the prize for road- sters, with his mare, wliich has for two years past taken the first prize at the Agricultural Hall, Islington. Mr. Percy also showed the liest cob — an animal which gained a similar honour at Islington this year. There was an excellent show of draught horse.s, Mr. T. Walker taking the only prize. In sheep the silver cup was awarded to Mr. Jolui Jowett, Prospect Villa, Keigliley, as having the greatest number of first prizes. He was a-head of Mr. Simpson, of Spofforth Park, the celebrated sheep breeder, by one prize. There ^^•as a numerous and choice collection of pigs ; the l)cst boar of the large breed, belonging to Mr. J. Dyson, Leeds, weighed no less 106 stones. The judges were — Shorthorns : Mr. John Patterson, Hall Beck, Ulverston ; Mr. Henry Peacock, Haddockstones, Ilipley. Horses: Mr. John McTurk, Aconib, York ; Mr. Beiij. Taylor, UUeskelf. Sheep and Pigs : Mr. George King, Becca, Milford Junction ; Mr. Wm. S. Hobson, Great Ouseburn, York. Lonk Sheep : Mr. George Browne, Troutbeek, AYinderniere. THE 1ropose couiiuiug our observations fliielly to the iniprovomciit of tlio-tp rivevs lluit How in coni- parativoly lovol v;illi\vs, leaving for our next and concluding- article of tlic series the investigation of mountain streams, rractically speaking-, therefore, our present example may be presumed to l)ea;in where our last one (No. II.) ended, viz., where the tide at high-water ceases to dam back and in- juriously elTect the drainage of the adjoining lands on both banks, and to end where our next article (No. IV.) begins. Our remarks, as in the preceding article, will chietly be re- stricted to geometrical principles, or those considerations in- volved in the proper form and inclination of the channel of the river and its emljankments. In other words the general jiro- grcss of things imperatively demands a thorough reformation in our river policy, and we shall endeavour briefly to discuss the scientific principles involved in carrying out such a work of improvement. The grand desideratum is to Io\ver the surface-level of the water so as to afford a greater depth of fall for land-drainage, and to reduce the flow of the river to a uniform velocity, such as will keep the channel clear, without washing away the banks in high floods. It is an easy matter to draw black strokes upon paper in any direction froiu a meridian, and at any angle with the horizon ; but in the vast majority of our large valleys there are ninety and nine ditficulties in the way of reducing fine theories to practice ; and this is exactly the position in which we find ourselves when we begin practically to lower the sur- face-levels of our large rivers and their tributaries in order to meet the loud, long, and lusty demands of the British farmer. You may as weU, and much safer, meddle with a wasji's nest than with a miller's mUl-dam and water-wheel ; and yet, come when the crisis and final ultimatum may, the practical conclu- sion is meanwhUe manifest enough to all who can read the signs of the times, for surface-levels must be lowered. To find the depth to which the surface-level of the water at any point can be lowered by deepening and straightening the channel is, then, the first practical question for solution ; and the second is of a kindred character, viz., the velocity that re- quires to be given to the stream, in order to avoid silting on the one hand and washing away the soil on the other. The two, as has practically been shown in the preceding article, are inseparably connected together, for the former is obtained by deducting the latter from the total fall of the river between the upper and lower points or extremes of the survey, or work. The total fall of the river between the two extremes in question may be obtained by the common process of levelling, with levelling instruments. The angle of inclination which the surface of the ground or the river makes with the horizon, may be determined at any one point by means of an angular instriuneut, such as a theodolite, or some kind of draining level ; but it is seldom that this does more than give an ap- proximation as to what the angle of inclination of the new channel, or of the old when deepened, should in reality be at that same point, provided it is free from sQting or washing away. The more advisable plan is to obtain the total fall and length of the river, as this will fiirnish the dimensions re- quired for setting out the improvements with geometrical ac- curacy. The total fall is sometimes easily obtained by what arc termed " natural wafer-levehP If, for example, there are miUs on the river or canal-locks uniting one part of the river with another, so as to make the whole navigable, then the sum of the falls at the mill, or at the canal sluices, will give the total falls sufficiently near, generally speaking, for the work of improvement. Sometimes, again, the water in the open ditches outside the embankments can be dammed, so as to find the fall, provided the water in the one dam falls directly into The water in the other, as the sum of the falls under such condition, would give the total fall. Having obtained the total fall, and length as the crow flies, the tlext thing is to determine how much the bed of the river can be deepened in certain shallow places, and straightened at crooked places, so as to reduce its actual length. If a single shallow, lord, or rapid can lie deepened, and a bend of the channel taken off, it may greatly lower the surface level above these places, and thus facilitate the work of deeper drainage in the whole of the adjacent estates and farms on both sides farther up the river. Sometimes, again, narrow places, by confining the water, raises its surface, thereby dam- ming it back above these narrow places. Less or more of this damming and tailing back process is experienced at bridges, jetties for shipping, and the like. The widening of the chan- nel to its proper breadth would therefore lower the surface level above, and to the extent it had been abnormally raised by such obstructions. The reaction of the water at sharp bends of the channel and irregularities in the bottom also less or more retard the velocity of the current, thereby raising its surface to a higher level than were the channel straight and the bottom a uniform inchne. A straight channel of smooth uniform dimensions, and fall, discharges more water in a given time than a crooked, rough, and shapeless one, and to many, perhaps to the majority of our readers, the difference is incre- dible. There are numerous mill runs that very favourably illus- trate this ; for where the water enters upon the miU-wheel, it is not more than perhaps a foot in depth, often only a few inches, whereas above, where it is flowing in a comparatively level cut, the depth is often five or six feet, and of a greater width also than at the wheel. A deep channel also conveys more water than a shallow one, other things being equal. Large rivers very frequently form the boundary marches or divisions between the landed estates of diiferent proprietors ; and when estates are entailed, or heavily mortgaged, such con- ditions often throw magnitudinous difficulties in the way of deepening them and straightening them, so as to improve the drainage and navigation. The vested and other interests of canal companies, bleaching works, and such like, also stand similarly in the way. But obstructions arising from these sources are often more the offspring of prejudice and imagina- tion than well-founded reality ; for if the contemplated im- provements are properly effected, due respect being equally paid to the interests of all the parties concerned, then they would all be mutually gainers by its completion. Thus the landowners would have their estates better drained and some- what increased in size, mills would have upon the whole a greater fall, while canal companies would lave fewer locks and shorter distances to convey goods. But with regard to canals, they are now so fast being superseded by railways that it is almost too far in the afternoon to talk seriously of their existence, generally speaking ; so that if the tidal channels of rivers are deepened, shortened, and otherwise improved for navigation, and the inland channel above the old higli-tide level be also deepened, the general inland navigation would conse- quently be greatly improved, more especially that portion of it that can now enter successfully into competition with railways. The practical conclusion, therefore, in a public light, is mani- festly in favour of the improvements proposed being imme- diately executed under statutory authority, where interested parties cannot agree amongst themselves. In the straightening of small tributary streams and rivulets, the well-known practical rule of "take and give" often applies with so much accuracy that the land-surveyor experiences little or no difRculty in giving in a plan such as pleases the laud- owners and tenants on both sides ; but it is often otherwise with large rivers. This difference arises partly from the greater magnitude of the latter work, IjuI principally from the greater dilficulty of straightening laige rivers, from the peculiar posi- tion which they occupy in the valleys through which they flow, and the necessity which this enforces of adopting curved instead of right lines for new channels, where such are practi- cable. But in many cases, if not the majority, new channels are impracticable, so that the work of improvement is confined to narrowing broad places, widening narrow parts, and deepening shallow fords, so as to bring the whole channel into a proper 276 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. t'cr;!! as to depth, wicltli, and incliiiatioii— works which invari- ably call for the greatest circumsiiection, otherwise the upsliot will be tlie reverse of improvemeut. Large beuds here and tllere running round peninsular areas of laud of considerable extent wliere the two places of tlie river at the isthmus almost meet and sometimes meet altogether iu floods, thus forming i>jl;,i,(|s — may be cut off, thereby straightening and shortening the channel. But iu such cases the newly excavated niate- ri;ils are insufficient to fill up the old channel, or even make a sulficient embankment for the new one ; hence the island thus formed may have to remain in possession of its Ijresent proprietor, and require a hridge to gain access to it. A new cut through an isthmus or narrow neck of land, as above, is sure to increase the velocity of the river through it, and therefore suitable provision requires to be made to protect its banks above aud also the head of the channel immediately l)elow it, otherwise land will be washed away in both cases, thereby endangering the adjoining fields in heavy floods when the river is much swollen and its velocity and force greatly increased. From the increased force and undermining action of swollen river-flood — the surface level being up to the top of the em- bankment and often " tipping over" — the connecting new channel through the isthmus should be curved and not straight, and the concave slope, both of the channel and embankment, should be opposed to the downward current of the river, and also have a greater inclination and altitude than that of any straight portion of it. The convex slope may, on the contrary, be made at a somewhat more steep inclination upwards, there being less pressure upon it. At the same time, although this is sound in theory, aud often commendable in practice, iu order to avoid silting, yet the more advisable course iu the vast majority of examples is to make the convex blope of as great a length as circmnstanccs relative to cur- vature will permit, so as to avoid silting ; for when silting on the convex slope takes place, acute elbows are formed, vnth all the tailing back above, and injurious cousequences below, that never fail to follow the existence of acut« elbows during heavy floods. In examples where the channel of the river above such new cuts through narrow necks of laud can be lowered so as to reduce the velocity of the river to that which it had in the old channel, the danger to which such new cut and the bends of the channel below are liable will also be reduced, and when such is practicable no time should be lost in getting the upper surface levels of the current lowered, so as to reduce its velocity and power of doing harm in times of long-con- tinued mucli-swoUeu floods. To those who have not had their attention experimentally turned to the subject, the undermining effect upon the banks and embankments, which a very small increase in the altitude of the surface level of a swollen river produces, is almost in- credible. To avoid repetition, the practical details of this part of our subject will be more fully gone into under " Moun- tain Rivers." Meanwhile we shall only observe that we have personally kno\vn an increase of twelve inches sweep away everything before it, in a manner which language cannot describe so as to be practically understood. Now, as lowering the surface level of the river twelve inches in one part is tan- tamount to raising the surface level above that part twelve inches, the practical conclusion as to the consequences need not be drawn, as it must inevitably wash away soil, and iii all pro- bability, if the swollen flood continifes for any length of time, break through the embankments also, and thus fonn a new channel adapted to its altered circumstances, as the laws of Nature or forces involved may detcnnine. If nothing is done artificially to deepen the hed of the river above the new cut that shortens the channel, the in- crease of velocity of the currents, and scooping effect of the same, will eventually perform the work of deepening, pro- vided the bottom soil is similar to the staple. In such cases, the natural process of deepening requires to be closely watched hy the adjoining proprietors, otherwise injury to the slopes of the channel and embankment will be the upshot during the first heavy flood. Harm may even be produced by the river in its ordinary state ; so that the protection of the banks at the bottom of each incline, or that part of the channel exposed to the scooping action of the water, may rec^uire artificial in- terference immediately. The " Take it easy" method of leaving flowing water to take care of itself, under circumstances of the kind iu ques- tion— a rule too commonly followed — is a highly reprehensible practice, being the very reverse of that which ought to be pursued. If the channel is straight, the risk will be reduced to a minimum, because the natural tendency is a right line with the greatest depth of current, and, consequently, scooping action in the midflle of the channel. But, in practice, straight channels are the exception, and crooked ones the rule ; and, under such conditions, the greater depth and scooping action of the flowing stream will be either towards the one side or the other — generally towards the concave bank — unless natural or artificial means interpose, so as to deflect the current into a difterent course. The true plan in all such cases is for art to assist nature iu the work of deepening the channel in the middle. rEQMETPH2. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMY IN THE PRACTICE OE AGRICULTURE. At a meeting of the Croydou Farmers' Club, Mr. E. Stables, of Fickleshole, said : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, our subject is " The importaucc of economy in the practice of agriculture." The wise man says, " to everything there is a season, aud a time to every purpose under heaven." Now, it certainly is not the time to talk over the profits of the past three years, but it wiU rcadUy be allowed that it is the proper time to inquire how are the profits to be obtained ? And if so, the economy of production must form a very important part of the general question. But, before we inquire as to the importance of economy, the question naturally arises. What is economy ? What does it consist of P Perhaps that question can be best answered by first referring to what is not economy. In the first place, then, we will state without fear of contradic- tion, that bad farming is not economy ; and, in the next place, we will assert with equal boldness that a too limited use of manures is not economy. I am convinced that the generality of the farmers of the present day make a grand mistake here. After having incurred all the fixed chaj-ges against the crop, such as rent, taxes, labour, and all the sundries which cannot be avoided, how common it is to see only half a crop, solely for want of a moderate outlay in some suitable manures. I would ask is it economy to spend £5 an acre for half a crop, or £(j per acre for a full crop ? It is not economy to over. work or underkecp, or in any wise neglect the farm horses. An insufliciency of nourishing food to the live stock generally is not economy. It is a common mistake to allow an auimal about sufiicieut food to enable him just to maintain his condi- tion ; whereas a little more — only a little more — would enable him to improve and leave a profit, often to double his value in the course of six months. It is uot economy to allow an ani- mal a sufficiency of food, and not also to provide him suitable lodgings, and a good bed, aud also to see to it that he is kindly treated ; that he is in circumstances, and surrounded by cir- cumstances, iu which he can be happy aud contented ; if he is in constant fear he cannot thrive. My own experience is, that it requires one-third more food to keep up the animal heat when exposed in a cold yard, than when suitably and comfort- ably housed. I believe that if farmers generally knew how much they annually lose for want of suitable shelter for the animals and their manure, the landlords would hear more about it. What we want in a farmstead is such Imildings as will enable us to make the best of the stock and crop, other- wise we cannot farm with economy and profit. It is not economy to allow either animals or implements to get out of repair. How true is it that " a stitch in time saves nine !" "For want of a nail the shoe was lost ; for want of a shoe the liorse was lost ; for want of a horse the rider was lost." How many THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 277 !» siood hoi'sc lias been niincil for want of a little timely vest and medicine ! It is not eeououiy to allow the land to get ont of cultivation ; one year's seeding will eausc seven years' weeding. A farm may soon be run ont of condition, but it lakes a series of years of expensive and unprofitable eultivation to get it into a profitable state again. Whatever may be the seasons or markets, profits and losses to one and nil, I would say, if it be possible, keep your cultivation up to the mark. Unfavourable seasons require additional outlay, botli iu the cultivation and in the application of manures ; whereas it is a common practice (especially if wc have, as we lately have had, low prices in conjunction with unfavourable seasons) to let tlic land out of condition. It is suicidal policy. Not only does it cost much more to get it into condition again than what was saved by running it a little, but when good seasons and better markets come where arc yon ? Why busy enough get- ting your land into cultivation, which you will accomplish in time for another wet season and low prices. But whilst true economy does not consist in unduly reducing tlic outgoings of the farm, nor in j)roducing middling crops at a smaU expense, but in producing the largest results at a moderate cost, I am convinced there is often much lost for waut of a due attention to the miuuti;B of the expenditure. The aggregate expenditure is made up of various items, and if the various items were examined one by one, it would be easy to prove that on some farms from twenty-five to fifty per cent, of the expenditure is wasted, especially on farms occupied by gentlemen who have spent the early part of their lives in the commercial w orld, and have realised a fortune, and naturally enougli think they would like to farm ; aud because they don't know much about it themselves, rely upon the bailifi^ ; and what is the conse- quence ? Trne, they generally succeed in growing respectable crops ; but what about the expenditure ? It may be quite as healthy as they expected ; but where are the large profits they prospectively boasted of ? A good education is of great im- portance to the farmer. He should know almost everything. He should understand the scientific aud theoretical part of his business ; but woe unto him if he is not thoroughly up in the practical part. In the simple operation of ploughing the land, I have often seen a man and a boy and four horses, using an antediluvian plough, doing about two and three-quarter roods per day. Reckoning each horse at 3s. Gd., the man at 2s. 3d., and the boy at Is. 6d., this costs 25s. per acre ; when over the hedge, on similar land, you might see a modern plough worked by one man and three horses abreast, doing an acre per day with ease, making quite as good or better work than the other, and, reckoning the horses and man at the same rate, at an expense of 12s. 6d. per acre, being a difi^erence of £50 per cent, in the expense of the operation. And if you look out at seed time, you will probably see, if the seed is sown broadcast, one man pretending to sow with one hand, and getting over about six acres per day. In the other, you will probably see a man using both hands, and doing twelve acres a day, and making better work ; nay, I have even seen two men, one boy, and two horses, using a drill, with coulters jacked up, putting the seed on broad- cast, costing two shillings per acre, where the work might have been equally well done for 3d. per acre. Don't under- stand me to recommend broadcast sowing ; I would always drill when the land is in a proper state. Then, again, in the operation of harrowing ; in the one case the old-fashioned wooden harrows will be drawn over the ground three or four times ; and in the other case twice over with a modern imple- ment win make quite as good work, and much better if you don't want the land treading ; and if you follow out the various operations on the two fields until you get the corn into the market, reaping in the one case with the sickle, and in the other with the reaping machine — thrasliing in the one case with the most primitive of machines, aud in the other with the steam engine — you will find a difference in the expense of about 50 per cent, throughout. The importance of economy is strikingly evinced in the cUlferent modes of working the fal- lows. The old system — that of working exclusively with the plough and harrows — is very expensive. In this way, four or five ploughings and harrowings, and rollings out of count, is necessary to make a respectable fallow. True it has been well exposed to the atmospheric influences, and in that way has been much benefited ; but it is very doubtful whether the couch grass and other weeds have been destroyed, unless the weather has been very dry and hot. There has not been time for the couch, aud especially the knot-grass, to die before it must be ploughed in again, aud with such frequent plough- ings the soil is generally in a rough state, and unfovourable to tlie germination of the seeds of weeds. Of course it is a very important part of the fallowing operation to cause the seeds of weeds to germinate, which is certain destruction to them. It is also important to bear in mind that there is a class of weeds, such as the dock, which cannot grow without the crown. In this case a shallow broadsharing in the autumn is far more eifective than several deep plougliings in the following summer. If you take oil the top of the root with the broadshare, and keep it on the surface of the ground, occasionally moving it with the harrow until it is dead, there is no need to trouble about the bottom part of the root : it will never grow without tlie crown ; but the crown will grow if it be in the ground at all with ever so little root to it. Some of our modern farmers disband the turnover jjlough altogether, using the cultivator exclusively iu the working of the fallows ; and certainly it is a much better and a much cheaper mode than the old fashion of ploughing and harrowing. But my opinion is that a medium between the two extremes is much the best, and quite as cheap as working exclusively with the cultivator. I prefer to put the cultivator two or three times through, with intervening har- rowing, until the couch, &c., is worked out aud kept at the top sufficiently long to ensure its destruction ; and also of having the surface so perfectly pulverised as to ensure the growth and destruction of all the seeds of weeds, after which I want to see the other side of the soil, when some more couch, previously unseen, and another crop of annual weeds is sure to be the re- sult of fresh soil brought up. The practice of some farmers is always to plough the land one stereotyped depth. Now I hold there is great economy in varying the depth — once in a course of cropping. When it is fallow, I prefer to have it thorouglily bottomed ; then, cost what it may, I want it ploughed as deep as it well can be ploughed. The leys and general seed furrow I plough a moderate depth ; but after the sheep I prefer either to plough very thin, or, if the field is not so clean as desirable, I use the cultivator instead of the plough. I consider that plongliing various depths is not only a great saving of actual and direct expenditure — four inches deep not taking near half the power of eight inches in depth — but is also most economi- cal, inasmuch as the evUs of the old beaten, almost waterproof bottom is avoided. The importance of autumn cultivation, in an economical point of view, cannot well be overstated. It is a well-known fact that couch-grass and other weeds do not make much progress so long as there is a good crop of corn on the ground ; but let the corn crop be removed, the rubbish will at once begin to grow and prosper. One class of weeds wiU then be taking firm root hold ; another wiU be ripening and maturing its seeds ready for a future crop ; and if you allow the weeds undisturbed possession of the ground for about six weeks after harvest, then plough the ground a nice depth, the couch roots wiU be preserved in good health, and the seeds of weeds, then fully matured, will remain in a dormant state for months or years, as the ease may be, until they are turned up again, when, if the land is in good heart, a luxuriant crop or crops is sure to be the result. But why allow this if we are to farm with economy and profit ? These weeds must be de- stroyed, aud the sooner after the harvest the better. The cul- tivator must be used, the couch-grass and the roots pulled out to the surface, and the surface so pulverised as to compel the seeds of weeds to genninate. If this is done, no matter how much rubbish, if it is fairly got to the top aud shoot out, and left to bleach until the winter, it may then be quite safely ploughed in ; it will cause no more trouble. It will certainly decay in the ground, especially if it is buried a good depth. It is not easy to estimate the importance of this in an economical point of view. The diifereiice in the expense between cleaning the land in this way, and of allowing the weeds to increase, greatly impoverishes the land, whereas it derives great benefit from atmospheric influences in the process of these autumn fallows. The economical farmer will also be careful to apply the proper kind of manure to his various crops, and he will also be careful to apply them at the right time. A great deal more effect is produced from manures thus applied tliau when improperly applied. It requires good judgment and some ex- perience to know when the application of artificial maniu-es is likely to pay. It is folly to expend money in manure, if the crop has other difficulties to contend with — if the laud is in a rough, unkind state — if it is foul mth weeds — or if it is wet for want of 278 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. draining ; but if it is clean, if a good tilth has been oljtained Ijy using the cultivator freely, and other circumstances are favour- able, a judicious outlay in manures will almost invariably leave a large profit upon the outlay— I say a judicious outlay. The different kinds of crops require different nourishment, just as the different kinds of animals require different kinds of food suited to their constitution, and supplied at the proper time, i. e., frequently. I don't believe in a heavy dressing of manure once in two or three years, any more than I believe in sup- plying au animal with food to last him two or three vreeks. The animal will not only waste his food, but he will not thrive at all ; he will be glutted one day and famished the next. I would not only su])ply tliis laud with nourishment every year, but two or three times a year where it is practicable. It is sound philosophy not only to get the land iuto good heart, but to keep it in good heart. As a matter of economy the proper direction and supervision of the farm labourer is of importance. It is like a complicated machine, wheels within wheels, and if it is not properly constructed and directed breakage and loss is the result. I am convinced that a difference of more than 35 per cent, is often made in the amount expended in labour, at- tributable entirely to tlie general direction. Instance the dif- ference in the manner in which the dung-carrying is done. In one case the carter loads his own cart, then goes along with the cart to its destination and unloads it, perhaps in small heaps on the land — ^the spreading to be another operation ; the consequence is that the horses are about half their time waiting for the man, and the man about half his time waiting for the horses. In another case you may see three men loading the cart, and one horse in the cart. Just as the cart is loaded, a boy with an empty cart and two horses makes his appearance. He transfers liis trace-horse to the loaded cart, and away it goes. There will l)e other boys to drive, and trace-horses ac- cording to the distance the manure has to go. At the other end will be two men spreading the manure out of the cart direct to the land, which they wUl be able to do just fast enough to keep the fillers at work. Thus there will be a steady stream of manure going out, and nobody waiting, and nobody overworked. Of course the same remarks apply to all carrying operations. There is great economy in paying the men by the piece instead of by the day, whenever it can be done. Not only is the work done cheaper, but it is more just to the men. If one man, in consequence of more strength or skill, can earn more than another, he ought to be paid for his strength and skill. In conmion justice to ourselves we are bound to pay for work done, and not simply for time spent. Wo are bound to encourage skilled labour in every way we can, for we are becoming more and more dependent on it ; and if the farmer is uot sufficiently master of his business to be able to estimate the value of the different kinds of work done, and to let it to his men at a fair price, he must suffer the conse- quence of his want of skill. If a tradesman or a professional man is not skilled in his business what is the consequence ? Why, he has to go to the wall. So it must be with the farmer. It is said that there are secrets in all trades, and if the farmer does not know the secrets of his own profession woe betide him. Knowledge is power, but practice makes perfect ; and it is only by diligent, intelligent attention to the practical part that the farmer can qualify himself for the successful prosecu- tion of his business. Sec how carefully and expensively the professional man is educated and trained for his profession ; but when he is fairly afloat in the world what can he do with- out practical skill or good abilities in fuU practice ? An im- portant lesson may be learnt from the commercial and manu- foctnring world. If you walk round a large manufactory you will not fail to observe what careful attention is given to the very minutiae of economy. The very existence of the manu- factory depends tipon this. A difference of one per cent, in the expense of the productions of the manufactured article would often be fatal to its success. The large fortunes that have been reaUzed by some of the manufacturers is, as a general rule, the result of small (often very small) profits upon a large trade. Such is the severe competition amongst them that aU and every of the essentials of capital and skill, all the modern discoveries of machinery and chemistry, with the most rigid economy, is brought to bear, or success is hopeless. Al- thongli his profits are now much smaller upon each manu- lactured article than formerly, yet, in consequence of a much larger production, by means of modern appliances, his income does not suffer, but otherwise. Is it not even so with the farmer? He is engaged in a severe compel itiou with the whole world, and, so long as the malt-tax is on, a very unfair competition. He requires all modern apphances with skill and industi-y, and he can make two blades of grass grow where one grew before. He can grow two quarters of corn where one grew before. And if so with ordinary seasons and ordinary markets, shall we despair of success ? By no means. But another very important lesson may be learnt from the manu- facturer. You will always find him paying most attention to, and producing most of that particular article for which there is most demand, and on which there is most profit. You will always find him quickly adapting himself to the wants of the times. He will not bestow his capital and skill upon au article for which there is no longer a good demand. The price of wheat has gradually declined until it is now 40 per cent, cheaper than it was a few years ago. The price of butcher's meat has gradually increased untU it has become nearly double what it was 15 years ago ; and this is not au accidental state of things. It is the natural effect of certain causes which wiU continue to operate in perpetuity. Then it is quite evident that if the farmer would succeed he must not foUow the old routine. He must not do so-and-so because his father and his grandf^ither did so before him. Of course he must con- tinue to grow corn, and the more the merrier ; but it must be done on a restricted number of acres, so as to leave an in- creased area for the production of a much increased quantity of summer and muter green crops. Our corn crops must be the natural result of the green crops, and of the heavy live stock kept to consume those green crops. The production of butcher's meat must be our primary object, to which we must look for our chief profit, and the growth of corn a secondary object. There are several other points of rural economy upon which I should like to have touched, such as the importance of labour-saving machines, of providing, but especially of pre- paring, suitable food for the various kinds of stock, of doing the right thing at the right time, of attending to the practice of economy in the commercial transactions of the fann, of buying in the cheapest and selling in the dearest market, &c. I wUl conclude by reminding you that economy is not frugality or parsimony, but the economist is described in the dictionary as oue who manages his affairs well. Gentlemen, I thank you for your patient attention, and I hope where I have misappre- hended the subject, you will set me right, and that we shall have a good discussion. Dr. SiiORTiiousE said every one present must say that the subject given by Mr. Stables was a most excellent one. It was the best that he had ever heard. It was certainly manifest to all that gi-owiug of com would not pay. He then referred to the new assessment, and said the rateable area had been in- creased, and he also referred to the lavisli expenditure of money in the county, saying, let them bring their interest to bear, and say to the magistrates, " Now your area is increased one-half, instead of your having a rate at Id. in the £, let us have it at a halfpenny." The subject, he was glad to see, was going to be brought forward at one of the clubs. He had never seen such lavish expenditure of public money as there was in the county of Surrey. They had idiotic asylums, gaols, and palaces, and they were splendid palaces, which they were called upon to support, and economy was therefore necessary. He would just say something about sheltering of sheep. Mr. Mechi had said that temporary shelter for sheep could be had for Is. 3d. per week. In keeping sheep under shelter in cold weather they would not lose that quantity of fat as if they were kept out in the dripping wet and cold, their fat being consumed in keeping up the heat of the body. Mr. Wmkeh thought that economy in starving stock or land was no economy at all, and he must give Mr. Stables credit for the subject he had given them. Mr. Smith said although he was uot a farmer, he must say that the subject introduced by Mr. Stables was a deeply in- teresting one. It was notorious that England was a receiver of raw produce, which she manufactured, and by manufacturing the raw produce she received she grew rich. He thought the more that live stock was attended to, the better it would be for England. It had been said that although the British farmer coiild produced the ox, he could not produce the poidtry ; but he must say that when looking rouud Leadcnhnll market he saw \'ery good poultry there. They could uot get so much out of poultry as they could out of stock, but he thought poultry was worth a farmer's consideration. He could not help it if Ids THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 279 graiKlJauglitcv pvcfovred sitting in the parloiu- uiul playiug the piano instead oi" taking an interest in wliat was in the yards. In I'ouelusion lie hoped they wodd not neglect the jjoultry for the ox. It had given hiiu rancli pleasure in listening to the subject Mr. Stables liad favoured tlieni witli. Mr. Walton wanted to know a little about the seariiler. A great deal had been said about it, Ijnt his ineu did not care to use it. lie had got a scarifier in his yard, and he wanted to know how to get it from there. Was he to plougli fu-st, and then cut his sods into pieces, and must he t]\en put in his scariiier, and if he could not niove it then with six horses must he put on twelve ? lie must say that this scarifier liad com- pletely scarilied him. He had a lot of sheep, and he fed tl\eni with oil-cake and other food, .but he had uo turnips for them. If he said to his man, " How do the sheep get on P" lie would say, " O, pretty well, but they want turnips." Turnips, turnips, was all he heard of ; but he wanted to know how to get them. Now about the shelter of sheep. To put shee]) in a yard and carry their food to them, and then to have to carry away their dung — he did not consider that would be economy. Dr. SiioUTTiousE said it was temporary shelter he meant. Tliey could get asphalte very cheap, and it would last 20 years. Mr. Walton was sorry to say that it would not. The cpicstioa was whether it would pay to keep sheep in their yard, and then carry their dung out on their turnip laud. Was it economy to put in rye and tares for the sake of getting the sheep's dressing ? Perhaps he would tell them when green summer crops could be grown mth advantage. Mr. Wood said he was going to answer with regard to feeding sheep under sheds so as to have their dung carried out. He did not know the number of the Farmer's Magazine, but in one of the numbers of that periodical, which should have a place in every farmer's library, there was a most excellent paper which had been read at the Loudon Farmers' Club, and it was there stated tjiat it had been carried out with advantage. He must say that the subject they had that evening listened to was a most excellent one, and he was much obliged to Mr. Stables for it. Mr. Brown said they had got to thank Mr. Stables very much for even putting them in mind of economy. It was good for them to be put in mind of economy. As they had Ijcen going on, they had every reason to act with economy. With the price of wheat as it was now, they would iind that after they had paid for the labour and all other necessary expenses, they had very little left as profit. In the way of sheep, where the land was sticky, if they were to put them in a temporary place at night only, tJiey would be able to lie down and sleep with comfort ; otherwise, if they were left out they would lie dovra with trembling. He did not approve of making all their dung with sheep ; that he did not think would answer. With regard to horned stock, many had not got covering for them, and when they saw them in the yard they must know that they were going Ijack. With regard to the sale of stock, they must not expect to get high prices, but still, as Mr. Stables had said, he hoped they would get better prices than they were at present getting. Mr. Walker was not opposed to occasional shelter for sheep, and also having a good lambing shed. He thought there was nothing like sheep for land. They not only trod in their dung, but there was also their urine, which was of so)ue value to the land, and he thought that, when practicable, they should have sheep for the land. With regard to stock — and he was now speaking of his own experience — lie knew that stock got fat in warm places, and they got fat with half the quantity of food. If they kept stock in cold places it would take aU the food they gave them to keep them, but they would not get fat. With regard to green crops — if Mr. Walton wanted to sow rye and tares, the best time to sow them was in tiie month of September ; but he did not think a good farmer would grow much of that stuff. He (Mr. Walker) did not recommend this at all. What he would say in reference to this was, get out the tares as soon as possible, and tlms get your land as clean as possible. To sow rye and tares he should say the best time would be September or the beginning of October ; but he would not advise his doing so at all. He never did it himself. With regard to swedes, he thought they ought to be in by May : he intended to have his in by that time. He had grown tares, but he grew them for horses ou corn stubble. Mr. Walton said he had put out the question Ij', cause he had tried rye and tares, and he had a notion that they were valuable, lie had tried a piece of land to get it into heart by rye and tares, and in the year 1SG2 he grew four quarters of wheat to the acre. After that he thought he would have wheat again, and he sowed tares, and as the tares came off he sowed winter turnips. The whole canu; off in time for him to put in wheat on the 25th or 2Gth of September, and it was now the finest piece of laud he had. By the tune they met again he should be able to tell them whether it was a success or not. Mr. Wilson tliought they were diverging from the subject for that evening's discussion. Having referred to the practice of economy, he said it was not economy to starve their horses, neither was it economy to pay their labourers 10s. a week, wluch, he was sorry to say, was the case in their neighbour- hood. Eeferring to the number of horses he kept on his farm, he said that some had told him that two horses would do the same amount of work as four. Now, what was he to do, a cockney farmer like liLmseK? A Voice : Try both. Mr. Wilson went on to say that he saw many old farmers in the county still patronise the four-horse round plough, but his men did not like it. He formerly kept five horses on his farm, but he had come to the determination of only keeping four. He should like to know if that would be economy ? He had wished to do without a boy in ploughing, but he had been told that with a turn wrest plough it could not be done. With sheep, he quite agreed with Mr. Walker, that their proper place was ou the land. During the late hard frost he had his sheep fed ou swedes in the yard, but he must say that he sboidd not like to cart away all their dung on to the land. Mr. HuMPiDGE said they were very much indebted to Mr. Stables for the subject he had fiivoured them mth that even- ing. It was a subject brought forward for discussion, but he must say that they bad not had any discussion on it. They had diverged from the suljject of economy, and gone on a sub- ject relating to the land. Mr. Stables had advocated deep ploughing. He should like to know whether it would be ad- visable to do so on a chalky soU, and where there was not much soil over the chalk, and whether it would be desirable to do so on such soils so as to bring up the chalk. He (Mr. Humpidge) was an advocate for deep ploughing, and he was ploughing pretty deep now on a chalky soil, but'he should like to know if it would Ije desiralJe to bring up that chalk. With regard to the keeping of three horses, where the work was said to be rather too much for two, he had tried the experiment, and he had found it to answer most admirably. Mr. Wilson had said that he had come to the conclusion of keeping four horses where he used to keep five. He should say to him keep three only, for two might lie made to do the work generally. Now, with regard to the manure, Mr. Stable had said he kept two men spreading the dung. It had always occurred to him that it was a hindrance to throw it from the cart. He had thought it would be better for a man to follow and spread the dung after it had been taken from the cart. With regard to education, he thought a farmer could not be too well educated. They had a great deal to learn, but they could not learn too much. There was a gentleman present who was a stranger to the members of the club, but lie hoped he would not be so long. He had made some remarks with regard to the keeping of poultry. He (Mr. Humpidge) would say that they picked up a great deal of corn that would otherwise be lost and wasted. He must certauily say that chickens thrived remarkably well. He once heard of a housewife saving £300 from the poultry, and when her husband wanted it she gave it to him. Such a sum from such a source would be very useful in these hard times. He would not advocate deep ploughing on all occa- sions. With regard to the shelter of sheep, he should say that it would be a very difficult thing to do so for a permanency. [Dr. Shorthouse : It was not for a permanency ; it was only temporary.] He thought cattle could be kept with more ad- vantage than sheep. 'Wlien sheep were kept on hot dung they were liable to get the foot-rot. The foot of the sheep grew very fast, and when they were kept on hot dung they got the foot- rot. With regard to rye and tares, he did not think it would pay to sow them where the land was clean. He thouglit they could more advantageously sow stubble turnips for spring, and he had known them grown with advantage. He must thank 286 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Staljles for the subject he liad giveu them that evening, and whicli he must say was most excellent. _ The CiiAuaiAM said liis duty that evening was an exceed- in"-ly easy one. All he had to do was to reciprocate the opinion of others. He did not think that they had had such a subject for some years. He did not say that in any way to seek to disparage what liad been done before. Having re- ferred to the number of papers they required during the year, and that the vitality of that club depended upou them, he went on to say that lie agreed with Mr. Walker that it was most practicable to have the sheep upon the land. They had had a paper some time ago read entitled " Stock v. Corn ;" but Mr. Stables, with his paper, had gone a great deal further with the subject than it was on the occasion to which he had alluded. He quite agreed with Mr. Staliles in not wishing them to grow more com, but to grow more of green crops. They should grow more corn on a less area, and more green crops on a less number of acres. Mr. Stables had chosen his sulyect most suitably to the times, as the present was a time to act with economy. They would find that economy was practised in the counting-house, and in every manufactory economy was most carefully practised. He was quite sure that economy on the part of the farmer was most essential. Prom the time he got up in the morning he began to give directions where such horses should go, and where certain men should go. His eco- nomy began thus early in the morning, and continued up to the time of his going to bed. Mr. ST.U5LES said, with regard to the scarifier, he would just make one remark. Mr. "Walton had the same difficulty as many others had to contend with, namely, the men wanted to be the masters. He would recommend them to do this : — Ask who was master, he or they. His men had one alternative, cither to obey his order or go about their business. He could not see how sheep were to be housed temporarily. Sheep, in his opinion, did not want housing. They bad a fleece of wool sufficient to protect them from the cold. Witli regard to what Mr. Walton had said, he held that nothing could be done un- less the land was clean. He had asked what was the time to put in his rye and tares. He would say to him, get the land quite clean first, for if the land was not clean he woidd not have the tares. Mr. Brown had a little misapplied what he had said about better times coming. He did not think that he said anything about their getting high prices. With regard to what Mr. Wilson had said about ploughing with three horses, he thought that the work done by a turnrise plough more than compensated for the extra horse. With reference to spreading dung as quick from the cart, lie. thought a man would spread it just as (juickly from the cart as he would from a heap. Mr. UuMPiDGE said there was a difference. Mr. Stables said there might be, but it was a very little difference. Mr. Hall (to Mr. Stables) — ^You said about having two men to spread the dung from the cart. How much would two men spread in a day ? Mr. Stables said that was a very difficult question to answer. He (Mr. Stables) would make one remark about the poultry. There was a good price got for their poultry and eggs, and poultry manure was very good, and more than com- pensated for their trouble of keeping. He had his fowl house cleaned out every day, and the floor spread with ashes, and they made a great deal of manure in the course of a year. A vote of thanks to Mr. Stables brought the meeting to a close. THE HEALTH OF CATTLE AS AFFECTED BY THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF LIQUID JMANURINa. The agricultural public lie under many obligations to the medical profession for the assistance afforded every now and then relative to the health of cattle ; and at the present time we have to thank Dr. Cobbold and others for their invaluable researches in lielminthology. There is no one fact in natural history that has lieeu more satisfactorily determined both from experiment and observation than the liability of cattle to be affected with intestinal and other worms, when fed on certain kinds of food, or feeding-materials of a certain quality ; and the deteriorating consequences that follow sheep-rot or flukes in the liver may be quoted as one of the most familiar exam- ples— one, too, that is applicable to ourselves as well as to our domestic animals. There are, however, many other examples whose historical and physiological details are not so well un- derstood even as sheep-rot itself, little as we know about it, but upon which the above and other medical writers are at the present time throwing much fresh light ; so that there is rea- son to hope that the general body of farmers will soon become sufficiently acquainted with the subject so as to be able to pre- vent the growth of these parasitical pests, and thus preserve their live-stock iu a more profitable state of health than is at present experienced. The question which we purpose discussing in this paper is the effect produced on the health of cattle wlien fed upon the produce of different systems of liquid manuring, including the old system of irrigation or water-meadows, sheep folding, the application of town-sewage to land, together with the liquid- manure practices of Cliina, Holland, and other foreign coun- tries. There cannot be a doubt that the flooding of land in warm weather or during the heat of summer with river-water or the sewage of towns is calculated to promote the growth of a vast variety of insects, and that a large number of these arc led by instinct to prey upon and infest cattle, and even the human race, in more ways than one. But before entering upon tlie details of the proposition thus enunciated and involved, it may be as well in the first place to call in question the soundness of the theory now too commonly taught, that our own bodies and the bodies of our cattle are the natural grounds for the pro- pagation of these parasites, for the order of creation at the be- ginning of time, as regards the present inhabitants of our globe, proves the contrary, at least so far as man himself is concerned, and also our domestic animals. In other words, the parentage or progenitors of the flukes that now infest the livers of sheep, and of the hots and worms that are found in the intestines and flesh of auimals, and of man himself, existed before the sheep, ox, and man existed, and it would be absurd to suppose that this prior existence was not natural. The one half of the lovper creation may have preyed and lived upon the other half, but that is no valid argument for concluding that because flukes are now found living in the livers of man and beast, they were consequently at the beginning created in the livers of man and beast, i.e. man was created withjhdes iit, his liter ! or that Adam was created with worms of any kind in his body ! or that the sheep was at first created with flukes in the liver ! and so on. All such absurd doctrines in natural history must be tossed to the winds as out of date a century at least. It will no doubt be said, in reply to this refutation, that the curse pronounced upon creation on the fall of man gave a new nature as it were to these parasites, and that ever since man and beast have been infected by parasites of the kind in ques- tion, consequently that the new order of things must now be considered tlie natural one, so that the primitive rule of para- dise has become the exception. Into a speculative controversy of this kind it is not our purpose to enter on the present occasion, and therefore we shall concede, for the sake of argument thus far, by taking things exactly as they now are. But the intelligent reader will readily perceive that this concession is not assuming that the primitive law of Nature has been abrogated, but the con- trary ; for, granting that it has become the exception, it still exists, and therefore the parasites in question may propagate their species in certain localities out of the bodies of man, sheep, and black cattle, in perfect harmony with the laws ot their nature. In point of practical argument, this is the grand question of questions, that to which we wish to turn special attention ; for, if flooded grass-land, or stagnant shallow water in which vegetation and the decomposition of vegetable matter THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 281 abouiid, IS tlie uatiiral habitatiou of flukes and the other para- sites, according to tlie primitive hiw tliat parasites now infest our cattle under the existing order of things, tlien it is mani- fest that the application of sewage to grass-land, on the flood- ing principle, involves all the apprehensions to which Dr. Cobhold and the medical profession are now turning our attention; and consequently, that the more scientific, artilicial, extensive, and sounder establislied practices of China, llolland, and other places, should he followed by the Britisli agricul- turist— of course, under all the improvements involved in vastly superior chemical and mechanical appliances. We are not an alarmist under any circumstances, and, there- fore, while we keep closely in view the more enlightened liquid- manure practices for future adoption, we at the same time ad- vocate the more practical doctrine, viz., to the land with the sewage of fowiis on the flooding jmnciple, if a hetter system cannot l)e carried into immediate effect. According to the old proverb, " Home was not built in one day," and so is it with the progress of improvement in tliis as in every other branch of agriculture. We get to the toj) of the ladder step by step : some clever peoi)le, it is true, go up two steps at a time ; but for all that, the step by step folks are never far behind. In- deed, it may safely be said that the single step is the safest practical rule, and to this rule the successful utilization of sewage is no exception. Such being the peculiar position of things, the practical question resolves itself into the best plan of preventing the growth of parasites in our sewage-flooded meadows, and in the bodies of our cattle. Granting that sewage-flooded mea- dows form a natural habitat or breeding-ground for those parasites that infest our live stock, yet certain physical conditions are necessary for certain species of parasites in order to enable them to multiply ; such being the natural re- quirements, it follows that if we can by artificial means de- stroy those requirements, we at the same time prevent the pro- pagation of the whole brood of parasites that now infest our- selves and our cattle, a brood \A'hich at the present time is giving rise to grave apprehensions in the minds of not a few economists. The work of prevention in question has reference, firstly, to the best method of applying sewage to the land on the prin- ciple of gravitation, or flooding, so as to keep down the pro- pagation of certain parasites, whose ova are presumed to be in the sewage, to a minimum ; and secondly, to the best method of cropping tlie land thus manured, and consuming its pro- duce, so as to prevent our cattle from being affected with worms, or to prevent a lax condition of the tissues and a morbid state of the fluids, calculated to promote the growth of worms in the bodies of our cattle. Into the details of these two practices we cannot go, as they form two separate and distinct subjects that would require two correspondingly different headings to do them justice. All, therefore, that we can say on the first subject is briefly this — that if live ova are in the sewage, or present in the land to which water or sewage is applied, and if that water or sewage is allowed to stagnate under the heat of the sun, so as to supply the natural liquid conditions necessary to their being hatched, then the upshot need not be told ; for, in a very short period of time, such conditions ■nill soon give birth to a brood whose number the best arithmetician dare not at- tempt to calculate. These, again, are presumed to enter our cattle in various forms — along with the vegetable produce of such lands ; or liy attaching their ova to the coats of animals, who take them into their stomachs by licking the parts ; or by puncturing the skins of animals, and depositing their ova ; or by entering the respiratory organs with the foul air inhaled, and so on. Such being the facts of the case to which we propose con- fining our observations, they may be resolved into the following three practical questions, viz. : First : Can the sewage of towns be so doctored by chemical means as to destroy the ova of the parasites in question, or otherwise neutralise its tendency to ])roduce them, or its fit- ness to support life — granting that the conditions to hatch the ova are present — without, at the same time, injuring the fertilizing properties of the sewage ? Second : Can the ordinary produce of land, such as Italian ryegrass or meadow grass, which has been manured with town sewage or liquid manure of any kind, on the principle of gravitation, and consequently under less or more stagnation of the fertilizing liquid, be so mixed with other vegetable matter possessing anthelmintic properties such as would prevent the growth of worms or parasites of any kind in our cattle ? Third : Can plants possessing anthelmintic properties suf- ficiently powerful be grown, cither along with ryegrass or other vegetable product, fit for feeding material for live stock, under sewage culture, or be grown by themselves, and after- wards mixed with the grasses, so as to produce a wholesome diet for cattle ? Generally speaking, we aver that an affirmative answer may safely be given to each of these three questions. No doubt, on entering upon the practical details of each, many qualifi- cations may be necessary ; hut, in this respect, they are only similar to aU other questions in agriculture of a kindred cha- racter, #n not a few of which the exception becomes the rule, owing to the many imperfections attending the Ijest-pcrformrd manipulations of the agriculturist. Thus how often do we find two neighbouring farmers exerting all their skiO and pro- fessional talents to carry out into practice identically the same theory ! yet results prove that very great differences must have existed in the more minute details of their respective practices ; in other words, the two practices, in point of fact, were different, otherwise the results of both would have been similar. Fallen Humanity is even prone to father Nature, with all her shortcomings ; but, when brought to the clear light of day, her illegitimate offspring leave no doubt in the mind of the observer as to their true parentage ; and it may safely be added that sewage-farming -will be more than or- dinarily prolific in this respect. But in doctoring sewage, or the land to which it is to be applied (for both problems are included), or the produce of land that has been manured with sewage, or iu growing new products, the practice is, Ijy hypothesis, iu each case assumed to be successful ; otherwise it ftills to the ground as an abortive experiment. If, on tlie other hand, the reader liesitates to subscribe to an affirmative answer to the first question, then the Chinese, Flemish, and other liquid-manure practices may be quoted, in whicli in- sectivorous life is destroyed, although the produce may by over-luxuriance be etiolated, and hence liable, under certain conditions, to produce a relaxed state of the tissues, and eventually worms, intestinal, skin, and other maladies of a kindred character. But we need not go so for as China, or even the continent of Europe, in search of counter-examples ; for the old familiar practice of sheep-folding affords tangible evidence to the con- trary— that the fresh droppings of sheep and neat cattle may be applied to land without producing worms, even when the animals themselves are greatly infested with them, such as sheep turned into a field of fallow when under the last stage of sheep-rot. In the second and third examples, equally strong practical evidence might be quoted iu support of the general conclusion, did our limits permit. It will no doubt 'be said, in answer to the old practice of sheep-folding, that the droppings are not doctored by chemical means, and hence that it is not applicable to the proposed practice in question. But the objection thus raised is easily refuted ; for Nature supplies the chemical means in this case, which art or tiie farmer is presumed to supply in the other. The reader who has not studied the chemistry of the parasitical life in question from a practical point of view, must be re- minded that very little change is necessary to produce very im- portant results ; for if a nostrum is applied of a repulsive in- stead of an attractive nature, the upshot will be no parasites, but, vice versa, an abundance if the nostrum is attractive. Taste and smeU have been pronounced by the highest authori- ties in this branch of science to be two chemical processes ; and it is a well-established fact that these two processes, taste and smell, have much to do in the propagation of the parasites in question. We readily grant that the practice involved in this " repulsive doctrine" is surrounded with many difficulties ; but in conceding this, we must also, at the same time, remind the reader that such difliculties do not stand in the way of dis- covery in chemical science. In point of fact, they are, on the contrary, the finger-posts that indicate the line of progress — "necessity being the mother of invention." The general conclusion to be deduced from these observa- tions is obviously not so unfavourable to the application of town sewage and other liquid manures to land, on the principle of gravitation and flooding, as not a few economists at the pre- sent time are apprehensive, provided tlie practice is properly 282 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. carried out in accordance with the whole of the requirements involved, as demanded by the health of our cattle. In other words, uuder properly improved management, the health of cattle 'may be preserved ; whereas under the old, antiquated, and objectionable routine the contrary will be the inevitable result. Over-luxurious and etiolated herbage, produced under the Chiuese, Flemish, or any other system of mauuring— as an extra dose of guano — will produce had health and worms ; so that the differences between certain practices that are inimical to the health of the farmer's live stock involve a practical pro- blem not very easily solved in accordance mtli the demands of successful farm practice. The two practices may, in point of fact, he followed ))y two different farmers with the most oppo- site results. * * * MALTING BEANS AND PEAS FOR CATTLE. [We have been requested to publish the subjoined corres- pondence.] • [Copy]. The Hall, Aiflelorough, Norfolk, April 20«, 1865. To the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, &c., &c. SiK, — The fanners have undoixlitedly a right to feel obliged to the concession made in respect to malting corn for cattle. It has been proved beyoiul doulit, if properly managed, to be a most valuable condimeut witli other food, especially for sheep, and were it not for the indispensable restriction of grinding it would be more so, and there woidd at this time be a veiy large quantity used for lambs, with succulent grasses, especially beans and peas. It has been my opinion for many years that nialt- ing for cattle would one day become an art and a study, if the trade could be thrown open ; and the more I learn from prac- tical results the more I am convinced of the fact that brewers' malt is not the essence of perfection for feeding purposes. I was very anxious to have tried a few score of beans and peas malted for my flock (about 1,000 head), but the grinding ren- ders the trial as valueless as that published by the Board of Trade ; and they have now only to seek for mihiassed informa- tion to test the truth of ray assertion. My intention was te have had these beans and peas slightly sprouted, and not too highly dried, and ungronnd ; my object being to render them brittle, easier for mastication, lighter for digestion, tliereby more nutritious and not so heating as the raw article. The farmers and the jn^blic will shortly know their doom. But surely if your plans are not sufficiently matured to give us total repeal (from information derived from the Inland Revenue Office, which appears to take especial interest in the malting and In-ewing monopoly, if their report, as published by Mr. WUliam Gurdon, is to be taken as a guide) this session, ar- rangements might be made to grant the free and imrestricted use of beans and peas. I am not aware it eoidd in any way interfere Avith the revenue. No douht the present stjde of English beer is a compound difficult to define, Imt I have not been able to ascertain beans and peas form any part in the decoction. If it would not be considered pj'csumption, I should like to know, in tlie event of the malt-tax not being repealed for a season, whether there could not be some arrangement made relative to the unrestricted use of beans and peas for feeding purposes. Many of my brother-farmers are anxious to know your views, and if we are likely to have a chance given us to compete against the extraordinary importation of fat cattle — a most serious consideration to every grazing district. I am a farmer, and have been somewhat largely concerned in landed property in several coimties, for thirty years, as agent and public valuer, and the sentiments I have expressed are entertained by a very large majority of the tenants. Agricul- turists seldom or never unite or interfere with state or political matters ; but the severe pressure that now hangs over them, and indeed every branch of their calling, has aroused a strong feeling of suspicion that their passive, and, I may add, loyal demeanour, has acted prejudicially against them, and that the hackneyed phrase, " the farmers' friend," has been a snare and delusion, and it is now time they should put their shoulders to the wheel. I have repeately been told you are ever ready and willing to hear all sides, and I must plead that as my excuse for thus trespassing on your valuable time.; and I trust you \iill be able to arrive at a just verdict, and by judicious legislation place the farmers in the position to pay their fidl quota of tlie incomctax ; for it is contrary to common sense and reason for them to pay only 3d., if their present condition is sound, while the rest of the community are charged Cd. We live in a free country, and every Englishman ought to contribute win iugly towards the support of its liljeral iu- stitwtionsj but I thiuk it is admitted on ail sides that the m^alt- tax is unequal, oppressive, and not in accordance with free trade principles ; but in the same breath we are obliged to add, " how are we to spare the money ?" It is an old adage " where there's a will there's a way," and I hope you will be able to solve the problem and satisfy yourself — some parties wUl be sure to grumble. The malt-tax I presume realizes, in round figures, £5,000,000 net. I trust you will shortly be able to announce you have £3,000,000 to spare towards its repeal, leaving £3,000,000 to be made up. Select £40,000,000 of taxes, to which add 5 per cent, so long as required. That will raise £3,000,000, which, if the taxes are equal now, no oue can complain of. Draw out a graduated scale for raising £1,000,000 under Mr. Gurdon's plan, or some modified adjust- ment, and tlie difficulty is solved in the opinion of one who begs to subscribe himself, with great respect, Your most obedient and humble servant, Tiios. Pisiier'Saiter. [Copy.] " Inland Revenue, Somerset House, London, W.C. 2nd Auffust, 1865. "Sir, — On the 21st of AprU last, the Chancellor of the Exchequer referred to this board for their consideration a letter you addressed to him on the subject of malt for cattle- feeding purposes. This board regret the delay that has taken place ill their reply to your suggestions, but much time has been occupied in the experiments that were necessarily re- quired. I am now to inform you that there wUl be no oljjec- tion to your using ungronnd malted beans and peas, or barley malt crushed under rollers, provided the linseed or linseed- cake be first mixed and crushed at the same time with it, and that samples pass the examination at this office ; unground barley malt cajinot, however, in the interests of the Revenue, be allowed to be used for cattle-feeding purposes. " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " Wm. Cqrbett, Sec." [CCPY.] "The Hall, Attleborough, August 4th, 1865. " Sir, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd August, relating to malted corn for cattle, for which I am obliged. With regard to beans and peas, if I understand yom- letter correctly, there are no restrictions ; therefore, I can have them malted at any malt-office nearest to my occu- pation free of duty. The restrictions on barley remain the same, w\i\\ the exception that it may be crushed uuder rollers with the linseed, instead of being ground. " AUow me to remain, Sir, yours most obediently, " Thomas Eisiier Salter. "W. Corbett, Esq." [Copy.] " Inland Revenue, Somerset House, London. "Sir, — Your letter of the 4th instant, addressed to the secretary, having been laid before the Board, I am directed to acquaint you that peas and beans may be malted, duty free, for eattle-feediug, without any restriction, except, that the process must be conducted at an entered malt-house, and that the maltster must give the local officer twenty-four liours' notice before he steeps the peas or Ijeans, and keep them at all times separate from grain or malt in the malt-house. Barley or other grain, malted duty-free for cattle-feeding, remains subject to all tlie established restrictions, except that the malt may be crushed under rollers with the linseed or linseed-cake, instead of being ground ; but a sample of the mixture must l)e submitted for approval. " I am, sir, your obedient senant, "Apam Young," THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 283 EXPERIMENTS IN CATTLE FEEDING. Last spring, Mr. A. Smith, Stevenson Mains, East Lothian, who has given much attention (o the f;it(cuing and rearing of stock, liaving a pretty large (juantity of potatoes on hand about tlie time wlien he was beginning to feed olf his cattle, thought of trying how they would thrive on a potato diet, witli the usual quantity of oilcake. The cattle were accordingly fed off with tlie potatoes, and throve so well on them that he resolved on testing the qualities of the root still further this season, by feeding from lirst to last entirely on potatoes. He at the same time, for his own guidance iu carrying out the pulping system, to which he is a convert, made a separate es- permient to test its value as against feeding in the ordinary way with sliced turnips. A lot of cross-bred shorthorn stirks, rising two years old, were bought by him at the Linton Oc- tober market last autumn, and divided as equally as possible with regard to condition, size, and so forth, among three courts. The lot numbered twenty, sis of which were to be fed on potatoes, seven on ])ulped turnips, and seven on sliced tur- nips, with the usual allowance of straw in each case — the pulped-fed cattle gettmg theirs chopped. From the moment they entered the courts, up to the month of March, when the wliole of them for the first time, and in the same proportion, got oilcake and barley-meal to finish off, the cattle were kept exclusively to their own kind of diet. A very short time served to show which was the most nutritive article of food. Almost from the first the potato-fed cattle took the start of their neighbours, and, to use a racing phrase, were never headed, but came iu at the finish a good way hi advance of the others. They took to the potatoes with the greatest relish, and never gave the slightest indication of " hoveii " all the time they were being fed on them. In fact, no beasts could have given less trouble or anxiety from the day they were put into the close till they were taken out in the early part of May — a period of about seven months. WhUe the experiment was thus satisfactory with regard to what we may call the No. 1 court, it was not the less so 'as respects No. 3 — the court containing the cattle fed on pulped turnips. These also, almost from the beginning, evinced a superiority over their neighbours fed on the sliced turnips. Tliey were decidedly in better condition, and brought more money — perhaps the best test of all that they had been better fed. The cattle, as we have said, when they went into the courts, were placed as nearly as possible on an equality, and their difference of condition at the end of the experiment was solely due to the difference of feeding. The average price obtained for the lot was £17 5s. each. They were sold pri- vately, the value put on them by the purchaser — a dealer of judgment — being as follows : No. 1 court, £17 15s. each ; No. 3 court, £17 5s. ; and No. 3 court, £16 15s. Li otl«r words, the potato-fed cattle brought 10s. a head more than those fed in the ordinary way. The value of the experiment consists of course iu the expense of raising the dilferent lots, liecause if No. 3 court were fed off cheaper than No. 1 court, no inducement is offered to make any change from turnips to potatoes. This point can be satis- factorily answered. Each of the courts was supplied with a daily allowance of turnips carefully weighed or measui-ed, and it was found that while in the case of the No. 3 court the seven cattle consumed 11 cwt. of turnips per diem, those in No. 3 court were well and better fed with t) cwt., or 2 cwt. per day less. This was a direct saving iu the cost of the turnips ; but it also saved, a matter of some consequence, the expense of carting the extra quantity from the fields, which could be much more easily and profitably eaten off by sheep as they lay in their drills. As a set-off against this, there is, no doubt, to be placed the cost of the pulping ; but this is not a veiy serious matter. Mr. Smith does not employ steam for the purpose at Stevenson Mains, but has a one-horse power machine, which he finds answer extremely well. The amount of work which it gets through is large, amounting to about 3 tons per hour, amply sufficient for the wants of a pretty large number of cattle we should fancy. There is also the wages of the girl who' attends the pulping machine when it is in motion ; but making every allowance for these items of expenditure,' Mr. Smith is quite convinced, from his experience of the system, that it is, when properly conducted, in every way more profitable to pulp than to give cattle the turnips simply sliced. His ex- periment this year seems to prove that not only can they be fed on a less quantity of turnips, but that they bring a better price when fat than the others. Taking the value of a ton of turnips at 10s., the average weekly cost of feeding the No. 3 cattle amounted as nearly as possible to 4s. 6d. per head, while the No. 3 cost about Is. per head more. The calculation can easily he made, and will be found as stated. But the potato-fed cattle show a considerably greater saving. The courts were put under the charge of a careful and experienced cattleman, whose instructions were to note'down exactly the amounts consimied in each close. Erom the book which he kept, we find that the six cattle in No. 1 close only consumed a weekly average of about 15 cwt. of po- tatoes, which at 35s. per ton gives 3s. l^d. as the expense per week of feeding each beast, and feeding it £1 per head better than with food that costs 3s. 44-d. more money weekly. It is also to be remarked that the potatoes used were un- marketable, in so far that the firsts and seconds had been selected from them, and were only available for the starch mill or for feetling purposes. So satisfied is Mr. Smith with the result of his carefully-conducted experiment in potato - feeding, that he intends continuing it next year on a larger scale. He has no doubt as to its being the most profitable, as it is undoubtedly one of the easiest, modes of iiUtcuing lean cattle for the market. — Haddington Courier, THE CULTIVATION OF THE FINEE KINDS OF BAELEY. The great and permanent improvement which has heen made upon agrieidtnral produce of almost all kinds by a judicious and weU-condncted system of culture, must be too obvious to even the most careless cultivator of the soil to require any lengthened comment iu these colimins. Above all, the great and stiU. increasing attention which has of late years heen paid to the cultivation of the different va- rieties of tlie wheat plant is a matter of no small congratula- tion to the farming community. The unique and somewhat remarkable collection of the difl^erent varieties of wheat ex- hibited recently in Edinburgh by Mr. P. Sherriff is at once a proof of the great interest taken in the matter, and the success which has already attended the raising of new and improved varieties. So far as the wheat plant is concerned, farmers have now such an extensive assortment of red and wliite. bearded and plain kmds to choose from, that no one need have any dillculty in making a selection of seed likely to suit his particidar soil. Indeed, as not imfrequently happens when there are too many good things to choose from, there may be some difficulty by-aud-by in coming to a decision at all among such a rapidly-iucreasing and rapidly-improving coUcclion of varieties. As so much has been done for the improvement of the wheat plant, which unfortimately for wheat growers is not bringing a very remunerative price at present, and iu all probability is not likely to bring a high price soon, it has been suggested to us that sometliing might be attempted in the same way for the improvement of the other cereals, and especially of barley, which cau still be cultivated with less risk aud more profit than wheat, 284 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. With regard to the improvement of tlie quality of barley, the matter is one of so much importance that it is surprising it has not attracted more notice, and been entered upon at least with nearly as much spirit as has characterised the operations of the gentlemen who have brought the wheat plant to its present condition . Now, however, that a little more dependence will in all likelihood be placed upon the cereal, it may con- fidently be expected that more attention will be paid to its cul- tivation ; and the present time seems a favourable opportunity for bringing the matter under the consideration of all whom it may concern, with some chance of obtaining a hearing. In the cultivation of barley, as well as of the other cereals, there is no doubt that some attention must be paid to quantity as well as to quahty. In dull times such as the present, or indeed in any contingency of markets brisk or dull, a few ad- ditional quarters to dispose of will always be a matter of no small value to the tenant farmer. In the case of the finer kinds of barley, however, quantity may with little hesitation be sacrificed to quahty ; and the im- provement of the quality is at present the great desideratum. Maltsters and distillers are of course the principal buyers of barley, and there is no \vay in which its quality can be better tested than on thc^ malt floor. The wide difference wliich is found by maltsters between almost similar samples of barley, after they have been subjected to this test, is such as would scarcely be credited by those unacquainted with the malting process. It is particularly with reference to this phase of the subject that we at present advocate the necessity for a little more attention being paid to it. The fine Norfolk barley, for instance, when placed upon the malt floor, will be as far advanced for malting purposes in the course of twelve days as the common barley grown in East Lothian or Fife will be in eighteen or twenty days. This of itself is of no mean importance to the maltster, especially if his accommodation is limited and his orders are pressing, as it gives him the advantage of having three floors in the time taken by two. This, liowever, is a small matter when com- pared witli the difference after it passes from the kiln. In the case of the best English barley, the saccharine or sugary matter becomes so dry, free, and pulverous in its nature, that it may be taken and rubbed between the fingers like whiting or flour. The result of this is that, when it comes to the mash and wash-tubs, there is little or no sediment left behind. The whole strength, indeed, of the grain has been extracted, and in less than half the time required for the common Scotch va- riety. The more common barley never acquires this free and pul- verous character. There is always somewhat more of a glu- tinous nature about it, and the mash is full of hard granular particles which look like a sprinkling of rice, and which, of course, never yield the saccharine matter contained in them. The process, therefore, is not only a much more tedious one in the case of the coarse and common varieties, but the result is also much more unsatisfactory. There is not only nearly double the time consumed in the various operations, but there is much more loss in the matter of refuse. There is no doubt that there is much, very much, in soil and climate which must be taken into account in producing su- perior quality. With aU due allowance for these, however, there does not seem any good reason why East Lotliian should not produce as fiue a quality of malting barley as the eastern coast of England. There is not such a wide difterence between the two localities Imt that a much nearer approximation at least might be made. Whether this might be best effected by a regular and systematic change of seed from these more favoured localities, or by cultivating and endeavouring to improve — as has been done so successfully with the wheat plant — the finest of the barley at present grown in the district, is a subject for more mature consideration ; but there can be little doubt that a regular changing of seed would have some effect upon the produce. The sample might degenerate in the course of a year or two ; but granting that it does so, there is stiU the same course open, namely, to change the seed again. In this way, if in no other, a nearer approach in quality than there is at present to the finest Englisli barley might be kept up, not without a little trouble certainly, but a trouble which would ultimately bring its own reward in the higher price obtained for a better article. The subject is one which should be taken up by all whose farms are adapted for carrying it out, and more especially at the present time, when there is so much necessity for " making the most of it." SALE OF LONG-WOOLLED EAMS Messrs. Salter, ofAttleboroughIIaU,held ouTbursday,Sept.l, their fourth annual sale of Lincolnshire tups, descendants ot the Biscathorpe flock. The reputation the Messrs. Salter's sheep have already acquired in this neighbourhood, in addition to the adaptability of the improved Lincolnshire breed for crossing with the brown and black-faced ewes still in favour with the Norfolk flockmasters, was an attraction sufficient to bring together upwards of 150 of the most business men and largest breeders in the county. This large company of begin- ners, as the Messrs. Salter, it may be said fairly, term them- selves, augurs well for the future history of the Attleborough Hall flock. And when it is said that the flock at present is only 200 stock ewes, and 100 shearlings were brought to the ring for sale and letting, it will be farther beUeved that this flock is full of promise. Of these, 80 were sold for £838 os., or only 35s. under 10 guineas each. The remaining twenty were young and twin sheep, or promised to grow into good two- shears for next year. Wlien it is further said, as one may judge, that only fifteen male lambs of the last year's fall were withdrawn for wethers, it wUl lie allowed that the Messrs. Salter have, in the drier climate of East Norfolk, fairly dis- tanced many breeders of these sheep in their nativ e county. To have half as many shearling tups as there were ewes lambed down brought to the hammer as shearlings, in fine working condition, and all nearly equal in value, with the few good exceptions that always arise, according as the breeders re- quiring them may think them adapted for their ewes, is cer- tainly an accomplisliment that few men in the fourth season can congratulate themselves upon. This, however, has no doubt arisen in a great measure from the Messrs. Salter not having flinched at the first outlay, nor at trying to improve the character of their llqck by successive purchases of the best sheep they could find — that is, so fiir as the tups they have annually purchased M-ere thought to lie suitable for the particular ewes they wished to improve upon. In regard to the long wool retaining its lustre and quahty of fibre in this drier and warmer climate, we may say that we have never seen more nniformity of fine qualities ; and this opinion was confirmed by Mr. W. Neal, of Ely, who has bought the Messrs. Salter's for three years, and who said in a letter to Mr. Simpson, the officiating auctioneer, on Thursday last : " I have said to many friends it was the best parcel of wool we have sent to Bradford this season. The party to whom it was sent say the same, and that it is very much superior to the bidk of wool grown in our district." Some of this the Messrs. Salter attribute to their practice of spread- ing straw over the land ; for, as they say, much damage is done to long wool by its being frozen to the ground in winter, for the sheep on rising break some and stretch more to an extent, that it afterwards grows deformed, becoming " knotty," a defect which is very injurious and therefore watched for by buyers. But from the sheep having straw to He on, instead of hare soU or rooted grass, on their rising the loose straw sticks to the sides of the sheep, and falls off soon after from the heat of the body or the sun melting the ice by which it was attached. This, liow- ever, has notliiug to do with the lustre, and, so far as we could perceive, this important quality is not in the least diminished. Among the gentlemen and buyers on the ground were, W. Bagge, Esq., M.P., for West Norfolk, and C. S. Read, Esq., M.P. for East Norfolk ; Captain Caldwell ; Von. Stavereu, from Holland ; Messrs. R. Leamon (Whitwell), S. K. Gayford and T. and H. Gayford, E. Edwards (Bamham, Suffolk), W. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 2S[ JeUing (Tlietford), ami C. aud — . Jelliiiij, H. Aylmer (West Derehaiu), W. Elliot (.Rushford), H. Wood (Mertou), J. Tur- ner (agent to the Marquis of Bristol), W. Biddell (Uawstead, Suffolk), Wells (Haveriaud), Reeve (Snettishain), G. Barton, T. Matthews, juu. (Tonipsou), J. Gates (Brandon), A. 11. Bartlett (.Tlietford), J. Peto (Barningham, Suffolk), &c., &c. The prices the sheep made were of a very nuifonn charac- ter, which indicates the " family likeness" of the flock more than if a few higher prices had been made, and these had brought tlie average up to the lU guineas. The highest price was £20, which was given by JMr. Edwards, who bought five others at prices between £8 10s. and £12 10s. Mr. Turner bought four for the Marquis of Bristol at prices from £10 to £12 10s. These arc for putting to pure Southdown ewes, ^yhich shows the change which is undergoing the minds of fashionable breeders before the liigli prices of mutton and long-wool. Mr. Gayford of Wretham bought two at £13 and £9 each ; Mr. Seamon three at £10, £10 10s. and £11 respectively. Mr. AV. Jillings bought No. 1 at £17, and two others. Messrs. J .& C. JiUiugs bought two each. Captain Caldwell bought one at £1-1, aud one at £13. Mr. Limmer bought i at store prices, which varied from £9 to £12 lOs. Tlie remainder were sold according to their form and the appreciation they met with Ijy the company. The 20 shearlings that were let made proportionate prices. Of ram-lambs there were 35, which were let. The first made £9 to Mr. Jlyhill. Mr. Tiugay took two at £7 10s. Seve- ral were let at £6 the pair, some at £5, aud three at £3 the pair for the season. These of course will return, if they do well, and be some of the sliearHugs for next year's sale. It is here generally considered that strong lambs, if taken good care of, improve by beiug used as rams. Lambs are greatly pre- ferred for begetting lambs for fattening. Fifty shearling ewes were offered, as the Messrs. Salter wish their neighbours to try some of their breed, as against the brown-faced ones of their own flocks. But only 3 ewes exceeded the up-set price of £3, and these made G3s. and 60s. each. Before closing this notice of the Attleborough Hall sale, we cannot do less than remark that the system of spreading straw on the fields for sheep to tread in answers as perfectly as we said last spring it promised to do. All the roots are here sown with one ploughing 11 inches deep, and notliing can be expected to look better than they now do. As will 1)e remem- bered, the quantity of corn fed per acre was about one ton, as the roots were last year so few. Beyond this, no other manure has been used, and on these 11-inch furrows, or rather depth of mould, there are some wonderful mangold, capital swedes, and white turnips, and, for the season, those crops are unusually clean. This may in some measure be accounted for, after the showery weather we have had, from the seed of annuals near the surface after the 11-inch turning-over having had time to vegetate, aud were therefore harrowed up at the time of sowing the crop. These roots will be nearly all consumed as before described. About two-thirds will be taken to adjoin- ing fallows, and one-third be fed in some cases on the field for the barley or spring oats. The cartage saved by this practice is of immense importance. The improved condition of the land is, however, of greater importance. The present stubbles will be as usual forked over, to raise out the few roots of twitch that will gather by the end of a course. This is done at the cost of 2s. Gd. to 3s. per acre, and is no doubt the cheapest as well as surest method of keeping land free of this troublesome plant. Last year the Messrs. Salter were so hard up for feed for sheep that they fed off a piece of lightly podded beans. This makeshift, as it was looked upon at the beginning, proved so advantageous that this year several acres of part beau and part rape or turnips have been sown, and are being fed ofl' together, the ewes having a few rods nightly. By this feed the ewes are clean aud healthy, although they are on a piece of sappy after-grass. They eat the stalk and aU dowii close, aud the cheapness of this practice must be also greatly in its favour. There are some other interesting points worth noting, but our space compels us to defer a notice of them. The Chairuajv, after luncheon, having given " The Queen," and " The Prince aud Princess of Wales," next proposed " The Army and Navy," coupling the name of Captain CaldweU, who briefly retiuued tlirtuj». The Chairman next proposed " The health of the County Members." Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., who received a hearty reception, said he saw by the expression of some of their faces that they were inclined to ask why he rose before Mr. Bagge. The East Norfolk election took place a few days previous to West Norfolk ; and lie, a young man, took precedence of their old and tried friend Mr. Bagge. He could remember that he was a little boy at school when Mr. Bagge was first returned for West Norfolk, and that he then received his first black eye in vindicating the inde- pendence of the electors on that occasion. Exceedingly pleased he was to see Mr. Bagge looking so blooming and young, and re- presenting them once more. He thanked them most heartily for the kind way in which they had received the toast of the county members, and remarked that it was one of the greatest honours that had been conferred upon him in being associated with a man so able and so hard-working as Mr. Howes. He would not talk about the cattle plague or politics, or even directly about the malt-tax, but he would say a word upon Mr. Gladstone's "Malt for Cattle Bill." He took his sample of barley, about this time last year, to market, aud was bid uinepence per stone for it ; but he did not like the idea of paying double the price for the same quantity of Mr. Gladstone's mixture. He therefore kept his barley and bought malt, and, from his experience, he was perfectly satisfied with the result. But what he wanted was, that they should be more accurate ; he wanted them to vary the experiment in every possible way, so as to convince Mr. Gladstone that malt food was not altogether a fallacy. His own experience was, that malt shoidd not be used in very large quantities, but that it was very useful as a condiment, seasoning a large quantity of unpalatable food, and thus carrying out the scientific opinions of chemical professors, who told them that it made a large amount of the food they gave to cattle more palatable, more soluble, and more digestible. Seeing so many practical men about him, he asked and entreated them in the coming winter to try a little malt, and give them unreservedly the results of their experiments. There was one little bill passed at the end of the old Parliament, " The Weight by Malt Bill," vi'hich was passed for the express purpose of taking off the extreme pressure of the malt tax upon the occupiers of heavy laud. In his opinion it did no such thing. They would find that almost every sample of barley from off the light land was coarse and heavy, and he thought the proper title for the bill would be " A bill to grant facilities to the maltster for importing light, bright, and foreign barleys, to the further prejudice of the British farmer." Mr. Bagge, M.P., who was also most warmly received, was sure that, in all his excursions through West Norfolk, he had never met with such a reception, particularly in the neigh- bourhood of Attleborough. Generally speaking it was frost and snow in that locality ; but he concluded that, being under the hospitable roof of Mr. Salter, one side or the other would receive him thus heartily. That was the first time he had ever done himself the honour of attending Messrs. Salter's meetings, but he trusted that it would not be the last. He again tlianked them for the warm reception they had given him, and resumed his seat amid expressions of favour. He, however, again rose, and proposed the health of the Chair- man. Mr. S. K. Gayford, in returning thanks, said he was much indebted to them for the kindness evinced towards himself, and he thought they would agree with him that the stack-yards of West Norfolk were seldom, if ever, worse filled aud in worse condition than they were this year. When they looked round that well-filled barn, and stepped out upon the green hills, and saw that the sheep-pens were also well filled and that the animals were of good quality and in fine condition, they would say that there was never a rule with- out an exception. He had known a good deal of Mr. Salter's transactions, and that he had spared no pains aud expense to bring his sheep to perfection ; and he was much delighted to see such a company present, because he felt certain tliat there must be a good sale. If there were any present who had purchased Mr. Salter's sheep, and mixed them with tups of a different breed — whether two or three of Mr. Salter's tups v.-ith two or three of any other breed — aud had not produced a flock of lambs such as they liad wished, they must not be disap- pointed, because he felt that the result was certain. Every flockmaster's object ought to be to select his ewes so as to get 286 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. them as rnucli alike as possible, never losing sight of civiality, a fair quantity of wool, and perhaps just now a large quantity of wool. Some at present might be large purchasers of beasts, and it was certain that every man present would put his hand on his beasts to know the feel of the skin ; but there was just as much in the pelt of a sheep as there was in that of a buUock. Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., in proposing the health of " The Flockmasters," associating with the toast the name of Mr. Bartlett, was happy to say that at tlie present time wool and mutton were fetching capital prices. Mr. Bautlett feared that lie should cut a very poor figure with many of tlie large flockniasters around him. He con- gratulated them on their election of members for the county, and said that the acquaintance of the tenant-farmers was as deserving of cultivation as tliat of the landlords. Having complimented Mr. Salter upon his excellent shov>' of sheep, lie thanked them for the honour paid him. The Chairji.oj then proposed "The health of Messrs. Salter." Mr. Saltek, in responding on behalf of himself and brotlier, said they were proud to see so many present, and they should be proud to meet them for years to come. He felt tliat they must have given some satisfaction to his friends and neighbours, else he should not liave increased his number of visitors so largely ; and assured them that lie liad done his best as a farmer, to produce such animals as lie believed were required by them. It was his endeavour to combine wool and mutton, to get Lord Walsingham's Down carcase under a long- wooUed fleece ; and he thought, that in the lot of sheep he exhibited that day, that was nearly accomplished. Nothing, he continued, should be wanting on his part to merit a con- tinuance of their support and confidence, and he hoped that none would be disappointed in any animal they might purchase or hire, adding that no reserve bid had been put upon any animal, and that 100 out of 115 which he had bred would be put into the ring for competition. He concluded by proposing " The Strangers," coupUng with the toastthe names of Messrs. Biddell and Turner. Mr. EiDDELL, after expressing the pleasure he felt in being present at that meeting, said he had the cattle plague upon his farm, although he had not purchased any animals for eight or ten weeks, and although liis cattle had not been within 400 yards' distance of any other animals. Whether the beasts be- came infected through the atmosphere, or the disease was con- veyed to them by tliose pests, the flies, he must leave to those more learned in such questions ; but he recommended all, if they would not be the losers in a pecuniary point of view, to join associations which had for their object the relieving of the losses of their neighbours. He congratulated them upon the opportunity they had of replacing the buUocks by a kindlier and more profitable animal ; for, as far as he was a judge, they had a good article in Messrs. Salter's sheep, which were well adapted to the purpose to which tups were applied. It was a prevalent opinion that the disease in cattle affected beef-eaters, and he, therefore, recommended them to turn tlieir attention to tlie growth of mutton. Mr. Turner also responded. Mr. Wood proposed "The health of the Wool Buyers," coupling with the toast the name of Mr. Neal, of Ely. Mr. Neal said he had purchased the wool off Messrs. Salters' sheep for some years past, and pronounced it to be of superior quality, and in very much better condition last year than he liad previously kno«'n it. He sold it to a gentleman in Yorkshire, who stated that it was the best parcel he had purchased that season. There was no doubt but that tlie long wool commanded the higher price, and he advised them to cul- tivate it, recommending Messrs. Salters' sheep as fitting animals for producing the staple required. Captain Cald\\t;ll proposed " The health of Mr. Simpson," to which Mr. Leamon added the name of " Mr. Bacon." Mr. Simpson returned thanks on behalf of Mr. Bacon and himself. After alluding to tlie fine quality of the sheep he had to offer that day, he concluded by proposing " The Ladies," and associating the name of Mrs. Salter with the toast. Mr. Bagge was taken by surprise to liear Mr. Simpson con- clude by proposing that toast, as he had reserved it for him- self, and had intended, in proposing it, to apologise for the ab- sence of tlie Hon. T. De Grey, who should have proposed it, but was in the North shooting grouse. He hoped that he would be present next year. SHEEP SALES AND LETTINGS. MR. DAVY'S LETTING. The Owersby rams of this year presented, on Monday, Sept. 4, a marked and very commendable improvement over last year : indeed, considering this is only the fourth season of Mr. Davy's special attention to ram-breeding, his progress in hitting oil' the public demand does great credit to his judgment and energy. Owing to the high price of wool and mutton, breeders have been determined in securing sheep for stock wliicli promised to produce great fleeces and carcasses that would puU down a heavy scale. How far this is right in prin- ciple we shall have occasion to argue more fully, in connection with other flocks, in the descriptive notices we shall have to give below. While, however, Mr. Davy's are of this great size there is every requisite quality in his breeding-ewes for him to warp his sheep when he sees fit to forms and sizes whicli, we wU at once say, we consider more lasting and reliable for producing great weights of wool and mutton per acre. As tlie fashion goes, Mr. Davy is undoubtedly success- ful ; for wliUe it takes some years to get a fashion fixed in the pubhc mind, it takes longer to change the views of whicli a fashion may be composed. Agriculture generally, and sheep- lireeding in particular, are not exceptions to this action of the human mind. By the prices we have to record, it will lie at once seen that Mr. Davy had every reason to be pleased with the largely in- creased company which attended his auction-letting, and also that the bidders were well pleased with Mr. Davy's sheep. The large number of 120 rams, viz., 70 shearlings, 36 two- shear and l-l three-shear, certainly composed a very imposing and attractive sho\v. Their great size, heavy coats, and mascu- line lieads (the skin of the latter organs being generally of the admired blue tinge) caused more than one ram-breeder and other good judges to speak of them, as a whole, as being in every way suited to the wgnts of the day. 13ut with the figures we have before us further comment on our part would be superfluous. The 70 shearlings let for £1,038, or, within a penny or two of an average of 11 guineas each ; the 36 two-shear, and the 14 older sheep bringing the general average for the 120 to £13 Is. Gd. each. The first strikingly noticeable sheep was No. 8, an animal of good form, legs short and true, and he carried a fleece of good weight and fine quality. This sheep, in our opinion, will turn out to be as good an animal as any on the ground — particularly if tlie present fashion should change sooner than it at present promises to do. He was taken by Mr. Duddiug, of Garthorpe, at £26. The next one was another excellent sheep, and, being larger and of good form, with fine pelt and bold head, as well as of a fat nature, he caused a good bit of spirited competition and was soon let at £76 to Mr. Game, which adds additional interest to the high price he made, as this name will be recognized as one familiarly known in connection with the Cotswolds. Mr. T. Cartwright, a ram-breeder, hired the next one, at 31 guineas: this was a good thick sheep, of fair form, with a peculiarly pleas- ing expression of countenance upon a good bold frontis- piece. Mr. John Clark took No. 15 at £30, Mr. S. Hobbins No. 17 at the same figure. No. 19 made £31 to Mr. Mayfield for the Dogdyke flock, Mr. Dickinson took No. 33 at £31 10s., Mr. E. Davy took No. 24 at £17 10s., Mr. Byron took No. 28 at £36, Nos. 32 and 34 made £19 and £30 to Mr. Haseltine, No. 33 was taken by Mr. Codling at £30, Mr. Game took another. No. 40, at £18, No. 43 was taken by Mr. Bartholomew at £18 10s., Mr. Richardson took another at £18, and Mr. Shrapley one at the same price. In the older sheep, Mr. Chatterton took No. 75 at £35 10s., Mr. Kirmau No. 90 at £19, No. 110, a three-shear, was taken by Mr. T. Brown at the good price of £40, Mr. G. Clarke No. 113 at £34, Mr. R. C. Howard No. 113, a compact sheep of good quality, at £33, and Mr. Marshall No. 118 at £18. These few quotations will, it will ttndoubtedly be thought, fully bear out our remarks on the successful manner in which Mr. Davy has pursued this branch of his extensive agricultural business. i This notice of the Owersby flock would be incomplete unless we made some reference to its clip of wool. There were 950 fleeces, and their net weight was 375 tods. As may be judged, a large number of the fleeces were only two to a tod, and most of the rams cut considerably over the lilbs. The whole clip THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 287 — ewe, tup, and shearling together — was sold on the 14th of June last at GOs. per tod. Wlien those figures arc carried out, and it is found that this g-rowth amounts to over eleven hundred pounds sterling, il is not at all wonderful that the better judg- ment of some farmers, in regard to form and symmetry, should he carried away by their feelings respecting a " good skin," that is, a hea'^'y fleece. THE BRANSTON. These sheep sustain their well-known character for extra- ordinary size and great weight of wool. As Mr. Marsliall says, " It is far more easy to work a ftock uj) to an ainied-at character than it is to preserve whatever marked traits the judgment of a breeder may cultivate." Eut as Mr. Marshall has, in addition to his own four hundred breeding cvv'es, the advantages which belong to working with some relatives who possess several hundred more ewes, the issue of the Branston flock is tantamount to the produce of a very large stock. Sheep-breeding is like " change-ringing " on bells — if the number be doubled, the " changes " will be several times in- creased : tlius, in sheep-breedin-g, under good judgment, every hundred added to the Mock adds many years to the time that a flock may be kept together without any danger of degeneration from in-and-in breeding. Some idea of the substance of Mr. Marshall's sheep will be gathered from the following facts : A three-shear ram weighed the enormous weight of 31 stone 121b. ; a four-shear weighed 28 stone ; a two-shear 27 stone 41b. ; another of the same age 27 stone ; three shearlings, in- tended for home-use, average 22 stone 911)., the heavier one pulling down 23 stone 121b. ; two four-shear ewes weighed the great weight respectively of 22 stone 111b. and 21 stone 81b., the latter being far from ripely fed. The produce of the wool of these sheep is also something extraordinary for the average per head. It cannot be expected that every fleece of this flock, with its great size, is of the finest quality ; but much of it is ; aud there seems to be but a sixpence or a shil- ling a tod difference in the somewhat coarse fleeces of 18 and 201bs. weight and the lighter clips of ordinary qua- lity. Of course, the very fine and lustrous fleeces com- mand a high figure for making imitation alpaca and fine mixed fabrics of wool and silk. But as the demand for flannel shirtings, and blankets is now great, and the serviceable fashion with tourists and sporting as well as business men of wearing cloth suits with rough surfaces continues, there is no present prospect of a fall in this character of wool ; therefore quantity, when the form of animals is not neglected, is cer- tainly more profitable at present, from the public demanding it, than is that fineness without lustre, which only conies into competition with the shorter wools, and- which are at lov.'er prices from the production of them now being so great in Australia, Hungary, Austria, and other parts of the continent of Europe, where the production of long-wool is either impos- sible or the yield is limited, from the climate being too rarified and otherwise unsuitable. This year Mr. Marshall had 180 rams to let and sell, 120 of which are already disposed of. Mr. Marshall cultivates a foreign trade, which he has the better been able to do from having travelled a good deal in continental countries, lie has for years been sending sheep to the following places : — Aus- tralia, New Zealand, Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Buenos Ayrcs, lliver Plate, North America, Canada, Germany, Hol- land, Denmark, Prussia, and Austria. These facts we mention as points of interest to show how the sons of Old England, when they become colonists, like to try experiments with home- breeds of sheep, the profits of which, in respect to wool they now hear so much of; and there is thus also shown the great foreign trade now done in these sheep, and how it is such foreign nations as Holland, Belgium, and other easily-reached countries were trying to improve their breeds for supplying the English markets with mutton. THE TEMPLE BRUER SALE. The Temple Bruor rams sold on Thursday, Sept. 7, although they made the fair average of nearly 10 guineas eacli, were, comparatively speaking, barely half appreciated. One of the most inconsistent and anomalous expressions now prevalent is often applied to sheep of the Temple Bruer stamp, which are said to be suitable for breeders who fat their ■ own shearlings, but not for breeders who sell at April Fairs ! This governing principle, or rather proceeding without any true principles at all, is altogether an almost incredible inconsistency, or breeders must be i)rcsumiug greatly on the judgment of the men who go to April fairs to buy. If compact sheep, with wide quarters supported on truly-formed and stiff legs, be tJie more protitable stamp to aim at producing where breeders fatten off their own " hoggs" or " wedders," surely, looking from a rent- paying as well as a public or general point of view, the same cliaracleristics must be equally valuable for those feeders who do nut breed but have to buy at spring fairs. If this be so, Lincolnshire sheep-breeding is reduced in some cases to the practice pursued by the razor maker — one sort is brought out for use aud another class to sell. We need not enter into leugthened individual criticism of tlie sheep brought to the ring by Mr. Robert Howard on Thursday last. It is the general outline and style of move- ment by the whole that one must judge Ijy, to be correct. It is no secret that the O.'cford Down was originally a direct cross between the Hants and Cotswold breeds. Nor is it studiously kept as a secret l)y Mr. Kirkham that the superiority attained by the Biscathorpe flock is due to the way the raw-boned, pri- mitive Lincoln has been judiciously brought iuto form and toned down by the more elegant, and, before " coddling" animals was thought to be a scientific proceeding, the more profitable Leicester. Nor, again, is it any secret that iMr. Howard has used some of Mr. Kirkham's best-quality sheep. We have said the lots averaged nearly 10 guineas. This comparatively low figure cannot be attributed to their vvant of size, for they were big enough in all reason. Their con- dition and quality, too, as displayed in tlie firmness and abun- dance of their flesh, and in the natural lustre of their wool, were subjects of some comment and approval : and judges seemed to have a growing feeling that there was something very good about them, if they could not screw their minds up to a full assurance that there were signs in the sheep before them that must some day teU on the flocks of the neigh- bourhood and county. Under this condition of iutellect and feel- ing, a few lively nibbles and respectable biddings were, however, made. Mr. Dean bought 3 sheep, at £16 lUs., £24 and £30 respectively ; Mr. Bartholomew bought 3, at £18 IDs. for one, and £17 for the other; Mr. Gilbert, of Blankney Heath, bought 1 at £18 ; Mr. R. AVright, of Nocton Green, bought 1 at £14 10s. ; Mr. E. Dawson, of Glensworth, 1 at £14; and Mr. Woolhouse, of Wellingore, bought 1 at £30. The re- mainder were sold at the usual prices given by store breeders for sheep with short legs, who fear that, therefore, they will not beget lambs that at April fairs will " well top the trays," that is, show the back above the hurdles ! PETERBOROUGH NEW FAIR. Mr. C. Clarke's Ashby-de-la-Lund rams, which were sold by Mr. Law, made the highest average of the day. They v/ere a lot of excellent shearlings, 50 in number, and they made £832, or an average of £16 12s. 9d. each. Mr. Parr, a ram-breeder, bought No. 25 at £50 ; Mr. Godfrey bought No. 23 at £46, Mr. Yoeman No. 27 at £32, Mr. Sampey No. 28 at £34, Mr. Burrows No. 30 at £21 10s., Mr. Clearny No. 1 at £21, and Mr. Daintree, near St. Ives, bought one at £49. This result is undoubtedly fully merited by Mr. Clarke, who has for many years spared neither time nor expense in attempting to l)ring his flock up to a first- class standard. Mr. Caswell, of Laughton, obtained the next best average, which was £14 15s. each for 50 shearlings. These were fine sheep, and some of them were of good form and quality. No. 17 was bought by Mr. Caswell of Quadring at £50. Mr. Thorpe bought two at £18 and £20, Mr. Eordbam two at £17 and £19, Mr. Checkley two at £17 10s. and £21, Mr. Bird one at £21 10s., Mr. Eve one at £20 10s., and one. No. 24, was bought for Earl Grey at £17 10s. Mr. Caswell of Poiuton ran third, making an average of £14 12s. 6d. each. No. 10 was bought by Mr. CoUingwood at £70, No. 11 by Mr. AVallis at £18 10s., No. 13 by Mr. Sis- man at £18, No.' 20 by Mr. Goodliff at £28, No. 25 by Mr. Lojigdale at £18, No. 26 by Mr. Beaton at £22, No. 30 bv Mr. T. Tryon at £21, and No. 40 by Mr. Wright of Nocton Heath at £45. Mr. Thomas Kirkham, of Audleby, near Caistor, had 60 shearlings sold by Mr. Briggs, the average of which we were unable to get, but the following- good prices were made ; No, Y 2 288 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 8 was bought by Mr. R. Howard for the Temple Bruer flock, at £40 : No. 9 by Mr. Topham, at £38 ; No. 10 by Mr. Robiuson, at £32 ; No. 31 by Mr. Salter, Attleborough Hall, at £21 • No. 51 by Mr. F. Isles, at £23. Mr. Pratt, near Peter- borough, also bought three, at £18 10s., £13 10s., and £16 10s. respectively ; aad one was bouglit for Earl Grey at £20. Many of these sheep were, as usual, escelleut for symmetry and quality. Jlr. Greaves, of Bloxham, had 30 shearlings, which were also sold by Mr. Eriggs. Mr. Swain bought No. 1, at £21 ; Mr. Pringle (a Scotchman) bought No. 9, at £53 ; Mr. Pog- son No. 10, at £36; Mr. Pank No. 11, at £17 ; aud Mr. Frith No. 2-i, at £21. There were some very useful sheep among this lot. Mr. Williams, of Carltou-lc-Moorlaud, had 24 shearhng and 5 older sheep ou the ground, and tliese were partly offered by Mr. Briggs ; but as they came to the ring rather late, and buyers were short, the greater part of them were passed or withdrawn. We were iuformed that afterwards some of them were disposed of at satisfactory prices. Among them were two enormous 2-shear sheep of fine character, one of which was let to Mr. Topham at £30. There was a deal of fine form and general cliaracter about many of these sheep. Mr. AV. Cliaplin, of Tathwell, had 16 shearlings offered by Mr. Briggs, but we were unable to obtain the fidl result. Mr. Topliam, near llugby, also placed 30 shearlings in Mr. Brig'gs' hands, who sold them at fair prices. No. 8 we heard sold at £17 10s., and No. 10 at £16 10s. These sheep were very useful for crossing purposes. Mr. Walesby, near Wragby, brought 21 shearlings ; hut as the day turned out they came on rather too late, and had not therefore so good a chance as their merits deserved. Mr. P. Cartwright, of Dunstan PiUar, had 40 very useful shearlings offered by Mr. Mann, aud they made fair prices, the leading ones being £14 for No. 34, to Mr. Kingsley ; £18 for No. 16, to Mr. Tarrell ; £19 for No. 18, to Mr. HiU ; and £37 for No. 15, to Mr. Luster. This flock appears to be rapidly improving under Mr. Cartwright's independent judg- ment and indomitable energy and perseverance. Mr. R. Wright, of Nocton Heath, had 36 useful shearlings; but as this was the first appearance at Peterborough, of selec- tions from this flock, aud more sheep than buyers being on the ground, the figures realized were not equal to those which Mr. Wright has been in the habit of receiving at the Lincoln fair, which falls next week. Mr. Burditt, from near Kettering, brought 20 shearlings, but they had too much of the Leicester iforni aud coat to suit Peter- borough customers on such a heavy day, and they were taken home again. Mr. W. Kirkliam had 72 offered by Mr. Fox, but they did not make anything more than prices varying from 5 guineas to £9. Among the other lots were Mr. George Clark's, of Canwiek, which numbered 37 shearlings and 5 two-shear ; Mr. Wilkes's, of Croxton Kerrial, 25 shearlings ; Mr. Hack's, of Buckmin- ster, 33 shcarHngs, which were leggy, and otherwise not admirable ; Mr. Waltham's 24 shearlings ; Mr. Fisher's, of Weston, 50 shearlings, which sold from 4 to 6 guineas each. And 20 shearliugs of Mr. Cartwight's ; but these sheep had been far better prepared for the butcher. In the market-place, the trade for store lambs and stock ewes was somewhat slower, and lots hung on hand late in the day. The new market-place in course of construction in close prox- imity to the High-street wiU be a most advantageous change in the right direction for the improvement of the accommodation in this town on market-days ; for what with miscellaneous stalls, stock, and machinery, circulation is almost stopped at times. Messrs. Amies and Barford had their usual extensive show of their own manufactures ; in addition to which, as machine agents and dealers, they liad selections from the stocks of all the best agricultural engineers. SPARKENHOE FARMERS' CLUB. aiEETING AT LOUGHBOROUGH. This very prosperous Agricultural Society held its annual show on Wednesday and Tluusday, Sept. 6 and 7, at Lough- borough, in tlie ])ark of Mr. Warner, ou the Leicester-road. The situation affords a most extensive area, with a good turf and numerous spreading elms and chesnuts, on seats under which the visitors found a pleasant and shady rest. A lofty marquee, capable of accommodating nearly a thousand people, was fixed opposite the hall for the dinner. The society ofi'ered nearly £900in 460 prizes. The attractiveness of the programme was in no small degree due to the liberality of the people of Loughborough. The visits of the Sparkenhoe Club are sought by many places, and if its committee yielded to the solicitations they receive, it would soon spread the area of its exhibitions over England, instead of being, as at first, limited to a single hundred of the county of Leicester, from which it derives its name. The ground presented a gay appearance during the day; for, whatever may be the vie«s of agriculturists as to the propriety of trimming sheep, the ladies who visited the show did not fail to sport their gayest hues in the bright sunshine. The shadow of a great threatened calamity, however, hung over the sliow of stock, and reduced its number greatly, many being deterred from sending their auimals from fear of possible contagion, amongst others, the Earl of Howe, the Earl of Aylesford, and Earl Spencer not sending their animals ou that account. Last year there were 123 entries of cattle, this year only 74, and of these no less than 24 entries were al)sent. There were 121 entries of slieep last year, tliis year only 75 ; pigs, which were last year 59, fell to 40 ; horses, from 164 to 127, and poultry from 316 to 201. Though small, however, the show of cattle contained some very fine animals, especially bulls, oxen, and fat cows. A piece of plate or money to the value of £10 offered by Mr. W. Perry Herrick, for the best in the two classes of fat animals, was awarded to Mr. John Lynn, of Church farm, Stoxton, Grantham, which also took first prize of £10 for fat cows, The second prize in the same class was won by Sir John H. Crewe. Mr. G. F. Mitchell, of Newton Solney, Burton-on-Trent, took the first prize of £10 for fat oxen with a fine shorthorn. A longhorn belonging to Mr. R. H. Chapman, of Upton, Nuneaton, took the second prize. Mr. C. Bosworth, of Dishley, Loughborough, carried off the fijst prize of £10 for an aged bull, to which M'as also awarded a £10 cup, given by the inhabitants of Loughborough, for the best store animal. C. W. Packe, Esq., M.P., took the second prize of £5 with another pure shorthorn, bred by him- self. Mr. John Ironmonger, of Measham, Atherstone, took the first prize of £10 for a bull under two years old, and Mr. C. Bosworth, of Dishley, the second. The tenant-farmers' classes were not well fiUed in number, and were only moderate in quality. The shorthorns appear to he gaining g-round in this district, judging from the show. The sheep were the principal feature, though, as a whole, they were scarcely up to the average. The long-wools were a mixture of Leicesters, Liucolus, and Cotwolds, and were a tolerably numerous and good show. Mr. Johu Lynn took first and second prizes for shearling rams, with good animals of his own breeding, crosses between Leicesters and Lincolns. Mr. Lynn again took a prize with a splendid ram, a cross between a Leicester aud a Lincoln. This ram was sold for 200 guineas. Mr. Herrick, of Beauraanor, took first and second prizes for fat wethers ; and Mr. C. Bosworth first prize for ewes, and Mr. Herrick for theavcs. The long-woolled lambs, for which Mr. Creswell, of Ravenstone, offered two prizes, were a very good class, and were generally commended by the judges. ]\Ir. W. Grewcock, of Barwell Fields, Hinckley, took first and Mr. Herrick the second prize. The long-wooUed wether lambs were also a good class, in which Mr. Grewcock was again first and Mr. Herrick (who jiad another animal com- mended) second ; Mr. M. Woodroofe also received commend- ation. Mr. C. Bosworth took an extra prize of £1, with two fat ewes of good quality. The short-woolled sheep were a small show, In the clas's THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 289 for slicailing- rams llie Earl of Aylesford took the second prize, the first not being; awarded. Mr. W. Yates, of Grindle House, Shilfnal, took the first prize for siiort-woolled rams turned two years. It was sold at Colonel Dyott's sale for 31 guineas. Mr. T. W. Yates, of I'ackington Farm, Lichtield, was tlie only e.Kliibitor in the class of "fat wetlicrs. Jlr. T. Oakcy, of Normanton-en-le-lleath, near Ashliy, took first prize for fat wethers of mixed breed and for theaves ; and Mr. J. II. Bradburnc, who had no eompetitor, for a pen of ewes ; but there was no eonipctitiou in the two last chisses. Mr. J. H. Bradbnrne took first prize for a pen .of 20 ewes and theaves, receiving also the £5 cup for the best short-woolled sheep. Mr. May, of Elford Park, took the second prize. The horses were, on the whole, not quite as good a show as we have seen at the Sparkenhoe exhibitions. The prizes were awarded as follows : Mr. "\V. Briscoe, of Broom.sbriggs, Loughljorough, took the first prize of £10 and the £10 champion prize for the best hunter, with a five-year-old ; Mr. Thomas "WaUin, of High Oakham, taking the second. Mr. G. Wood, JMarket Overton, took the first prize for hunting geld- ings or mares : Mr. W. C. Limbar, of Radljourne, Daventry ; Mr. E. J. Bird, of Newton Solney ; Mr. J. Bounett, of Cole- orton, Ashby ; and Mr. C. Palmer, of Calke, for younger horses. The tUly class was very good. Mr. Bailey, of Leices- ter, took tlic first, and Mr. H. Warner, in whose park the show was held, the second. Lord Berners had a horse highly commended, and Mr. II. 'Wardle, of Burton, one commended. Mr. Bailey also took the prize for year-olds. IMr. J. G. Led- sara, of Birmingham, was first, and ^Mr. W. P. Herrick second in the brood-mare class ; and Mr. J. Bounett carried off the prize for hackneys up to 10 years old, and Mr. W. Chapman, of Quorndon, for cobs. In the cart-horses Mr. W. Saundcr, of Cold Overton, took first prize with an entire horse with very good legs and feet, whilst the cup for the best cart-horse w^as given to ]Mr. J. Bennett, of Husbands Bosworth, in addition to the first prize in the filly class. There was a good show of pigs, ilr. Duckering, of Nor- thorpe, eaiTying away the chief honours. The implements were, on the whole, a good show, and the exhibitors wisely confined themselves to showing principal articles. The Champion Plougliing Match was won by Ransomes and Sims, beating two entries of Messrs. Howard's and some local men. PRIZE LIST.— CATTLE. (By the Society.) — For the best fat ox. — 1st prize, £10, Mr. G. J. Mitchell, Ne^rtou Solney, Burton-on-TVent. F'or the best fat cow or heifer. — 1st prize, £10, Mr. John Lynn, Cluirch Farm, Stroxton, Grantham ; 2nd, £5, Sir John H. Crewe, Bart. (By the Society.) — For the best hull, two years old and up- wards.— 1st prize, £10, Mr. C. Bosworth, Dishley, Loughbo- rough ; 2nd, £5, Mr. C. W. Packe, M.P. For the best bull, under two years old. — 1st prize, £10, Mr. John Ironmonger, Sleasham, Atherstone ; 2nd, £5, Mr. C. Bosworth. For the best cow in-milk, having had a live calf since De- cember 1st, 18G4<. — 1st prize, £5, Mr. John Lynn ; 2nd, £2, Mr. C. W. Packe, M.P. (By C. W. Packe, Esq., M.P.)— For the best pair of in-calf heifers, above two and under three years of age. — 1st prize, £5, Mr. C. W. Packe, M.P. ; 2nd, £2 (by the Society), Mr. C. Bosworth. For the best pair of stirks, above one and under two vears of age.— 1st prize, £3, and 2nd, £2, C. W. Packe, Esq., M.P. F'or the best pair of steers, under three years old. — 1st prize, £5, and 2nd, £2, Mr. C. W. Packe, M.P. (By Sir John H. Crewe, Bart.) — For the best long-horn bull. — 1st prize, £.5, Mr. R. H. Chapman, Upton, Nuneaton. (By Sir John H. Crewe, Bart.) — For the best pair of long- horn heifers, in-calf, above two and under three years of age. — 1st prize, £.5, Mr. R. H. Chapman ; 2nd, £2 (by the So- ciety), Mr. E. T. Twycross, Canley, Coventry-. Tenaut FARjrERs' Classes. (By the Society.) — For the best buU, under two years old. — 1st prize, £.5, Mr. G. Thirlby, Rempstone, Loughborough ; 2nd, Messrs. W. and H. Gill, Burton-on-the- Wolds, Lough- borough. For the best pair of cows, in-milk, having had live calves since January 1st, 180.5. — 1st prize, £5, Mr. R. Cayless, Loughborough ; 2nd, £2, Messrs. W. and U. Gill. (By the Society.) — F'or the best pair of in-calf heifers, under three years old. — 1st prize, £3, Mr. M. Woodrofle, Stanford, Loughborough; 2ud, £1, Mr. J. Johnson, Braun- stone, Leicester. For the best pair of stirks, under two years old. — 1st prize, £2, Mr. M. Woodrofl'e ; 2nd, £1, Mr. U. Fellows, Hathern. EXTRA. STOCK. Bull, 6 mouths old, Mr. R. Cayless, Loughborough. SHEEP. — L0^•GW00LLED. (By the Society.) — For the best sliearliug ram, whether liired or boiidfule the property of the exhibitor, first prize £5 ; and second prize, Mr. John Lynn, Church-farm, Stroxton, Gran- tham. For the best rani of any other age, first prize, £5, Mr. John Lynn. For the best three fat wethers, not exceeding twenty months old, first prize, £3 ; and second prize, £1, Mr. W. P. Herrick, Beaumanor, Loughborough. For the best three ewes, having suckled lambs to the 1st of June, 1865, first prize, £3, Mr. C. Bosworth. For the best three theaves, first prize, £3, Mr. W. P. Herrick. (By R. AV. CressweU, Esq., Ravenstone, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.) — For the best five long-weolled ewe lambs, first prize, £3, Mr. W. Grewcock ; second, £2, Mr. W. P. Herrick. (By the Society.) — For the best five long-wooUed wether lani1)s, first prize, £2, Mr. W. Grewcock ; second, Mr. W. P. Herrick. (By Mr. C. Stokes.) — For the best fat ewe or wether, of any breed, as extra stock, a premium of £1, Mr. C. Bosworth. (By the Society.) — For the best pen of twenty long-wooUed ewes or theaves (the number of theaves not to exceed one- fourth), the ewes to have suckled lambs up to the 1st of June", 1865, and which are to be put to the ram, and to have been declared as intended to be kept for breeding purposes, first prize, £10, Mr. J. Buckley, Normanton-hiU, Loughborough ; second, £5, Mr. W. P. Herrick. Shortwooeled Sheep. (By the Society.) — For the best sliearling ram, first prize, £5, Mr. J. H. Bradbnrne, Pipe-place, Lichfield. For the best ram of any other age, ditto, first prize, £5, Mr. AV. Yates, Grindle-house, Shifl'nall ; second, £3, Mr. J. H. Bradburne. For the best three fat wethers, under twenty months old, first prize, £3, Mr. T. AA''. Y'ates, Packington-farui, Liclifield. For the best three fat wethers, of any mixed breed, under twenty months old, first prize, £3, Mr. T. Oakey, Normanton- en-le-Hcath, Ashby-de-la-Zouch. For the best three short-wooUed ewes, having suckled lambs to the 1st of June, 1865, first prize £3, Mr. J. H. Bradburn. For the best three theaves, first prize, £3, Mr. T. Oakley, Normanton-en-le-Heath. (By the Society.) — For the best short-woolled wether lambs. — First prize, £2, Mr. Joseph Tebbett, Ravenstone, Ashby-de- la-Zouch. For the best pen of hventy short-woolled breeding ewes or theaves (the number of theaves not to exceed one-fourth), the ewes to have suckled lambs up to the 1st of June, 1865, and which are to be put to the ram, and to be declared as intended to be kept for breeding purposes. First prize, £10, Mr. J. H. Bradbnrne, and extra prize, £5, ditto. PIGS. (By the Society.) — For the best boar of the large breed, first prize, £3, Mr. R. E. Duckering, Newthorpe, Kirton Lindsay ; second prize, £1, Mr. 11. E. Duckering. For "the best boar of the small breed, first prize, £3, Mr. John Lynn, Church-farm, Stroxton, Grantham ; second, £1, Jlr. T. Carroll, Agricultural Colony, AA''hitwick. For the best breeding sow of the large breed, first prize, £3, Lord A. St. Maur ; second prize, £1, Mr. R. E. Duckering, Northorpe, liirton Lindsay. For the best breeding sow of the small breed, first prize, £3, Mr. M. AA'oodrolfe, Stanford, Loughborough ; second, £1, Mr. John Garton, Cotes, Loughborough. For the best three breeding pigs, of the large breed, of one litter, not exceeding seven moths old, second prize, £l,;Mr.AA'', Cross, Kegviorth. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. For the best ditto, small breed. — lirst prize, £3, Mr. John Lynn, Clmrch Farm, Stroxton, Grantham ; secoud, £1, Mr. T. Carroll, Agricultural Colony, Whitwick. HORSES. (By the Society.) — For the best hunter above four and under ten years of age. — First prize, £10, Mr. W. Briusco, Broom- brigs, Loughborough ; second, £5, Mr. T. Walliu, Leigh, Oakham. (By the Earl of Stamford and "R'arrington.) — For the best gelding or mare of the hunting kind, not.thorough-bred, above three and under seven years old, the property of a tenant- farmer, and having beau in his possession twidve months. — ■ First prize, £5, Mr. G. Wood, Market Overton, Oakham. (By the Right Hon. the Earl of Chesterfield.)— For the best colt, not thorough-bred, aljove three and under four years of age.— First prize, £5, Air. ^Y. C. Limber, Radbourne, Daventry. (By the Earl of Stamford and Warrington.)— For the best filly, not thorough-bred, above three and under four years of age. — First prize £5, Mr. E. J. Bird, Newton Solney, Burton- ou-Trent. (By the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings.) — For the best colt, not thorough-ljred, under three years of age. — First prize, £10, Mr. Jolni Bonuett ; second i^by the Right Hon. Countess Ferrers), £5, Mr. C. Palmer, Calke', Derby. (By the Society.)— For the best fill}% not thorough-bred, under three years of age.— First prize, £5, Mr. E. BaUey, 52, Highcross-street, Leicester ; second (by E. B. Farnham, Esq.), £2, Mr. H. Warner, The Elms, Loughborough. (By Mr, E. Bailey, Veterinary Surgeon, Leicester). — For the best yearling colt or My, by " Kentucky." — First prize, £5, Mr. E. Bailey. (By Viscount Curzon, M.P.) — For the best brood mare, in- foal, or with a foal at her foot, best adapted for breeding hun- ters.— First prize, £5, Mr. J. G. Ledsam, Griffin's Brook, North Field, Birmingham; second (by E. B. Farnham, Esn.), £3, Mr. W. P. Herrick. (By H. L. Pouys Keck, Esq.) — For the best mare or geld- ing, above four and under ten years of age, most suitable for saddle and harness purposes.— First prize, £5, Mr. J . Bonnett. Coleorton, Ashby-de-la-Zoiicli. (By the Society.) — For the best cob, from four to seven years of age, not exceeding l-i-j- hands. — First prize, £5, Mr. W. Chapman, Quorndon, Loughborough. (By tiie Society.) — For tbe best entire cart-horse, to travel the district for the season 1806 ; to stand one night in each week during the season at Loughborough. — First prize, £15, Mr. W. Saunder, Cold 0*erton, Oakham ; bred by the late Mr. Lovett. (By the Society.) — For the best cart filly, above three and under four years of age. — First prize, £5, Mr. John Bowley, Kingston, Derby. For the best cart colt, under three years of age. — First prize, £5, Mr. James Hawksworth, Barton Blount, Derby. For the best cart fiUy, under three years of age. — First pri.xe, £5, Mr. J. E. Bennett, Husbands Bosworth Grange, Rugby. (By Mr. C. E. Bosworth, Dishley.)— For the best gelding or filly, under two years of age. — First prize, £3, I\Ir. Joiui Tyler, Loughborough. For the best cart mare, in-foal, or witli a foal at her foot. — First prize, £5, Mr. W. Saunder, Cold Overton, Oakham. (By the Society ) — For the best cart foal. — First prize, £3, Mr. Garner, Packington, Ashby-de-la-Zouch. (By Mr. German and Mr. Stevenson.) — For the best cart foal by their horse "Ranlan Robin." — First prize, £3, Mr. John Gamer; second, £3, Mr. John Grundy, Packington, Ashby-de-la-Zouch. (By the Society.) — For the pair of cart-horses (gelding or mares) best adapted for the general purposes of agriculture, and which have been regularly worked to the time of tlie show, to be shown in Gee-Ho tackle. — First prize, £5, Mr. G, J. Mitchell, Newton Solney, Burton-on-Trent. THE CATTLE DISEASE. Papjs, Sept. 7.— The following report of the Minister of Agriculture to the Emperor upon the subject of the cattle plague has just appeared : " Sire, — Since last July England has been suffering from a contagious epizootic disease, which, owing to the proportions it has assumed, is now invested with the character of serious danger. Since I have been aware of this epizootic malady I have requested MM. Bouley and Reynal, two professors at the Imperial Veterinary School at Alfort, to repair, the former to Great Britain, the latter to Germauy, to collect all the par- ticulars which could enligliten us upon the nature of tlie malady, and upon the manner in whicli it might have been introduced into England. At the same time I desired a special commission to study everything relating to this disease, and to propose the measures which ought to be taken in case French cattle were threatened by the malady. I have now to report to your Majesty the result of the labours of the commission, and to submit to the Emperor's approval the arrangements circumstances appear to me to require. The epizootic disease at present raging in Great Britain is that to which the En^- lisli have given the name of 'cattle plague,' which tlie Germans call ^ rinderjjesi; and the French ' tijphns contngieux dugros belaiV O.iginatiug in the steppes of' Eastern Europe, the contagious typhus of horned lieasts never devolopes itself spontaneously outside those regions, whatever may be the bad hygienic conditions to which herds of cattle may be exposed. This etiological question, now completely cleared up by tlie investigations of professors of veterinary medicine in Germ;my and Russia, formed the object of a memoir addressed to mv aepartmeut by the late Inspector-General of Veterinary Schools in France, the learned and regretted M. Renault. In that memoir the difficulties of this prolilem are treated and solved with a correctness of view and an abundance of proot which leave no doubt whatever upon this point. Con- tagious typhus of horned cattle is tliereiore a malady exotic to AVestern Europe. It can never develope itself there under the influence of general and common causes to which it had been wrongly attributed when its history was less known. The present attack in England is due to the importation iuto that country of beasts of Russian origin, embarked at tlie port of Revel, in the Gulf of Finland, and disembarked in the docks of the Thames. But if the cattle plague had only one original country, its eminently contagious properties render it, upon the other baud, an essentially migratory disease. Its history bears witness in very numerous instances to its repeated appear- ance in Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Egypt, and even in England herself, notwithstanding the pri- vilege of her isolation. In all preceding ages it has been almost invariably in consequence of the movements of the armies of the North that the cattle plague has spread beyond what may be called its native country ; for the displacement of the large bodies of men which compose armies necessarily implies a corresponding displacement of large bodies of cattle destined for their provision. lu addition to times of war, the cattle plague has sometimes been introduced into the western regions ot Europe liy commercial channels ; but in past times this method of introduction has always been exceptional ; and when, owing to the researches ot German and Russian veteri- nary savants, the fact of the endemic nature of this malady in the steppes of the Russian and Hungarian provinces had been decisively ascertained, the Governments of Prussia and Austria have, up to a recent date, been able to take efficacious measures to protect from it those of their provinces in wliich typlius is not endemic, and through them all tlie other regions of Europe. In fact, owing to this very active protection, a period of 50 years has passed without typlius having come to visit us, while in tlie last century this epizotic disease presented itself in our country nearly every twenty years. But the preservative measures employed by Ger- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 2'Jl many only produced their effects because the migrations of the steppe herds were carried on by land routes. Now that the means of communication between dill'ercnt countries have become so rapid and so easy, the chances of typhus overleaping or evading the liarricrs Germany luis hitherto been able to present to its invasion have greatly increased. Thus, for ex- ample, in the present instance, its introduction into England has arisen from the fact of speculators in cattle having found it profitable to draw their supplies i'ronr the llussian provinces, and to transport them by steamboats to the English markets, which have oiTeved them sufficiently remunerative prices. Germany haviug thus bceu turned, and the voyage from the Gulf of Finland to the docks of the Tliames having required less time than is necessary for tlie period of incubation of typhus, it is in this manner that cattle carrying within theiu the germs of tliis ruinous malady liave been able tu be intro- duced into England, and that country is again subjected, after \'20 years, to the disasters the importation of this plague in- llicted upon her in 1745. In this state of affairs all ellbrts ought to be combined to prevent its invasion of our frontiers, and, if it should unfortunately succeed in passing them, to pre- vent its spread by confining and extinguishing it in the locali- ties first infected. The danger exists. England and Scotland are invaded, and, according to the latest news, the scourge has been imported into Holland by a vessel laden with cattle intended for Great Britain, and returned with her cargo into a Dutch port, not having been able to disembark it in England ; no doubt because the inspectors charged with the surveillance of the ports have perceived the diseased _state of the animals the Dutch ship attempted to introduce. ^\ hat- ever may be the reasons which have prevented the debarca- tion of the cargo, it appears certain that it is by this means the tj-phus has been imported into the Netherlands, and might just as well have been brought into France if the Dutch ship, repulsed from the ports of England, had been drawn towards cue of our ports upon tiie shore of the Chan- nel by the attraction of a, sufficiently remunerative' price. It is therefore urgent either absolutely to forbid entry into the ports of the Channel and German Ocean to all vessels laden with cattle of whatever origin, or to subject the intro- duction of cattle which shall be brought into those ports to such measures as should be necessary to guard agaiust the invasion of the malady, and it is important that similar ar- rangements should be applied to our northern and eastern frontiers. However, notwitlistandiug all these precautions, the epizootic malady may any day l)e introduced into our de- partments, and the Government must therefore he upon its guard against this eventuality ; but it is not necessary to have recourse to new orders for this purpose. The sanitary police, in its relation to domestic animals, is in fact regulated by a series of degrees of the King's Council, of Royal ordinances and clauses of laws promulgated at different periods, and in- spired by the necessities of the time, which constitute a com- plete body of legislation upon the subject. Among these de- crees and ordinances are a certain number which have been exactly dictated with a view to combat the epizootic malady by which we are at present threatened. These are the decrees of the King's Council of April 10, 171i ; March 2-i, 1745 ; July 19, 1746 ; December 18, 177i ; the decree of the Executive Directory of tlie 27tli Messidor in the year V., and the ordi- nance of the King, of January 27, ISlo. These special acts, which are always in force, have foreseen^ laid down, and pre- scribed all the measures necessary to prevent the spread of the evil in the empire : such, for instance, as the obligatory dechv- ration imposed upou the holders of diseased animals, the in- spection of the cattle sheds, the slaughter of diseased animals, and of animals of the same species which have been lodged with them, in consideration of an indemnity granted to tlieir owners ; the sequestration of diseased or suspected beasts, the designation by a special mark of those which have been mo- mentarily unable to be removed from the places in which they are lodged, the prohibition of fairs and markets, the sur^-eil- lance of pastures and watering places — all these being mea- sures wiiich, applied with discerrunent, permit of the restric- tion of the epizootic malady to such localities, thus preventing the considerable losses its propagation would entail. The ex- perience of past times testifies to the efficacy of these arrange- ments. The Administration is therefore sufficiently armed to combat typhus at home ; but under the present conditions which obtain in foreign commerce it has not the necessary power to prevent its importation by way of our frontiers ; and it is with the object of iuvestingit with this power that I have tlie honour of submitting the annexed decree to your Majesty's sanction. " I am. Sire, &c., " Arm.vts'd Behic, ]\Iini3ter of Agriculture, " Commerce, aud Public Works." The decree alluded to above was signed by the Emperor upou the 5th inst. After the usual formalities, it proceeds to order : — " 1. The importation into France of domestic animals, the entrance of which would present dangers of contagious typhus, shall be forbidden, or subordinated to such measures as may be necessary to prevent the invasion of the malady. "2. Decrees of our Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works shall determine the frontiers or portions of frontiers over which the introduction aud passage by transit of domestic animals shall be forbidden, and the con- ditions upon which this introduction aud passage shall be authorised." The Minister of Agriculture has thereupon issued the fol- lowing orders : — "1. The introduction into France and the transit of ani- mals of the bovine species, as well as of raw hides and other raw portions of these animals, by way of the ports of the sea- coast, from (and including) Nantes as far Dunkirk, and by the frontiers, upon the north and east from the sea to the Rhine' arc absolutely foibidden. " 2. The introduction into France aud the transit of ani- mals of the bovine species, as well as of raw hides aud other raw portions of these animals, coming from England, Holland, and ]3elgium, are absolutely prohibited into all the ports and custom-houses of the empire. " 3. In all other ports and custom-houses than those to which clause 1 of these present orders applies, animals of the bovine species imported from any other source than England, Holland, and Belgium, shaU be provisionally inspected by special agents. Those which are perceived to be healthy shall he admitted. Those v.hich are found unhealthy shall not be admitted. Those which shall only be suspected, or shall have been lodged with animals found unhealthy, shall be placed under observation for ten days in a sufficiently isolated place, and shall not be admitted until it shall be declared that thep do not present any symptom appertaining to contagious typhus." A PLEA FOr. Oyv"LS. TO THE EDITOE, OE THE TIMES. Sir, — I have just read in T/ie Times of yesterday an account of a wiseacre gamekeeper shooting an owl, and discovering, to his great surprise, that she was carrying off a stiU greater enemy to his craft, viz., a weasel. I will not enter upon the marvellous stoi-y of a hawk being killed by the same barrel, for I have known stranger accidents to happen where a cock and a bull were the victims. I have been a game-preserver all my life, but I never would for a moment listen to a plea for the destruction of owls. If "Velvets" would but exert the com- monest investigation of their habits, he would find that long before poor " Margery" takes her nocturnal rambles all his young partridges and pheasants are safe imdcr the bodies of their mothers, and (as I never savr a specimen of the Bnl/o ffiffci-s here) hares are very seldom swooped upon by our in- defatigable moiiser. I think it is the Ettrick Shepherd who says in the Nodes Ambrosianiv, " Shoot a howlet ? I'd as soon shoot my barn cat." It is to the indiscriminate warfare which is exercised by blockheads trusted with guns against everything that has life that this crael persecution of one of the most useful and harmless birds in creation must be traced. And I grieve to say that the measured flap of his snowy and silent wiugs as he skirts the slirubljcry, aud the dash with v.'hich he pounces upon some field-mouse or travelling mole, are becoming a rarer sight every year. Pray speak one word for poor Jenny. Yours very ti-uly, Saixt-Hill. 292 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. COMMERCIAL PEINCIPLES APPLIED TO FARMING ; OR, AN ANSWER TO THE INQUIRY, HOW MAY THE CAPITAL FOR IMPROVEMENTS BE OBTAINED ? At a meetiug of the Wigtou Farmer's Club Mr. Lamport read the following paper : — I am not a practical farmer. I make this statement at the outset, not to disarm criticism, hut to prevent discussion being diverted by personal considerations from its proper channel. Aware of my deficiencies I shall not involve myself in matters of detail, or venture to give an opinion on controverted points. I shall endeavour to produce authority for my facts, and to show reasons for my conclusions ; and I trust, therefore, that my argument may be discussed on its own merits. I propose in broad terras to define farming, and to describe what I consider to be the essentials of a " practical farmer." Having secured these grounds, 1 shall compare agricultural operations with those of the manufacturing and other staple branches of our national industry. If I can show that the principles involved in all are essentially identical, I may be allowed to draw the conclusion that all should be guided by the same rules, and be referred to the same staud.ard. If, therefore, it appears that farmers have neglected those princi- ples of business which are essential in other branches of in- dustry, it may be inferred that their absence renders the ope- rations of the farm uncertain — often wasteful, and not seldom unprofitable. And the converse will follow : their intelligent adoption will tend to eftcct the union of skUl with capital — will equalise and increase the profits of the farmer — will stimu- late the progress of agriculture, and raise it to the rank of a scientific pursuit — to the benefit of all immediately interested, and to the promotion of the well-being of the nation. 1st. I ask, what is farming ? Is it a manufacture — a trade, or is it an occupation or business peculiar to itself? I adopt the statements of our President (Sir Robt. Briscoe, Bart.) — " La/idis a machine through which the farmer passes his capital ; you are but as tradesmen or manufacturers ; you sell and you buy ; you manufacture your goods equally with them, though you select land as your manufactory, because best suited to yovir rearing and knowledge." This is sound sense, and to the point. The manufacturer works by the ap- plication of known mechanical laws. The farmer watches and profits by the ascertained effects of a round of seasons, of varia- tions of temperature, of alternations of soaking rain and of drying \vinds, and of the ever-acting, insensible influences of chemical affinities. Similar natural laws work in their cease- less round for the manufacturing chemist — for the calico printer, and for the bleacher and dyer. There are in all these cases distinctions, but no differences. If it be said that the seasonal changes by \->'hich the farmer efl'ects his transmuta- tions of increase are fickle, and only to be dealt with by a system of long averages, while the laws of chemistry and ma- chinery are consecutive and calculable — let me instance, in reply, the merchant and shipowner, who carry on their opera- tions under natural changes as sharp in their uncertainty, in- volving greater risks, and yielding more precarious results than aay farming. Talk of the potato rot, and I can point to the cjtton famine. Against a cattle epidemic, I can set a strike f w wages. A wet autumn is as disastrous for the manufac- turer of fancy goods as for the farmer ; and the law of supply and demand shows as many distressing ripples on the great waves of transition as local atmospheric variations, which here and there punish a few farmers, while the average of the world is undisturbed. The farmer, therefore, I maintain, can claim no exemption from the operations of those principles which are applied to other branches of industry. He has no peculiar function. He can set up no wall of separation. He can raise no plea for immunity, but must be weighed in the same balance as all other trades. In one word, farming is essentially a mam{fac- ture, and one carried on under more than the average of health- ful and pleasurable influences. 2nd. Let me ask the question, what constitutes a " practical farmer" P According to the etymology of the phrase, a practical farmer is a person who practises farming. But such a definition will hardly pass current in this room. A distinction must be made between those who practise farming for pleasure and those who carry it on for proflt. And yet what shall we say of Mr. Mcchi, for example? He is no mere theorist. Wiiat he preaches he practises. A regular system, as far as I can understand it, has for years been carried on at Tiptrce. There is as steady a conversion of manure and oilcake into corn and meat on his farm, and with as close an economy, as on any of the best Cumberland farmsteads. No doubt Mr. Mechi is independent of the results of his farming operations, and this independence perhaps marks the best line of distinc- tion. Let us, therefore, consider a " practical farmer" to be a person who farms for his living, and we shall perhaps meet the ditlieulty. This definition will cut off dilettanti, merely amateur dabblers in agriculture. It will enable me to speak of farmers as a class who make farming their trade, and follow it for profit. It will bind them to conduct their business upon true commercial principles, and lay them open to free criti- cism, while it challenges comparison in management with other branches of our great national industry. I assume, therefore, that farming is a manufacturing pro- cess, and that a practical farmer is a person who engages in this process to gain a livelihood — that he makes it his avowed occupation, and gives up to it his wdiole time and attention. I assume, also, that there is no reason why his operations sliould not be guided by the broad recognised principles of pro- duction which make other branches of trade yield a fair amount of profit. What, then, are those recognised principles ? 1st, I m- stance the important one of (f«;mo« of /r75o?«' ; 2nd, the em- ployment of approved meclianical and other appliances for economizing labour and lessening the cost of production ; and 3rd, a maximum production fronr a given fixed outlay. These several requirements demand an extensive business, ample capital, and a regular system of management. The advantages of division of labour are so well known, when applied to the details of all manufactures, that I need not dwell upon them now. My object is to show that they are equally efiicacious as respects the general direction of any business. The question is, can those masters succeed better by carrying on three separate concerns, or by combining to carrry on one large one ? It seems to me that the day for small businesses has gone by. Weaving has been gathered into huge mills ; and the small manufactories that nestled in the cleughs of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and utilised their scattered water-power, have been absorbed into nuclei, of which Saltaire is a princely example. I think that the prevalence of partnerships in most businesses proves that extensive operations with division of labour and combined capital are more profitable than the single-handed prosecution of several small ones. It may even be a question as to whether ordinary partnerships and businesses of average extension may now be undergoing supervision liy the spread and wider action of Joint Stock Companies. Several partners attending to different branches of the same business appears to have been much tested and approved in most occupations. The man who has a good head for finance may be little fitted for the mechanical processes of production, while a man whose special aptitude is for the details of the manufactory may be utterly unfit for the operations of the market and exchange. Again, the buying and selling in a large business is as clearly distinct from the finance and book- keeping as from the processes of production. A combination of especial aptitudes, with a union of the capital at each partner's command, appears to effect that organisation which underlies all large and successful businesses. It is only in large concerns that it is possible to employ fteam power and its accompanying host of mechanical con- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 293 tnvances by which labour is diminished and time saved. And lastly, it is only by amplo capital employed in extensive opera- tions that the maximnm production from a given iixed outlay can be attained, and a reduction of all fixed expenses to their minimum effecled. Now, what is the position of agriculture in the face of this great economical bias in all other trades ? Have we, as a rule, large farms — farming partnerships with combined skill, energy, and capital? Have wc the recognised necessity for the employment of approved mechanical appliances, and of a high pressure pro- duction ? I am afraid not — and why not ? How is it that, in a business like farming, taking in so varied a range of processes — of iillayc, with its knowledge of soils, manures, and rotations ; oi stock feecliiig, requiring judgment as to cattle, and intelligent experience as to breeding and feed- ing ; of its general arrangements, demanding skilful direction of labour, and the superintendence of many mechanical pro- cesses— how is it that, as a rule, farms are small, and are managed single-handed ? If I might do so without offence, I would ask, Are the farmers as a body more intelligent tlian other commercial men ? are they better educated ? more spe- cially trained ? or more naturally apt to master the details, and carry on the processes of a complicated business ? For an answer to these questions, let us glance at some of the statistics of agriculture. In 1851 there were 285,936 farm holdings in Great Britain. |0f these no less than ITO.Sl-i, or considerably more than one- ' half, were undfr 50 acres ! The average of the whole num- ber of farms was only 102 acres, while 91,698 farmers, or nearly one-fhird of the entire number, employed no labourers. The amount of capital employed must always be a doubtful question. M. Lavergne, an intelligent French agriculturist, who visited this country in 185-1, estimates the farmers' capi- tal in England at £3 7s. per acre. The farmers' profit he es- timates at half the rent, or 10 per cent, on the capital invested. Mr. Mechi, in an elaborate paper read before the " London Central Farmers' Club," estimates the farmers' capital at £4- per acre, or a total of £200,000,000, and the acreable pro- duce at £3 12s. The conclusion he draws is " tlie painful conviction that there must be an immense tract of country unprofitably farmed and insufficiently capitalled." Now, gentlemen, looking at these statements, may I uot safely assume that the commercial principles I have dwelt upon, as being essential to the progress and success of all other trades, are, as a rtile, wanting in agriculture ? How can an average area of 102 acres give room for an economical division of labour, or employment for expensive but profitable machinery ? And how can a capital of £i per acre so stimu- late production as to minimize all the heavy fixed charges up- on land in cultivation ? AVhile all other branches of industry have been obeying the ascertained necsity for concentration and for high pressure production, I appeal to the inexorable logic of the facts I have adduced, to show that agriculture has resisted the warning and the invitation of the times. At first sight it seems strange that so large a portion of our nationnl industry should be content to be an exception to the general rule of progress and profit ; but there seems to me to be an explanation for the anomaly, and it is this : The large farmer finds in his business a social consideration and leisure for amusement which no other occupation of equal extent can yield. On the other hand, the small farmer can find no em- ployment in which his manual labour, with that of his family, along with the small capital he commands, can be so independ- ently engaged. The latter gets his living, and is his own mas- ter, and is content. The former gets his living, can meet liis landlord in the hunting field ; can fish, and shoot, and drive his dog-cart, and finds his solace for a small profit in the con- sideration and social standing, and in the freedom from anxiety which three times the return and double the capital in other business would not yield. Take the ease, for example, of a farmer holding, say 500 or 600 acres, and say further that his capital is some £-1,000 or £5,000, and contrast his position and standing with that of a small manufacturer or tradesman employing a similar capital. The latter, by close attention, will no doubt make twice or thrice the profit that the farmer will ; but dare he follow the hounds ? or take out his certificate ? or take leisure for any sport he is inclined to pursue ? Wliat would his neighbours say ? Where would his credit be ? How soon would he be sent for into the bank parlour, or find his name in the Ga- zette.'' No law is so clearly understood as this — that capital follows confidence. Confidence and credit are identical, and, until farming is made a purely commercial undertaking, and carried on u))on recognized commercial principles, I, for one am not surprised that agriculture should be ludd to be bare of capital, and tliat the question should be so frequently asked, Where is the capital for improvement to come from ? Nothing convinces me so clearly of the want of the coni- mercial spirit in farming as the almost entire absence of book- keeping. In every other business worthy of the name, any- one carrying it on without a proper system of books would be regarded as crazy. If he were unfortunate in business, he would on this account be liable to be severely punished in the Bankruptcy Court by his certificate being withliekl. By book- keeping I do not mean simple entries of what a man sells, or even a debtor or creditor account kept of his cash. Properly considered, a good system of books is a registry of results. By it every variety of crop and every variation of quantity is brought out, ready for comparison on an unvarying common denominator — money. Prize cattle, show-turnips, giant wlieat, all tlie results of fancy cultivation, are reduced to the inexorable standard of this common denominator. The tissue of loose talk and mere guess-work, by which many a farmer gropes his anxious or whistles his easy way, is resolved by a few columns into hard facts, and measured by a standard unerring and precise. By a proper system of bookkeeping alone can any farmer or other producer get a satis- factory answer to the main question of liis business, Will it pay ? Any practical farmer will tell you ahoiii what it will cost to plough, to reap, to mow. But general estimates are general delusions. Every man's locality, his manufactory, machinery, and all other concomitant circumstances, differ more or less from another man's ; and every man's farm, and every field in it, must also make a difference in the cost of a variety of ope- rations ; so that no estimate, except his own experience, ought to be a law to anyone. Now, nothing can make that experi- ence trustworthy and valuable except there be a registry of re- sults ; for there can be no reduction of results to a common denominator, except by proper bookkeeping. " Many a person will say that if he 'knows his busines.s' (that is, in detail), buys and sells shrewdly — looks, in short, after the pence, ' that the pounds will take care of themselves.' Many a man is satisfied with working away on the faith of stereotyped esti- mates, or on 110 estimate at all, depending upon his memory and judgment, which may be defective, if not treacherous, and thinks that if he caltivates his land after the manner of the country round, that he cannot do better. To these persons I will put a single case : Two men have similar farms ; but one has a clever managing wife, a steady, hard-working son, and a Inlght, active daughter : the habit of the other's household is unthrift, pleasure-seeking, and extravagance in dress. The outlay of both households is mixed up with the farm expendi- ture—all incoming and payment being made out of the tradi- tional old stocking. The one man gradually increases his store : the other is in a state of chronic complaint that ' farming does not pay.' Now, both may be wrong. The satisfied far- mer may be making less by his farm than the other, but both are equally in the dark, because neither keeps books." The first objection to book-keeping will be, no doubt, want of time. Now, whatever else a farmer does, it seems to mo that this ought not to be neglected. A man carrying on busi- ness without books is like a ship at sea with no compass. But, may I be permitted to suggest that when out-of-door work is impossible, the winter evenings are long and tedious, and that a simple set of books need not take more than an hour a- week to enter up ? Then, again, allow me to ask whether it is absolutely necessary that a farmer should attend a weekly market. One-sixth of a farmer's time seems to be a large pro- portion to spend on the road, and in the market-place, to sell a small amount of produce; and I will only point at the tempta- tions otherwise put in his way by this mode of transacting business. To the 91,000 farmers employing no labourers, this market-day cessation of farm-labour amounts to a sacrifice of something like one-sixth of the whole work performed on the farm. Talk of farming not paying ! Why, no other busbess or trade in the country could possibly exist at all under a tax so heavy as this ! The infusion of a more thoroughly com- mercial spirit into agriculture will no doubt effect a chance in 294 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. thispoiut. It will also, I Irust, in time establish a more eco- nomical mode of conveitiugtbe bulk of the farm produce into money. The small farmer confessedly wants capital ; but has he ever calculated the loss of interest he incurs by maintaining a well-fiUcd stack-yard ? Has he ever made out the per cent- a'^e of loss to the agricultural intei est from the depredations of vermin, or the effect of mildew ? I do not venture here to enter into details, hut I may state that the admission that steam-thrashing is an advantage, will itself dispose of a host of small objections against it. Commercially considered, it ap- pears incomprehensible that while the land is hungering, and the ftirmer is caUiug out for capital, a considerable amount of capital is kept worse than idle in the barn and stackyard. Of course, a rapid and general conversion of produce into money would require an increase of middlemen or corn-factors, -^^ith their capital, to prevent any great decline of prices. Should such a change become general, as in time I apprehend it must come, its iutluence on prices will he nullified, as is the case in other articles. Cotton, sugar, tea, flax, and colonial timber are all put into the merchant's hands as quickly as possible, and the course of trade adapts itself to the pressure. Capital in second hands is ready to receive them, and the supply for consumption is regulated by experience and sustained by capi- tal. The first excess is thus impounded as it were, and the stream for consumption is regulated to meet the wants of tlie year, without unnatiiral depression in prices. Under the pre- sent system it is notorious that the supply of most provincial corn markets is affected by the farmer's convenience or neces- sities. If he wants money, or has leisure, he thrashes and seUs ; and if it so happen that several are equally influenced at the same time, prices are forced down without any adequate or general reason. Now, why sljould farmers double their produce upon the market by a system so serious and costly in expenditure of time, and by so disastrous a locking-up of capi- tal, so much wanted on the land? Many no doubt get ad- vances upon their stacks ; hut this, as it causes them to pay for the accommodation, ought to realize the loss they incur in holding them month after month. A farmer ought not to be a com dealer, any more than he ought to be a miller or a haker, unless he possesses ample capital for all (as separate trades), and has some special aptitude or advantage in carrying them on together, which is seldom the case. The farmer's business is to produce corn and meat, and he is the best man of business who concentrates his efforts, and applies all his capital to till his ground and feed his stock. Before I proceed, let me summarize what has already been advanced. Farming is a business, similar in its broad features to aU other trades or manufactures, and should be managed on the same general principles. The present condition of agriculture shows, however, that the true commercial spirit is wanting in this branch of our national industry. This is proved by the average small size of the farms in Great Britain — by the consequent primitive character of the appliances for culture — by a wasteful and expensive general management — by insufficient capital, and a minimiuu pro- duction— by an almost entire absence of systematic book- keeping. The natural consequence of this state of things is a want of confidence amongst capitalists in fanning, as a profit- able investment. That " farming does not pay" is a generally received opinion: and from the absence of systematic book-keeping, good farmers cannot prove themselves an exception to the rule. Hence it is that capital is so deficient — that High Tarming is the excep- tion — and that agriculture is stationary in the face of a universal progression. It now follows to determine how the capital for improve- ments may be obtained ? Our president says : " By reducing the size of your farms." This is a clear and intelligible indi- cation how a man may increase the proporiion of his capital per acre, and, I tliink, a plain and practical suggestion how a man may make the amount of capital he now possesses more profdaMc. But I submit with all deference that no inkling is thereby afforded as to how a man may increase the amount of his capital available for cullivation, nor does it show from what quarter, or by what process, agriculture is to attract the capital necessary to raise it from a state of im- perfect action, to one of profitable activity. If Mr. Mechi is to be credited, agriculture, which now vege- tates upon f -i an acre, requires a sum of £300,000,000 to make it pay. If our President's expedient were to be generally adopted, this branch of industry will require some 80,000 new tenants, possessing or commnnding the use of this vast siun. To realize the ditliculty of obtaining this large number of new tenants, I may state that even if farming could be put into successful competition with other trades as to profit, it would take every druggist, draper, and bookseller in the country to make up this number, while twenty years of the ordinary increase of population (making due allowance for emigra- tion and drafts to other trades) would not enable the farming class of itself to attain to the requisite dimensions. These considerations must convince us that it can be by no empirical process — by no sudden or violent change — that the whole cause and condition of agriculture can be transposed from apathy to activity, from money starvation to abundance, and from a state of " not paying" to a fair place amongst the profitable staple trades of the coixntry. It will require many and many an answer to the feverish question, AVhere is the capital to come from ? to unravel the mazy web of diverse interests, habits, and requirements. It must be by many and many a process of action and re-action, and by a host of expedients — our President's ingenious and practical, but neces- sarily narrow one, among the rest — that agriculture wiU be re- volutionized and ultimately built up, as it should be, "into the most enduring industrial edifice of our social state. If what I shall advance, therefore, differs from what our President advised last December, do not suppose that because of that difference there is opposition. The house cannot be built without the scaffold, and pallia- tives must precede cures ; but the gist of the argument and the full measure of the difference may be brought out by the question — Did Sir Robert Brisco say one word against large farms when tilled with ample capital f I therefore proceed with an easy conscience to advocate lar/je farms, as providing, under proper arrangements, what small farms cannot do — namely, the foundation for division of labour, mechanical appliances, consolidation and increase of capital, and for a profitable high pressure rate of production. To bring about slowly, but effectually, this combination of advantages, there seems to me to be one simple recipe — paiim PARTNERSHIP ; and as most necessary to effect this result — systematic farm accounts. IMy plan is this : Let two farmers join together, the one to look after the tillage, the other to take charge of the stock, and associate with them a third, with sufiicieut capital to farm some 600 to 1,000 acres, on the best system. The tliird may may he a sleeping partner ; or, say the younger son of a country gentleman, to whom might be assigned the charge of the books, the superintendence of the machinery, or such other special branch of farm business as he may be capable of managing. From the overcrowded state of the professions, such an opening for the younger sons of country gentlemen who might be averse to trade would, I apprehend, be eagerly sought. I can hardly conceive a better position for a young man of good connection than a partnership with one or two clever agriculturists ; and I can conceive no more advan- tageous mode than this by which a couple of clever farmers may find scope for their energy, and utilize their experience and ability to the best advantage. Or, as I have said, the monied partner might be what is termed a sleeping partner, the division of profits being in proportion to the work done, or money supplied. To such a firm of course book-keeping would be essential ; and, to a firm so constituted, I conceive no bank would refuse such temporary accommodation for legitimate trade purposes, as it might from time to time require. Although the amount of capital which agricul^arc is capable of profitably absorbing is something prodigious, amounting — with draining requirements and permanent improvements, in addition to farmers' wants — to something like £-300,000,000 ; yet the capability of the country to produce or supply it is not less prodigious. The amount of surplus profits or in- terests accruing is generally estimated at annually £80,000,000, while the power of commerce to create its representatives is enormous. I estimate the profits of trade at £200,000,000 annually, representing a c:qiital employed, or turned over, of some £2,000,000,000. Now, if everyone paid his accounts in three-month bills, instead of cash, or, at all events, if three months' extra credit was generally taken over the ordinary period of pajTnent, a sum of £500,000,000 would be at once THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 29c available for llic purpose of commerce. And lliis is regularly clone to a greater or less extent when inoney is in demand. Such a result, however, can only follow, or he snpported on coiifulciirc. Capital is as mobile, and follows as simple a law, as water in finding its level. The safest and most profitable business always requires, and will command, the largest share ; and I may safely say that no business with these characteristics was ever crippled in its development and operations by the want of capital. It is only businesses that do not pay, and that arc carried on in a way that does not eonimaud the confidence of the nionicd class, that are starved and cry out. Once show, therefore, that agricnllure is fairly profitable, and establish a lair claim to confidence from its organisation and management, and from a thousand minute and unsuspected sources, and in a thousand wa\-s inscrutable or scarcely traceable, capital will find its way — like water into your deep drains — to fill the empty cotfers of the farmers, and fructify their half-eultivated fields. Jlr. 1)A^■KS observed tliat he nad long been of opinion that farmers were trading beyond tlieir capital, which in any busi- ness was attended by the most unfavourable results. In such cases, they were obliged to forego many advantages which their neighbour had over tiiem who could come witli ready money : they were forced to purcliase on unfavourable terms, and to forego profits, thereby losing at both ends. They could not go into the best markets and select the best goods as the opportunity arose, as they had bills which must be matured ; and so it went on, a losing game, tiU at length they broke down, bringing others to ruin in the eoliapse. The remark he applied generally to aU trades and businesses as at present carried on, and farmers were not exempt. They had not the capital to do justice to the opportunities of their position. They could not purchase good animals to improve their stock, nor expensive implements to economize their labour ; and it was equally clear that the same cause pre- vented their applying such nourishment to the land as, under God's blessing, could lead them to expect good crops. The result was failure, and consequent distress and disappoint- ment, with an aggravation of the very evil in wliicli it originated. He had no hesitation in saying that many farmers could produce as much with half the land and proper means and appliances as they did now; and he counselled them, therefore, to increase their profits and circumscribe their area. He agreed with Mr. Lamport that, through the agency of farmers' clubs, partnerships might be formed for farming with advantage, as in commercial speculations ; and he also agreed that in all farming operations there should be a strict system of book-keeping, so as to show the profit and loss. lie had lately the pleasure of staying with his friend the late higli sherilf of Lancashire, where that system was carried out to the minutest article wdth eminent success ; and he thought Mr. Lamport's paper was pregnant with remark which might be followed up with advantage by the club. The Chairman reminded the members that Mr. Lamport had started with the admission that he was not a practical farmer, but he was a practical and successful merchant. Mr. Lamport : I came here, gentlemen, \iith the full in- tention of being entirely cut up. Tiie CiiAiHMAN continued: He was glad to find they had a member of that club even bolder than himself. He had himself spoken with less reserve, not that he did not in heart go the whole length of Mr. Lamport's conclusions, but 1)e- cause he felt that in that district they were scarcely prepared for such a stride. The question now to consider was, how circumstances were to be dealt witli so as to lead to tlie desired improvement. That farming was to be allowed to be subordinate to manufacture was not for a moment to be suf- fered ; for, after all, farmers were nothing but traders, and the man must succeed the most who was tlie best judge of feeding and breeding a good animal, and of the mode of producing fi-om the soil the best food from which it was to be fed. How often had they lieard the remark that such a man was a capital judge of a beast, but he could not manage his laud ; and, again, that though he could manage his land, he knew no more about a beast than a man's boot ! One man throve on horses ; another ate his head otf on cattle ; and rice-versd. He confessed that in liis paper his intellect had said one thing whilst his feelings liad dictated anotlier. He could not bring himself to admit the truth that the time was fast coming when there was no longer the same chance for the hard- working labourer, who had handled the plough in liis youtli, occupying as a comfortable farmer in his old age the land he , !iad tilled as a servant when a young man. He had many such amongst the best of the farmers upon his estate at the present moment ; and he had felt it too- painful an effort to close the door for ever upon aU of that worthy class. He had been inclined, tliercfore, to treat the subject as a palliative ; but he was convinced, nevertheless, that large profits, which the ex- tensive farming operations of the present day demanded, were only to he secured by large and powerful combination, with ample capital to work upon. That was tlic only chance of making an adequate return. The moment two men with capital were united to make a profit, book-keeping must fol- low ; for, without proper book-keeping, there could be no partnership, and no practical working whatever. Mr. Me.ssengek, whom the chairman asked to say some- thing, said he could not, but immediately added that it was admitted that they were all advancing from being low far- mers to what was called high farming, and to succeed in high farming they must resort to steam-ploughing, and take advan- tage of all the newest machinery. In that case they ought to have £7 an acre. Mr. Lamport said he put it at £10 per acre, and had pro- vided for that by suggesting combination, by which alone it could be secured. Mr. Messenger did not think the Hon. Baronet contem- plated steam-ploughing when he limited it to £6. The Chairman : No ; I took the general class of farming prevalent. Eut it has been shown that by two or three of the principal farmers joining who understood their business these requirements would IbUow, and if reduced to a com- mercial basis, the capital would follow as a matter of course. There might be the practical stock breeder, the practical cul- tivator of the land, and a sleeping partner with £5,000 who would perhaps be able to look after the machinery and book- keeping. That is the most rational view of the question. Tha we shall all cultivate by steam, sooner or later, 1 have not the least doubt, and those who won't do so will have to walk about their business. The only question now is — how long we are to bear the lash before we confess that we wall be good boys for the future. Mr. Messenger : Aye, but where's the money to come from ? 5Ir. Lamport would for a moment apply to Mr. Messenger the argumentum ad hominem. He believed that gentleman was the OM'ner of his own laud (he was not aware to what extent), but say to 150 acres. Taking that at a fair valuation it was worth £9,000. He had no doubt Mr. Messenger farmed moderately high, and had a capital of £1,000 to work upon, and that gave in round numbers £10,000. Well, then, his advice would be, if he wished for a larger income, sell the land, take a large farm, and he would make a fortune in ten years. To adopt another plan ; let him still sell his land, and buy railway debentures, and then he could make £400 a-year, and more than 10 per cent, upon his floating capital, without any trouble or anxiety, whilst he was sitting at home doing no- thing. If ambitious, he must adopt the other course. Far- mers who held laud were indulging in a luxury others were deprived of, and which the exigencies of the times did not permit. They were holding land that they had no business with. If they did so, they must inevitably do so at a loss, under the circumstances ; and if they choose to do so, they liad no right to come there and complain that it did not pay as a commercial speculation. They had locked up so many acres from the enterprise of others, and if they wished to be farmers they must not be landowners at the same time — at least with- out ample capital to cultivate it. Mr. Messenger : Then yon would have me adopt Mr. Mechi's plan of dividing my farm till I had what I could manage ? ilr. Lajiport said that he quite agreed with both Mr. Mechi and Sir Robert Brisco upon that point, that if they could not get more money upon the acreage it would be better to reduce the acreage and get greater profits by the adoption of a higher system. The Chairman observed in reference to steam-cultivation, that if one farmer could not afford to purchase a steam -plough several could combine to do so for joint use, and here the principle of partnership reconunended by Mr. Lamport's paper made its appearance at once. All tilings tended that way till 29G THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. at length by the union of intelligence and capital tlie desired change would eventually and gradually be accomplished. They must meet each difficulty as it arose, and anticipate none un- necessarily. He had always found it a golden rule that suffi- cient for the day was the evil thereof. If they met it as it arose, and let it quietly slide by, that was sufficient. They mio-ht depend upon it that no land would ever be permitted to o-o out of cultivation. At the time of the project of tlie Man- chester and Liverpool Railway, great was the outcry amongst the farriers of the whole district that tlieir occupation would be gone when that fact was realised. But what was the actual result ? Instead of horses not being required, there was a greater demand for horses at the two termini alone to take the increasing traffic to that line than the whole of the district was capable of producing. Mr. Lamport asked if any member would state the objec- tion to bringing the contents of the barn in bulk to the mar- ket, instead of keeping it idle in the stackyard. Mr. Messenger said that the millers, so far from pur- chasing their corn in bulk, told them already that they could do without the farmer altogether, so great was the import of foreign corn. Therefore if the farmer took his produce in bulk to the market he would only have to take it home again. The Chairman thought if the farmers would show a dispo- sition to bring it in bulk to the market, means would soon be supplied for disposing of it ; but of course that would involve the agency of middlemen which Mr. Lamport had spoken of. The difficulty in that district was as to the straw. The moment they began to let air into the stacks the straw deteriorated, and the farmers were anxious to provide their stock with tlie best new straw that could be had. Then the grain required time to acquire what was called the " handle," and if it lost that it was depreciated in value, aud there was a variety of ob- stacles in the way of disposing of the crops in bulk. Mr. Lawsou, M.P., said the valuable paper they had heard that day miglit be regarded in the light of a supplement to the paper previously issued by Sir Robert ; they agreed pretty well on the whole, and the principle advocated in both had received the sanction of that Chib, whatever ditfereuce of opinion might have arisen amongst the letter-writers. He thought some of the suggestions of Mr. Lamport as to partnership very valu- able ; and in liis own ease, the fact had happened that a younger brother had become a partner in the concern, and was a very good fanner. It was not to be supposed that he (Mr. Lawsou) was content to be only a " sleeping" partner, for he had looked very narrowly into the working. In farming, they should not forget the advantage and pleasure of living in the country, and enjoying all the beauties of nature, which the commercial man, cooped up in the smoky town, was deprived of. There was, withal, the romance of the thing ; and what mattered two or three per cent, more in the return, if all their pleasure were sacrificed in the making of it ? His advice was, therefore, if farmers were happy in their occupation, and could make a living by it, let them stick to farming ; at the same time, he had not the least objection to any improved method by which it might be made to pay better. EXPERIMENTS IN CATTLE FEEDING. Last spring, Mr. A. Smith, Stevenson Mains, East Lothian, who has given mucli attention to the fattening and rearing of stock, having a pretty large quantity of potatoes on hand about the time when he was beginning to feed off his cattle, thought of trying how they would thrive on potato diet, with the usual quantity of oilcake. Tlie cattle were ac- cordingly fed off with the potatoes, and throve so well on them that he resolved on testing the qualities of the root still fur- ther this season, by feeding from first to last entirely on po- tatoes. He at the same time, for his own guidance in carry- ing out the pulping system, to which he is a convert, made a separate experimeut to test its value as against feeding in the ordinary way with sliced turnips. A lot of cross-bred Short- horn stirks, rising two years, were bought by him at the Linton October market last autumn, and divided as equally as possible with regard to condition, size, and so forth, among tliree courts. The lot numbered twenty, six of which were to be fed on potatoes, seven on pulped turnips, and seven on sliced turnips, with the usual allowance of straw in each case — the pulped-fed cattle getting theirs chopped. From the moment they entered the courts, up to the month of March, when the whole of them for the first time, and in the same proportion, got oilcake and barley-meal to finish off, the cattle were kept exclusively to their own kiud of diet. A very short time served to show which was the most nu- tritive article of food. Almost from the first the potato-fed cattle took the start of their neighbours, and, to use a racing phrase, were never headed, but came in at the finish a good way in advance of the others. They took to the potatoes with the greatest relish, and never gave the slightest indication of " hoven" all the time they were being fed on them. In fact, no beasts could have given less trouble or anxiety from the day they were put into the close tiU they were taken out in the early part of May — a period of about seven months. While the experiment was thus satisfactory with regard to what we may caU No. 1 court, it was not the less so as respects No. 3 — the court containing the cattle fed on pulped turnips. These also, almost from the beginning, evinced a superiority over their neighbours fed on the sliced turnips. They were decidedly in better condition, aud brought more money — per- haps the best test of all that they had been better fed. The cattle, as we have said, when they went into the courts, was placed as nearly as possible on an equality, and their difference of condition at the end of the experiment was solely due to the difference of feeding. The average price obtained for the lot was £17 OS. each. They were sold privately, the value put on them by the purchaser — a dealer of judgment — being as follows : No. I court, £17 15s. each ; No. 2 court, £17 5s. ; and No. 3 court, £16 los. In other words, the potato-fed cattle bi ought lOs. per head more than those fed in the ordin- ary way. The value of the experiment consists, of course, in the ex- pense of raising the ditterent lots, because if No. 3 court were fed off cheaper than No. I court, no inducement is offered to make any change from turnips to potatoes. This point can be satisfactorily answered. Each of the coarts was supplied with a daily allowance of turnips carefully weighed or measured, and it was found that while in the case of the No. 3 court the seven cattle consumed II cwt. of turnips per diem, those in No. 3 court were well and better fed with 9 cwt., or 3 cwt. per day less. This was a direct saving in the cost of the turnips ; but it also saved a matter of some con- sequence, the expense of carting tlie extra quantity from the fields, which could he much more easily and profitably eaten off by sheep as they lay in their drills. As a set-off against this, there is, no doubt, to be placed the cost of the pulping ; but this is not a very serious matter. Mr. Smith does not employ steam for the purpose at Stevenson Mains, but has a one-horse power machine, vvliich he finds answers extremely well. The amount of work which it gets through is large, amounting to about 3 tons per hour, amply sufficient for the wants of a pretty large number of cattle we should fancy. There is also the wages of tlie girl who attends the pulping machine when it is in motion ; but making every allowance for these items of expenditure, Mr. Smith is quite convinced, from- his experience of the system, that it is, when properly conducted, in every way more profitable to pulp than to give cattle the turnips simply sliced. His experiments this year seems to prove tliat not only can they be fed on a less quantity of turnips, but that they bring a better price when fat than the others. Taking the value of a ton of turnips at 10s., the average weekly cost of feeding the No. 3 cattle amounted, as nearly as possible, to 4s. 6d. per head, while the No. 3 cost about Is. per head more. The calculation can easily be made, and will be found as stated. But the potato-fed cattle show a con- siderably greater saving. The courts were put under the charge of a careful and experienced cattleman, whose in- structions were to note down exactly the amounts consumed in THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 297 each close. Prom the book which he kept, we find that tlie six cattle iu No. 1 close culj' consumed a weekly average of about 15 cwt. of potatoes, wliich at 25s. per ton gives 3s. l^d. as the expense per week of feeding each beast, and feeding it £1 per head better than with food that costs 3s. 4'|d. more money weekly. It is also to be remarked that the potatoes used were unmarketable, iu so far that tlic firsts and seconds had been selected from them, and were only available for the starch mill or for feeding purposes. So satisfied is Mr. Smith with the result of his carefully-conducted experiment in po- tato-feeding, that he iutends continuing it next year on a larger scale. He has no doubt as to its being the most pro- fitable, as it is undoubtedly one of the easiest modes of fattening lean cattle fur the market. SALT AS A CONDIMENT FOR CATTLE. Although the use of salt, both as a coudiment for cattle and as manure, has long been known to the agriculturist, we are disposed to think that its employment has been greatly neglected by the majority of them, for reasons which retlect no credit upon their reasoning powers, or rather upon their knowledge of the principles of true eco- nomy. As manure, it is the cheapest auxiliary to the dmig-heap that can be used, because the proportion to be employed — -which, bj^-the-by, is well-kuowu — is small, and must not be increased. Like mauy other minerals, if used properly and carefully, it is highly beneficial : if used in excess of the proper proportion it is a deadly poison. And here lies the danger in its use by a cai'eless or un- skilful person. In the hands of an intelligent agricul- turist, salt applied to the laud for cereal crops will increase the quantity, aud produce heavier and firmer grain and stronger and whiter straw. For root crops its use is equally beneficial ; and iu rough pastures, mixed with lime, it will destroy the coarse grasses, and produce a rich herbage mixed with white clover and other succulent herbs. It is during the growth of plants of all kinds that salts are found in them in the greatest abundance ; aud we may therefore conclude that, in the vegetable economy, it performs in the soil a similar part that it does to the animal, although iii a diU'erent manner, helping the plant to its necessary food ; or, in other words, it enables it to assimilate its food, with wliich also it mixes iu a large proportion during the time the plant is in a growiug state. Water is one of the most important of the elementary substauces in the formation of plants. Now, salt, accord- ing to Julius Sachs, is found by experiment to have the peculiar action on them of retarding the absorption of water by the roots, by which the soil is kept in a moist state, and a supply of water is secured to them. Sachs found that a plant placed in distilled water absorbed 175 parts in three days, whilst another plant, of the same size, placed in water containing one-half per cent, of salt, absorbed only 56 parts in the same time. This explains why salt applied to cereal crops causes the straw to be shorter and stronger. We see the elFect of an unrestrained supply of water to cereal plants in the length and weakness of the straw and the liability of the crop to go down by the first high wind or heavy storm. Salt is well known to be the best dressing to prevent this by shortening and strengthening the straw. It is, however, less our intention to show the beneficial action of saltixpon cereal and other agricultural plants than upon the animals of the farm, which in this period of exten- sive and fatal disease is of most immediate consequence ; for, although its use in warding off or modifying disease of the epidemic kind is well known, its application is still too much neglected. The necessity of using salt in food by animals of all species is shown by the proportion of it found in the blood. In that of thehuniansubjectthe normal proportion of salt is found to be nearly one-half per cent., and iu the ashes of blood 57i per cent. And whether a person uses salt in his food or not, this proportion never varies^ It must, therefore, be supplied from the other portions of the body, unless it is given iu the food. Now, salt is as necessary for the preservation of the living body from diseases as it is for its preservation from putrefaction when dead. Why is it that epidemic disease prevails so much more amongst the humbler classes of society than amongst the rich ? Chiefly because the use of salt is neglected in their food. By neglecting this, the ilesliy parts of the system are deprived of their due proportion of salt to supply the blood ; and the consequence is, the man is rendered liable to the accesses of disease. The bile, the mucus, the saliva, the urine, the gastric juice are in this case all deprived of their due proportion of salt, to famish that required in the blood, which must have its proportion whatever becomes of the other parts of the body. Now, what applies to the human subject iutliis case is equally applicable to the farm animals. Their blood has its normal proportion of salt, without which the animal could not exist ; and unless a quantity of salt is mixed with its food, the same exhaustion of the supply for the other juices of the system will take place, and the animal — whether a bullock, a sheep, or a pig — will be more liable to the attack of disease, or less likely to recover if attacked. We know not whether the veterinary practi- tioners have directed the attention of the farmers and cowkeepers to this subject, but it certainly is of great im- portance at this time, when an unprecedented epidemic disorder is decimating the herds and dairies in a fearful manner. That the use of salt in feeding cattle is an exception in Great Britain rather than a rule, is well known by the dealers in salt, and especially the proprietors and managers ol salt works. We learn from one of these latter that whilst iu Germany, France, and Austria the quantity of salt given to cattle, &c., amounts to 100,000 tons, in England only 10,000 tons is so applied. In Prussia and other continental states the use of it is increasing, and in Prussia it is said to have increased threefold since 1853. Whether the absence of the rinderpest from France and Austria is due to the free use of salt for their cattle we have no direct means of ascertaining ; but it is a question well worth inquiring into, how far this has been the case, and also whether those of our own farmers and graziers who freely use salt for their cattle have been more exempt from the visitation than their less careful neighbours. That the animals themselves are well aware of the use of salt, both as a coudiment with their food and as a pre- ventive of disease, there is every reason to believe. In the Pampas of South America, the wild horses, cattle, and other graminivorous animals, travel for miles to the "salt licks," to supply themselves with the necessary proportion to keep them in health. "But," says a prize-essay we have before ns, " with our animals the case is diflerent ; we keep them iu either well-enclosed fields or tied up in stalls, and they must take such food as they find there, or is given to them, whether it contains the saline parts so necessary to their weU-doing or not ; and in some measure we increase the evil in stall-feeding by drawing out, in warm water, some of the saline matters of the food. There is no question that many 293 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. diseases our horses, cattle, and sLeep are liable to ■would be prevented if the animals had free access to salt; and where it has beeu givea regularly the beneficial effects have soon shown themselves. In the cellular tissues of the body, in which the flesh and fat are found, as well as in the albumen, there is constantly salt present in large quantities, showing its necessity for the production of both lean meat and fat in animals. The salt acts as a digestive by increasing the saliva, and the animals drinking water with it freely (perhaps one-third more), this additional water helps very much to dissolve j and assimilate those parts of the food which would other- wise pass off undigested, and carries oft" the noxious humours that show themselves in skin diseases." We have given this long quotation to show the im- portance of salt in feeding cattle, and the desirableness of extending its use at this particvdar crisis, when the whole country is under alarm on account of the rinderpest. We shall now leave our readers to apply these remarks in their practice, which will assui'edly be beneficial to the cattle, even if it does not prevent the access of the disease. ON THE GROWTH OF FLAX. We have frequently drawn attention to the growth of flax both at home and abroad, but the renewed experi- ments to cottonize flax which are making pn the other side of the Atlantic induce us to return to the subject, as we have seen some very good samples prepared, al- though they are yet wanting in the chief elements of ultimate success. In Egypt flax is sown in December and January, and harvested in April or May, and in Northern Russia it is sown in May and harvested in August, and so it is in the Northern parts of the United States. Flax was one of the necessities of cultivation by the Pilgrim fathers and other immigrants into North America, and by all the new settlers in the wilds of the country for the linen with which their families have been clothed. Up to a recent period almost every thriving New Eugland farmer culti- vated a small piece of laud in flax every summer, and dressed it out by hand iu the barn in the dry, cold days of winter, and the family manufactured it into a variety of articles of domestic use. Indeed, a good many of the old school of fanners did not think they could get along without their tow frock and trowsera, nor that anything was so fit for meal-bags as honv-^ '.i ..'. - linen. We fully helievc that a great many who have abandoned flax cul- ture because cotton was so cheap, may safely, in an economical point of view, return in some degree to the ways of their fathers. It is doubtful whether any other plant can be profitably substituted in any of the N'ortheru States for flax, which can certainly be grown with profit to the grower, for its fibre alone, whenever he can be assui-ed the average price of hemp, and that he may be sure of as soon as some of the recent inventions for separating the fibre and woody tissue have been put into general operation. The increased cxdtui'e of flax iu North America has been very large, and the prices obtained most remuuera- tive. The recent crops have been probably the best grown for many years. The improvement in flax ma- chinery has been very beneficial to fai-ming interests, preparing a market for the product, and as continued efforts are being made still further to improve, the Ameri- cans will be enabled largely to increase its culture. The question, can flax be used as a substitute for cotton profit- ably ? is being extensively discussed in the States, and expei'iments have been made for several years in order to settle this question. The Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry offered a premium for flax cotton " fit for use or machinery," and accom- panied with a statement of its culture, production, and preparation, including the cost of the various processes. The committee appointed to examine the flnx-colton offered for the premium in their report, stated that though none of the competitors were entitled to the premium, yet that the flax prepared by Mr. Stephen Randall's pro- cess was in their judgment much more valuable than cotton in all fabrics iu which cotton is now mixed with wool, and in some kinds of goods appeared to be de- sirable as a partial substitute for wool itself. The legislature of the State of New York, in 1862, ap- propriated 2,000 dollars for the encouragemeut of those who were sinking by machinery to test the experiment of manufacturing flax-cotton. The New York State Agri- cultural Society, to whom was deputed the duty of in- quiring into the matter in 1863, co-operated with a com- mittee from the Rhode Island Society. The only com- petitors were the Lockport Flax Cotton Company and Mr. C. Beart, of Penn Yan. The fibres of flax are uniform in length and diameter, and fusiform in shape, the ends being acutely pointed. It is essential that these characters should be preserved, in order that they may be spun successfidly on cotton ma- chinery. The process of Claussen for making flax-cotton, which at one time was in such high favour, failed of suc- cess, because he attempted to obtain uniformity in the length of the fibre, by cutting instead of separation : the stumpy ends thus formed were fatal to the success of his enterprise. The fibres of the bast tissue are connected to- gether by a strong adhesive nitrogenous current which has a very strong afFiuity for them. We believe that aU attempts to overcome this connection by mechanical means must necessarily residt in failure. Such efforts are as absurd as to extract grease from cloth by mechanical means. The only means of separating them is to discover some solvent which has a stronger affinity for the cement than the fibres of the flax. The report of the committee states that neither of these flrms have yet produced flax-cotton iu such a form as to be spun upon cotton ma- chinery. In the best specimens of the flax cotton submitted particles of spire-wire were found adhering ; the fibres were irregular in length and in diameter, and by careful manipu- lation almost every fibre can be farther divided, whichshows that the cement is imperfectly dissolved. The committee state their conviction that the reduction of flax fibre for flax cotton is practicable. Already great strides towards the accomplislunent of this has been made in the right direc- tion, and nothing is needed but intelligent and persevering efl'orts to achieve a triumphant success. The committee, from their investigations, consider that the encouragements for ultimate success are too strong to allow the investiga- tion to rest, and they recommend that at least the sum of 3,000 dollars be offered, so as to practically settle the question. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 399 THICK AND THIN SOWING. (translated rilOlX the "JOUKNAL d'AGRICULTUKE rRATIQUE.") Mr. Editor, — The observations exchanged Letweeu M.M. Seleurch and Bodiu, iu your muiiher of 5th November last, page -iSi, and those iu reply by M. Cerfbeer, inserted iu the following number, page 4<97, have induced me to offcr you my own observations — the fruit of many years' experience — upon the practice of sowing in liues, which I consider to be a question of far greater importance than is generally believed. I must first state that I fully agree wdth MBI. Seleurch and Bodin upon one point, namely, that the quantity of seed must vary according to the degree of fertility the land possesses, and that thin so\nng does not succeed so well as thick, upon soils in a mediocre state. In the article which provoked this debate, M. Bodin said, " That hearing that by sowing enormous quantities of seed the weeds vrould be choked by the thick crop, he tried the experiment ; but the results had taught him a suftlcient lesson — that he had gradually diminished the quantity of seed, and that iu proportion as he diminished it, the produce had increased." M. Bodin compared the cultivator wlio sows thick to those who try to rear two or three times more cattle upon a meagre pasturage than they do upon a rich one. According to him sowing thick only increases the evU, and it is better to destroy weeds by second dressing and weeding, tlian run the risk of choking a crop under the pretence of choking the weeds. M. Seleurch, noticing certain assertions iu M. Bodin's statement which appeared to him too positive, has proved very judiciously that thin sowing is not a cause but a conse- quence of the fertility of a soil, and it is necessary that that fertility precede the use of mechanical sowing. His veiy practical conclusion is, that the proportion of seed ought always to be in inverse ratio to the state of fertility of- the soil, but that that proportion should not exceed a maximum of 250 litres of wheat per hectare for poor lands, nor descend below 90 to 100 litres for rich lands. Upon most points, therefore, MM. Seleurch and Bodin are agreed at heart. But then M. Cerfbeer interposes by declaring that thick so\ring, even on rich lauds, may be a good practice ; and in support of his opinion he uses an argument which appears unanswerable — that from 350 litres of seed spread over a hectare, he obtained a harvest of from 30 to 4-0 hectolitres of wheat. M. Cerfbeer found " that iu soils and cold climates, where the frost often thins the seed, it is necessary to sow thick ; that the spring tillering, iipon \ihich the partizans of thin sowing lay so much stress, is frequently hiudered Ijy various causes, such as di'ought, the scorching winds of March, &c." In another point of view, M. Cerfbeer considers thick sowing as a certain means of preventing weeds from growing, and particularly as a more economical mode of clearing them off than hueing. These are the principal points of discussion. I shall first reply to some of M. Cerf beer's arguments, and then beg your permission, Mr. Editor, to treat the subject in a more general manner. M. Cerfbeer admits that the strongest objection to thick sowing consists in the weakening of the plants from want of space, and the increased chances of beiug laid in consequence ; but, according to him, this double danger may be prevented, either by topping the wheats wliich are too thick, or by making sheep pass over it iu spring, or by quick harrowing, which destroys the superfluous plants. I have tried all three methods, and believe T am giving the opinion of most cultivators by affirming that wheats topped, or bitten by sheep, yield but a very inferior crop in grain, and always remain subject to being laid on account of the weakness of the fresh sprouts, wliich, after topping or pasturage, dways develop themselves in a premature and imperfect manner. With regard to the use of the harrows, it sometimes succeeds ; but every one knows that it is a dangerous process that cuts up where it ought to leave, and leaves where it ought to destroy ; in fact, it is unworthy the notice of a good farmer. The means advised by Mr. Cerfbeer cannot then remedy the evil, and we shall presently prove that there are other more simjile and economical methods. M. Cerfbeer's theory is, that the richer a soil is the more you may exact from it, and that the quantity of plants it can nourish is proportional to its intrinsic fertility. According to him, 3i hectolitres of wheat sown to the hectare is not too much, and for spring cereals it is necessary even to exceed that proportion. These figures appear inconceivable to cultivators in the North. It is evident that if all the grains sown thus came up and developed themselves, the plants would be mutually choked ; and one of two things must happen — either the crop must ripen, or it must grow weak. We are aware that these agricultural facts may vary in different places, and that it is necessary to form general theories with some reserve ; but in an immense majority of cases we believe we are justified in affirming tliat when cereals aie sown very thick before wdnter, they scarcely ever give an abundant crop of grain. The maxima products are generally obtained where the plants properly spaced are uninjured, and have been able to form during winter a well-developed collar, from which vigorous tillers sprout in spring. When the young plants are too close, they shoot up to find space, thus tending to weaken themselves, and form a gigantic stalk in spring. This stalk famishes the tillers which should start from the collar, aud v.'hieli for want of space and nourish- ment only forms an ear without grain. Hence, those abortive tillers, which in thick crops form straggling stall- 2-9,478 Carrots, parsnips, and l^ other green crops . . 1,310_ Meadow and clover '. 68,970 Increase , 105,033 Although the foregoing statement shows a decrease of 28,218 acres in the total area under crops in 1865, there was an increase in the extent under grass to the amount of 127,470 acres, the area under " bog and waste unoccupied" having diminished by 101,543 acres. The following abstracts exhibit the acreage under each crop in 1864 and 1865, and the increase or decrease in the latter year : Abstract of Cekeal Crops. TO/., iQp- Increase Decrease i0u4. 181)0. . TCP- • icn~ in Ibbo. in I860. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Wheat . . . 276,483 268,073 — 8,410 Oats .... 1,814,886 1,744,261 — 70,625 Barley . . . 172,700 177.207 4,507 — Bere and rye . 8,894 10,132 1,238 — Beans and peas 16,090 16,930 840 — Total . 2,289,053 2,216,603 6,585 79,035 Decrease in cereal crops in 1805 . . 72,450 acres. ABSTK.iCT OF Green Crops. 1864. Acres. Potatoes . . . 1,039,724 Turnips . . . 337,355 Mangel wurze! } ^^ ^,^g Beet root . . ) ' "^ Cabbage . . . 31,821 Carrots . . . ") Parsnips ■ ■ ■[ ^3,149 Other grn. crops j Yetehes Jc rape 29,829 iQp. Increase Decrease ^^^'^- in 1865. in 1365. Acres. Acres. Acres. 1,065,894 26,170 — 333,951 — 3,404 14,429 301 — 33,512 1,691 — 24,465 29,176 Total . 1,476,006 1,501,427 Increase in green crops in 1865 . . General Summary. Decrease in cereal crops in 1805 . Do. flax in do. . Increase in green crops in do. . Do. meadow and clover in do. . 1,316 — — C53 29,478 4,05 25,421 acres. 72,450 7 50,159 j 25,421 7 68,970 ) 122,609 94,S91 Total decrease in the extent of land under crops in '65 28,218 He further states that tlie returns of live stock for 1865 compared with 1804, show an increase in the number of cattle of 231,120; of slieep, 321,801; and of pigs, 241,413 ; and a decrease in horses of 14,291. The total estimated value of horses, cattle, shec-p, and pigs this year was £32,772,009, being an increase of £2,043,699 compared with 1804. It is very satisfactory to observe the continued care bestowed on the rearing of young stock throughout the country, as appears by the returns of this year, which exhibit an increase in tlie number of cattle, sheep, and pigs, under one year old, in each of the provinces, and abnost in every county, the total increase of cattle under that age being 56,147 ; of sheep, 175,441 ; and of pigs, 220,285. IRISH EMIGRxVTION.— In the first seven mouths ot 1805 the returns of emigrants obtained at the several ports of Ireland by the enumerators show that 02,262 persons left this country, stating it to be their intention not to return. In 1804 the number for the same period was 84,580, being in this vear a decrease of 22,324. B B 334 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE LABOUEEKS' PRIZE LIST. " The vigorous and flourisliiug society" at Kingscote held its meeting, a celebration more especially devoted to the advancement of the laboarer. As will be found from the report with which we have been favoured, see page 314, there ai-e prizes for ploughmen, for shepherds, and for good service — all very admirable incentives, what ever theMember or the Mayor of Bedford may say to the contrary. But the Kingscote Association goes rather further than this- For a local institution it is somewhat ambitious. There are periodical discussion-meetings when the moon is up ; Mr. Morton is going to give a lecture on education, and a chemistry class has been established; while the mental and moral condition of country servants is to be improved in this wise : " To the agricultural labourer or female servant for the best account of the life and times of Daniel the prophet, with practical re- flections thereon, £2"; with another premium, for "the agricultural labourer or female servant under eighteen years of age, for the best exposition of ' Who was Gideon, and what were the means used to impress the power of God on the minds of men through him ?' with practical reflections thereon." As is well known, we have long advocated the advantages of encoui'aging, by the agency of public rewards, proficiency in skilled labour, respectability of conduct, and length of service. We would go even occasionally as far as they do in France, and make the merit of a good servant a matter of general congratulation. But it is quite possible to push such a system to the verge of absurdity ; and if we laugh at the notion of a housemaid stipulating for her evening out to attend a singing class, or a nursemaid in- sisting upon her French lesson, we can scarcely do less at the idea of setting down a ploughman to pen a prize essay, or inciting a dairy -woman to prepare a theological discourse. The practical reflections upon the mission of Gideon certainly fell through, for there was no competi- tion ; but Timothy Leonard, in the service of Colonel Kingscote, gained the premium for his Life of Daniel — a yet more successful author, Mr. Fawkes, being disqua- lified, from having previously distinguished himself in this way. AVe seriously doubt the good that can foUow from the adoption of such a course as this, which would promise the rather to turn a good workman into a mere " fiddler," who, with his head upset, would be thinking a deal more of his pen and ink than his proper vocation. In truth, the chances are that the successful essayist would soon forsake the plough-tail for the pm-suits of literature ; and those who know anything of a country life can imagine no more miserable lot than that of the half-educated pauper-poet or scribe, who has abandoned his proper position and vocation, mainly through the mistaken kindness of friends and patrons. And such mistaken kindness, as we take it, characterizes the proceedings of the Committee of the Kingscote Agricultural Association, when they prompt plovighmen and maids of all-work to bother their brains over theological arguments, by way of relief to their more "practical" employment. Such items in the prize-sheet naturally enough are provocative of attack, and The Saturday Review pens one of its bitterest diatribes against the Kingscote philanthropists, as in this wise: " Poor Hodge of the fields ! He is even worse off than his luckless brother in the towns. The artisan of the town is invited to spend his leisure hours in making a set of tea-things out of nut-shells, or in rigging little toy- boats ; and he is dragged off to look at the tea-things and toy-boats which his friends have made. This is hard, certainly ; but it is a great deal harder fate to be bullied by the benevolent master, and the patronizing parson, and the gushing Lady Bountiful, into writing a theological or moral essay. The dairymaid no sooner gets the butter and the cheeses out of the way, and her male companion no sooner gets the ewes and the lambs and the roots and the dung off his mind, than he and she are asked to grasp pens, and write theological disquisitions, one against the other. It is true that the man's valuable essay may bring him in a couple of pounds ; while spoiling vvith Amaryllis or Ncfera in the shade might possibly cost him six pounds ten shillings per annum." Or, again : " The common notion among sensible persons is, that, after a spell of hard work, it is good to let the mind lie fallow awhile. Among the kind friends of the working-man, however, there seems to be some confusion between leaving land fal- low and deluging it with liquid manure. They think that the mind is refreshed by the production or contemplation of sheer rubbish — the mind, that is to say, of the ' son of toil,' as they call a man who works for daily or weekly wages. Their own minds, it would seem, don't need the renovating process. Timothy Leonard's master would, no doubt, use very strong language if anybody pestered hini to improve his mind in his leisure hours by writing an essay on the life and times of Daniel or Jerubbaal ; only he would most likely not have the faintest notion who Jerubbaal was ; and his ideas of Daniel even would probably be confined to something about a den of lions. Why does not somebody found prizes for ' improving the mental and moral condition ' of the landed gentry, and the rich manufacturers, and the country clergy ? If the Kingscote Agricultural Association would do us the honour to accept any suggestion of ours, we woiUd respectfully submit that next year their subject might be, ' The Life and Times of Balaam, with practical reflections on the part played by Asses in the ivorld.' " This is plain speaking, but the Kingscote Association has only asked for all it has got. One word more : There is no so sure a way to make a man a humbug as to en- courage him to trade upon religion ; and if these Glouces- tershire essayists take to roadside ranting, or any other plan of shirking hard work, it is no more than their patron Society has a right to expect. The good old rule was that the best servants could neither read nor write ; but there is a medium in all thing?, and even education need not be pushed beyond its proper use and purpose. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 8|5 CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. This month generally concludes the harvest. The ricks are immediately thatched to secure the j^rain from damai^e : the coverinof must be in readiness for the purpose. Beans will be the latest crop : tie with straw ropes into sheaves when cut by hand-sickle, or with tarred twine, which may be preserved for many years. Beans and peas require immediate thatchinjr, as leguminous plants imbibe and hold much moisture. Finish the dunging of clay fallows ; cart stones and til s to drains ; scour ditches; repair, widen, and strai,''hich extravagant prices mere asked were left unsold at the close of the market. The lots of evres sold v.-ere purchased by dealers, both English aud district. GLASTONBURY FAIR was largely supplied with both beasts, sheep, and pigs. The attendance was also good. Trade was not very brisk, although several of the cattle changed hands at high prices. Mares and foals were in abundance, the trade for which was very dull. GRANTHAM FAT STOCK MARKET.— A short supply of both beasts and sheep. Beef 8s. 6d. to Ss. per stone, mutton 8d. to 9d. per lb. A very fair trade took place. HOLBEACH FAIR.— There was a large show of horses and foals, and a good deal of business was done, the )irices being in advance of those obtainable of late. Tiie top price given for a foal was £18. HO WDEN" HORSE FAIR.— On Monday the attendance of horse-dealers, continental commissioners, hunting gentle- men, general agents, jobmasters, farmers, &c., was as large as we ever remember to have seen. Business was chiefl.y confined to the inn yards, dealers being verv generally employed in taking stock of the fair, inquiring after horses, matching, &c. Some of the best animals ^%ere eagerly bought up at high prices, almost as soon as they entered the town. As usual, coach-horses and hunters were most inquired after, though the trade in them was rather slow, and the prices realized lower. Good driving horses sold well, Hunters of celebrity, good stayers of power and speed, sold from 100 to 200 guineas. First-class coach-horses, suitable for broughams, 9U to 120 guineas. Many of the ,best of the Irish horses, youug and well-bred, were selected for hunting purposes. We understand that ten Irish horses sold for 950 guineas. The ordinary ani- mals ranged from about 30 to 50 guineas. On Tuesday morn- ing the fair opened rather slowly. As on the previous day really good horses commanded high figures, but middling and inferior were difficult to be disposed of. Some dealers are buying for the British army. Several continental gentlemen have bought largely for consignment abroad. One of the most important features of to-day's fair was the annual sale of horses, the property of Mr. W. H. Clark, of Hook Hall, near How- den ; Mr. Calthorpe, auctioneer. The amount realized for nine horses was 1,036 guineas. Amongst them. Sprig of No- bility, a bay horse, five years old, which took the first prize at tlie Royal Show, at Newcastle, and several other important prizes, sold for 330 guineas, to Major Stapylton. Also a ches- nut horse. Cotton Stockings, four years old, which won the cup at Driffield as the best four-year-old hunter, sold to Mr. CoUins, the eminent horse dealer, for 300 guineas. The remainder ranged from 33 to 110 guineas. The attendance on Wednes- day morning was again very large. The horses were of an inferior character to those which exchanged hands at the com- mencement of the vveek, but there was a tolerably fair amount of business doing. First-class hoi'ses, hunters especially, fully maintained the high figures given for them of late years. Some prime hunters sold for from 200 to 300 guineas, though the ordinary prices for them were from 100 to 200 guineas. There \TOs a reduction of about twenty per cent, in the prices of nearly all except first-class animals, the demand for horses not being very great this year. Neat-going active carriage horses made from 40 to 60 guineas. Sound short-jointed horses, adapted for town carts, vans, and other work of that character, 20 to 25 guineas. Heavy draught horses for brewers, mer- chants, team work, &c., from 30 to 40 guineas. There was only a sliort sujjply of roadsters. First-class sea- soned cart-horses realized from 30 to 40 guineas. Young powerful agricultural horses from 18 to 22 gui- neas. A lot of Shetland ponies were offered at prices ranging from five to six guineas and upwards ; not many sales, however, were eflected. A large portion of (principally) ches- nut horses has been made during the week for the French army. Nearly all the Irish horses have changed hands, but at reduced rates from last year. ILSLEY FAIR. — The supply of sheep was very small, with a dull trade, at from Is. to 2s. a head advance on our August fair. Wethers 50s. to 59s., ewes 42s. to 54s., and lambs from 35s. to 51s. LEWES GREAT SHEEP FAIR.—The number of sheep was far below the average, there being but between 16,000 and 17,000, whereas the average number exhibited for sale is about 28,000 : thus there was a marked difference, distinguishable THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 339 tlie monieut the field was entered. The number of buyers was large, and tlieir waut of lean stock, particularly sheep, being great from the abundance of feed about the country, especially on the rich soil of tlie western parts of Sussex, the tone of the fair was much in favour of the scUers, the demand was large, extraordinary prices were demanded and roali/.ed during the morning; as much as Gs., Ss., and 10s. per licad more than last year being given fur good sheep. TJie shortness of the supply, and the high prices which consequently prevailed, are due to a variety of causes. The utmost readiness to purchase was manifested during the morning, and pen after pen was cleared out witli astonishing rapidity ; but after dinner a slight reaction took place, and the owners of pens who yet held on were comi)elled to accept rather lower prices than those ob- tained an hour or so before. The prices of ewes ranged from iOs. to o2s., and for exceedingly good ones as much even as 60s. was made. Lambs fetched from 2os. to 405. To show the contrast between Lewes tair of the present year and some fifteen years, we append the foUowiu": : — Number. Ewes. Lambs. 1850 ... 28,000 ... 22s. to 26s. ... 15s. to 20.s. 1855 ... 30,000 ... 25s. to 42s. ... 15s. to 25s. 1860 ... 30,000 ... 30s. to 40s. ... 14s. to 30s. 1864 ... 24,000 ... 30s. to 42s. ... 17s. to 32s. 1865 ... 16,500 ... 35s. to 52s. ... 23s. to 40s. Mr. Humphrey, of Ashington, sold 100 ewes at 60s., to Mr. Mouckton, of Kent, they were half resold at G3s., and the others at 61s. At Mr. ArkcoU's, Eastbourne, 200 lusty e«es, with their produce, 200 wether lambs in one lot made 35s. per head. The adjoining flock, Birling ewes, cpiite as good in quality, but being sold a niouth ago, of course realized less money. At Crow Link, adjoining farm, the value of lambs was 35s. At Friston Place lambs made 353. or upwards. At West Dean 100 lambs at 42s., and 150 at 36s. At Charleston 130 ewes at 47s. Jevington ev,-es made, say 42s. ; Montague ewes 50s. LINCOLN FAIR. — There v.as an average show of beasts and for three-year-old steers, the price was from .€20 to £24 ; two-vear-olds £10to £14, and yearlings £8 to £10. LINCOLN FAT STOCK MARKET.— A good, show of beasts and slieep ; the former made 8s. 6d. to 9s. per stone, and the latter 9d. per lb. LOCKERBIE SEPTEMBER TRYST was largely attended by parties interested in white stock. The number of lambs would be about 23,000, and the number of ewes 1,500. The former consisted of half-breds. Cheviots, crosses, and Highland sheep, and the latter of black-faced and Cheviots. The at- tendance of buyers was fully as great as heretofore, but though this was the case the market was not so quick as many had been led to anticipate. Prices for all sorts were unusually high ; indeed, the like of them were never heard of before at a Lockerbie September market. The highest price going for Cheviot top wether lambs was 26s., for Cheviot mid. ewe lambs 253., for crosses 32s., for black-faced wether lambs 16s. 6d., for ewe ditto 22s. 6d., for draft ewes (Cheviots) 34s., and for black-faced draft ewes 25s. The rise on half-breds since the August market was from 2s. to 3s., Cheviot lambs from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d., crosses 2s. 6d. to 4s., and black-faced lambs from Is. 6d. to 2s. LOUTH FAIR. — About 2,400 sheep were penned, but the trade was not quite so brisk as at the preceding week's market. Lambs realised from 30s. to 36s., tupping ewes 40s. to 54s. Fat Sheep were scarce and dear, viz., ewe mutton 8id., and wether mutton 9d. per lb. A good liusiness was done in beasts, especially in milch cows. Beef 8s. 9d. to 9s. per stone. Several lots of rams were sold, those of Mrs. and Mr. T. Young, of BeUeau, averaging £8 i5s. 6d. each ; Mr. Young's, of Coven- hura, £10 12s. 6d. ; Mr. Scorer's, of Burwell, £4 16s. 8d. : Mr. J. J. Clarke's, of Welton, £5 15s. 3d. ; Mr. Chaplin's, £7 7s. MALDON FAIR. — A scanty show of animals generally, and an utter absence of horned cattle. There was a sprinkling of horses — good, bad, and indifferent ; but very little business was done. Sheep were better represented, hut farmers have brightened up at the large prices obtained during the last fortnight, and have opened their mouths rather wider than dealers fanr^y for business purposes, and a very large number went back as they came. MONIAIVE FAIR. — There was a brisk and good demand for stock, which consisted chiefly of lambs. The most of the lambs were soon disposed of at satisfactory piicea. Mr. Mnir- head, Dumfries, bought a lot of half-breds at 33s. each, being the highe?t price we heard of; he also bought some chpped cross sheep at £3 each. Euuston half-bred lambs sold at 30s. each ; Cheviot ewe lambs at 21s. ; Cheviot wedder lambs at 18s., and ewe iambs (paleys) at 16s., also a lot of crosses (shots) at 18s. MUIR OF ORD MARKET was the best market for sheep that has ever been held on the stance. The prices are unpre- cedented, but the reasons are obvious — distrust of the quality of beef in the southern markets, and the consequent demand for mutton, which is not suspected to be tainted witli disease; the scarcity of sheep for breeding purposes on the hills, and the short crop of lambs during the last three years. The stock shown was about 400 above last year. Every herd on the ground was sold oil', and the demand was equal to far more stock than was offered. OXFORD FAIR. — From the supply of cow cattle it might be fairly inferred that they are very scarce in the neighbour- hood ; but we are glad to find that such is not the case ; several things militate against a large sup))ly, independent of the pre- vailing disease (which has hardly been known in this locality). Farmers and graziers have an objection to send their beasts to market, and butchers very much prefer buying them at the homes of the farmer, and keep is also abundant. Beef of the best quality made 8d. per lb. Stores were quite as dear. The sheep market was largely supplied and well attended, and eveiy head changed hands, and in most instances more than once ; we were credibly informed that had there been 5,000 more penned tliey would all have been sold. Stores, it was remarked, made very near as much money as fat mutton ; of the latter littte was at market, and sold readily at from 7^d. to lOd. per lb. Pigs were very scarce and very dear ; bacon hogs from lis. to 12s. ; porkers, lis. 6d. to 12s. Cd. per score. PxVRTNEY FAIRS.— The number of sheep, although very large, was not perhaps quite equal to that of 1864, but they were generally of excellent quality, of large size, and full of wool. The Ijusiness of the day commenced at early dawn, and nearly all the best animals were quickly disposed of. Lambs sold remarkably well, and at prices never before attained. Mr. Morriscm, of Ashby, sold a lot descended from a sheep bought of Mr. Betts, of Holbeek-lodge, at 51s. Some pens of good drape ewes, for breeding purposes, made as much as 72s. A lot of 140 fine shearlings, the property of M. Staniland, Esq., of Harrington -haU, averaged 64s. The general run of prices for lambs was from 40s. to 48s., drapes from 58s. to 64s. Shearling ewes and wethers were much inquired for, and sold at higher prices than in August ; and before the fair closed every sheep was or at least might have been profitably disposed of. The beast fair was comparatively small. A dread of the terrible rinderpest no doubt caused many persons to keep their cattle at home, rather than expose them to the consequences which might be apprehended from sending them to a pubhc fair. Those which were shown sold well. Young steers and heifers were quickly caught up, as were all animals ready for •tne butcher. In the prices of beef and mutton there was no reportable alteration, but there appears to be a growing opinion that the present high rates cannot much longer be maintained. PENRITH FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— There was a good display of both sheep and lambs, numbering altogether about 1,260. Generally speaking, the quality and condition of the animals were excellent ; and there being a large attend- ance of buyers from a distance as well as for " home consump- tion," a keen competition set in early for the best lots, which brought a shght advance upon former lates. Only six'beasts and their condition was inferior ; the three calves shown were quickly secured. Indeed, in every department of the market a good clearance was effected at an early hour, at the follow- ing averaa-e prices : Beasts 7s. 6d. to 8s. per stone, sheep and lambs 8d. to 9d., and calves 9d. per lb. PROBUS FAIR was slightly supphed with bullocks. Of sheep there was an ample supply, but they sold off well, and at good prices. Fat bullocks were very scarce, and fetched from 64s. to 66s. per cwt. ; lean, 47s.; cows and calves, 58s. Fat sheep, T^d. to 8d. per lb. ; store ditto about 7d. ; lambs, 25s. each. READING FAIR.— The supply of stock was far below the average of previous fairs here, although quite adequate to the demand, as the existing cattle plague, which has not ex- cepted this county in its visitation, precluded speculation in store beasts, and farmers decline to stall up cattle for fatting 34o THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. purposes, until the disease is cliecked or presents a more f;i- vouraUe aspect. A limited l)usincss was transacted among store steers from £11 to £14 per head. Milking cows sold pretty freely to dairy farmers, at £17 to £32 each ; and grass- fatted cattle realised £10 to £35 ; but many herds of stock heifers and young store beasts remained unsold. The horse fair comprised a good show of first-clasa animals and young horses, suitable for phaetons and private harness purposes were selected at from 35 to 45 guineas ; and strong M'eU-grown horses, for heavy draught work, 30 to 40 guineas. Handsome young and sound cart-horses, for London purposes, 45 to 50 guineas ; and seasoned ditto, for farmers' work, IS to 24 gs. ; cart colts, 25 to 35 gs. ; superior bred riding-horses, 50 to 65 gs. ; neat cobs, 14 to 18 gs. ; ponies, G to 10 gs. ; and "Welsh pony colts, 4 to 6 gs. ST. COLUJIB FAIR.— There was an excellent supply, both of fat buUocks and sheep, the former selling at from Gos. to GSs. per cwt. Fat sheep were in great demand, especially wethers, and sold at from 55s. to 60s. each, and fi'om T^d. to 8d. ])er lb. Store ewes were from 40s. to 50s. each. TEWICESBURY FAIR.— There was a very large atten- dance. The supply of stock was unusually large, the number of sheep penned being greater than was ever remembered before. The auctioneers did a large business. TOWYN FAIR.— The supply of cattle (very limited) met with ready sale at high prices. The demand was very great, and many buyers from a distance came to purchase. Yearlings fetched £6, two year olds £10 to £13 per head. Milch cows £12 to £15, steers varied according to size. FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL GOSSIP. The Journal irAgrkidiure Pratique gives a spirited en- graving of Toquade, an Anglo-Limousin trotting nmre. The inaprovement or revival of the indigenous horse breeds of France, especially of those which had acquired a reputation, is obviously one of the most important questions of which a solution can be aimed at ; the problem becomes still more interesting wlien it concerns a race formerly celebrated and which has now almost disappeared. This is particularly the case with the Limousin breed of which M. Gayot has remarked in his Connamance Gaiierale dii Cheval : " Of the old breeds of France, it is this which has deserved the first rank. Of all it was the most accre- dited in Europe, and it had become a national glory. There ire, however, no more horses in Limousin, or at least there is no more horse-breeding in that district." After these rather dolorous words, it was satisfactory to read in a journal of the Cher that an Anglo-Limousin mare, belonging to M. Jules Frichon, proprietor at the Tertre (Indre), and ridden by its owner, had carried off the trotting prize at the five races re- cently inaugurated at Bourges ; as the fact showed that there were still breeders who devoted themselves to the breeding of the animal which was formerly the French saddle horse j^ar excellence. Toquade trotted a distance of 2,500 metres in five minutes, being at the rate of nearly 19 miles per hour. She is a daughter of Bichette, a pure Limousin, and of Bijou, an Anglo-Limousin ; she is, then, three-fourths Limousin blood. She has all the characteristics of the Limousin breed, and her photograph engraved by the Journal (V Aririculiurc Pratique is certainly that of a very pleasing animal. — An international agricultural exhibition held recently at Cologne marks an epoch in German agriculture, because it had the stamp of universality, which was lacking in all its predecessors. It was not like the shows held during the last year or two at Hamburg and Stettin, an exhibition of the products of the north of Europe, but among its immense muster-roll of exhibitors were a great number of English, Italians, Spaniards, Russians, Algerians, Americans, &e. The exhibition was due to the initiative of a comparatively private society named the Flora, and it was organized, or perhaps as we ought rather to say improvised in a month. The original site was coniined to the botanical garden of this society, but it was obliged to be extended by the adjunction of adjacent lands, so that it occupied at least a surface of about 2 i acres. In this area might be seen 12,450 implements, machines, &c., and G,500 lots of agricultural products. If we consider that all the district shows combined in France only presented in 1S65, 4,053 engines and implements, and 1,739 lots of products, it will be easy to form an idea of the importance of tlie Cologne exhibition. Add to this statement the fact that these products were laid out in a well-designed garden, under elegant shelter, and you will have, reader, a tableau all the more splendid since it bad for accessories the city of Cologne with its fine buildings, and the Rhine, and one of the districts most ad- vanced in agriculture for its base. The exhibition was opened June 3, and closed July 2. It was confined to the inanimate agents of agriculture, which were divided into the six follow- ing categories : First, agricultural engines and implements ; secondly, household and domestic utensils ; thirdly, garden architecture ; fourthly, sylvercole products ; fifthly, the raw and manufactured products of agriculture ; sixthly, geological and miiieralogical products. This extensive programme en- abled agriculture to extend a large hospitality to products which would have been more in their place in an industrial or artistic exhibition. The great majority of the machines and implemente known and recommended iiir the agricultural world figured at the show, but as in all late exhibitions steam-engines were the most sought after, because in the present circum- stances of production the cultivator and the economist antici- pate from them an improvement in the present position of agriculture. Of the three steam-ploughs which should have taken part in the exhibition only one presented itself, viz., Fowler's with its successive improvements. Messrs. Garrett and Messrs. Howard declined to compete in consequence of the want of success which they experienced at Stettin, and which they do not consider that they deserved. Fowler's plough worked in the presence of the Prince of Prussia and ex- cited astonishment by the energy with which its four shares attacked the soil. Three traction-engines — or as the French call thein, auioncohills — worked during the whole period of the show, and acquitted themselves, empty or loaded, to the satisfaction of the spectators. One of these en- gines exhibited by Scluvarzhop, of Berlin, occasioned a fire, which, thanks to the steam fire engines exhibited at the show, was easily suppressed. The steam fire engines, we may add, contended tenaciously for the prize, and after numerous experi- ments, it was awarded to the apparatus of Messrs. Merry- weather and Sons, of London. More than 50 thrashing machines were put in motion by steam ; they belonged, for the most part, to the best English houses, such as Messrs. Ran- somes and Sims, Messrs. Clayton and Shuttleworth, &c. The German makers, nevertheless, sustained an active competition against them : the house of Piutus especially distinguished itself under this head. Among the great number of portable engines intended to be used as motors for agricultural purposes that of MM. Tilkin, Mention, it Co., of Longdoz-lcz-Liege, was a good deal remarked. A centrifugal pump, of which several inventors disputed the idea, and which was also shown by MM. Tilkin, Mention, & Co., likewise attracted some notice. The merit of the idea was disputed by several in- ventors ; Denis Papiu, when he was professor at the Uni- versity of Marburg, published a description of a centrifugal pump, and it is after this description that MM. Tilkin must have constructed tkeir apparatus. A Lenoir motor, exhibited by jMevius, of Hamburg, was of three-horse-power, and was from the workshops of MM. Gautier and Co., of Paris. As regards other motive forces, nothing new was remarked. Transmissions of movement for long distances by the aid of metallic cables were principally applied by Guil- laume and Felton, of Cologne. It appears that this system is likely to exert an important influence in the future, judging from its rapid propagation. More than a dozen reaping and mowing niachines took part in experiments which came off June 3, in a field of rye still green. Tlie majority of the novelties figured badly in the affair, and were obliged to retirn from the competition. The machine of Samuelson, of Ban- bury, overcame all difficulties, although they were by no means of an ordinary character. A Cologne maker, named Erpeldinjf, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 3il had also a good sueftcss. This iiiclustrlal lias, for some time past, coustructed reapei's on pUms whicli he had received from America, and wliich he lias since modified. It' from macliiiies we passed to impliMiieuts, we found at the Cologne-show a col- lection of tiie ploughs of Dr. Race, an old professor at Holieii- heim. This collection (whicli comprised no less than 17-1' models executed with the greatest cxactitude'i was a strik- ing illustration of the progress of cultivation and of its history ; it showed how tiie mere curved hranch underwent a gradual series of transibrraations until it hecame the improved plough of our own times. Of the other ploughs ex- hibited, tliose of l';ckert (of Eeiiiii), llohenheiin, and 15eit/, carried oft' the most successes. The steam cooking apparatus of Basse, of Kassel, the apparatus of the Household Society of Paris, and tlie straw-cutter of Eberhardt, of Ulm, pre- sented some points of novelty ; and the rich collections of gardening-tools exhibited by 15cyersmann, of AVeringhauscn, and Asbeck, of Hagen, were also noticeable for their beauty and eheapuess : in the latter respect they defied all competition. A collection of the agricultural and forest products of Algeria deserves to be placed at the head of all the oMortimeiili- exhibited in the section of agricultural and forest ])ro- ducts. We may mention the textile products, cottons, &e., the wheat, bran, and tobacco of this colony as worthy of notice. This section comprised also wool from Buenos Ayres, chicory from Belgium, ale and wool from England, and flax and hemp from llussia. Tobacco was most powerfully represented by exhibitors from America, Baden, Prussia, ITauovcr, Bremen, and Ptussia. There was also a good collection of spirits, \\ ines, beers, and liqueurs. Com- mercial manures were annexed to the section of agricultural produ(;ts, and profited largely from the arrangement. The fossil phosphates of M. de Molon obtained a special distinc- tion. Tiie forest exhibition was very complete. Besides \iood of every kind, there was a complete collection of sleepers ex- hibited b\ eighteen of the principal administrations of conti- nental railways. These specimens enabled a conclusion to bo drawn as to all modes of preservation, the sleepers having been withdrawn from the groun d after a long period of interment. The palm remained with the creosoting- and suliihatizing processes. The forest administration of Hanover sent a rich and varied collection, and a collection of the maritime signals employed in Prussia was also on view. The object of the latter was to make known to forest pro- prietors the woods required by tlie Admiralty. — An agricul- tural show of some interest has just been held in the Prench department of the Crense ; or, to be more precise, at the town of St. Snlpise-les-Champs. The bovine race was largely re- presented. There were 70 or 80 bulls, of one year to thirty months old ; 30 heifers of the same age, and a few more cows which had exceeded that age. Tiie prevailing race was that of the district : there were also some animals of the Limousine, Salers, Parthcnaise, and Charolaise breeds. The exhibition of cattle left, however, a good deal to he desired, notwithstanding the presence of a great number of really remarkable subjects. The prizes devoted to these beasts amounted to £120, of which only i3r3 was devoted to heifers and calves. The exhibition of sheep was superior to that of cattle. There were some excel- lent rams on view, and several lots of ewes and lambs, which seemed to be well-selected. The amount of the premiums awarded to sheep was £30. Pigs were somewhat feebly repre- sented. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. The year, as far as it lias auvancerl, has been of an extraordinary character. With a deluge of rain in August, we have had a renewal of summer in September, with tropical heat ; and the rain has been limited to a few thunder- showers, and one heavy fall on the uight of the 20th, which did mnch good. Those, therefore, who were late with harvest work had what may be called " extraordi- nary luck;" and our noi'thern friends lliis season will have fared far better than their southern brethren, while the power of the sun has been such as partly to penetrate the stacks out of order, as well as benefit the corn spread out to dry. But, though the cold and late farms will this season be best off, we cannot boast, as a whole, of samples ; and much rnnst pass through the frosts of winter before it will find a ready sale to millers. The quality, moreover, does not come up to the aver- age of late years ; and though there are fine heavy samples to be procured, the best will not compare with 1S64 or 1863. If we reach an average, under these circumstances, we shall be surprised. But an average growth, we have long found out, is not enough for the annual consumption of the coun- try ; and though we cannot speak very favourably of the British Isles, it seems more certain that Europe is seriously under the mark. France is partially deficient, Germany still more so, and Poland suffered fearfully in August, while part of Southern Russia notes a failure. Beyond this .state of things, Am-erican advices from the West prove bad, and accounts from ISTew York bid us not to expect what we have been recently receiv- ing. Added to this intelligence, reports of the late potatoes come worse and worse ; and, with the ca'.tle plague fastened on the country, prospects are more discouraging than for some years as to the supply of human food. Yet such was the in- fluence of the change of weather from the rains of August, that for the first fortnight of the past month markets came tumbling down, as though it were a year of plenty, new wheat being cheaper 33. to 4s., and old Is. to 2s., till a little reaction at last appeared, and people seemed coming to them- selves. We thought the lowest point was reached on the 18th, and said so ; and we now think before next harvest a rise of fully lOs. per qr. is very pro- bable. The following rates were recently current at the places named : The best wheat at Paris was quoted 43s. per qr., at Antwerp fine native red was 47s. 6d., at Louvain 46s., at Maestricht the top price was 453. per qr. In Hamburg, Marks wheat was quoted 45s. 6d. ; and some speculation had commenced, from the badness of the crops in the surrounding districts. At Danzig the best wheat of 1864 was worth 47s. 6d. per qr. free on board ; and fine old, cost and freight included, was held at 5Ss. per qr. At Cologne the price of red was 41s., at Straubing 33s. Marianopoli wheat, afloat, has been sold at 41s., Ghirka at 40s. At Montreal spring wheat was worth 37b. 8d. per qr. of 4S0lb. New York price.s v/ere very high- Chicago and Milwaukie 38s. to 38s. 6d. per 480lb. the best amber, 49s. per 4S0ib. white. The first Monday in Mark-lane began on a mo- derate supply of English wheat, with fair arrivals 312 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. of foreign. There was only about an average show of samples during the morning from Kent and Essex, mostly new, and some of it in such sorry plight as to be quite passed by, or sold at very irregular rates. Even the best qualities were down 2s. per qr., while old scarcely supported the previous rates. The foreign tiade was excessively dull ; and where sales ex ship were forced, holders had to consent to some reduction. \Yith few arrivals off the coast, there was but little abate- menc on cargoes. AVith the return of summer weather at its height, farmers who were late were intent upon securing the benefit ; but many sent their badly-secured produce to markefc, and were generally obliged to accept a reduction of 2s. to 3s. per qr. on new samples, with an occasional de- cline on old, the value of which was affected by the quantity sent to market. At Edinburgh wheat was down Is. 6d. per qr., and at Glasgow the decline on all sorts was Is. per qr. Dublin was thoroughly dull, with so little doing that prices could only be considered nominal. On the second Monday there was less English and more foreign wheat in the returns. There was a rather larger show of samples this morning from Kent ami Essex, with several parcels in better condition, as a consequence of the improved weather ; but there was still a large proportion of poor quality. This was another dull and falling market, with very little done, though a decline of Is. to 2s. would have been gladly accepted to make way; while old Vv-as also down Is. per qr. The foreign trade was perfectly hfeless ; and to do business only in retail, it was necessary to yield Is. per qr. It was well, at such a time, that but few fioaling cargoes vv'ere i-eported ; for even these could only be sold on somewhat easier terms. The weather continuing unprecedentedly fine and hot, nothing could be more opportune for the later gatherings; but, as a consequence, there was no diminution of the previous heaviness, and a decline to the same extent, in ihe country, on new samples was the order of the day— say Is. per qr. on old, as reported at London, and Is. to 3s. on new, according to quality, the lowest being the most difficult to clear. Wheat at Glasgow was also down another shilling per qr. ; but at Edin- burgh there was little difference, though trade was dull. Native wheat, not being in large supply at Dublin, did not seriously decline; but foreign was down 6d. to Is. per barrel. The third Monday's returns showed an increased quantity of home-grown wheat, with liberal foreign arrivals. The show of samples on the Kentish and Essex stands this morning was materially reduced, and the condition as much improved, farmers ap- pearing disinchned to continue a course of sacri- fice uith their nev*r crop. Rather more dispositioii to do business was evinced on the part of millers; but it was found impracticable to raise prices, though a tolerable clearance was eventually made of the little offering for sale. A retail trade was ex- perienced for all good dry granary samples, at about previous rates ; but to have sold any quantity from ship would have required some reduction. With but few cargoes afloat offering, and holders pretty firm, there was no change in prices. The weather this week kept fine up to Wednesday night, allowing the bulk of the late harvest throughout Great Britain to be secured in good order. Farm- ers v/ere not, however, further disposed to lower prices, in order to sell, and many markets evinced an upward tendency for all good qualities, both new and old. Indeed, at some places— as Boston, Lincoln, York, Wakefield, and elsewhere— Is. per qr. advance was noted. Birmingham was full- priced, and Liverpool on the last market rather dearer. Edinburgh noted no change this week ; but at Glasgow new Wheat was Is. per qr. lower. Dublin v/as down 6d. per barrel, with very little trade. On the fourth Monday the arrival of English wheat was moderate ; but the foreign supply more abundant than during any previous week, nearly half being from Danzic, and one-fourth from Rus- sia. The morning's show of samples was small, the condition being further improved, but most of the quality still inferior. Many country markets ' having somewhat improved, factors were generally ^ enabled to secure Is. advance on new samples, which had previously been unduly depressed ; but old, having been held at full prices, did not parti- cipate in the improvement. The foreign trade was mostly on a retail scale; but here and there favo- rite quaUiies obtained rather better prices, and, though the trade was far from active, holders were generally firm. The imports into London for four weeks were 22,182 qrs. English and 103,990 qrs. foreign, against 26,954 qrs. English and 81,954 qrs. fo- reign for the same period in 1864. The London averages commenced at 47s. 6d., and closed at 42s. 2d. per qr., while the general average began at 45s. 4d., and ended at 44s. 7d. — the lower rales for London being attributable to the quantity of inferior new wheat sent up. The imports into the Kingdom for the four weeks ending Sept. 16, were 1,926,691 cwts. wheat, and 235,280 cwts. flour. The London imports for four weeks were 780 qrs. wheat, and 1,287 cwts. flour. The flour trade during the month has been re- markably steady as compared with wheat, prices throughout not having undergone any material change. This may partly be attributed to the very scanty foreign arrivals and lowness of the stocks of American, which almost placed the trade into the hands of town factors. Norfolks have ruled at 33s. per qr. for the best, and barrels have been at retail prices, while the town trade has been steady, the top price remaining 43s. all through. The imports into London for the four weeks were 70,103 sacks English, and 1,085 sacks 9,668 hrls. foreign, against 53,723 sacks English, and 1,267 sacks 77,972 barrels foreign for the same period in 1864. At the recent rates ruling at New York and Montreal there is very Httle prospect of liberal imports this side Christmas. Business in malting barley can hardly be said to have yet commenced, supplies hitherto being very insignificant, and the weather quite against trade, from its extreme heat. The few very fine bright- coloured samples that have hitherto appeared have gone off freely at full prices; but those discoloured by the rains of August attracted very little atten- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 313 tion, and were difficult to quit. Heavy foreign, though at the beginning of the month it found favour from the want of settlement in the weather, became neglected, as it settled into fine, and even granary sorts have met with less inquiry, though prices have been low — say 22s. to 23s. per qr. for Danube qualities. As much of the English crop is Hkely lo prove inferior, the trade may be heavy till cold weather sets in. The imports into London for the four weeks were 4,365 qrs. British, and 20 131 qrs. foreign, against 5,531 qrs. British, and 24,976 qrs. foreign for Sept. last year. Malt, which at the beginning of the month was tending upwards, has lost the improvement during the fine weather. The supplies of foreign oats during the month being less than half what they were in August, it might have been expected that prices would have improved ; but the fine iveather was against it, as well as the fact that large dealers had well stocked themselves during th(3 glut, and could very well hold off till arrivals again became liberal. This they did on the fourth week, and had it not been for the increased demand, lower rates might have ensued. But the belief in the shortness of the English crop, and diminution of stocks on the part of dealers, kept rates at about their previous range, excepting a slight reduction on Russian, and we do not see much prospect of decline before Christmas. The imports into London for four weeks were 8,360 qrs. English, 396 qrs. Scotch, 3,086 qrs. Irish, and 134,946 qrs. foreign, against 7,322 qrs. English, 6,497 qrs. Scotch, 14,048 qrs. Irish, and 191,811 qrs. foreign in Sept. 18G4. Beans have not varied in value through the month, but have gradually been tending upwards, notwithstanding the high rates at which they began. Samples of the new crop cannot come in quanitty yet awhile, and vv'ill not be liked for consumption. So old foreign as well as English are likely to be- come very scarce and dear as the cold season ad- vances, and nothing could check a further advance but the low rates of barley, oats, and maize. The imports into London for four weeks were 773 qrs. English, and 2,261 qrs. foreign, against 2,355 (jrs. English, and 5,280 qrs. foreign last year. So that the imports this month are less than one-half. The demand for peas has been very moderate during the month, so that the smallness of the sup- plies liave not caused any advance on hog feed, though boilers of fine quality have rather improved in value. The stocks of old foreign white, used as a substitute for beans for the feeding of horses, has become very much reduced, and being cheaper than that grain, will soon be used up, and very probably turn the attention of consumers to Indian corn. The imports into London for the four weeks were 1,405 qrs. English, and 1,251 qrs. foreign, against l,4ci0 qrs. English, and 5,605 qrs. foreign in Sept. 1864. There has been a considerable diminution in the imports of linseed, and with oil much dearer it has risen Is. per qr., though cakes have not altered in value, their demand being lessened by the rapid growth of grass and esculents after the Au- gust rains. The seed trade, which was be- coming excited in August, has sunk into quiet. Ditto, black 17 BEANS, Mazagan .. 33 Harrow 39 PEAS, white, boUers. .37 New cloverseed has been offering from France at moderate rates, though the crop there is sure not to be large. In America it is reported as abundant, but prices have not yet settled for business. Mus- tardseed has been dull, and cheaper for inferior qualities. Canaryseed has risen 2s. or 3s. per qr. j but winter tares, abundantly ofl'ered and of poor quality, have fallen to 5s. and 5s. 6d. per bushel. CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE, Shillings per Quarter. WHEAT, Essex and Kent, white new 35 to 4S ... «to52 red „ 34 43 ... 41 46 Norfolk, Lincoln, and Yorkshire, red 43 46 BARLEY 27 to 30 Chevalier, new 30 37 Grinding 26 29 Distilling 28 33 MALT, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk 58 66 Kingston, Ware, and town-made 58 66 Brown 50 54 RYE 26 28 OATS, English, feed 19 to 23 Potato 22 27 Scotch, feed 13 23 Potato 22 27 Irish, feed, white 17 20 Fine 21 24 20 Potato 21 24 39 Ticks 36 39 41 Pigeon 41 46 41 Maple 37 to 40 Grey, new 35 37 FLOUR, persackof 2S01bs., Town, Households 38 43 Country, on shore 31 to 31 ,, 35 36 Norfolk and Suffollc, on shore 31 33 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings perQuarter. WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 47 to 51 old, extra 51 to 57 K6nig.sberg 45 49 extra 49 51 Rostock 45 49 fine 50 51 SUesiau, red 43 45 white 46 48 Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk red old... 43 49 Russian, hard, 38 to 39.... St. Petersbtirg and Riga 42 44 Danish and Holstein, red 41 43 French, none Rhine and Belgium 44 49 American, red winter 44 to 47, spring 43 to 46, white 47 50 BARLEY, grinding 22 to 25 distUling and malting 27 32 OATS, Dutch, brewing and Rolands 18 to 23 feed 17 21 Danish and Swedish, feed 19 to 22 Stralsund... 19 23 Russian, Riga 19 to 22. ..Arch. IS to 21....P'sburg 20 24 BEANS, Friesland and Holstein 35 38 Konigsberg 35 to 39. ..Egyptian 37 33 PEAS, feeding and maple... 36 39... fine boilers 39 41 INDIAN CORN, white 30 35...yeUow 30 34 TARES, p. bush., vv-iuter Ss. 5s. 6d... Lentils — — FLOUR, per sack, French.. .33 35. ..Spanish, p. sack 32 35 American, per brl 22 21...extra and d'ble. 25 27 IMPERIAL AVEEAGES For the week ended September 16, 1S65. Wheat 62,441iqrs. 44s. 7d. Barley 6,179 „ 30s. lOd. Oats 5,.329| „ 203. lid. AVERAGE S Fob the last Six Weeks : August 12, 1865 August 19, 1865 August 26, 1865 Se-ot. 2, 1865 Sept. 9, 1865 \ 46 Sept. 16, 1S65 44 Aggregate Average | 44 Averages last year 42 Wheat. s. d. 43 0 43 1 Barley, s. d. Oats. s. d. 23 5 23 10 24 3 23 7 23 1 20 11 23 2 21 9 COMPARATIVE AVERAGES. Years. 1361 . 1863 . 1863 . 1861 . 1865 . WHEAT. Qrs. 8. d. . 80,1474 ... 51 6 . 5S,9G9| ... 55 10 . 78,909J ... 44 1 ,. 65,643 ... 42 4 ,. 62,4414 ... 44 7 BARLEY. Qrs. s. d. 9,295| 2,3261 9,2S7J 5,316| 6,179 30 36 31 32 30 10 OATS. Qrs. s. d. 9,174J ...22 11 7,276| ... 24 7 6,355i...21 8 5,475^ ... 21 9 5,329^ ... 20 11 LONDON AVERAGES. Wheat 4,964 qrs. 42s. 2d. Barley 344 „ 323. 9d. Oats..,.,,.,..,, , , 285 „ 208. Id. zu THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. FLUCTUATIONS in the AVERAGE PEICE of WHEAT. Price. Aug. 12.: Aug. 19. Aug. 26. 42a. Od. 433. Id. 41.3. 7d. 45s. 4a. -16.9. Od. 46s. 7d. "1 Sept. 2. i Sept. 9. , Sept. 16. PRICES OF SEEDS. LONDON, MoxD.YY, Sept. 25. — The trade in Clover- seed continues inactive, and the moderate values required for new French do not induce buyers to couimence opera- tions. White seed and Trefoils are without alteration. Winter Tares were without alteration from last week's values. Canaryseed fully maintains its value, with im- proved sales. C'uTLER and B.vkkeu, Seed-factors. BRITISH SEEDS. !MusT.i.RD, per bush., white 10s.tol2s. Canary, per qr 50s. 3C.-5. Tabes, winter, new, per bushel 5s. Cd. Cs. Gd. Cloverseed, red — s. — s. Coriander, pci- cwt — s. — s. Trefoil 27s. 28s. Linseed, per qr., sowing 56s. to 62s., crushing 54s. 5Ss. Bapeseed, per qr 72s. 76s. IiiNSEED Cakes, per ton £9 IDs. to £10 10s. Rape Cakb, perton £5 lOs. to £6 Os. FOREIGN SEEDS. Coriander, per cwt 20s. to22s, Caeraway ,, ' — s. 33s. Trefoil 25s. 26s. Hempseed, small — s. per qr., Dutch — s. 4Ss. Clotkrseed, red — s. to — s., white ^s. — s. Linseed, per qr., Baltic oSs. to 60s. Bombay... C8s. ^s. Linseed Cakes, p-jr ton £9 lOs. to £11 Os. Rape SEED, Dutch — s. — s. Rape Cake, per ton £5 Os. to £6 Os. HOP MARKET. BOKOUGII, Monday, Sept. 2."). — There is a good de- mand at present in our market for aU Hops of the new growth, attention being directed chiefly to samples of best cpiality. Prices of coloury Hops continue firm, and at Worcester Fair and elsewhere large parcels have changed liands during the past week. Mid and East Kents... 115s., 140s., IGOs. Farnhains & Countrv. 115s., 126s., IGOs. Weald of Kents .'.. lUOs., 110s., 124s. Sussex 95s., 105s., 112s. Yearlin,';-s 95s., 120s., 140s. POTATO MARKETS. BOEOl'GII AND SPIT.VLFIELDS. LONDON, MoND.vY, Sept. 25. — The supply of Potatoes on sale tolerably large. Good and fine qualities are in steady de- mand, at from 80s. to 110s. ; otherwise tlie trade is dull, and prices rule as low as 40s. per ton. About 70 tons came to linud from Continental jiarts last week. COUNTRY POTATO JIARKETS.— Don caster, (Satur- day last) : A plentiful supply, mIucIi met with a good demand at the following prices — wliolesale Gs. to 7s. per load, retail Sd. to lOd. per peck. Manchester, (Saturday last) : Pota- toes 5s. to Us. Gd. per 2521bs. PRICES of BUTTER, CHEESE, HAMS, BUTTER, p. cwt.— s. s. j CHEESE, per cwt.— s. Erieriland 120 to 126 Cheshu-e C4 .Tersey 96 116 Dorset 121 12S Carlow — — Waterford — — Cork — — Limerick — — Sligo — — Fresh, perdoz., 12s. Od. to 16s. Od. Dble. Gloucester 66 Cheddar 66 American 56 HAMS: York 94 Cumberland 94 Irish 90 BACON :— Wiltshu-e 82 Irish, green 74 &C. s. to 76 70 76 62 112 116 100 ENGLISH BUTTER MARKET'. LONDON, Mond.jly, Sept. 25.— Since our last Butter has become dearer, and prices current now arc — Dorset,fine 128s. to 130s. per cwt. Devon 120s. to 124s. per cwt. I'lfsh ISs.lo IGs. per do7.en lbs. CORK BUTTER EXCHANGE, (Saturday last.)— In the beginning of the week the supplies were light, and prices were ^vell sustained ; but on yesterday and to-day the quantity of butter in market was very large, being over 2,000 yesterday, and about 3,800 to-day ; and the demand was consequently less. Since Monday, firsts rose from liOs. to 122s., seconds from llGs. to 117s., thirds from 108s. to Ills., and fourths from 9Ss. to 100s. ; but fifths fell from 85s. to 933. The sup- ply of mild cured is small but steady. Its price to-day is 126s., 122s., and 115s. GLASGOAV, (Wednesday last.) — Supplies of cheese comefor- ward freely, and, though buyers are rather cool, prices are well maintained. About 30 tons passed the weigh-house scales. Duiilop, old G3s. to C8s., new 59s. to C2s. ; Cheddar-made, new G2s. to GGs. ; skim-milk, 24s. to 26s. per cwt. READING CHEESE FAIR.— In cheese an advanced value is obtained ; singles make 5Gs. to GGs., and doubles 70s. to SOs. per cwt. WOOL MARKETS. ENGLISH WOOL T\IARKET. CITY, Monday, Sept. 25. — Tliere has been a fair demand for honie-growfl Wool for export purposes since our last re- port, at full quotations. For home use, however, next to no- thing has been doing. The quantity of Wool on ofi'er continues limited : the prospect is, therefore, that prices will continue steady. Cuereitt Prices of Englisii AVool. Fleece s — Southdown hoggets jaer lb. Half-bred ditto ,, Kent fleeces ,, Southdown ewes and wethers , , Leicester ditto ,, Sorts— Clothing ,, Combing ,, LEEDS (English and Foreign) WOOL MARKETS.— The demand for English Mool is good, but there is no disposi- tion to speculate. The consumption keeps up, and the trade seems healthy for most kinds of wool. In clothing wool there is a fair business doing and prices are steady, but for good sound stapled wool rather higlier prices can be got. LIVERPOOL WOOL MARKET.— Sept. 23. Scotch, — The demand continues on the same limited scale as reported last week. Stocks of all kinds are unusually light for this period of the year. s. Laid Highland Wool per 241bs 18 Wliite Highland do. 23 Laid Cheviot do. unwashed 28 Do. do. washed... 24 V/hite Cheviot do. v.rashed ... 40 Foreign. — There has been a fair business done during the week at fidl late current rates. MANURES. PRICE CURRENT OF GUANO, &c. Peruvian Gu:ino, direct from tho importers' storeB, or ex ship (30 tons) £12 5s. to i;i2 10s. per ton. ■ Bones, £6 10s. per ton. Animal Charcoal (£70 per cent. Phosphate) £5 per ton. Coprolite, Cambridge, wliole £3 5s. to £2 Ss., Kround £2 15s. to £3 ; Suffolk, whole £1 18s. to £2, ground £2 10s. to £2 12s. per ton. Muriate of Potash, £13 to £14 per ton. Nitrate of Soda, £153 to £15 10s. per ton. Sulphate of Ammonia, £14 to £15 per ton. Gypsum, SOs. per ton. Superphosphate of Lime, £5 to £G 5s. per ton. Sulphuric Acid, concentrated 1815 Id. per lb., brown 1'712 O^^d. Blood Manure, £6 5s. to £7 lOs. per ton. Dissolved Bones, £6 15s. p. ton. Linseed Cakes, best American barrel, £11 5s., ditto bag: £10 lOs. p. ton j English, £11 to £11 10s. Bape Cake, £5 1.5k. to £G per ton. E. Purser, London Manure Company, 116. Fcnchurch Street, E.G. s. d. s. d. 1 8 to 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 0 2 0\ 1 8^ 1 9 1 104 2 Oi 16 1 11 1 7 2 0 d. s. d. 0 to 20 0 0 26 0 0 30 0 0 28 0 0 4S 0 Guano, Peruvian £12 7Gto£0 Do. Upper do. 5 15 0 6 Kooria Mooria 0 GO 0 Bone Ash 0 DO 0 Brimstone, 2d&3rd 0 0 0 0 Saltpetre, Bengal, 2 percent 0 0 0 0 Nitr. of Soda, p.ct. 0 12 « 0 Cloversced, Amer. red, new per cwt. 0 0 0 0 SAMUEL DOWNES Linseed Cake, per ton — Americ.,thin,bgs. £9 0 0 to £9 6 0 Do. inbrls 0 0 0 English 9 10 0 Cotsd.C'ake,decort. 0 0 0 Linsd.Bomby.p.qr. 3 12 0 Rapesced, Guzerat 3 l.T 0 13 0 Niiier 2 5 0 Tallow, 1st P.Y.C. 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 01 ,, super. Norths 2 7 0 2 AND CO., General Brokers, Exchange Court, Liverpool 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 3 12 0 3 16 0 6 0 Agricultural Chemical Works, Stowmarket, Suffolk. Prentice's Cereal Manure for Corn Crops per ton £8 10 6 Mangold Manure ,, 8 0 0 Piv.ntice's Turnip Blanure „ 8 10 0 Prentice's Superphosphate of Lime , 6 0 0 Printed by Eogeison and IHixfordj 24G, Strand, Loudon, W.C. HAIL STORMS. THE ROYAL FARMERS' INSURANCE COMPANY, 8, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C, Insure WHEAT, BARLEY, OATS, RYE, TURNIPS, CLOVER, &c., against Loss by lUiL Storms for FOURPENCE PER ACRE. SEEDS and GLASS insured at moderate rates. LOSSES paid immediately. EIRE and LIFE insurances at rates as low as other well established offices. Pour-fifths of the profits of Life Insurance divided every fifth year. Further particulars may be had at the Chief Office, or of the Agents. JOHN REDDISH, Esq., Secretary and Actuary. DAVID BAILLIE & CO. beg- to inform tlieiv friends tliat they are now prepared to send out their MANURES for 18G5. Agents wanted in North Wales, Midland Counties, North of Ensfland, and Scotland. Wainton Works, near Chester. IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS. THOMAS BIGG, Agricultural and Veterinary Cheiiist, by Appointment to His late Royal Higliness The Prince Consort, K.O., Leicester House, Great Dover-street, Borough, London, begs to call the attention of Farmers and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB DIPPING COM- POSITION, which requires ao Boiling, and may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for eifectually destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab, and cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby greatly improving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and liighly contributing to the general health of the animal. Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manufac- tory as above, and sold as follows, although any other quantity may be had, if required : — 4 lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0 6 1b. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0 8 1b. 40 „ „ „ 0 4 0 10 lb. 50 „ „ „ 0 5 0 20 lb. 100 „ „ (cask and measure 0 10 0 30 lb. 150 „ „ included) 0 15 0 40 lb. 200 „ „ „ 10 0 60 1b. 250 ,, „ „ 13 6 60 1b. 300 „ ,, „ 17 6 80 lb. 400 „ „ ,, 1 17 6 100 1b. 500 „ „ ,, 2 5 0 Should any Flockraaster prefer boiling the Composition, it will be equally etfective. MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE. From Ma. Herapath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist: — Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861. Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep-Dipping Composition to analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and the raistire neutral. If it is used according to the directions given, 1 feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin, it will not Injure the hair roots (or " yolk ") in the skin, the fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerous testimonials pub- lished. I am. Sir, yours respectfully, William Hebapath, Sen., F.C.S., &c., tec, To Mr. Thomas Bigf, Professor of Chemistry, Leicester House, Great Dovei'Street, Borough, London, 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 al/ seasons of the year, and to all descriptions of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per gallon— sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according to the virulence of the disease); also in wine quart bottles, Is. 3d. each. IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL. "Scoulton, near Hinghara, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855. " Dear Sir, — In answer to yours of the 4th inst, which would have been replied to before this had I been at home, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of your in- valuable'Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The 600 sheep were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of the ' Non- Poisonous Specific,' that was so highly recommended at the 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 continued getting worse. 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 severe in February during the dressing, your Specijic proved itself an invaluable 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." " K. RENNEY. B^ Flockmasters would do well to beware of such prepara- tions as " Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judgment to be tho- roughly convinced, that no " Non-poisonous" article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenacious of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless, or they are not what they are represented to be. DIppingA pparatns ,....£14, £b, £4,& £S. antr Hvopal dFaimli? ^^^^^^ft ^^ ©«at ^Britain, a7id universally HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM. ROWI.ANDS' MACASSAR Oil., Is universally known as tbe'only article that really promotes the GROWTH, RESTORES and PRESERVES the HUMAN HAIR. It prevents Hair from falling off or turning grey, strengthens weak HAIR, cleanses it from Scurf and Dandriff, and makes it In the growth of the BEARD, WHISKERS, and MUSTACHIOS, it is unfailing in its stimulative operation. For CHILDREN it is especially recommended as forming the basis of a BEAUTIFUL HEAD OF HAIR; uhile its introduction into the Nursery of Royalty, and the numerous Testimonials constantly received of its efficacy, afford the best and surest proofs of its merits. lirOlVDEllFUI. RX^COTERY OF HAIR. " A striking instance of the power of scientific art to remedy the defects of nature has lately occurred in the case of a Mr. P. Balls, a geDtleman residing at Wortham, in Norfolk, who, some years since, on returning from Harleston Market to Weybred, ■where he then resided, sustained so severe a fall from his horse, as to bring on an illness of several months' duration, during wh;oh period his hair continued to come off, till he became, to use his own terms, ' as perfectly bald as if his head had been shaved ;' and the Kev. J. E. Daniel, then clergyman of the piriah, offered him a wig as a substitute for his lost hair. Under these circum- stances he was lately induced to try the effect of RowLiKns' Maoassab Oil, and it is gratifying to add with the most hanpy results. As soon as part of a bottle was used the growth commenced, and he has now to boast of a very thick and luxuriant heart of hair, which presents this peculiarity, that though prior to losing his hair it evinced no tendency to curl, the new growth Is curly and strong. The fact speaks too strongly for itself to require observation." — Bell's Messenger. Price 3s. 6d., 79. Family Bottles (equal to four small), 10s. 6d. ; and double that size, 21s. LANDS' KALY DOR, AW ORIKNXAI. BOTAXICAl^ PREPARATIOIV, This Royally-patronized and Ladies'-esteemed Specific exerts the most soothing, cooling, and purifying action on the Skin, eradicates Freckles, Tan, Pimples, Spots, Discoloratimi, and other Cutaneous Visitations, and renders Tias: ^XLIIV ^OFT, CliSAIB, AlVA JBIiOOMI^^. During the heat and dust of Summei', the frost and bleak winds of Winter, and in cases of sunburn, stings of insectsjor incidental inflammation, its virtues are universally acknowledged. — Price 4s. 6d. and 8s. 6d. per bottle. WHITE iLND SOUND TEETH Are indispensable to PERSONAL ATTRACTION, and to health and longevity by the proper mastication of food. ROWLANDS' ODONTO, OR PEARL DENTIFRI G E, Compoimded of ORIENTAL INGREDIENTS, is of inestimable value in PRESERVING AND BEAUTIFYING THE TEETH, (§TRx:]V€}Tii£:nfiiib<^ the qums, and in piving a PJLEASIIVO PRAORAWCE VO THE RREATH. It eradicates Tartar from the Teeth, removes spots of incipient decay, and polishes and preserves the enamel, to which it imparts a PEARIi-l^XKE "fVHITElXESS. As the most efficient and fragrant aromatic purifier of tiie 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 TO PREVENT These are small Articles as they their IMPOSITION. copies of the appear in Wrappers. Sold by A. B.OWX.ANB & SONS, 20, Hattcn Garden, X^ondon, and by Chenaists and Perfumers. Ask for ''ROl^IiAIVRS*'' Articles. / No. 5. Vol. XXVIII. NOVEMBER, 1865. [Tk.ro s.«... THB FAEMEK'S MAGAZINE A»D MONTHLY JOURNAL O? THE AdEICULTURAL INTEEEST. TO THB FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 346, STRAND, PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. [niHTXM, Ui, ITXAHD. »00EE80K AND TDXFOED,] __^ — — - . . THE ROYAL FARMERS' INSURANCE COMPANY, 8, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. Persons insured by this Company have the security of an extensive and wealthy proprietary, as well as of an nmnlfi panital. alwavs applicable to the payment of claims, an ample capital, aiw y yi i^iitE I>EPA»TME]!fT. First class Not Hazardous Is. 6d. per cent. Second class Hazardous 23. 6d. „ Third class Doubly Hazardous 48. 6d. ,, BUIIil>i:WCJ- A]!¥» MEltCA-lliTIIiE ntOrEItTY of every description in Public or Piivate Warehouses— Distillers, Steam Enginea, Goods in Boats or Canals, Ships in Port or Harbour, &c &c , are insured in this Office at moderate rates. SPECIAIi IHSKS.— At such rates as may be considered reasonable. « * -j|^]Uj]|^^ STOCK.. — Bs. per cent.; and Portable Steam Thrashing Machines allowed to be used without extra charge. Nearly five millions insured in this Office on this description of property alone. lioSSlEft paid immediately after the amounts have been ascertained. lill' K. Life Insurances on moderate terms, by Policies payable to the registered holders. UOlf ITS. Insurers of the participating class are entitled to four- fifths of the profits. At the last declaration of Bonus in May, 1864, £6 6s. was added to every ^100 insured by Policies of five years' standing, being at the rate of £1 59. per cent, per annum, and proportionate amounts to all other insurances on which two or more annual payments had been made, being in some cases about 60 per cent, on the premiums received. Additional Agents wanted. Application to ^ JOHN REDDISH, Esq., Secretary and Actuary. TWENTY-FIRST EDITION. WARREN'S FARMERS' ACCOUNT BOOK.— Price, Folio, for Large Farms, 8s. j Quarto for Small Farms and for Schools where Ysuths are trained for Agricultural Pursuits, 58, Also Folio, with pages for a weekly instead of a daily account of labour, 7s. Royston : John Warren. London : Whittaker and Co. ; Longman and Co. ; Ridgway. To be had of all Booksellers. IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS. THOMAS BIGG, Agricultural and Veterinary Chbmist, by Appoinlment to His late Royal Highness The Prince Consort, K.G., Leicester House, Great Dover-street, Boroueh, London, begs to call the attention of Farmers and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB DIPPING COM- POSITION, which requires uo Boiling, and may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for effectually destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab, and cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby greatly improving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly contributing to the general health of the animal. Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manufac- tory as above, and sold as follows, although any other quantity may be had, if required : — 4 lb. for 20 sheep, price, j ar included £0 6 1b. 80 8 1b. 40 10 1b. 60 SO lb. 100 SO lb. 160 40 1b. 200 501b. 280 60 1b. 800 80 lb. 400 100 lb. 600 (cask and measure included) 0 10 0 15 1 0 1 8 1 7 1 17 2 5 Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it will be equally effective. MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE. From Ma. Herapath, tke celebrated Analytical Chemist :— Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861. Sir,— I have submitted your Sheep-Dipping Composition to atialysis, and find that the inaredients are well blended, and the miztjre neutral. If U is used according to the directions given, 1 feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin, it will not injure the hair roots (or " yolk ") in the skin, the fleece, or the .carcase. I tbink it destrves the n-imerous testimonials pub- lished. I am. Sir, yours respectfully, William Hbrapath, Sen., P.C.8., &c., &c.. To Mr, Thomas Bige, Professor of Chemistry Leicester House. Grett Dover 'Street, Borough, London, 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 in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per gallon— sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according to the virulence of the disease); also in wine 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 have been replied to before this had I been at home, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of your in- valuable'Specific for the cureof Smb in Sheep.' The 600 sheep were all dressed in August last with 04 gallons of the ' Ifon- Poisonous Specific,' that was so highly recommended at the 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 continued getting worse. 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 severe in February during the dressing, your Specijie proved itself an invaluable 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 reme jy now in use. " I remain, dear Sir, your obedient servant, " For JOHN TING EY, Esq., " To Mr. Thomas Bigg." " R. RENNEY. BS" Flockmasters would do well to beware of such prepara- tions as "Non-poisonous Compositions:" It is only necessary to appeal to their good common sense and Judgment to be tho- roughly convinced, that uo " Non-poisonous" article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parabites — creatures so tenacious of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless, or they are not what the/ are represented to be. Dipping Apparatus , £ U, dSd, £4, & £S. ^"IIB EARMBR'S M NOVEMBER, CONTENTS. AGAZINE. 18 6 5. Plate I.— SOBIESKI; a Prize Devon Bull. Plate II.— GLADIATEUR; winner op the 2,000 gs. Stakes ; the Derby; the Grand Prize of Paris; and the St. Leger, 1865. the Crop of Roots ? Public Meeting in Leicester Sullivant Descriptions of the Plates .... The Shores of North Devon : by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S The Death of Lord Palmerston and the Consequences Speaking to the Point The Game Question — Mr. Bright's Letter How is the Farmer to find Cattle to consum The Pig ... . Fattening Animals in a Hurry The Royal Agricultural Society of England — Mechanical Brick and Tile Manufacture On Agricultural Fires and Insurance Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland Improvement of Permanent Pasture The Game Laws of England: by Judge French The Watering of Lands by Steam-power Weeds and their Eradication Cheshire Agricultural Society North-west Bucks Agricultural Association Chips ..... Mountain River Improvements The Production of English Cheese ° . Saccharized Grain for Feeding Purposes The Cattle Plague : by a Practical Farmer The Cattle Plague and its Origin Causes of the Cattle Plague . The Cattle Plague: by Dr. Masch A Cure for the Cattle Pest . Comstock's Spader on the Farm of Mr On Crossing Sheep Heart's-ease ! BY Mark ! Midland Farmers' Club : the Game Question Inauguration of the Statue of Daubenton Our Cattle Economy . On the Cattle Disease : its Origin, Prevention, and Cure The Recently-discovered Phosphatic Deposits in North Wales: by Dr. Voelcker 398 Cultivation and Management of the Flax Plant: by Professor Hodges . 399 Experiments on Marl . . . . • Lord Leicester on Agricultural Affairs Agricultural Commerce in the Lake Districts of America Odds and Ends of Farming Facts . . . Clover as a Manure . . . . • The Law of Hypothec . . . • The Cattle Plague Assurance Associations The Reclaiming of Peat Bogs .... The London and Parisian Modes of treating Town Sewage Blood-letting and Purgatives: by Hugh FeritUSON Wheat versus Stock and Grass . * Draining ....,• Ploughing in Australia . . . • Farm Crops and Fire Insurance The Carcase Trade, Home and Foreign The Cattle Plague . . . . • Calendar of Agriculture . . . • Calendar of Gardening . . . • General Agricultural Report for October Review of the Catti-e Trade for October Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c. Review of the Corn Trade during the past Montks Market Currencies, &c, . . . • Page. . 345 . 346 , 348 . 349 . 351 . 352 . 353 . 356 . 357 . 358 . 359 . 360 . 361 . 363 . 364 . 365 . 336 . 367 . 368 . 370 . 371 . 372 . 373 . 374 . 376 . 377 . 379 . 380 . 382 . 383 . 384 . 391 . 392 . 396 401 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 413 416 420 421 424 424 425 426 428 428 429 429 430 432 434 THE MAKE LANE EXPRESS AND AaB.ICUZ.TUB.AZ. JOUZINAZ. IS THE LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMERS' AND GRAZIERS' NEWSPAPER. PUBLISHED EVERY MOiVDAY EVENING IN TIME EOR POST. Office of PobLication and for Adveiitisememts, 246, Strand, London. May be had of all Bookfiellers and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price Sevcnpence, or £1 10s. 4d. per annum. Now Ready, Cloth, in two Volumes, .782 pp., with four steel Portraits, Price 16s. uniform with "SCOTT AND SEBRIGHT," "SILK AND SCARLET," &c., OR §uM) #lnrlv0 mil lerk, B Y H. H. D ] X O N. With Steel Engravings of Mr. Hugh Watson, Professor Dick, Mr. Nightingale, and the late Duke of Richmond, d:c. The Volumes, "North" and "South" Cof the Frith of Forth) may bo had separately— Price EIGHT SHILLINGS each. Copies will be sent by Post on application to tlie Author, ROGERSON AND TCJXFORD, 2i6, STRAND. NEW WORK BY THE AUTHOR OF "MANHOOD." Just out. 18mo Pocket Edition, Post Free, 12 stamps; Sealed Ends, 20. J^R. CURTIS'S MEDICAL GUIDE TO MARRIAGE: a Practical Treatise on its -L' Physical and Personal Obligations. With instructions to the Married and Unmarried of both Sexes, lor removing the special disqualifications and impediments which destroy the happiness of wedded ife.— By Dr. J. L. Curtis, 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadillx, London, W. This work contains plain directions by which forfeited privileges can be restored, and essential functions strengthened and preserved. Also, by the same Author, a New and Revised Edition of "AN HOOD : A MEDICAL ESSAY on the Causes and Cure of Premature Decline in ■ Man; the Treatment of Nervous Debility, Spermatorrhoea, Impotence, and those peculiar infirmities which result from youthful abuses, adult excesses, tropical climates and other causes ; with Instructions for the Cure of Infection without Mercury, and its Prevention by the Author's Prescription (his infallible Lotion).— By Dr. J. L. CURTIS, 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. ^^^^ ^ REVIEWS OF THE WORK. Manhood.— This is truly a valuable work, and should be in the hands of young and old."— ^mkA/w Times, 23rd March, 1858. jo "We feel no hesitation in saying tliat there is no member of society by whom the book will not be found use- tul, whether such person holdthi relaiion of a Parent, Preceptor, or Clergyman"— S'M/t, Evening Paper. ' J)r. Curtis ha? conferred a great boon by publishing this little work, in which is described the source of those (hseases which produce decline in youth, or more frequently, premature old &"&."— Daily Telegraph, March 27, 1856. -^ j j t- c J"'"'l'"; I'ublishedby Allen, 20, Warwick Lane, Paternostcr-row; and Mann. 39, Cornhill, London. * ■ liitlier of the above scient fie and useful Works sent Post free by the Author or Publishers for 12 f (.'Stage stamps ; or in sealed e7ivehpcs, 20 stamps. Consultations from 10 to 3, and 6 to 8. FRICS ONZ2 SHZ3:.Z.ING EACH* Neatly printed !n foolscap 8vo., each Volume containing from 130 to 100 i ages of Letterpress, witb numerous illustratlveEngravings, lirjiarhntfs Iliiral latii-lnnk NEW EDITIONS, REVISED AND ENLARGED WHEAT : its History and Cultivation. By the Old Norfolk Farmer. FLAX ; its Cultivation and rreparalion, and best mode of Con- version. By James Ward, Author of "The World and its Workshops," &c. RURAL ARCHITECTURE; a Series of Designs for Rural and other Dwellings. The Ground Plans, Elevations, and Spe- cifications by James Sanderson, Borough Engineer's Office, Liverpool. THE AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR; or Young Farmer's Class Book. By Edmund ftlurphy, A.B. DOMESTIC FOWL ; tlieir Natural History, Breeding, and General Management. THE FLOWER GARDEN. By George Glenny, F.L.S., Author of " Properties of Flowers," &c. HORSES: their Varieties, Breeding, and Management. EditeJ hy M M. Milburn. COWS : and Dairy Hi'sbandry. By M. M. Milburn, Author of "The Sheep," &c. (The Dairy Department revised by T. Horsfall). London SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING; embracing the History, Va- rieties, Rearing, Feeding, and General Management of Sheep; with Treatises on Australian Sheep-Farming, the Spanish and Saxon Merinos, &c. By M. M. Milburn, Author of "The Cow," and of various Agricultural Prize Essays. DOGS : their Origin and Varieties. PIGS : their Origin and Varieties. THE HIVE AND THE HONEY BEE. PESTS OP THE FARM. A New Edition. By M. M. Milburn, Author of " The Sheep," &c. LAND-DRAINAGE, EMBANKMENT, AND IRRIGATION. By James Donald, Civil Engineer, Derby. SOILS AND MANURES; with Instructions for their Improve- ment. By John Donaldson, Government Land Drainage Surveyor. Sliortli/ rvill appear, in continuation of the same series: — THEHIPLE.MENTS OF THE FARM. By R. Scott Burn, C.E. THE POTATO; its History, Culture, and National Importance. By S. Copland. HouLSTON & Wright, 65, Paternoster-row. Dublin : J. McGlashan, Upper Sackville Street'; and all Bookseller? DAVID BAILLIE & CO. beg- to inform tlieir friends that they are now prepared to send out their MANURES for 1865. Agents wanted in North Wales, Midland Counties, North of England, and Scotland. Wainton Works, near Cliester. CATTLE PLAGUE. <6TjlNW0RB'S SPECIFIC" FOR CATTLE is the best remedy known for this disease. -Ei EXTRACT FROM TESTIMONIALS. From Mr. John Jordan, Devonshire Dairy, Green Lanes, Tottenham. I can safely recommend Enworb's Sfecific. I lost every cow that was attacked with the Plague before I obtained it. Since using it all my cattle, now numbering forty, which were seized, are doing well, and most of them recovered. From Mr. John Palmer, Queen's Head, Green Lanes, Tottenham. Since I have used Enwokb's Specific all my milch cows attacked with the Cattle Plague have been saved, and are doing well. From Mr. Mills, Roman Bead, Islington. Your Specific has saved two of my cows wiiich were suffering from the disease in its worst form. Sold in Bottles, 2s. 6d., 4s. 6d., and IOs. SOLE MANUFACTURER, J. T. DAVENPORT, 33, GREAT RUSSELL STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED. Hi'.ihly Important to Dairymen and all who keep Cows. BARLAND'S PATENT POCKET SELF- MILKING A.PPARATUS, by means of which 1.00 Cows lUS&y MIIlc tliemseSve."^ in One Hour. it is recoin- menrlad by several well-known land stewards of tlie United Kingdom for its cleaHltMCSli, «fiuic!s- neSS, and eCOIBOEUy. Farmers need only to give it a trial to see its advantages over all other in- ventions. " We have received from so fnaStayoH'tljy a source so good an account of the Pocket Jlilking Apparatus that we feel ourselves Ju$itili€Cl in calling the attention of our readers to it." — Dell's Messenijer, Jan. 4, 1864. Price IOs., the Set Complete, post free. Circulars sent on demand. A liberal discount to orders for dozens of . sets. Post Office r rders to be made payable to THOMAS BARLAND, 16, NORFOLK-STREET, STRAND, LONDON. A LDERNEY, JERSEY,